library(tidyverse)
library(quanteda)
library(readtext)
library(striprtf)
library(corpustools)
library(quanteda.textplots)
library(readr)
library(topicmodels)
library(tidytext)
library(dplyr)
library(ggplot2)
library(tidyr)
library(tm)
library(stm)Structural Topic Modelling on Gender in Sports News
MekhalaKumar
Olympics2020
GenderandSports
StructuralTopicModelling
BlogPost5
In this post, I conducted Structural Topic Modelling with the help of the stm package.
Reading in the dataset
I had to make a few changes to the dataset to use it for structural topic modelling, so I read in the data file that was present without preprocessing and repeated preprocessing after modifying the data.
dfnews<- readRDS(file = "_data/CleanData.rds")Tidying and modifying the dataset
In order to use structural topic modelling, I required a variable that I could use for prevalence. Since my research question was to check for gender bias in newspapers, using the Tags metadata, I created a new column which classified the article as related to women’s sports or men’s sports. Since the Tags included multiple categories, I checked whether each row had the term MEN’S SPORTS or WOMEN’S SPORTS. I faced an issue while filtering out as while using regular expressions, the tags with ‘women’ were also removed when I was trying to remove only the tags with ‘men’. Hence, I first replaced the term Women’s with Nari (Hindi word for woman) in order to avoid filtering errors due to regular expressions.
dfnews_edit <- dfnews %>%
mutate_at(c('Tags'),funs(str_replace(., "WOMEN'S", "NARI")))Warning: `funs()` was deprecated in dplyr 0.8.0.
ℹ Please use a list of either functions or lambdas:
# Simple named list: list(mean = mean, median = median)
# Auto named with `tibble::lst()`: tibble::lst(mean, median)
# Using lambdas list(~ mean(., trim = .2), ~ median(., na.rm = TRUE))#Women's sports - removes all the tags which have the word men's and then looks for all the columns that have the word women
woman <- dfnews_edit %>%
filter(!grepl("MEN'S", Tags))%>%
filter(grepl("NARI", Tags))
woman newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
2 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
3 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
4 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
5 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
6 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
7 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
8 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
9 MINT August 6, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
11 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
12 MINT August 5, 2021
13 Hindustan Times July 22, 2021
14 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
15 MINT August 7, 2021
16 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
18 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
19 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
20 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
21 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
22 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
23 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
24 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
25 MINT August 4, 2021
26 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
27 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
28 MINT July 25, 2021
29 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
30 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
32 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
33 MINT July 29, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
35 MINT August 2, 2021
36 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
37 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
38 MINT August 2, 2021
39 MINT August 2, 2021
40 MINT July 29, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
42 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
43 MINT August 3, 2021
44 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
45 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
46 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
48 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
51 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
52 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
53 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
54 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
55 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
56 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
57 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
58 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
59 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
60 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
61 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
62 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
63 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
64 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
65 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
66 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
67 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
68 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
69 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
70 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
71 MINT August 2, 2021
72 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
73 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
74 MINT July 25, 2021
75 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
76 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
77 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
78 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
79 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
80 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
81 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
82 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
83 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
84 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
85 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
86 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
87 MINT July 31, 2021
88 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
89 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
90 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
91 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
92 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
93 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
94 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
95 MINT July 28, 2021
96 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
97 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
98 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
99 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
100 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
101 MINT July 30, 2021
102 DNA July 27, 2021
103 India Today Online August 4, 2021
104 Indian Express July 23, 2021
105 India Today Online July 25, 2021
106 India Today Online August 2, 2021
107 Indian Express August 2, 2021
108 India Today Online August 5, 2021
109 Indian Express August 1, 2021
110 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
111 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
112 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
113 India Today Online August 2, 2021
114 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
115 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
116 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
117 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
118 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
119 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
120 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
121 The Telegraph (India) August 7, 2021
122 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
123 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
124 Indian Express July 24, 2021
125 Indian Express July 31, 2021
126 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
127 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
128 DNA July 31, 2021
129 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
130 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
131 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
132 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021
133 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
134 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
135 India Today Online July 24, 2021
136 DNA August 5, 2021
137 Free Press Journal (India) August 4, 2021
138 DNA July 27, 2021
139 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
140 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
141 DNA August 3, 2021
142 Indian Express August 6, 2021
143 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
144 Indian Express July 24, 2021
145 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
146 DNA August 6, 2021
147 DNA July 29, 2021
148 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
149 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
150 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
151 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
152 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
153 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
154 Indian Express August 8, 2021
155 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
156 DNA August 6, 2021
157 DNA August 2, 2021
158 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
159 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
160 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
161 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
162 The Telegraph (India) July 29, 2021
163 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
164 Indian Express August 8, 2021
165 Indian Express August 8, 2021
166 India Today Online August 6, 2021
167 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
168 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
169 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
170 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
171 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
172 DNA August 7, 2021
173 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
174 Indian Express July 30, 2021
175 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
176 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
177 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
178 Indian Express August 8, 2021
179 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
180 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
181 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
182 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
183 Indian Express July 28, 2021
184 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
185 Free Press Journal (India) August 8, 2021
186 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
187 India Today Online August 2, 2021
188 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
189 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
190 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
191 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
192 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
193 The Hindu August 7, 2021
194 Indian Express August 5, 2021
195 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
196 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
197 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
198 The Hindu August 7, 2021
199 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
200 India Today Online July 25, 2021
201 Indian Express August 2, 2021
202 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
203 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
204 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
205 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
206 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
207 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
208 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
209 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
210 The Hindu August 7, 2021
211 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
212 Indian Express August 8, 2021
213 Indian Express July 29, 2021
214 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
215 Indian Express August 6, 2021
216 Indian Express July 29, 2021
217 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
218 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
219 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
220 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
221 Indian Express July 28, 2021
222 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
223 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
224 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
225 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
226 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
227 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
228 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
229 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
230 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
231 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
232 DNA July 28, 2021
233 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
234 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
235 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
236 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
237 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
238 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 1, 2021
239 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
240 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
241 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
242 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
243 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
244 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
245 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
246 Indian Express August 8, 2021
247 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
248 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
249 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
250 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 8, 2021
251 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
252 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
253 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
254 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
255 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
256 The Hindu August 9, 2021
257 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
258 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
259 The Hindu August 6, 2021
260 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
261 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
262 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
263 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
264 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
265 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
266 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
267 The Hindu August 3, 2021
268 DNA August 5, 2021
269 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
270 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
271 Free Press Journal (India) July 24, 2021
272 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
273 DNA August 4, 2021
274 DNA July 29, 2021
275 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
276 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
277 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
278 The Hindu August 6, 2021
279 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
280 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
281 Indian Express August 7, 2021
282 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
283 The Hindu August 2, 2021
284 The Hindu August 6, 2021
285 India Today Online August 7, 2021
286 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
287 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
288 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
289 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
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1 From a solitary two-day fixture between Great Britain and France in the 1900 Olympics, prospects of cricket's inclusion as an 8-team medal sport for men and women in Los Angeles 2028 have brightened. The International Cricket Council (ICC)'s proposal to introduce cricket as an Olympic sport in 2028 has been placed before the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Importantly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s reluctance to join the Olympic movement is now a thing of the past. "Once cricket is added in the Olympics, India will be participating," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said. "The BCCI and the ICC are on the same page as far as participation in the Olympics is concerned." The BCCI in its Apex Council meeting in April had given a conditional nod to send a team for the 2028 edition if its autonomy wasn't disturbed and there was no interference from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The BCCI, IOA and government though are working in sync. The Indian cricket board pledged Rs. 10 crore to assist the Tokyo bound Indian contingent's marketing budget. They also announced a cash prize totalling Rs. 4 crore for the seven medal winners on Saturday. The ICC, which has 92 Associate members but only 12 members play Test cricket, has been slow on the Olympics issue. Many of the top Test nations have in the past have had an insular view of safeguarding their playing window and TV rights revenue and resisting cricket's entry into Olympics. Now, with an agreement amongst most leading cricket boards, it has been in constant talks with IOC and an Olympics committee formed for the purpose. With a nudge from the government to increase India's medal prospects, BCCI administration has also switched its stance. "The BCCI is more than happy to work together with the government and help increase India's medal chances," a BCCI official said. Cricket has been added as a discipline in the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham, July-Aug). There's cricket in the 2022 Asian Games (Hangzhou, September) too. With the cricket calendar congested with ICC events, bilateral cricket and franchise leagues, finding a window for each of these games consistently may become a challenge. That is why, the Commonwealth Games will only have women's cricket. The Olympics, it is learnt, will require the participation of men and women. T20 has emerged as the format of choice despite some Associate nations championing for introducing T10. The English cricket board has explored the prospects of taking the Hundred-ball format to the Olympics, riding on its newly launched league. With neither format having international status, ICC is expected to start with T20Is. While introduction of a new sport at Olympics involves structured presentations and lobbying, those in cricket are confident that India's rapidly growing consumer market and digital engagement base will marry IOC's search for new Olympic markets.
2 Tokyo Olympics Day 10 Full Schedule: Kamalpreet Kaur stunned the nation with a 64m throw in the qualification stage of Women's Discus Throw. She will be aiming for a medal in the final event on Monday. Meanwhile, shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sanjeev Rajput will be in action on Day 10 as well, along with sprinter Dutee Chand. Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage Here is India's schedule on Day 10 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: 07:24 AM IST: Athletics Women's 200m Round 1 Heat 1 - Dutee Chand 08:00 AM IST: Shooting 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Qualification - Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Sanjeev Rajput 08:30 AM IST: Women's Hockey Quarterfinal - India vs Australia 01:20 PM IST: Shooting 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Qualification - Subject to Qualification 01:30 PM IST: Equestrian Eventing Individual Jumping Qualifier - Fouaad Mirza 03:55 PM IST: Athletics Women's 200m Semifinal 1 - Dutee Chand (Subject to Qualification) 04:30 PM IST: Athletics Women's Discus Throw Final - Kamalpreet Kaur 05:15 PM IST: Equestrian Eventing Individual Jumping Final - Fouaad Mirza (Subject to Qualification)
3 Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has announced Rs.50 lakh cash award for every sportsperson in state getting fourth position in the Olympics. Till now, there was no provision in the state's sports policy for such players. The CM said there is a provision to give incentive money to players who are unable to win medals in these games. As per the provision, each player participating in the Olympics is being given an incentive amount of Rs.15 lakh each. He said an amount of Rs.5 lakh is already given to these players prior to the Olympics and now the rest of the amount of Rs.10 lakh will be given to players on their return. Khattar said as per the sports policy, Rs.6 crore is given to a player who wins gold medal in the Olympics, Rs.4 crore for winning silver, and Rs.2.5 crore for bronze. "Now onwards, a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh will be given to each player in state finishing fourth in the Olympics," Khattar said. He said nine players of the women's hockey team who hail from Haryana will be given a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh each. Khattar welcomes move to rename Khel Ratna Award The Haryana CM welcomed the central government's move to rename the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after hockey legend Major Dhyanchand. Khattar said the Union government has taken a good decision by renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after the hockey legend. "Sports awards should be named after players. Congress should not criticise the move," he added.
4 India's quest for another medal will continue on Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics as ace shuttler and reigning world champion PV Sindhu takes on Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semi-final on Saturday. Boxer Amit Panghal will open his account in the men's flyweight category, whereas Pooja Rani is one win away from assuring a second medal in boxing for India at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Shooters Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil will feature in 50m Rifle 3 Positions, while India women's hockey team will return to the field hoping to strengthen their chances of entering the quarterfinals. Here is India's schedule on Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: GOLF Anirban Lahiri - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 2: 4:15 AM Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 3: 6:00 AM ATHLETICS Seema Punia - Women's Discus Throw Qualification in Group A: 6:00 AM Kamalpreet Kaur - Women's Discus Throw Qualification in Group B: 7:25 AM Sreeshankar in Men's Long Jump Qualification - Group B: 3:40 PM ARCHERY Atanu Das - Men's Individual 1/8 Eliminations: 7:18 AM BOXING Amit Panghal vs Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas - Men's Flyweight (48-52kg): 7:30 AM Pooja Rani vs Qian Li in Women's Middleweight - Quarterfinal: 3:36 PM SHOOTING Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil in 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Qualification: 8:30 AM 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Final (Subject to qualification): 12:30 PM SAILING Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar in - Race 10 : 8:35 AM HOCKEY India vs South Africa - Women's Pool A: 8:45 AM BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu-Ying - Women's Singles Semi-final: 3:20 PM
5 India vs Argentina Women's Hockey Semifinal Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: Winning against the Australians have set the momentum up for India women's hockey team to reach the final at the Tokyo Olympics. Up against them will be an in-form Argentina team who will be eager to make it to the final as well. A tough challenge in store for India. All you need to know about India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match live streaming, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 03:30 PM IST on Wednesday (August 4th). Where and how to watch live coverage of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
6 India would fancy their chances of a medal finish as they gear up for Day 7 of the Tokyo Olympics. While all eyes would be on archer Deepika Kumari, shuttler PV Sindhu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain to take a step closer to ensuring medals for India, it's also finally time to Indian athletics to make its presence felt at the Olympic Games. Sprinter Dutee Chand will be in action, and as will the likes of Avinash Sable and MP Jabir. Hockey returns as both men's and women's team face quality opponents. Here is India's schedule on Day 7 of the Tokyo Olympics: Archery Deepika Kumari vs Ksenia Perova (Russian Olympic Committee) in Women's Individual Pre-quarterfinals Match: 6:00am IST. Athletics Avinash Sable in Men's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 Heat 2: 6:17am IST. M P Jabir in Men's 400m Hurdles Round 1 Heat 5: 8:27am IST. Dutee Chand in Women's 100m Round 1 Heats: 8:45am IST Start. Mixed 4x400m Relay Race Round 1 Heat 2: 4:42pm IST. Badminton P V Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) in Women's Singles Quarterfinal Match: 1:15pm IST. Boxing Simranjit Kaur vs Sudaporn Seesondee (Thailand) in Women's 60kg Round of 16 Bout: 8:18am IST. Lovlina Borgohain vs Nien-Chin Chen (Chinese Taipei) in Women's 69kg Quarterfinal Bout: 8:48am IST. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Dressage Day 1 Session 2: Starts at 2pm IST. Golf Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 2: 04:00am IST. Hockey India vs Ireland in Women's Pool A Match: 8:15am IST. India vs Japan in Men's Pool A match: 3:00pm IST. Sailing KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in Men's Skiff 49er Race 7, 8 and 9: 8:35am IST. Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radial Race 9 and 10: 8:35am IST. Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race 9 and 10: 11:05am IST. Shooting Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat in Women's 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid: 5:30am IST.
7 Tokyo 2020, PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Live: India could get its third medal at the Tokyo Olympics when Indian shuttler PV Sindhu takes on China's He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match in women's singles badminton. Sindhu's quest for gold ended on Saturday as she lost her semi-final match to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu, who had won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, will be hoping to become only the second athlete from India to win two individual medal in Olympics. (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1 in Tokyo Olympics Village. At what time does the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? Tokyo 2020 Live Updates Day 9 The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 05:00 PM IST on Saturday (August 1). Where and how to watch live coverage of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
8 Tokyo 2020, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu-Ying semifinal Live: The stage is set for an epic clash between Indian shuttler PV Sindhu and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying as the two badminton greats square off in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Women's Singles Badminton semifinal on Saturday. Sindhu, who had won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, will be hoping to make it to the final so that she can get a chance to change the colour of the medal. (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Tokyo Olympics Day 8 Live Updates Where will the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1 in Tokyo Olympics Village. At what time does the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? The PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 03:20 PM IST on Saturday (July 31st). Where and how to watch live coverage of PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020? The PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
9 The Haryana government has announced a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh each for the state's nine women's hockey players on Friday. Post the play-off match of the Indian women's hockey team on Friday, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted, " Haryana government will award Rs.50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympic women's hockey team who are from Haryana". Haryana Government will award Rs. 50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympics women's hockey team who are from Haryana. I congratulate the Indian team for their praiseworthy performance at the Tokyo Olympics. - Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) August 6, 2021 In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the bronze medal slipped out of its grasp but the Indian women's hockey team earned plaudits for its gritty display against Great Britain in the play-off match on Friday. CM Khattar congratulated the Indian women's team for its best-ever performance at the ongoing Olympics, where it finished fourth after losing 3-4 to Great Britain. The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at halftime. But a desperate Great Britain gave their everything in the second half and scored two goals to snatch the match from India's hands. Back in Haryana and Punjab, families of many players remained glued to their television sets to watch in anticipation of an Indian win. At the end of the game, skipper Rani's father Rampal told the media at his Shahabad home in Kurukshetra that the Indian team played well and were unlucky to lose out on its maiden Olympic medal. He said the team's performance at the Olympics will have a positive impact on the game and will encourage youngsters to take up the sport. Goalkeeper Savita Punia's father Mahender Punia said there was no need to feel dejected. "Match result may not be on their side, but they played well," he said. Neha Goyal's mother Savitri turned emotional while watching the game. Notably, most of the women hockey players come from humble backgrounds.
10 India put on a valiant fight in the bronze medal match against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Despite going down 2-0 at one point, the Indian team scored three quick goals to take lead in the match and put the Rio Olympics gold medalists on the backfoot. While Britain bounced back to win the match 4-3, Indian team's superb efforts in Tokyo were applauded by the fans who praised the team for never giving up throughout their campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to show praise on India's brave performance in Tokyo. "We narrowly missed a medal in Women's Hockey but this team reflects the spirit of New India- where we give our best and scale new frontiers. More importantly, their success at #Tokyo2020 will motivate young daughters of India to take up Hockey and excel in it. Proud of this team," he wrote on Twitter. This is India's best-ever showing in Olympics in women's hockey. India have only featured twice before in the Games. While they had finished in fourth position in 1980 as well, they had not qualified for the tournament and competed in a six-team round-robin format. India qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 2016 where they had finished in 12th position out of 12 teams. But this time, they manged to finish in fourth position, showcasing their rise over the years.
11 Hasely Crawford, one of 11 children, was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, in 1950. He began sprinting when he was 17, won a surprise bronze in the Commonwealth Games in 1970, and quite astonishingly, managed to make the 100m final at the 1972 Munich Olympics - the one with the massacre and Mark Spitz. But in the final that evening, the biggest race of his life, Crawford pulled a hamstring 20m from the starting blocks, and hobbled for another 30, watching through pain and disappointment as Russia's Valeriy Borzov dashed past the tape. It isn't so bad, people consoled him, no one from the Caribbean has ever won the 100m anyway. Instead of being mollified or disheartened by those words and that factoid, Crawford decided to use them as inspiration. He chose to fight back. Four years later, at Montreal 1976 - barely a week before his tiny island nation of Trinidad &Tobago became a republic - Hasely Crawford snuck into the 100m final again. This time, he dashed past the 20m mark, started pulling away at 40m, was virtually unstoppable by 80m, and went on to become the first man from any of the Caribbean islands to win an Olympic 100m gold. As if for good measure, Don Quarrie from Jamaica won the 200m later that week. If the Olympics are meant to be more about the struggle than the triumph, then the stories that stand out are not those of dominance, but those of redemption. Redemption of the kind that Mirabai Chanu experienced in Tokyo on an extraordinary Saturday morning for Indian sport. If you don't remember exactly what happened in the 48kg women's weightlifting competition at the Rio Olympics four years ago, Chanu's heartbreak that day cannot be overstated. In her six attempts across the two techniques, she managed only one lift, that too barely, when she snatched 84kg on her second attempt (she failed on her first at that weight, and on her third attempt at 86kg). In the clean and jerk, she could not get the barbell up even once - the 104kg got away from her, and the two attempts at 106kg seemed like desperate stabs at more than she could handle. It was the kind of performance that can break athletes, give them nightmares, scar them for life; put them off the gym, off training sessions, and induce a mortal fear of the spotlight. Chanu's response over the past five years is what separates champions from the rest. The same clean and jerk in which she could not get the barbell up at Rio first became her strength, and then her calling card. She came to be known as the one you had to somehow pull away from in the snatch, because she's going to get you in the second leg of the competition. The clean and jerk world record (119kg) now stands in her name. But despite her training, her medals, and her records, the bogey of Rio was always going to hang over her until the next Olympics. The longer wait for Tokyo 2020, and the possibility that the Games may not happen at all, must have been harder for Chanu than for anyone else in the Indian contingent. On Saturday, she looked centred and confident. The spotlight did not bother her, nor did the pressure. Instead, there was a little bow to the barbell as she approached it, then a smooth lift, a slow but steady raise, a monkish stillness, and a smile of redemption. She repeated that routine four times, until the silver was secure. And the funny thing about redemption is that Chanu might now feel what she went through in Rio was worth it. Just like the legend of Hasely Crawford connects with Chanu's story, her turnaround has a message for another athlete who had an eye on a medal in the 10m air pistol event on Saturday. Shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, 19, and at his first Olympics, must be crestfallen by his implosion in the final after qualifying in first position. But he should take heart - who knows, this may be the first note of another redemption song.
12 Although the Indian Women's Hockey team lost their Tokyo Olympics hockey semi-final to Argentina, Rani Rampal's girls have won respect and plenty of praises across the country. A Gujarat-based businessman has promised to offer houses and brand new cars for the ladies for showing such gritty performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Gujarat's diamond merchant Savji Dholakia has promised that he would provide Rs.11 lakh assistance to each player who wishes to build their dream home. With incredible pride in my heart, I take this opportunity to announce that HK Group has decided to honour our Women hockey team players. For each player who wishes to build her dream home, we will provide assistance of Rs. 11 lakh. - Savji Dholakia (@SavjiDholakia) August 3, 2021 In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Dholakia said, "With incredible pride in my heart, I take this opportunity to announce that HK Group has decided to honour our Women's hockey team players. For each player who wishes to build her dream home, we will assist Rs. 11 lakh." His Hari Krishna (HK) Group has also decided to award others (who have a house) with a brand new car worth Rs.5 lakh if the team brings home a medal. In another announcement, the diamond merchant said that his brother's friend from the US assured Rs.1 lakh price to each Indian women's Tokyo Olympics hockey player. After our announcement to motivate the women's hockey team with monetary help, several other helps are also coming in to support our nation's heroes. Dr. Kamlesh Dave, my Brother's friend from US has assured to praise all winners with One lakh rupees each. - Savji Dholakia (@SavjiDholakia) August 4, 2021 India's women's hockey team on Wednesday lost to their Argentina counterparts by 1-2, crashing out of the Tokyo Olympics' final race. However, India's women's hockey team still has a chance to win the bronze medal as they will take on Great Britain in the third-fourth place play-off match on Friday.
13 It was both a moment of pride and heartbreak for Japan. Their favourite women's softball team opened the action at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday with a victory over Australia, but all that the team's partisan fans could do was watch the action on TV. The stadium in Fukushima was starkly empty. Yoshitsugu Hashimoto, 65, who lives right across the stadium, watched the match on TV at home. "I missed the loud cheers of spectators that I used to hear whenever ball games were held at the stadium. But I believe people in Fukushima are encouraged by the athletes' performance," Hashimoto was quoted by Kyodo News. And that's how the home Olympics will unfold for the Japanese public, switching on a screen to watch the Games happening in their backyard. The Tokyo Organising Committee is holding the Olympics without spectators because of fear of Covid-19 infections. Instead of spending on tickets for events, the Japanese are splurging on new TV sets. Manufacturers are luring customers with cutting edge-models bigger than 50 inches, offering high quality sound systems and high-definition images. The big TV companies in Japan--BIC Camera, Nojima, Yodobashi Camera and Panasonic--are reporting sharp increase in sales. "Sales of TVs are stronger than last year," a spokesperson of Bic Camera said to Japan Times. Sales for BIC Camera started rising in May and there was a surge in June when speculation started that the Olympics could be held behind closed stadiums. By July when the IOC finally declared the Games will be spectator-free, TV sales rose again. Nojima Corp TV sales in the week to last Sunday increased by 20 percent from a year earlier and sales at Yodobashi camera were over two-fold from January to June. "We have no choice but to watch all the action unfolding on TV," said Isao Shigeno, a volunteer. "It is disappointing that we are not able to go to the stadiums but that's how the situation is right now." At the Fukushima stadium, Japan's softball team lived up to the billing, beating Australia 8-1. The four-time Olympic gold winning team became a rage in Japan when they won the 2008 Beijing Olympic title beating USA, only for the sport to be dropped for the next two editions of the Games. Pitcher Yukiko Ueno, a top star from the team that won the 2008 gold, is still playing and Japanese fans were eagerly looking forward to her taking the field again at the Olympics. It was not to be. The moment was more poignant for residents of Fukushima in northeastern Japan. The prefecture was ravaged during the 2011 earthquake which led to the deadliest nuclear reactor accident since Chernobyl in 1986. One theme of the Tokyo Olympics was to show how Fukushima has bounced back from the disaster.
14 India stunned Australia 1-0 to reach the semifinals in women's hockey of the Tokyo Olympics at the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch on Monday. This will be India women's hockey team's first semifinal appearance in the Olympics. They had finished fourth in the 1980 Moscow Olympics but the format was different, as there were no knockout games. India will face Argentina in the semifinals, who defeated Germany 3-0 in the first semifinal. A spot in the semifinals also means that India are guaranteed a medal match for the first-time in Olympics. India, who qualified for the knockout stages after finishing fourth in Pool A, started on a positive note against Pool B toppers Australia and kept the pressure on them throughout all quarters. India were clearly the dominant side with a 59% ball possession in the first quarter but the big moment came in the second quarter when dragflicker Gurjit Kaur converted India's first penalty corner in the 22nd minute to put her side ahead. India's defence also played their part. They did not let Australia score despite conceding seven penalty corners in the match. (more to follow...)
15 23-year- old golfer, Aditi Ashok today put on a brilliant display and finished fourth. She finishes fourth at Olympic Games after carding 3-under 68 in final round. It was a heartbreaking end to Aditi's campaign considering she started the day at 2nd. But it was nonetheless a major improvement as she had finished tied 41st in the 2016 edition where golf made a comeback to the Olympics. In the final round, she fired five birdies -- on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 13th and 14th holes -- against two bogeys on the 9th and 11th. Overnight leader and world number one Nelly Korda clinched the gold medal with a 2-under 69 that left her 17-under overall and a shot ahead of Japan's Mone Inami (65) and New Zealand's Lydia Ko (65). Aditi was in medal contention for a major part of the day but the two bogeys pulled her back while Ko surged ahead with a sensational nine birdies against just three dropped shots in her final round. This is Aditi's second Olympic appearance. She had finished tied 41st in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition. The final round of the women's Tokyo Olympics golf tournament resumed Saturday with the leaders having two holes to complete after a 49-minute interruption because of a passing thunderstorm. Play restarted at 1:15 pm (0415 GMT), with American world number one Nelly Korda leading on 17-under par, one shot ahead of Japan's Mone Inami, with India's Aditi Ashok and Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for third a stroke further back. The final group of Korda, Ashok and Ko had all just played their tee shots at the driveable par-four 17th when play was suspended at 12:26 pm. Aditi said since she played only a few tournaments in May-June and also got infected by the coronavirus, has probably lost distance off the tee. Yet her short game has helped her. "I didn't really have my best, especially on the long holes with the long approaches where I wasn't as consistent. So, yeah, definitely it was a good day and I did not make as many bogeys as I could have," she said. "My putting wasn't as good today as the first two days. So those couple par putts that were like the one on 12 and the one on 18, helped because I knew my putting wasn't that good today compared to the first two." Aditi said she recoeverd from COVID-19 but it did affect her health "It took a little bit of strength out of me. I was never this short. I was always short but not like 50 behind Nelly and 50 behind Nanna. But apart from the distance this year has been kind of the best I've had with my short game." Aditi was also candid about the following golf back home. "Nobody really follows golf as much. It's not that they know about it and don't follow it, it's just they don't know much about the sport to know that a major is more prestigious than the Olympics. "And whenever the Olympics comes around it's always because we had a lot of sports where we were actually really good, like hockey, where we had, we used to win gold medals all the time. "With golf being in (at Olympics) the second time I think people are a lot more aware and trying to follow it a lot more."
16 Mirabai Chanu. Lovlina Borgohain. PV Sindhu. Ariarne Titmus. Katie Ledecky. Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Yui Ohashi. Tatjana Schoenmaker. Vivianne Meidema. Think of the names that grabbed your attention or left you mesmerised during the first week of the Olympics, and chances are these will be high on your list. Woman power is on full display in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics have been billed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the first gender-balanced Games in history, with nearly 49 % of the participating athletes women. Apart from the volume, women are also shifting the balance of the spotlight towards them. The Games, for long largely about the legends of Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, are now as much about Titmus and Biles, as they are about Djokovic. The trend is the same closer home. Of the 127 athletes wearing India colours at these Games, 56 are women. Two of them are already medal winners, India's only ones so far. Beyond Tokyo, women athletes have provided India cheer going back to the 2012 London Olympics. Six of India's last eight medal winners have been women - Saina Nehwal (bronze, 2012), Mary Kom (bronze, 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze, 2016), Sindhu (silver, 2016), Chanu (silver, 2021) and Borgohain, who is guaranteed a bronze, but could well change the colour. Rewind to the first medal day of these Games, when most Indians woke up early on a Saturday to an alarm of optimism that Chanu would open India's account. The 26-year-old lifter, cool as ice while lifting, delivered just what was expected - a silver; becoming the second Indian female weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic medal. "You have taken the legacy forward of the weightlifting sport and inspired future champions, which has always been my endeavour," Malleswari, the 2000 Sydney bronze winner tweeted. Days after the feat, a video went viral on social media of the young daughter of international lifter Satish Sivalingam, dusting powder off her hands, lifting a set of weights against the backdrop of Chanu's Tokyo highlights running on TV. Champions inspire. And children aspire. That also goes for Borgohain, who locked in India's second medal. Or Sindhu, who is looking good for a second Olympic medal. Or CA Bhavani Devi, who won a match as the first Indian fencer ever at the Olympics. Across the board Even across countries, women are at the forefront of many a first in Tokyo. Triathlete Flora Duffy gift-wrapped a maiden gold medal for Bermuda, the tiny Atlantic island with a population of around 63,000 now having the distinction of being the smallest country with a gold medal in the history of the Games. "I really just hope it inspires the youth of Bermuda that we're from a small country, but that doesn't mean we can't do great things on the world stage," Duffy told CNN. Also doing great things: Schoenmaker, the South African who smashed the long-standing women's 200m breaststroke world record with an "unreal" time of 2:18.95; Polina Guryeva, the weightlifter who pulled off the first-ever Olympic medal for Turkmenistan; Yui Ohashi, the two-time gold medallist swimmer who overcame the gloom of depression to shine, becoming the first Japanese woman to win multiple gold medals in a single edition. Also winning multiple gold medals: Ariarne Titmus, the 20-year-old who is walking the talk of a riveting rivalry with Ledecky, the American giant whom the Aussie has beaten in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Missing Usain Bolt vs Justin Gatlin on the track? Titmus and Ledecky have taken care of that in the pool in Tokyo. Vivianne Meidema, the Dutch women's football team striker who plays for Arsenal Women in England's WSL, had pumped in 10 goals by Friday. Also creating history in the waters: Jessica Fox, who won gold in the women's canoe slalom, an event where women competed for the first time after the Australian paddling icon led the campaign for its inclusion in the Olympics. "(I'm) grateful to all the women, all the coaches, all the people who lobbied for gender equality in our sport," Fox said after her win. Getting real The stories go beyond history, triumph and jubilation. They are as much about imperfections, which Biles - considered the closest to perfection in gymnastics - hasn't shied away from bringing to the centre stage. The 24-year-old, battling sexual misconduct in the US gymnastics set-up and racism in her country for years, is battling mental health in Tokyo. The four-time gold medallist at Rio pulled out of the team and all-around events at a Games that were supposed to stamp her legacy as the GOAT of the sport; even for those who swear purely by medals and numbers. Biles has taken a stand few have felt comfortable taking before - that it is OK to put mental well-being above records even in the middle of the biggest sporting spectacle; to look inward even when the whole world is looking at you; to take a step back even while eternal greatness is beckoning. Osaka, another global sporting icon, too, didn't hesitate to take a step back when, at the French Open in May, she opted for a brief sabbatical from tennis to attend to her issues with mental anxiety. Yet, there she was a couple of months later in Tokyo - given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony at home, flashing a smile and playing some tennis again. At these Games, women have taught us every facet of sport: you can win, you can lose, you can inspire, you can pause, and you can return stronger.
17 India's star discus throw athlete Kamalpreet Kaur impressed one and all at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics by finishing 6th in the final of the women's event on Monday. Soon after her maiden Olympic campaign came to an end, India's legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to send in his good wishes and congratulate her for an inspired performance on the biggest stage of them all. "Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn. Hard luck Kamalpreet! We are proud of you for giving your best & representing India at such a big stage.This experience will only make you a stronger athlete in the future," Tendulkar tweeted. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) The 25-year-old Kaur, who has qualified for the final as second-best on Saturday, was never in the running for a medal in the eight rounds of competition which was interrupted by rain for more than an hour. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 10 BLOG She had a third-round throw of 63.70m to end at sixth and equal 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia's performance in the 2012 London Olympics. Kaur, who was without her personal coach, looked nervous and short of confidence throughout the competition as she lacked international exposure. She has taken part in World University Games in 2017, her lone international competition. A farmer's daughter at Punjab's Kabarwala village, Kaur had raised hopes of India's elusive athletics medal after finishing second in the qualification round on Saturday with a best throw of 64m. American Valarie Allman took the gold with a first-round throw of 68.98m while Kristin Pudenz (66.86m) of Germany and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (65.72m) of Cuba won the silver and bronze respectively. Two-time defending champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia was fourth with a best throw of 65.01m.
18 PV Sindhu created history on Sunday by winning the bronze medal match against China's He Bing Jiao at the Tokyo Olympics. She won the match 21-13, 21-15 to become the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympics medals. She had lost the final of the women's singles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics to settle for a silver medal. Sindhu needed to start strong in the match to get her self-confidence up, which must have been rattled by the one-sided semi-final loss on Saturday to Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu was off the blocks immediately with a clutch of winners and took a 4-0 lead in the first game, thanks to her attacking display. An unforced error from Sindhu gave the Chinese her first point and she made it 2-4 with a well played point at the net. An unforced error put Sindhu 5-2 ahead, but Bing Jiao played a great cross court shot to end a long rally and then won a couple points on the bounce to tie the first game at 5-5. PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Highlights - Women's singles bronze medal match - Tokyo Olympics Bing Jiao continued to force Sindhu to play at the net but the Indian was up to the challenge and went ahead 8-6. The two players played out a great rally with Sindhu leading 9-8 as Bing Jiao produced some great defensive play, but the Indian closed out the point with a powerful smash to go ahead 10-8. Sindhu took her advantage to 11-8 with another smash as the two players went into the mid-game break. Sindhu came out all guns blazing after the break as she dictated the pace of the rallies really well to break away to a 14-8 lead. Bing Jiao started a mini revival as she went up to 11 points but Sindhu kept a sizeable lead over her opponent with some great display of attack and defence, as she went up 18-11. Sindhu eventually closed out the first game 21-13 to take the lead in the match. Sindhu was off early again in the second game as she made two good line calls and then played a great cross court smash to go up 4-1. Bing Jiao won a couple of points to bring the deficit down to just a point but Sindhu produced another solid smash to end a rally and go up 6-4. She employed the same weapon again, hitting a down the line smash to end another longish rally to go up 7-5. The narrative continued as Sindhu hit another solid smash to make it 8-5. Bing Jiao won a couple of points on the drop to close the gap but then committed two unforced errors to go up 10-7. Sindhu eventually went into the mid-game break leading 11-8. The Chinese though started well after the break, showing good court speed to win three points on the trot to level the game at 11 points apiece. But Sindhu stemmed the rot by playing two brilliant drop shots as she sped away to a 14-11 lead again. An unforced error gave Sindhu a 15-11 lead but Bing Jiao won two points on the trot again to bring the deficit down to just two points. Another rally ensued thereafter as both players badly wanted the next point and it was another Sindhu cross court smash that gave her a 16-13 lead. Sindhu kept the pressure on her Chinese opponent, never letting her in with a chance as she took an 18-14 lead. Bing Jiao won a point but Sindhu made her commit an unforced error to go up 19-15. Sindhu raced to match point with another scintillating smash and then won the bronze medal by closing the second game 21-15
19 Tennis star Sania Mirza is all set to compete at the Olympic Games for the fourth time, becoming the second Indian woman to do so. And for her, the greater accomplishment comes with greater responsibility. Mirza, who left on Monday for the much-delayed tournament in Japan, will be representing India with Ankita Raina at the Women's Doubles Tennis at the Tokyo Olympics, which kicks off today. "Ankita will be playing for the first time against some of the best players in the world and on a big stage. She's a fighter and understands that we'll need to punch way beyond our weight to make a mark against odds in Tokyo," says Mirza, 34. Her stint at the Olympics this year is more special, as she's joining the games for the first time after becoming a mother. "I've always wanted to carry on with my professional dream even after my marriage and the birth of my son (Izhaan). I'm happy and proud I'm able to live my dream," gushes Mirza, who delivered her first child in October 2018. Last year, with Covid-19 outbreak bringing the world to a halt, the Tokyo Olympics were also postponed, much to the disappointment of many. That has been the case for Mirza as well, but she spent her time working on her and getting better. "I've been working on my game and fitness in Dubai for the last few months. I also got to play a few tournaments including Wimbledon although admittedly, I would've liked to have played a few more matches. But one has to accept the situation and try to do one's best under the given circumstances which are far from ideal." Mirza, who got married to Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik in 2010, concludes with a message for all. "If you want to achieve, then you have to be ready to sacrifice. But you also need the support of your husband and family in order to pursue your dreams," she signs off.
20 The India women's hockey team narrowly missed out on winning a bronze medal at the ongoing Olympics in Tokyo. Despite putting up a lionhearted fight against the 2016 Olympic Champions, Great Britain on Friday, the Indian team came up short 3-4 in a pulsating encounter. Later on the day, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi rang up the Indian team to speak to them and congratulate them on a stellar effort. The players of the team stood circled the phone as the captain spoke to the PM on speaker mode. Numerous players, including goalkeeper Savita, could not hold back their tears after hearing the words of encouragement from the PM. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) "Your sweat has become the inspiration for crores of women in the country. I congratulate all the players and the coach," PM Modi said. Soon after the PM asked for an update on Navneet Kaur's injury, who received four stitches near her eye, skipper Rani Rampal thanked the PM. Hearing the players cry, PM Modi said: "Stop crying, I can hear you cry. The country is proud of you, don't be disheartened. After so many decades, hockey, which is India's identity, is again getting prominence for your hardwork." Moreover, PM Modi also lauded the effort of coach Sjoerd Marijne. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 14 BLOG "You have tried your level best. You have encouraged the girls. Wish you all the best for the future," he said. Coach Marijne thanked the Prime Minister and added that the girls were very emotional after the loss. "I also told the girls that the they inspire the nation and that is very important and they must cherish that. Thank you, sir. Namaste," quipped Modi. India had lost a close semifinal 1-2 against Argentina earlier in the week. The side went down despite leading 1-0.
21 India women's hockey team missed out on a medal as they went down to the Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. But the coach Sjoerd Marijne's team can take pride in the fact that they finished fourth in Tokyo Games, their best-ever finish in Olympics history (while India had also finished fourth in 1980, only six teams were competing at the Moscow Games, and there were no medal matches). Great Britain started the match with their typical attacking style of play, forcing Indian defenders to push deep inside their own circle. There were two penalty corners for Britain in the first 15 minutes, one of them was saved by Savita, while the second one was a lucky escape for India, as Britain players were unable to trap the ball. India vs Great Britain women's hockey - highlights Savita also made two crucial saves from open play attempts in the first quarter as Leah Wilkinson sent the ball inside the circle, and Elena Rayer struck it to the Indian goalkeeper, who pushed it out with her leg. The rebound landed on Sarah Jones' stick, who took a shot on goal, only to be deflected back again by Savita. Jones attempted another shot on target minutes later, but the Indian goalkeeper denied her again. But the constant attacks reaped fruits for Britain in the second quarter as Rayer made a run from the right, and sent the ball inside the circle in front of goal, only to be deflected into the back of the nets by Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Minutes later, Sarah Robertson's tomahawk shot went into the nets as she doubled Britain's lead, putting pressure on India. But Gurjit Kaur came to the party to bring India back to the level pegging, scoring two back-to-back goals from the penalty corners, with powerful dragflicks past Britain goalkeeper Madeliene Hinch. A third goal was added before the end of the second quarter by Vandana Katariya, when Sushila Chanu pushed a ball inside the scoring circle from the left. Navneet Kaur attempted a shot, missed, but Vandana was standing right behind her and struck it in from the near post to give India the lead. India started the third quarter on the backfoot, trying to defend the feeble lead, which allowed Great Britain to get back to the level terms with a well-stitched attacking move. Isabelle Petter's first attempt was saved by Savita, but the ball deflected towards Hollie Pearne-Webb, who struck it past Savita to equalise. A late flourish from India in the third quarter troubled Britain's defence, but it was not enough for Sjoerd Marijne's side to get back their lead. A flurry of penalty corners at the start of the fourth quarter for Great Britain allowed them to regain their lead as Grace Balsdon finally scored from a set-piece. India played almost seven minutes with 10 players with Neha getting a yellow card, followed by a green card to Nikki Pradhan. But they still managed to keep possession for most of the quarter, and even received a penalty corner. Gurjit Kaur's dragflick, this time, was saved by Hinch. Despite repeated attempts, India were unable to get back a goal to equalise in the final few minutes and bowed down to the Rio gold medalists. It was a dream run for the Indian team who defied all expectations playing only in their third Olympics. While coach Sjoerd Marijne's team got off to a poor start to the tournament, losing their first three games, they found their rhythm and form just at the right team. With wins over Ireland and South Africa in the group stage, India women's team booked a ride to the quarterfinals, where they shocked Australia to earn their first-ever semifinals berth, but could not reach the final as they went down to Argentina 1-2.
22 India shuttler PV Sindhu lost to top seed Tai Tzu-Ying in straight games - 18-21, 12-21 - in the semi-final of the women's singles badminton event on Saturday. However, Sindhu, the reigning world champion, is still in contention for a podium finish as she'll feature in the bronze medal match on Sunday. Heading into the semifinal, Sindhu had a mediocre 5-13 record against the World No. 1 Tai, and the Rio Olympics silver medallist came up just a little short against her biggest nemesis. Sindhu downed Tai at the Rio Olympics in 2016, World Tour Finals in 2018 and the World Championships in 2019. Unfortunately, Tokyo 2020 wasn't going to be one of them. Winning the toss, Sindhu opted for the near end of the court and immediately got involved in the first long rally of the match to slightly nose ahead by 4-3. A couple of error is judgments from the World No. 1 games Sindhu the opportunity to extend the lead to 8-5. A few flat exchanges near the net and a brilliant forehand smash allowed Tai to come back strong and make it 11. The next few points would be earned over either brilliantly-placed drop shots or cross-court smashes. Tai, known for her bag of trickery, dug deep into her bag and foxed Sindhu time and again, who was expecting a smash but received drop shots which Sindhu couldn't pick. And still, Sindhu was vigilant enough to keep stretching her opponent, but eventually having bagged four straight points, Tai built on it and sealed the first game 21-18. Sindhu had stormed into the women's singles semifinals after a thrilling win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. The Indian shuttler defeated Yamaguchi 21-13, 22-20 to set up a date with Tai Tzu-Ying in the semis. She had earlier beaten Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games in the Round of 16 match. Sindhu remained unbeaten in the Group Stage, defeating world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu had won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 after she went down to Spain's Carolina Marin in the final in a thrilling encounter. Since then, the Indian shuttler has won the World Championships gold in 2019, and also won silver medals at the World Championships in 2017 and 2018. Sindhu also won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
23 A Manipur-based film production company has announced plans to make a biopic on the life of Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won the country's first silver medal in women's 49 kg weightlifting event with a total lift of 202 kg at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Seuti Films Production company's chairman Manaobi MM said, "We'll be making a feature film based on Mirabai Chanu's life and various other incidents of her life." Seuti Films has signed an agreement with the star weightlifter and her family at their Nongpok Kakching village residence in Manipur's Imphal East district for making the film. The screenplay and dialogue of the film will be written by Manaobi MM and it will be directed by OC Meira and produced by RK Nalini Devi. The proposed film will showcase Mirabai's childhood and her life in the village; her introduction and training in weightlifting; participation at national and international events and lastly; her win at the Tokyo Olympics. It will also highlight her experiences in the city and other incidents, in a realistic manner. The film will also be subtitled in English and other Indian languages, according to a press release issued by Seuti Films Production. Mirabai became the first Indian to win a medal in Tokyo Olympics and also country's first silver medallist in women's Weightlifting after lifting 84 and 87 kg weights successfully behind China's Zhihu, who lifted 94 kg to create an Olympic record and win the gold. Chanu also became the second Indian woman to win a weightlifting medal at Olympics after Karnam Malleswari, who was the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
24 It's going to be another eventful day at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 12th day of the Tokyo Games will witness javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in action while boxer Lovlina Borgohain will compete in the semi-finals on Wednesday. All eyes will be on the women's hockey team as Rani Rampal & Co will take on Argentina in the all-important semi-final encounter. Golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will compete in women's round 1. Anshu Malik, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak Punia will headline wrestling action for India. If the trio qualifies for the next round, Anshu Malik, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak Punia would play the semi-final matches on the same day. Athletics: Neeraj Chopra in men's javelin throw Qualification Group A: 5:35 am IST Shivpal Singh in men's javelin throw Qualification Group B: 7:05 am IST Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain vs Busenaz Surmeneli (Turkey) in women's 69kg semifinal 1: 11 am IST. Golf: Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in women's individual stroke play round: 5:55 am and 7:39 am IST, respectively. Hockey: India vs Argentina in women's semifinal: 3:30 pm IST. Wrestling: Ravi Kumar vs Oscar Eduardo Tigreros (Colombia) in men's freestyle 57kg; fourth bout after 8:00 am IST start. Anshu Malik vs Iryna Kurachkina (Belarus) in women's freestyle 57kg; fifth bout after 8:00 am IST start. Deepak Punia vs Ekerekeme Agiomor (Nigeria) in men's freestyle 86kg; eighth bout after 8:00 am IST start.
25 The Indian women's hockey team put up a fantastic display of skill and tenacity during their semifinal encounter against World No. 5 Argentina at the Tokyo Games on Wednesday. However, in the end, Indian women emerge second best. India goes down fighting 1-2 to Argentina. Noel Barrionuevo, the Argentina skipper, scored her second goal today to put them ahead against India in the women's hockey semi-final match. Indian women's team took an early lead in the first quarter thanks to a penalty corner. Earlier on Monday, the Indian women's hockey team created history at Oi Hockey Stadium -- North Pitch -- as they qualified for the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time after defeating Australia 1-0. Argentina defeated Germany 3-0 in their quarter-final earlier on Monday. India played seven matches there the first two against the Argentine youth team which the visitors drew 2-2 and 1-1. India then played two matches against Argentina's B team and lost both 1-2 and 2-3 respectively. Against Argentina senior side, India played three games, managing a 1-1 draw and losing 0-2 and 2-3 respectively. India captain Rani had on Tuesday said that the win over Australia is a thing of the past and their focus is on the remaining two games in the competition. "We made history by just reaching the semifinals and now we are looking forward to the semifinals, because we don't want to just finish here," Rani had said. "In this tournament there's two more games left for winning medals," she said.
26 An adorable video of a little girl has surfaced on the Internet that has left netizens gushing. Shared on Reddit, the video shows the toddler watching a weightlifting match in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The girl's expressions while watching the event have stolen many hearts and may just do the same to you too. The video starts with the little one watching the event of women's weightlifting. The clip shows how the strength and power showcased by the athletes leave her mesmerised. We won't give away the whole clip, so take a look at the recording: Shared some 20 hours ago, the video has garnered over 36,000 upvotes and the numbers are still increasing. People loved how the little girl was awestruck by the athletes. While many expressed that she may be an athlete in making, others simply showered the video with love and good wishes. "We'll be watching her career with great interest. See you in 20 years," said a Reddit user. "Some are strong because they lift weights, while others are strong because they lift spirits. Keep lifting little girl!" wrote another. "Personal highlight for me was the looking at her hands and saying with some sadness 'I wish I had strong hands'. If it was a sitcom, it would cut to a workout montage," commented a third. "That was adorable. We need to add 'dropping' as an Olympic sport," expressed a fourth. What are your thoughts on this video?
27 Rani Rampal, Indian women's hockey team captain, became the youngest player in the national women's hockey team when she participated at the 2010 World Cup at the tender age of 15. Now 26, Rani has reached the Olympics, and even participating in Tokyo this year. Talking about her long and arduous journey from not having a proper hockey stick and eating barely two meals a day to now representing India and participating in the Olympics, the young sportswoman, who originally hails from Shahabad Markanda in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, recently opened up about the trials and tribulations she faced during the course. Rani Rampal shared her amazing and inspiring story with Humans of Bombay's Instagram page recently and said how she started playing hockey simply to escape her difficult life and would play with a broken one to begin with. She shared with the page, "I wanted an escape from my life; from the electricity shortages to the mosquitoes buzzing in our ear, from barely having two meals to seeing our home getting flooded. There was only so much my parents could do - Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid." She went on how she'd spend hours watching people play hockey at a nearby academy, "There was a hockey academy nearby, so I'd spend hours watching the players-I really wanted to play. Papa would earn Rs.80 a day and couldn't afford to buy me a stick. Everyday, I'd ask the coach to teach me. He'd reject me saying, 'You aren't strong enough to pull through a practice session.' She revealed how she would play with broken sticks and usual clothes rather than proper hockey gear, "So, I began practicing with a broken hockey stick-I used to run around in a salwar kameez. But I was determined; maine bahut mushkil se convince kiya coach ko! " Her family was also not completely comfortable with her wearing hockey gear, she shares, "But my family said, 'Hum tumhe skirt pehen kar khelne nahi denge.' I'd plead, 'Please mujhe jaane do. If I fail, I'll do whatever you want.' My family gave in." Opening up about the difficult training she went through, "Training would start early; we didn't have a clock, so mom would look at the sky to check if it was time to wake me. At the academy, it was mandatory for each player to bring 500 ml of milk. My family could only afford milk worth 200 ml; so I'd mix the milk with water and drink it." However, with the support of her coach, Rani started to make improvements, "My coach supported me; he'd buy me hockey kits and shoes. He even took care of my dietary needs. I wouldn't miss a single day of practice. I remember I won Rs.500 at a tournament and gave the money to Papa. He hadn't ever held so much money in his hands. I promised my family, 'One day, we'll have our own home'; I did everything in my power to work towards that." Rani recalls the fateful day when she received a lifechanging call at 15 years of age, "After representing my state, I finally got a national call up at 15! Still, my relatives would only ask me when I was getting married. But Papa said, 'Play until your heart's content.' With my family's support, I eventually became captain of the Indian hockey team! Soon after, papa's friend visited us. He brought along his granddaughter and told me, 'She's inspired by you and wants to become a hockey player!' I was so happy!" Rani concluded by sharing how she has not only bought a home for her family but also about her dream for Tokyo Olympics, saying, "And then in 2017, I fulfilled the promise I made to my family and bought a home. We cried and held each other tightly! And I'm not done yet; this year, I'm determined to repay them and Coach with something they've always dreamed of-a gold medal from Tokyo." Follow for more stories on Facebook and Twitter
28 Pizza chain Domino's has promised weightlifter Mirabai Chanu free pizzas for life after the Olympic athlete helped India win its first silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu had said she craved pizza in an interview with a TV channel. "Congratulations on bringing the medal home! You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to FREE Domino's pizza for life. Congratulations again!!" Domino's India posted on its Twitter handle on Saturday evening. The pizza chain's team in Imphal made way to Chanu's family home to congratulate the parents as well. "Even as we prepare to give #MirabaiChanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family with what else but Domino's Pizza. Congratulations @mirabai_chanu you have done India proud," Pratik Pota, chief executive officer and whole-time director, Jubilant Foodworks, that operates the pizza chain in India, said on a social media post. On Saturday, 26-year-old Chanu won a silver in the 49-kg women's weightlifting category marking an end to India's nearly two decade long wait to win a medal win in the category. The win also marked India's first medal in the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In an interview with news channel NDTV after her win, Chanu expressed her desire to eat pizza after being on a strict diet in preparation for the Games. "First of all, I will go and have a pizza. It has been a long time since I ate it. I will eat a lot today," Chanu said. India has sent its largest-ever continent to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that commenced on 23 July. Mint had reported earlier that brands across categories were backing the India contingent set to represent the country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), for instance, has signed brands such as Edelweiss, INOX Group and Nippon Paint as national sponsors. While dairy brand Amul, Raymond and JSW Group have come on board as partners. Raymond is the official styling partner. MPL Sports Foundation has come on board as principal sponsor in a deal worth Rs.80 million that covers the Tokyo Olympics as well as the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year. The promoters of HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint, and Jubilant Foodworks are closely related. There are, however, no promoter cross-holdings.
29 Manipur accorded a hero's welcome to welcome to India's first silver medal winner in Olympics Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from the state when she arrived in Imphal on Tuesday afternoon. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh led well wishers including the family of Mirabai received the star weightlifter who won India's first Olympic medal in 49kg women's weightlifting with a total lift of 202 kg at the Tokyo Olympics on July 24. Without delay the state Chief Minister Biren Singh along with the Olympic medallist drove straight to the City Convention centre to attend the felicitation programme which was attended by ministers, MLAs, officials, family of Mirabai, friends, relatives and other well-wishers. Speaking at the felicitation programme, the Chief Minister Biren said that her silver Medal at Tokyo Olympics should be the stepping stone for more such milestones. Biren also asked her to work harder till she secures Olympic Gold Medal. He also announced that the State Government would begin a scheme to provide annual financial grants to the associations of the Olympic sports disciplines. During the day's felicitation, Chief Minister Biren Singh handed over a cheque of Rs.1 crore as cash reward and also handed over the appointment order of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Mirabai Chanu. The Sports and Education departments have also extended a sum of Rs.10 lakh and Rs.3 lakh respectively to Mirabai during the felicitation event. An overjoyed Mirabai Chanu speaking at the felicitation said, "With all those love, faith and blessing given by the people, I manage to get this medal. So I wanted to dedicate this medal to the people." She said she was not as happy as she could not make it in Rio (Olympics) last time. "Since then I tried my best, completely focussing on training for five years in spite of facing difficulties including the injuries," she said. Mirabai thanked her parents, coaches at the state training centre for their blessing, guide and continuous support over the years. She also thanked the government for extending timely support over the years and particularly the trips to the USA for the training. Later, the Chief Minister along with the Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs took Mirabai to her office and ushered her to the seat of Additional SP (Sports). In a tweet, Chief Minister Biren wrote, "I'm extremely delighted to handover the newly furnished office of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu in presence of her proud parents today. I was joined by my cabinet colleagues, Hon'ble MLAs and officials during the handing over ceremony."
30 PV Sindhu on Sunday ensured that her name will be written in bold letters in the annals of Indian sporting history. The shuttler-par-excellence became the first Indian woman athlete to win two individual Olympic medals, as she beat China's He Bing Jiao to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She had earlier won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sindhu won the match 21-13, 21-15 and completely dominated her opponent. Sindhu, who had lost the women's singles semi-final to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying 18-21, 12-21, controlled the match from the beginning and used her powerful smashes to subdue the Chinese opponent. She thus became the fourth woman to win a singles medal in consecutive Olympic Games. PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Highlights - Women's singles bronze medal match - Tokyo Olympics Since losing the Rio Olympics final, Sindhu has risen to become one of the most consistent female players in badminton. She might not have been at the top of the BWF rankings ever but has made her presence felt in almost all the top tournaments, in the last five years. She is the reigning world champion, having won the title in 2019, after failing at the final hurdle in 2017 and 2018. Here is a full list of major honours won by PV Sindhu in women's singles: Olympic Games 2016 - Silver 2020 - Bronze World Championships 2013 - Bronze 2014 - Bronze 2017 - Silver 2018 - Silver 2019 - Gold Commonwealth Games 2014 - Bronze 2018 - Silver Asian Games 2018 - Silver BWF World Tour 1 Gold and 4 Silver BWF Superseries 3 Gold and 4 Silver BWF Grand Prix 6 Gold and 3 Silver
31 India women's hockey team missed out on a medal as they went down to the Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. But the coach Sjoerd Marijne's team can take pride in the fact that they finished fourth in Tokyo Games, their highest-ever Olympic finish in history, and competed for a medal at the Games for the first time. (while India had also finished fourth in 1980, only six teams were competing at the Moscow Games, and there were no medal matches). Great Britain started the match with their typical attacking style of play, forcing Indian defenders to push deep inside their own circles. There were two penalty corners for Britain in the first 15 minutes, one of them was saved by Savita, while the second one was a lucky escape for India, as Britain players were unable to trap the ball. Savita also made two saves from open play attempts as Leah Wilkinson sent the ball inside the circle, and Elena Rayer struck it to the Indian goalkeeper, who pushed it out with her leg. The rebound landed on Sarah Jones' stick, who took her shot, only to be deflected back again by Savita. Jones attempted another shot on target minutes later, but the Indian goalkeeper denied her again. But the constant attacks reaped fruits for Britain in the second quarter as Rayer made a run from the right, and sent the ball inside the circle in front of goal, only to be deflected into the back of the nets by Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Minutes later, Sarah Robertson's tomahawk shot into the nets doubled Britain's lead, putting pressure on India. But Gurjit Kaur came to the party to bring India back to the level pegging, scoring two back-to-back goals from the penalty corners, with powerful dragflicks past Britain goalkeeper Madeliene Hinch. A third goal was added before the end of the second quarter by Vandana Katariya, when Sushila Chanu pushed a ball inside the scoring circle from the left. Navneet Kaur attempted a shot, missed, but Vandana was standing right behind her and struck it in from the near post to give India the lead. India started third quarter on the backfoot, trying to defend the feeble lead, which allowed Great Britain to get back to the level terms with a well-stitced attacking move. Isabelle Petter's first attempt was saved by Savita, but the ball deflected to Hollie Pearne-Webb, who struck it past Savita to equalise. A late flourish from India in the third quarter troubled Britain's defence, but it was not enough for Sjoerd Marijne's side to get back their lead. A flurry of penalty corners at the start of the fourth quarter for Great Britain allowed them to regain their lead as Grace Balsdon finally scored from a set-piece. India played almost seven minutes with 10 players with Neha getting a yellow card, followed by a green card to Nikki Pradhan. India received a penalty corner, but Gurjit Kaur's dragflick was saved by Hinch. While coach Sjoerd Marijne's team got off to a poor start to the tournament, losing their first three games, they found their rhythm and form just at the right team. With wins over Ireland and South Africa in the group stage, India women's team booked a ride to the quarterfinals, where they shocked Australia to earn their first-ever semifinals berth, but could not reach the final as they went down to Argentina 1-2.
32 "I dared to dream big inspite of my humble beginnings." MC Mary Kom says this towards the end of her slim autobiography "Unbreakable". When the book was published in 2013, Mary was a mother of three and the only Indian woman boxer with an Olympic medal. She was also a five-time world champion. All her goals--farmland for her father, an SUV for her parents, a boxing academy, a job through the sports quota, a house--had been achieved. Soon after, a biopic would be released which would inspire Iranian Sadaf Khadem to make boxing her calling even if it meant living in exile. But if you thought all that was reason enough for Mary to stop taking punches, to stop punishing her body, check out the video in the Olympic channel after she got her ticket to Tokyo. Sweat shining, Mary shrills in delight, takes a step back, presses the ticket against her forehead before kissing it. And then, with eyes growing wider, she points her still-taped hands to the ticket and exclaims: "For this only, so long, so long, long, long, I was working so hard. Thank you so much. I deserve, I deserve, I think." It would be difficult to disagree with that. Because five years after a split decision against Germany's Azize Nimani robbed her of a chance to play in Rio 2016, Mary didn't stop dreaming. She didn't when Nikhat Zareen became the national champion in the 51kg category and demanded a fair trial ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in 2020. Mary beat her 9-1 showing that Zareen may well be the future but she isn't yet the past. She has battled dengue, hard lockdowns and long stretches of no training last year, trained through mastitis after her twins were born in 2007, stayed away from her newborns for months--as they got older, they would ask Mary when she would come home, "one night or two nights," she said--and yo-yoed between weight categories (48kg in 2001; 45kg from 2002-08; 48kg in 2010 and 51kg since 2012) because she wanted to be the best. And without undermining her record six world titles--in addition to a silver and a bronze--five Asian Championship gold and two silver, an Asian Games gold and a bronze, and a Commonwealth Games gold, being the best for Mary means an Olympic gold. It has been that way since August 13, 2009 when the International Olympic Committee announced that women's boxing would be an Olympic sport from the 2012 Games. Citing Mary's success was part of the pitch by AIBA, boxing's apex body. "Being a world champion, if I am not able to fight in the Olympics, there is no value for me. What keeps me hungry is the Olympic gold. Once I win that, I think I will be satisfied," Mary, now a mother of four who will be 39 in November, has said. She is among five Indian women with Olympic medals--Saina Nehwal, Karnam Malleswari, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik being the others-- and no one has struck gold. Hence the whoop in Amman in March, 2020, after beating Irish Magno of the Philippines 5-0 to seal a semi-final berth in the Asian qualifiers--one that helped Mary qualify for her second Olympics. Maybe things would have been different if India gave equal value to her world titles as it did to the Olympic bronze. The first medal fetched Mary a job as a constable in the Manipur police department. She refused. It wasn't till her second world title, in 2005, that Mary was offered a sub-inspector's post. But after she made the podium in London, Mary became Superintendent of Police, a Rajya Sabha member and got land for her academy. So, like Muhammad Ali, Mary has gone to Tokyo aiming to "whup'em all." At Friday's opening ceremony, she and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh were India's flag-bearers. Mary's story began in Kangathei village near Imphal. Her father, a wrestler who abandoned the idea of taking the sport seriously because life was hard, had moved from their ancestral place Sagang Khapui "because it was one less mouth to feed". With school some distance away, most days in childhood were long but ploughing fields with buffalos, lifting sacks of rice and heavy farming tools, carrying water across long distances, going up the hill to collect firewood prepared her for a life as a ring warrior, she has said. "I am tough because of my background. My strength and stamina continue to be my strong points when I fight bigger opponents in the ring," she says in her book. If Nicola Adams, the two-time Olympic champion from Britain who beat Mary in the 2012, took up the sport because she got curious after her mother went a gymnasium that also held boxing classes, Mary got hooked because of a combination of early exposure to martial arts films, the late Dingko Singh winning the 54kg gold in the 1998 Asian Games, a women's boxing exhibition in Imphal and a chance meeting with boxer Rebika Chiru who took her to famous coach Ibomcha Singh. "I want you to coach me," said Mary, adding that Ibomcha was possibly taken aback by the bold approach. Through the journey, husband Onler has more than held her hand. Mary calls him a friend, partner, soulmate and "extraordinarily graceful night-time parent" in the book. "He is the reason my medal hauls continued after marriage, putting an end to doomsday predictions about the end of my career," she says. If Mary is a lesson in juggling motherhood, promotional commitments and boxing, it is because Onler has put his life on hold to manage everything else. The opponents World champion Liliya Aetbaeva of Russia hasn't qualified for Tokyo but silver medallist Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey has. Cakiroglu has lost only five times since the 2016 Games and beat Mary in the semi-final of the 2019 world championship. Virginia Fuchs of USA, who has defeated Mary twice, will also be there as will Ingrit Valencia of Colombia who lost to Mary in the 2019 world championship quarter-final. They could be among her top contenders. Cakiroglu is 25, Fuchs is 33 and Valencia 32. But referring to Floyd Mayweather beating Canelo Alvarez in September 2013, Adams, in an interview to The Guardian, spoke about how the "older" and "more skillful" won because "he just had the smarts to outmanoeuvre the younger guy." Among Mary's favourite lines from the Bible is this: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (Corinthinas 9:24)." So discount Mary, the world No. 3, at your peril. But even if she doesn't fulfill her expectations, even if she returns without a medal she will remain the standard-bearer of women's boxing in India. One who in the absence of history and reference forged her path. If there are more girls in boxing, in sport now, it is also because Mary continues to inspire, almost two decades after becoming a world champion for the first time.
33 WazirX NFT, India's first marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFT), has launched art collections dedicated to the silver medal won by Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in the 2020 Summer Olympic, being held in Tokyo, Japan. Chanu, on Saturday became the sixth Indian female athlete to win an Olympic medal in this century. Creators on WazirX NFT Marketplace have minted NFTs featuring GIFs, artworks, etc. capturing the win of Mirabai Chanu. 'A Billion Dreams' by cartoonist Satish Acharya was sold for 300 WRX or $338.7. Another NFT based on Chanu's win, which was minted by doodle artist Monika Paul, was sold for 58 WRX or $65.48. WRX is the utility token of cryptocurrency exchange WazirX and was trading 9.3% higher at $1.13 at around 4.30 pm IST, as per CoinGecko. "The pandemic brought sports to a standstill for most part of 2020. However, the Olympics this year have brought joy not just to the sports enthusiasts but also to our country as a whole. Not just a week into the event and women athletes are already making headlines with their wins. To salute and honor these athletes, artists have been creating NFTs which are now available on our platform," said Vishakha Singh, vice-president, WazirX NFT Marketplace. This year India witnessed its highest female contingent at Tokyo Olympics, featuring 56 athletes. NFTs are digital collectibles, which can be obtained via an official marketplace and artists around the world have gone digital this year by minting different NFTs to cheer the players and to keep the fans engaged. NFT is a one-of-its-kind digital asset that is not interchangeable in nature. Owning an NFT is like owning a one-of-a-kind work of art or a collectable antique. NFTs are unique tokens or digital assets that generate value because of their uniqueness.
34 Long after the heat of battle had ebbed, the tears continued to flow for the Indian women's hockey team. If they were still crying as they trooped out of the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo to take the bus for the Games village, they were simply inconsolable on the turf. In soaring temperatures (43 degrees pitch side), the plucky Indian women's team had pushed the 2016 Olympics gold medallists Great Britain so hard that even the rival camp were left to admire their determined effort.As the women sobbed and were consoled by both the coaching staff as well as their opponents, the scoreboard flashed the final result-4-3-which told both sides of the story: a valiant fight and an opportunity missed narrowly. If ever there was victory in defeat, this was it. In a match where both teams ran themselves ragged, battling for every ball, the more skillful team won, but India proved that they more than belonged to this stage. This is a result that is bigger than the match itself, because it holds the promise of transforming the dynamics of Indian women's hockey. But for now, the pain of coming so close but missing out on the medal hurt to the bones. Captain Rani Rampal stood transfixed on the turf, crying. Coach Sjoerd Marijne gave Rani a little shake, before running over to goalkeeper Savita Punia, who was sobbing uncontrollably in the arms of the team's analytical coach Janneke Schopman. The British women stopped their celebrations midway to offer a shoulder for their crestfallen opponents. Finally, Marijne, for whom it was the last match with the team, got them together and quietly said, "I can't take away your tears, but what I can tell you is that India is proud of each one of you." The Indian women's team played this match with the same qualities of intensity and resilience that allowed them to repeatedly claw back from nearly hopeless situations throughout the tournament-be it from the three losses from their first three matches in the group stage, or today, when they were down 0-2 in the second quarter. Launching one attack after another, India slotted in three goals in four minutes to stun Britain and end the quarter on top. The first two goals from India came off Gurjit Kaur- who is fast becoming the goalscoring talisman of this team-both powerful drag-flicks that thundered through the British defence. Then the experienced Vandana Kataria, so good at latching on to loose balls in the D, did exactly that for the third goal. The British equalized five minutes into the third quarter and then scored again in the fourth, the winner coming from Grace Balsdon. "We were very close to winning a medal. We showed the character of the team," said captain Rampal, her voice choking up. "We fought till the end but unfortunately, we could not finish it, but I am proud of the team. "When I came to the team I never thought that we could come to this level because we had never qualified for the Olympics. We finished 12th in Rio and it was a turning point for women's hockey." The start was anything but a sign of things to come. Great Britain controlled the pace of the game and the action was mostly in the Indian half where Savita Punia was pulling off one one save after another. Britain got three penalty corners in quick succession but Punia the 'wall' was doing what PR Sreejesh did for the men's team. With quick reflexes and good anticipation, she stood boldly between Britain and an opening goal. The next 15 minutes were explosive-five goals between the two teams, with pacy attacks down the flanks, desperate defending, quick passing and some fine solo runs, including one by Salima Tete that set up the penalty corner for Gurjit's first goal. But for India, it was not enough. Great Britain controlled just as much of the game as needed, scored two goals in the last two quarters and no matter how much India tried, they could not score another one. "We had the confidence that we can win this match," said Gurjit. "We put all our effort. We were so close to winning a medal. We will come back stronger."
35 Shattered after going down in the Olympics women's singles final, world number one badminton player Tai Tzu Ying has revealed that Indian ace P V Sindhu's words of encouragement after the medal ceremony left her in tears. Competing in her third Olympics, Tai Tzu finally stood atop the podium, finishing with a silver medal after going down to Chen Yu Fei of China 18-21 21-19 18-21 in the final here on Sunday. Five years ago at the Rio Olympics, Sindhu had emerged second best as she went down to Carolina Marin of Spain in a hard-fought three-game loss and the Indian knew exactly how the world no.1 shuttler was feeling. "After the match, I was satisfied with my performance. Later Sindhu ran over and hugged me, held my face, and told me: I know you're uncomfortable and you've been very good, but today isn't your day. Then she held me in her arms and said she knows all about it," Tai Tzu wrote on her Instagram account. "That sincere encouragement, made me cry. I was really sad because I tried really hard. Thank you again for your support and encouragement. Thank you all for walking with me till now," she added. On Saturday, Tai Tzu had defeated Sindhu, the Rio Olympic silver-medallist and the reigning world champion, 21-18 21-12 in the semifinals, ending the Indian's hopes of securing the country's first-ever gold medal in badminton. Sindhu later won the bronze medal play off against world no.9 He Bing Jiao of China to become the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Games. The 27-year-old Tai Tzu penned down an emotional note, thanking everyone who has supported her. "The third time I stepped on the stage of this dream, I finally made it to the finals, but I couldn't stand on the highest podium. There is always a little regret, but imperfection always exist, only to be motivated to pursue better results." "Maybe I won't have another chance to participate in the Olympics, but I've achieved this goal, just not so perfect. "I just want to tell myself: Dai Ji-hing, you're great! Thank you to all of you who have supported me, the results are always brutal and only acceptable but I try my best."
36 Gurjit Kaur's goal in the second quarter earned the Indian women's hockey team a place in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final - their first-ever in Olympic Games - with a historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarter-final on Monday. After applying consistent pressure in the first quarter, India made a circle penetration and earned a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Gurjit Kaur carried out the drag-flick and found the back of the net to help India take a 1-0 lead. "I'm really happy. This is the result of all our hard work. Every player has worked day and night for this day, can't tell you how happy I am," Gurjit said after India beat the World No.2 side against all odds. VIDEO: Gurjit Kaur's goal that helped India achieve historic win over Australia After conceding, Australia put some pressure on the Indian goal, however, the Indian defence stood tall and fought against everything the Australians threw at them. In the 11th minute of the second quarter, Salima Tete made a circle penetration and took a shot, but she looped the ball over the crossbar. Indian continued to put pressure on the Australians as the two teams went into the break with India leading at 1-0. Australia started the third quarter aggressively and made a circle penetration straight away, however, the Indian team directed the ball away brilliantly. Australia continued to put pressure on their opponents and earned a penalty corner in the third minute of the third quarter, however, they couldn't convert their opportunity. The Australians earned another penalty corner in the next minute, but the Indian defence unit pushed the ball away fantastically. Australia kept trying to put pressure on their opponents, however, the Indians kept intercepting the ball. The World Number 2 team kept trying to find a breakthrough, but the Indian defence stood tall and ensured that they stayed in the lead. In the 13th minute, Neha made a brilliant pass to Navneet in the circle, but the latter took a shot, but couldn't find the back of the net. Sharmila Devi drove the ball from the right in the final minutes of the third quarter, however, the Indians couldn't deflect the ball into the goal. Australia continued to put pressure on the Indians in the fourth quarter, however, the Indian defence unit kept directing the ball away from the goal. In the 7th minute of the fourth quarter, Australia earned two Penalty Corners, but the Indian defence made two brilliant saves and ensured that they stayed in the lead. The Australians kept pressing forward, kept making circle penetrations, but they just couldn't find a way to breach the Indian defence. With just three minutes left on the clock, the Australians earned a Penalty Corner. The Australians took a shot, but Monika calmly tapped the ball away from the goal. Australia earned another Penalty Corner soon after and got very close to the goal, but the Indians held their nerve and directed the ball away. The Indians kept most of the ball possession in the final minutes of the match and ensured that they booked a place in the Semi-finals. The Indian women's hockey team will take on Argentina in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics on 4 August 2021.
37 Gurjit Kaur's goal in the second quarter earned the Indian women's hockey team a place in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final - their first-ever in Olympic Games - with a historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarter-final on Monday. After applying consistent pressure in the first quarter, India made a circle penetration and earned a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Gurjit Kaur carried out the drag-flick and found the back of the net to help India take a 1-0 lead. "I'm really happy. This is the result of all our hard work. Every player has worked day and night for this day, can't tell you how happy I am," Gurjit said after India beat the World No.2 side against all odds. VIDEO: Gurjit Kaur's goal that helped India achieve historic win over Australia After conceding, Australia put some pressure on the Indian goal, however, the Indian defence stood tall and fought against everything the Australians threw at them. In the 11th minute of the second quarter, Salima Tete made a circle penetration and took a shot, but she looped the ball over the crossbar. Indian continued to put pressure on the Australians as the two teams went into the break with India leading at 1-0. Australia started the third quarter aggressively and made a circle penetration straight away, however, the Indian team directed the ball away brilliantly. Australia continued to put pressure on their opponents and earned a penalty corner in the third minute of the third quarter, however, they couldn't convert their opportunity. The Australians earned another penalty corner in the next minute, but the Indian defence unit pushed the ball away fantastically. Australia kept trying to put pressure on their opponents, however, the Indians kept intercepting the ball. The World Number 2 team kept trying to find a breakthrough, but the Indian defence stood tall and ensured that they stayed in the lead. In the 13th minute, Neha made a brilliant pass to Navneet in the circle, but the latter took a shot, but couldn't find the back of the net. Sharmila Devi drove the ball from the right in the final minutes of the third quarter, however, the Indians couldn't deflect the ball into the goal. Australia continued to put pressure on the Indians in the fourth quarter, however, the Indian defence unit kept directing the ball away from the goal. In the 7th minute of the fourth quarter, Australia earned two Penalty Corners, but the Indian defence made two brilliant saves and ensured that they stayed in the lead. The Australians kept pressing forward, kept making circle penetrations, but they just couldn't find a way to breach the Indian defence. With just three minutes left on the clock, the Australians earned a Penalty Corner. The Australians took a shot, but Monika calmly tapped the ball away from the goal. Australia earned another Penalty Corner soon after and got very close to the goal, but the Indians held their nerve and directed the ball away. The Indians kept most of the ball possession in the final minutes of the match and ensured that they booked a place in the Semi-finals. The Indian women's hockey team will take on Argentina in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics on 4 August 2021.
38 Nobody was speaking about Anna Kiesenhofer ahead of the Tokyo 2020 women's road race on 25 July, but now certainly everyone knows all about her. Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria rode to the gold medal in the women's Olympic road race on Sunday. Annemiek Van Vleuten of the Netherlands claimed the silver medal with Elisa Longho Borghini of Italy third. Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also joined in as people around the world congratulated Anna, who is a math genius, as she won a gold medal in the women's Olympic road race. "What a woman! Superwoman." Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted. What a woman! Superwoman' ������ pic.twitter.com/5N8ij5RlAk - Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 31, 2021 Anna Kiesenhofer took to Instagram to express her gratitude and wrote, "Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have been there for me over the last months and years. You know who you are. And you know that the very essence of this achievement is not so different from any other major goal I set myself in the past. The last days have been such a crazy." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anna Kiesenhofer (@annakiesenhofer) Kiesenhofer's curriculum vitae features more academic accomplishments than cycling ones: a degree from the Technical University of Vienna studied at Cambridge and a doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In fact, she does not even have a professional contract this season, and she was entered in the Olympic road race without a teammate. -With agency inputs
39 Nobody was speaking about Anna Kiesenhofer ahead of the Tokyo 2020 women's road race on 25 July, but now certainly everyone knows all about her. Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria rode to the gold medal in the women's Olympic road race on Sunday. Annemiek Van Vleuten of the Netherlands claimed the silver medal with Elisa Longho Borghini of Italy third. Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also joined in as people around the world congratulated Anna, who is a math genius, as she won a gold medal in the women's Olympic road race. "What a woman! Superwoman." Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted. What a woman! Superwoman' ������ pic.twitter.com/5N8ij5RlAk - Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 31, 2021 Anna Kiesenhofer took to Instagram to express her gratitude and wrote, "Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have been there for me over the last months and years. You know who you are. And you know that the very essence of this achievement is not so different from any other major goal I set myself in the past. The last days have been such a crazy." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anna Kiesenhofer (@annakiesenhofer) Kiesenhofer's curriculum vitae features more academic accomplishments than cycling ones: a degree from the Technical University of Vienna studied at Cambridge and a doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In fact, she does not even have a professional contract this season, and she was entered in the Olympic road race without a teammate. -With agency inputs
40 A variety of brands cashed in on athlete Mirabai Chanu's thumping win in the women's weightlifting 49 kg category at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, launching campaigns to congratulate her and even offering freebies. Homegrown cloud kitchen food brand platform Yumlane offered its pizza to the athlete, while Jubilant FoodWorks owned Domino's Pizza went a step ahead and delivered it at Chanu's home in Manipur besides promising a lifetime of free treats for her. "Domino's is now doing a short-term digital activation deal with Mirabai Chanu," said Neerav Tomar, CEO & managing director, IOS Sports and Entertainment, a sports management company that handles Chanu's brand endorsement portfolio. While Tomar told Mint that there is interest from brands across categories such as steel, energy drinks, muscle supplement, women's personal care to sign Chanu, branding and marketing experts felt that most brands have used her win to attract attention to themselves and push their products. "Such marketing tactics get quick media eyeballs, and that is sadly what brands are chasing. It's all about moment marketing and being on the trending list. Most brands don't bother about what they stand for and the right fit," said Naresh Gupta, co-founder, and chief strategy officer, Bang In The Middle. Gupta added that if brands were serious about fueling an athlete's Olympic dreams, they have to work with them for a long period of time. "Companies such as JSW and Tatas spend a lifetime nurturing athletes and looking after them," he added. JSW Group, for instance, has been supporting its athletes through the last five years at every stage in the build-up to the Tokyo Games. The firm also opened the doors of the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) training centre in Bellary, Karnataka to all Tokyo-bound athletes, irrespective of whether they are supported by the JSW Group or not. Sports brand Puma has signed 18 Indian athletes who will represent the country in national and international events across sporting disciplines like shooting, hockey, track and field, boxing, table tennis, discus throw, and badminton. The brand will provide gear and support to these athletes. Harish Bijoor, brand strategy expert and founder, Harish BijoorConsults Inc. calls it 'Olympic moment vulturism'. "Many brands have hijacked the winning moment of the athletes to gain attention towards themselves which has not created a negative reaction in the minds of many. Consumers are savvy though and they know when it happens," he noted. The Lovely Professional University (LPU) ad showing 11 athletes in the India Olympic squad that belonged to the university stirred a debate when Virat Kohli mentioned the fact in his post. Netizens trolled Kohli for using Olympics as a ploy to promote the educational institution. A senior sports marketing executive, on the condition of anonymity, said there are legal implications to such marketing tactics. Unless a brand has signed a legal contract with an athlete, they cannot use his/her picture even for congratulatory posts. "Often, brands don't take such liberties with the cricketers because they have got strong management and legal teams. However, unfortunately, brands do tend to take advantage of young upcoming athletes in non-traditional sports who will likely come in the limelight once in their lifetime," the executive added. The biggest drawback with non-traditional sports athletes is also low visibility. Unlike sports such as cricket, badminton, tennis, and football, which have year-round engagement, non-traditional sports athletes are only seen twice in four years for Asian Games and Olympics. "That is the unfortunate reason that their access to fame is only once every four years and hence brands don't sign them for long-term partnerships," the executive noted. (The promoters of HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint, and Jubilant FoodWorks are closely related. There are, however, no promoter cross-holdings.)
41 There's definitely a sense of disappointment with Indian Women's Hockey team failing to enter the race for the gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, but Chak De! India actor Vidya Malavade is proud that the team went down fighting against one of the best teams in the world. Millions were glued to their screens watching the match against Argentina, held on Wednesday, with a hope to witness the reel moment of the women's hockey team clinching the gold at a world cup from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer film, turn into a reality on a bigger platform. It didn't come true, but there's nothing to lose hope, says Malavade. "We've already created history by going to the semi-finals for the first time. The girls are looking so fit. It's the training that has got them to where they are today. The defence and aggression is good. But, Argentina played better," says Malavade, who was seen in the role of captain of India's women's hockey team in the 2007 film. She adds, "I'm already proud of what we've achieved and we only look onwards and upwards from here." After all, these are the moments which distinguish reel life from real life, feels the actor. "If not this time, we'll have our Chak De! India moment agli baar. You can't give up. I'll never give up hope. Just look, from where these girls have come, the humble backgrounds, and went on to create history. They beat the top team in the world," she notes. Now, the actor is rooting for the team to bring home the bronze medal and is hopeful that next time, it would be gold. "It's one step at a time. This time, we reached the semis. Next time, maybe we'll reach the finals and at some point we'll lift the gold. Hockey has been our national sport and our pride for a very long time. In the coming years, we'll see the golden era of hockey all over again," the actor expresses. Till then, Malavade is happy other sports like hockey are also gaining recognition, all thanks to the players. "Until a few days ago, nobody ever spoke about these players, and now everybody is interested. I'm just glad that women are shining in sports. I think the time has come where the athletes in this country are doing really well and athletics is being considered as a viable profession. And it can bring glory to the country, which is the most important thing," she concludes.
42 The Olympic fever has gripped the nation and actor Payal Ghosh is not immune to it. The actor has been watching every game where Indian athletes are participating at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The self-confessed sports fanatic says, "I am so inspired by the way our athletes and especially women are fighting it out at the Tokyo Olympics. Be it Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom or our Indian Women's Hockey team, they are leaving no stones unturned to bring glory to the nation." Ghosh feels that we need many more such athletes in our country and as the joy that's sports brings to us is so paramount. "That's what sports can do to us. It inspires us," she continues, "Every kid should have the right to play the sport she or he loves and we must encourage and empower our kids with those facilities. And when that happens, we can go a long way as a sport-loving nation and not just a sportsperson-loving nation. Not just for the medals and the championships, we need to play like never before because of the joy, intensity and the lessons sports give and every kid has that right." Citing the example of the US and how they have been able to weave Olympic success stories over the years, the actor says, "The US has been the epitome of Olympic success and the entire sports fraternity is run by private players, backed by their government." Not one to merely preach, Ghosh is set on doing her bit to help kids inculcate a love for sports. So, she has decided to give sporting goods to an NGO for a year for underprivileged children. "Sports is the best reality show and it has the power to shake up the world. Our sportsmen and women embody that. This is the change we have to bring and let each kid play from the youngest of their ages. I can't wait to be associated with this and I am really looking forward to being a part of this change," she ends.
43 P.V. Sindhu may have won the bronze in Tokyo, but she's certainly struck gold back home. The ace shuttler, the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, is likely to see a surge in her brand endorsement fee and value, said sports marketing executives. Sindhu, who had won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, could see her annual brand fee go up by more than 60% from Rs.1.5-1.8 crore to Rs.2-3 crore, they said. "A few active discussions are going on," said Tuhin Mishra, managing director and co-founder of Baseline Ventures, which manages her portfolio. Mishra said Sindhu, 26, has clearly shown that she is a GOAT (Greatest of all time) of Indian sports. "Her medal-winning performance will surely help further add to the market value she commands. However, that's secondary; most importantly, she helps inspire youngsters to dream and break the glass ceiling," he added. Sindhu currently has 10 deals with a variety of brands, including Bank of Baroda, Bridgestone Tyres, Visa India, Google, real estate firm Pooja Developers, Chinese sports brand Li Ning, Stayfree, PNB Metlife, Sharechat and Vizag Steel. In 2016, after her Rio success, Sindhu emerged as an overnight favourite for many brands and has managed to maintain and expand her brand portfolio because of the popularity she enjoys. According to consultant Duff & Phelps' estimates, Sindhu had about 10 endorsements at the end of 2020, and her brand value was about $12 million. "We expect her brand value to increase significantly post her phenomenal success at the Tokyo Olympics. It may be difficult to quantify the increase at this stage. Brands would be looking at this fantastic opportunity to rope her in as a brand ambassador by leveraging her fame with the brand image," said Aviral Jain, managing director, Duff & Phelps-a Kroll business. Backed by impressive performances across the globe and a strong endorsement portfolio over the years, Sindhu today is the most successful female athlete in India in terms of brand endorsements and presence, Jain said. "She has been signed on as a brand ambassador for many brands since badminton has a mass appeal, and fans follow her for her expertise, excellence and consistent performance. She has been a persistent, dependable and winning athlete throughout her career, and this attribute is what brands leverage since it's in sync with their product image," he noted. Ritesh Nath, an independent sports consultant, agreed: "Sindhu already has an extremely rich bag of endorsements in any case, and that is a testimony that she does work for marketers. She has learnt to position and groom herself better in the market." But although Sindhu is one of India's most successful female athletes, her brand value is only a fraction of cricketer Virat Kohli's $237 million. Experts said marketing opportunities have opened up for female athletes only recently due to the growth of social media platforms. With almost 8 million followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Sindhu strikes a deep connection with fans, an accomplishment that homegrown social media platform Sharechat and video sharing app Moj are leveraging. "We believe that she will inspire and encourage our communities to create and engage with the sports content," said Shashank Shekhar, director -content strategy, Moj and ShareChat.
44 India vs Great Britain women's hockey Live Streaming: History may be on the cards on Friday as India face off against Great Britain in women's hockey bronze medal match in Tokyo. A victory for the Indian women's team against the defending Olympic champions will be doubly sweeter as it would mean India's first-ever Olympic medal in women's hockey. But the odds are against the Rani Rampal-led team in their first-ever medal match in history. Where will India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Friday (August 6th). Tokyo 2020 Day 14 Live Where and how to watch live coverage of the India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
45 A Canadian football player is assured of becoming the first-ever transgender sportsperson to win a medal at the Olympic Games after the country's women's team defeated the United States in the semi-finals on Monday. Quinn, who goes by a single name, played on the team as a midfielder. While Quinn was also a member of the squad that claimed the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, they only came out as transgender in September last year. Quinn self-describes as a non-binary and does not use either male or female pronouns and instead prefers they/them. Canada will face off against Sweden in the women's final on Friday but is assured of winning either a gold or silver. In an Instagram post last year, Quinn wrote: "Coming out is HARD", adding, "I know for me it's something I'll be doing over again for the rest of my life. As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly." Much attention has been placed during the Tokyo Games on New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, also a transgender athlete, who was eliminated early in the women's 87-plus kg category. Her participation has ignited a debate over whether transgender athletes participating in women's category have an unfair advantage. The International Olympic Committee is expected to frame fresh guidelines in this regard in the future. Unlike Hubbard, Quinn was born female and is participating in a women's event. Quinn told the outlet CBC Sports that athletics was "the most exciting part of my life and it brings me the most joy," adding, "If I can allow kids to play the sports they love, that's my legacy and that's what I'm here for." Regardless of the result on Friday, Quinn ascending the podium will mark a historic day for transgenders in sport.
46 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud that it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just beaten NC Chen of Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the women's boxing quarterfinals to assure a second Tokyo Olympic medal for India. After Vijender Singh in 2008 and Mary Kom in 2012, both bronzes, Borgohain is now the third boxer ever from India to win an Olympic medal. In Olympic boxing, both losing semifinalists get the bronze. If Borgohain wins her semi, she will become the first Indian boxer in an Olympic final. The lanky boxer was scrappy to start with. The first round was cagey and neither Borgohain nor Chen managed to control the bout, though the ruled narrowly in favour of the boxer from Assam. From the second round, Borgohain was transformed. She took control, her footwork and defensive play was assured and her counters efficient. The more desperately Chen threw her punches, the more Borgohain dictated the ring. The round went to her 5-0. "You can make history for India," the Indian women's boxing coach Raffaello Bergamesco said to her between the rounds and yet again Borgohain took control of the third to romp home to a win. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, a two-time world championships medallist. Her success also attested to the talent of athletes from the North-eastern states, coming on the heels of the silver medal exploits of Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting. Borgohain came out to meet the press with a traditional gamosa around her neck. Borgohain had lost against Chen in their previous four meetings before the Olympics, but today she was not to be denied. "I thought I will play it easy, whatever the situation I will handle. I have lost four times. I used to think too much about her. Today I went with the strategy of attacking and not staying on the back foot," she said. Borgohain said she will be even more free in the semifinals, now that a medal is sure for the country. "I can play freely now. I did not take any tress. If you take stress, it is not good. I just wanted to prove myself. I wanted to prove that I can beat her."
47 There were prayers and lighting of lamps before the match and though she lost to her Turkish opponent, all of Assam erupted in celebrations and congratulatory messages at the glory Lovlina Borgohain brought to the state. Her home at Baromukhia village in Golaghat district was filled with neighbours, relatives and journalists to watch the 23-year-old take on Busenaz Surmeneli in semi-final of women's welterweight boxing category of Tokyo Olympics. But her parents, father Tiken Borgohain and mother Mamoni, didn't watch the bout; they were in another room of the house. But this was not the first time they skipped Lovlina's bout. They had not watched her previous bouts in Tokyo as well. "It's too much of excitement and emotion to handle while watching her matches live. We prefer hearing about their outcome from others and watch them later, if possible," Borgohain, a small-time businessman, told HT over phone from Baromukhia. They could, however, make out how Wednesday's match was progressing from the from the cheers and sighs from the other room. "I am told that she put up a valiant fight and didn't go down meekly. Winning and losing are part of every sport. We are proud of her achievement and for bringing glory to Assam and India. We are confident she will learn from this experience and improve as a boxer," he said. Borgohain, who hasn't yet spoken to his daughter after today's match, expects her to reach home next week. Lovlina's bronze medal was cheered by President Ram Nath Kovind, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lauded her efforts and expressed hope that it will inspire more young people, especially women, to pursue their dreams. "Congratulations to Assam's daughter Lovlina Borgohain for bringing home the bronze medal in Olympic boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement," Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Sarma led a cycle rally in Guwahati to cheer for Lovlina as she left for Tokyo and on Tuesday, the state Cabinet lighted earthen lamps to pray for her success in the semi-final bout. On Wednesday, the ongoing budget session of the state assembly was halted for 30 minutes so all legislators could watch the match. Lovlina's village does not have a metalled road. After her quarter final win, the state government is busy preparing a motorable road. When she returns from Tokyo, a new road will await the bronze medallist.
48 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gave a heartwarming reply to India women's team hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne on Twitter after the historic win over Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The Indian women's hockey team led by Rani Rampal defeated Australia in the quarterfinal in Tokyo 2020 to book a spot in the semifinals for the first time in history. A fantastic dragflick from Gurjit Kaur from a penalty corner gave India the lead in the second quarter of the match, and despite earning seven penalty corners, the World No. 2 team Australia were unable to get a goal in the match, losing by 1-0. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - Live Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who was seen celebrating with his team after the match, posted an image on Twitter in which his staff was seen enjoying the win in the team bus. "Sorry family , I coming again later," Marijne wrote on Twitter. Shah Rukh Khan, who famously portrayed the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the 2007 Blockbuster hit 'Chak De India', replied to Marijne and requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. India will face off against Argentina in the semifinal. This will be India's first-ever semifinal at the Olympics, and even if they lose, they will compete in the Bronze medal match.
49 Shah Rukh Khan has reacted to the Indian women's hockey team's historic win against Australia at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. On Monday morning, coach Sjoerd Marijne tweeted a picture with the Indian team after it had advanced to the semi finals of the Tokyo Olympics. "Sorry family , I coming again later," he wrote in the tweet. Retweeting the picture, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," referring to his role in the Bollywood film Chak De! India. Reacting to Shah Rukh's tweet, Sjoerd said, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." Shah Rukh tweeted his reaction after several Twitter users, including Randeep Hooda, compared the real-life visuals from the Olympics with the climax of Chak De! India. The actor shared a picture of the Indian team celebrating their victory and wrote, "What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020." Fans tweeted pictures and videos comparing scenes from the final moments of the film, showing Australian team members in dejection while Indian players celebrated their victory. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh has been busy with his upcoming project Pathan. Although Yash Raj Films has yet to officially announce the project, Shah Rukh has been spotted making his way to the YRF studio in Mumbai to shoot the film. Pathan also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, and marks Shah Rukh's comeback to acting after 2018's Zero.
50 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gave a heartwarming reply to India women's team hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne on Twitter after the historic win over Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The Indian women's hockey team led by Rani Rampal defeated Australia in the quarterfinal in Tokyo 2020 to book a spot in the semifinals for the first time in history. A fantastic dragflick from Gurjit Kaur from a penalty corner gave India the lead in the second quarter of the match, and despite earning seven penalty corners, the World No. 2 team Australia were unable to get a goal in the match, losing by 1-0. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - Live Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who was seen celebrating with his team after the match, posted an image on Twitter in which his staff was seen enjoying the win in the team bus. "Sorry family , I coming again later," Marijne wrote on Twitter. Shah Rukh Khan, who famously portrayed the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the 2007 Blockbuster hit 'Chak De India', replied to Marijne and requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. "Marijne came up with a brilliant response to Shah Rukh's tweet. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," tweeted Marijne. India will face off against Argentina in the semifinal. This will be India's first-ever semifinal at the Olympics, and even if they lose, they will compete in the Bronze medal match.
51 Amritsar To honour Indian Olympic women hockey team player, Gurjit Kaur, of Miadi Kalan, 10km from the India-Pakistan International border, the foundation stone of a stadium was laid in her village on Friday. Gurjit scored two goals in the bronze medal against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Amritsar zila parishad chairman Dilraj Singh Sarkaria, sarpanch Dilbag Singh, the player's father Satnam Singh and other prominent persons were present at the stone-laying ceremony. Gurjit and her sister Pardeep Kaur, a hockey coach at Sansarpur, negotiated several hardships in pursuit of their goal of sporting glory, villagers mention. Gurjit's father, Satnam, said, "There is no stadium or playground or any other sports facility in this border area. A stadium here will be a huge blessing for all." "Irrespective of the match result, Gurjit gave a remarkable performance. She had to sit out for a few minutes, this made the difference," he added. Her cousin Gurcharan Singh, "We accept the defeat in the match. My sister, however, has helped India finish 4th at the Olympics, a creditable feat. We will accord her a warm welcome on her return."
52 It needed the women's basketball team to deliver a seventh straight Olympic gold, track cyclist Jennifer Valente to overcome a dramatic crash and cross the finish line in front and the women's volleyball team to win a maiden title on the final day for USA to get to where it usually belongs-at the top. It was that close. Heading into the last day of Tokyo 2020, the Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory of second spot in the medals tally. They were still dominating in the volume of overall medals, but China had two more gold-the decisive column in arranging the order. Of the 13 pieces of the priceless yellow on offer on Sunday, USA earned three, China nil. It gave USA its 39th gold medal, edging past China by a solitary gold. It was that close. (FULL TOKYO 2020 COVERAGE) USA finished with 39 gold and a total of 113 medals; China won 38 gold and 88 overall. It is the American contingent's third straight finish at the top of the standings, and the seventh consecutive Olympics from where it has won the most medals. Save 2008 Beijing where China's gold shone brighter, USA has topped the gold count at every Olympics from 1996 Atlanta. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony- Highlights Previously, it was never that close. The dominance was dented in these unprecedented Games. In 2016 Rio, USA ended with 46 gold and 121 medals overall while China had 26 gold and 70 overall. In 2012 London, the Americans won 46 gold (104 overall); China had 38 gold in a total of 91. Ironically, USA's most productive disciplines at these Games-11 and seven gold to top the swimming and track and field charts, respectively-is also where its stranglehold on the tally eased. Of course, Simone Biles-the great gymnast looking to add to her stature in Tokyo-could have single-handedly tightened it again before she pulled out of four individual events to deal with the "twisties" (stress and loss of confidence while doing routines). In Rio, USA won 32 athletics medals, including 13 gold. The overall tally in Tokyo was still a good 26, but the gold count dipped to seven. The men's track squad didn't have a single individual gold to flaunt for the first time in modern Olympic history (USA boycotted 1980 Moscow). The drought stretched till the final events when the 4x400m relay team quenched the thirst. The USA had splashes of individual brilliance in the pool from the likes of Caeleb Dressel (five gold) and Katie Ledecky, who won the 800m and 1500m but had her iron grip loosened in the 400m and 200m by young Ariarne Titmus of Australia, which ended behind USA with nine gold and 20 medals in swimming; more than double from Rio. The sink came in the relays. Forget gold, American swimmers failed to win a medal for the first time while entering a relay event when Great Britain stunned all with the men's 4x200m freestyle victory. In the mixed races of swimming and track and field, USA finished fifth in the 4x100m medley relay and won bronze in the 4x400m relay, behind Poland and Dominican Republic. China had the upper hand in mixed events across sport, winning three gold to USA's none. China, in contrast, continued to boss where it usually does. Diving alone gave the country seven gold, and so did weightlifting, both disciplines in which the next best nation was at a distant one gold. Chinese shooters clinched four gold, and so did their paddlers. Such is the nation's might and expectation on the table that the only title it didn't win in table tennis resulted in a tearful apology for failure by the mixed doubles team. Who beat them? Japan. The home contingent delivered a historic Games in more ways than one. Battling a year's delay and uncertainty, ever-growing costs and the pressure to perform at home without local fans cheering on, Japan had its best Olympics ever with 27 gold and 58 total medals to finish third. The country had won 12 gold in Rio. Its previous highest haul was 16, at 1964 Tokyo and 2004 Athens. Host nations generally tend to punch above the weight at every Olympics and Japan benefitted from the five sports that were added in Tokyo: skateboarding (three gold; five total), sport climbing (one silver and bronze), karate (one gold; three total), surfing (one silver and bronze) and baseball/softball (two gold). It wasn't just about the newbies. Japan won nine gold in judo and five in wrestling (four by women), took on powerhouse USA in the women's basketball final for its first-ever medal and overcame China in table tennis. That belied the situation in a country that saw considerable opposition to staging the Games amid the pandemic from its own people. "We believe our athletes' earnest spirit and all-out performance moved people," Tsuyoshi Fukui, chef de mission for the Japanese team, said.
53 At the start of the virtual press conference with Lovlina Borgohain, after she won her quarterfinal bout at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, it was pointed out that the Indian boxer is always a little hesitant when it comes to speaking to the media. It hardly comes as a surprise, though, knowing her shy nature. But despite being a quiet person, Lovlina made a huge mark in Indian boxing history on Sunday as she confirmed a medal for India at the Olympics. The Indian pugilist reigned victorious in the Women's 69kg against Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-Chin in the quarterfinal to confirm the medal - an opponent Lovlina had lost to three times in the past. She first met Chen at the 2018 World Championships semi-finals, where she lost 4-0. Their next meeting in 2019 at the Strandja Memorial boxing tournament in Sofia ended in a similar result, this time by a unanimous decision. The 2018 Welterweight champion registered her third win over Lovlina in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championships later in the same year. "I had been planning how to beat her. I was not competing against anyone, but myself. I enjoyed the bout, it was a fun fight, I played with freedom without any fear," Lovlina tells media at the press call. But to reach a point where the Assamese boxer can play without fear, Lovlina had a helping hand. In an exclusive telephonic conversation with Hindustan Times, Indian Elite Boxing Team Women Coach Sandhya Gurung, who has played a crucial role in Lovlina's career, gave a few insights into her journey. Gurung, who has trained Lovlina for several years now, was at the women's boxing camp in Italy where the Olympics contingent had trained before traveling to Tokyo. When asked if she believed at that point that Lovlina could win a medal, Gurung said: "Yes. I had a feeling that she could win a medal." The former boxer, now a coach under the Sports & Youth Affairs Department, went on to detail the discussion she had with Lovlina on the possibilities of facing Chen before she flew to Tokyo. "When I saw the qualifying list, I had told her that she might have to face the Chinese Taipei boxer in the quarterfinals. She had lost to her three times. So it was always going to be a tough challenge for her," she said. "But I told her to play her game, concentrate on what she can do best rather than worrying about the opponent. If she plays her best, she can definitely beat her. "I was pretty confident that she can come back with a medal. We even had a chat just before she left for the Olympics and I again told her the same thing," Gurung further said. Gurung further went on to explain that Lovlina's biggest challenge since she started boxing was overcoming her fears. "She (Lovlina) came to us in 2012. She was a kid at the time. She was a very, shy, fragile girl, not at all like she is now," Gurung said. "By 2016, I started training with her. At that time as well, she did not play well. There was a fear inside her." In 2017, the welterweight division was included as a category for the 2020 Olympics, which opened up doors for Lovlina to start preparing for the road to Tokyo. "I told her 'we have four years and in these four years, we will train to keep Olympics as our target," Gurung said. "I also told her 'you have to focus 100 percent on training. After training, you can talk about anything - your friends, your mother, your family - but during training, you have to focus only on that'. She agreed to it. Then we started training with her, we maintained her fitness. She started doing what we told her to do," Gurung further recalled. As the hard work began, the results started coming in. Gurung said that by the 2017 Asian Championships, she noticed a decrease in fear in Lovlina. "She played well at the Asian Championships. At that time, I noticed that 40 percent of her fear was gone. Then I told her that 'there is no reason to fear. Why to fear, you can play even better'. I kept telling her that we have the journey to the Olympics, and we do not have to stray from that target. We do not have to lose our focus," Gurung said. At the start of 2021, there was another big challenge in front of Lovlina. She tested positive for Covid-19 in October 2020, leading to a long recovery period to get back to her best levels of fitness. Replying to an exclusive question asked by Hindustan Times from Tokyo, Indian women boxers' High-Performance Director Raffaele Bergamasco gave an insight into her long road to recovery. "Lovlina, like the others, did a conditioned and job on her recovery period. We made different plans for her and she worked more on her physical strength and this also allowed her to increase her confidence," Bergamasco said. A calmer, more relaxed Lovlina showcased her mental strength defeating an adversary on Friday she knows too well. She admitted she even has not focused on her meditation routines in the last few months, as she believed she needed to not be dependent on anything to keep herself calm. "Meditation helped me a lot. I have been doing this since 2017. I helped it me during fights. But in the past four months, I have not really focused on it. Because I realised that with so much going on, I cannot be depended on any particular thing to keep me calm. I have to keep faith in myself no matter what happens, even if my hands break, I have to play, and I have to win," Lovlina said at the media call. The first round of the fight was a close 3-2 split decision in Lovlina's favour. It meant that she only had a slight advantage. Raffaele revealed how the strategy was devised for the rest of the out after a close first round. "I advised her not to work at short distances, so as not to give her opponent an advantage, but to box from long distance and focus on counter-attacks. The strategy worked very well and she was good at executing it," he said. Now, the Indian boxer will face off against the reigning women's welterweight world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, there are hopes that she can overcome this challenge, and go on to win the gold. "The job is still not done, there is more to do," Gurung signed off.
54 Mirabai Chanu. Lovlina Borgohain. PV Sindhu. Ariarne Titmus. Katie Ledecky. Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Yui Ohashi. Tatjana Schoenmaker. Vivianne Meidema. Think of the names that grabbed your attention or left you mesmerised during the first week of the Olympics, and chances are these will be high on your list. Woman power is on full display in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics have been billed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the first gender-balanced Games in history, with nearly 49% of the participating athletes women. Apart from the volume, women are also shifting the balance of the spotlight towards them. The Games, for long largely about the legends of Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, are now as much about Titmus and Biles, as they are about Djokovic. The trend is the same closer home. Of the 127 athletes wearing India colours at these Games, 56 are women. Two of them are already medal winners, India's only ones so far. Beyond Tokyo, women athletes have provided India cheer going back to the 2012 London Olympics. Six of India's last eight medal winners have been women - Saina Nehwal (bronze, 2012), Mary Kom (bronze, 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze, 2016), Sindhu (silver, 2016), Chanu (silver, 2021) and Borgohain, who is guaranteed a bronze, but could well change the colour. Rewind to the first medal day of these Games, when most Indians woke up early on a Saturday to an alarm of optimism that Chanu would open India's account. The 26-year-old lifter, cool as ice while lifting, delivered just what was expected - a silver; becoming the second Indian female weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic medal. "You have taken the legacy forward of the weightlifting sport and inspired future champions, which has always been my endeavour," Malleswari, the 2000 Sydney bronze winner tweeted. Days after the feat, a video went viral on social media of the young girl, dusting powder off her hands, lifting a set of weights against the backdrop of Chanu's Tokyo highlights running on TV. Champions inspire. And children aspire. That also goes for Borgohain, who locked in India's second medal. Or Sindhu, who is looking good for a second Olympic medal. Or CA Bhavani Devi, who won a match as the first Indian fencer ever at the Olympics. Even across countries, women are at the forefront of many a first in Tokyo. Triathlete Flora Duffy gift-wrapped a maiden gold medal for Bermuda, the tiny Atlantic island with a population of around 63,000 having the distinction of being the smallest country with a gold medal in the history of the Games. That was until shooter Alessandra Perilli gave San Marino the crown with a bronze in trap on Friday. "I really just hope it inspires the youth of Bermuda that we're from a small country, but that doesn't mean we can't do great things on the world stage," Duffy told CNN after her win. Also doing great things: Schoenmaker, the South African who smashed the long-standing women's 200m breaststroke world record with an "unreal" time of 2:18.95; Polina Guryeva, the weightlifter who pulled off the first-ever Olympic medal for Turkmenistan; Yui Ohashi, the two-time gold medallist swimmer who overcame the gloom of depression to shine, becoming the first Japanese woman to win multiple gold medals in a single edition. Also winning multiple gold medals: Ariarne Titmus, the 20-year-old who is walking the talk of a riveting rivalry with Ledecky, the American giant whom the Aussie has beaten in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Missing Usain Bolt vs Justin Gatlin on the track? Titmus and Ledecky have taken care of that in the pool in Tokyo. Also creating history in the waters: Jessica Fox, who won gold in the women's canoe slalom, an event where women competed for the first time after the Australian paddling icon led the campaign for its inclusion in the Olympics. "(I'm) grateful to all the women, all the coaches, all the people who lobbied for gender equality in our sport," Fox said after her win. Vivianne Meidema, the Dutch women's football team striker who plays for Arsenal Women in England's WSL, had pumped in 10 goals by Friday. The stories go beyond history, triumph and jubilation. They are as much about imperfections, which Biles - considered the closest to perfection in gymnastics - hasn't shied away from bringing to the centre stage. The 24-year-old, battling sexual misconduct in the US gymnastics set-up and racism in her country for years, is battling mental health in Tokyo. The four-time gold medallist at the Rio Olympics pulled out of the team and all-around events at a Games that were supposed to stamp her legacy as the greatest of all time of the sport; even for those who swear purely by medals and numbers. Biles has taken a stand few have felt comfortable taking before - that it is OK to put mental well-being above records even in the middle of the biggest sporting spectacle; to look inward even when the whole world is looking at you; to take a step back even while eternal greatness is beckoning. Osaka, another global sporting icon, too, didn't hesitate to take a step back when, at the French Open in May, she opted for a brief sabbatical from tennis to attend to her issues with mental anxiety. Yet, there she was a couple of months later in Tokyo - given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony at home, flashing a smile and playing some tennis again. At these Games, women have taught us every facet of sport: you can win, you can lose, you can inspire, you can pause, and you can return stronger.
55 They say that in hockey, the tournament starts in the quarter-finals. If that is the case, let's get the news out of the way-India will play Great Britain on Sunday for a last four spot, something that has not been achieved since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which they eventually won for their eighth and last gold. Now to Friday's match. Already through to the last eight by cementing the second spot in Group A, India beat hosts and 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 5-3. The game was inconsequential but gave India the opportunity to build on their winning momentum, especially after the 1-7 humiliation-their worst loss in the Olympics-against Australia. India have regrouped to win three back-to-back matches, even dominating defending champions Argentina. "It's been a phenomenal recovery," said former goalkeeper Ashish Ballal, a key member of India's victorious 1998 Asian Games squad. Skipper Manpreet Singh and the players have quickly regained the winning spirit. Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India. With 61% possession, Graham Reid's boys made 32 penetrations to Japan's 10, though they converted only five of their 17 shots, a familiar story in the tournament. Despite Japan scoring through Kenta Tanaka (19th min), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th), India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has been a sensation in the goal. Sreejesh, playing in his third Olympics, has been an outstanding motivator, constantly sending out instructions to the players, screaming to communicate during the game. Next up are Great Britain, who finished third in Group B but significantly, drew 2-2 against world champions Belgium on Friday. India will have to make sure they don't concede penalty corners, stay sharp and make systematic attacks to up the conversion rate. It will be vital for India to play a percentage game against the 1988 Seoul champions. For the first time since 1980 Moscow, India women's team won a match at the Games, a stunning 1-0 verdict against Ireland, the 2018 World Cup runners-up. After losing their first three matches to Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, Navneet Kaur's 57th minute deflection of skipper Rani Rampal's reverse shot clinched their first win, keeping hopes alive for the quarter-finals. India will first need to beat South Africa on Saturday.
56 The second Tokyo Olympics could well come to be known as the Silent Games in the future. With no spectators, who make the quadrennial event feel like no other sporting event in the world, some of the great performances across a fortnight had to make do with shrieks of delight or tears of joy or dismay from the athletes themselves. How do you play an Olympic basketball game without a crowd countdown? It was the case at Tokyo 2020, the Games the hosts neither wanted to stage nor could let go of. The US dream team with its NBA stalwarts, led by Kevin Durant, sealed a thrilling victory in a closely fought game, supported only by its own athletes. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) The silence was no less disheartening for India in the nation's greatest moment of sporting pride on Saturday night. Their first medal from track and field had taken a century to come, and Neeraj Chopra had delivered not just a medal, but gold, no less. But his glittering moment was shrouded in silence as he took a victory lap around the track at the Olympic Stadium--which can seat 68,000 people with only a handful of fellow competitors and Indian coaches in the stands to cheer him on. TOKYO OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY - HIGHLIGHTS Having the finest wrestlers, table tennis and baseball players and judokas perform to empty stands in a land where all these sports have a huge tradition and enjoy massive popularity added to the silent, subdued theme. There was gratitude that Japan eventually-commercial compulsions apart-hosted the Games, which the athletes acknowledged everywhere. With no crowd to sway to their cause, teammates and coaches sometimes provided competing athletes with that extra energy of something primal and deeply felt. For proof, you can't do better but to watch (or rewatch) the wild celebrations of Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus's coach after she upstaged the great Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. With no crowd to play the role of arbiters for their performances and ignite rivalries, the athletes reached out to each other, in triumph and despair. Or in shared success, like what Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and the effervescent Italian Gianmarco Tamberi did to share the gold in the high jump instead of deciding it on a jump-off after they were tied at the end of their normal series of jumps. Tamberi, in fact, spent the entire evening of his competition passionately cheering other athletes (including Barshim), from whatever nationality, in a range of different sports. When Italy's Lamont Jacob won an improbable 100m sprint, Tamberi was there on the track to hug him. The Indian women's hockey team, gutted after their loss in the bronze medal playoff felt the warmth of their victors as Great Britain players came over to console them. This was also the Olympics where athletes had to put their medals around their own necks; but here too, the athletes stepped up. In team or relay events, they put the medals on each other to bring some semblance of normality to the ceremonies. At other times, Tokyo 2020 had the feel and warmth of a local meet. India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, awash with exhilaration after sealing a bronze that ended a 41-year wait for the country, could well have been sitting on a wall after a game in the alley, the way he sat on the goal after beating Germany. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time I'm alone in the goal and he is my best buddy. Whenever I'm frustrated, I talk to my goal first. When we concede, I say buddy that's not the way. When the ball hits the goalpost, I tell it that's the way, please save it," Sreejesh said after the win that got India their first hockey medal in 41 years. The roar of the crowd was missing, the victorious screams of the athletes was not. There was the scream of relief, joy and letting off pent-up emotions. Mirabai Chanu started it, after winning silver in weightlifting on Day 1 of medal events. PV Sindhu let off an almighty scream after shaking off the dejection of the semi-final loss the previous day to win bronze. Lovlina Borgohain too shrieked in triumph and relief in the near-empty boxing arena after her quarterfinal victory assured bronze. But the scream that defines Tokyo 2020 came from Norway's Karsten Warholm, after he won the men's 400m Hurdles in what is, arguably, the greatest race run in the Olympics, and after he became the first man to run the race in under 46 seconds. It was the scream of being on top of the world, echoing through a massive, empty stadium.
57 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Assam, Meghalaya CMs meet to discuss border row, panels to submit reports soon CMs Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma held a joint press conference after the talks. Health minister meets Biological E MD; briefed on progress of its Covid-19 vaccine Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted that he assured Biological E of support from the Central government for its vaccine. Tokyo Olympics: India's foreign wrestling coach Murad expelled from Games for referee assault The Russian coach was punished for his behaviour following Deepak Punia's defeat in his bronze medal playoff on Thursday. The Suicide Squad movie review: James Gunn's DC film is a bonkers bloodbath of brilliance James Gunn's DC film is both a creative departure from his Marvel movies, and also a return to his gonzo roots. WhatsApp introduces "View Once" feature to users: Here's how to use it WhatsApp's parent company Facebook is going to introduce the feature of being able to send self-destructing photos and videos within the app. Ola receives bookings from over 1000 cities for its electric scooter Ola electric scooter is set to launch on August 15 and it is now available for bookings at Rs.499. Women's hockey team cries during PM Modi phone call after Olympics loss Indian Women's hockey team broke down during A telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Watch
58 When Gurmail Singh came home with hockey gold from the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the game still evoked a happy narrative in India. The eight-year wait for medal though must have felt odd for the most successful team in Olympic history. Gurmail couldn't have ever sensed that hockey's global equations would alter so much that India's fresh medal quest would last another 41 years. On Thursday, Gurmail, whose wife is Rajbir Kaur, captain of the victorious 1982 New Delhi Asian Games women's team, was emotional. As India upstaged Germany in the bronze medal playoff in Tokyo, Gurmail took out his Olympic gold from cabinet and wore it in celebration at his residence in Khusropur, near Jalandhar. That team member Hardik Singh was his late brother's grandson filled him with pride. "The boys did well. A new era has begun in Indian hockey. The team work they showed throughout paved the way for this finish. It reminded me of our 1980 feat. We too worked well as a team, backed each other. And my boy Hardik stood out. Puttar mera chaa gaya te naam roshan kitta saada (my boy was outstanding, he made the family proud)." Hardik, 22, scored a vital goal in the win over Germany. He comes from a hockey family. His grandfather Pritam Singh played in the Indian Navy team and later became a coach. Hardik's father Varinderjeet Singh, superintendent with Punjab Police, was also a hockey player and wanted Hardik to sustain the family tradition. "I and my father could not play for India. So, we worked on Hardik's skills and prepared him for the India team. He learnt the sport in the village and then moved to Mohali and Jalandhar. My father died four years ago. He would have been thrilled to see Hardik get a medal in Olympics," said Varinderjeet, who along with wife Kamaljeet Kaur was receiving a stream of guests. Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh is Hardik's uncle and he helped motivate the player at a low point in his career. "I represented India in the sub-juniors, but opportunities at the top level never came. In 2017, I was on the verge of giving up my dream of playing for India and moving to Netherlands to play club hockey. My uncle made me rethink my decision. He has been a huge influence in my life," the midfielder had said in an interview before the Olympics. Hardik finally made his India debut at the Asian Champions Trophy and featured in the 2018 World Cup. It was in 2012 that Hardik joined the Punjab Institute of Sports Academy at Mohali, where seasoned coach Sukhvir Singh Grewal, who has an eye for talent, trained Hardik for nearly five years before asking him to join Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. "He was a sharp kid. He had hockey in his blood and had a passion to learn. He is light on his feet which makes him a dangerous player. He will have a very bright future," said Grewal, a former India player.
59 On match point, PV Sindhu's coach Park Tae-Sang pumped both his fists and let out a sharp cry behind his white mask. Sindhu joined him with a scream, wagging her index finger to indicate that she was one point away from winning yet another Olympic medal. A few seconds later, it happened. Sindhu had beaten China's He Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15 and created history in becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals and only the second Indian to win two individual medals at the Olympics after wrestler Sushil Kumar. Sindhu's love for the big stage is well known and Sunday's bronze medal match was yet another testimony to the insatiable hunger and fighting spirit that underlines her career. For India, it was the third medal here after the silver medal heroics of Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting, and boxer Lovlina Borgohain's incredible run to the semifinals, that has assured her at least a bronze. This is also the first time that three Indian women have won medals in an Olympic Games and the list can still grow - with Vinesh Phogat and her fellow wrestlers yet to take the stage - to make it an Olympics to remember for Indian women athletes. Soon after the win, Sindhu raised her racquet to the vociferous Indian media at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza that was cheering for her from the stands. All through the competition Sindhu has spoken about how she was only focused on the next match - PV that was crucial today, coming a day after she was blanked out by Tai Tzu Ying, the eventual silver medallist (China's Chen Yufei won gold), in the semis. It was clear from the start that the loss had not rattled Sindhu. She brought her A game against He Bingjiao, attacking boldly with cross court shots and smashes. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me... should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," a breathless and beaming Sindhu said after the match. "I'm really happy and I think I've done really well. It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country. I'm going to enjoy this moment." The 26-year-old reigning world champion was one of the strongest contenders to win a gold medal here. Her defeat on Saturday against a superior Ying had crushed her ambition to better the silver she had won in the Rio Olympics. After that loss, what stared at her was an even tougher proposition. To recover both mentally and physically and win against the crafty He Bingjiao in less than 24 hours. With the added pressure that for Sindhu, who played exceptional badminton throughout the tournament, returning empty handed would have been anti-climactic. Before her defeat to Tai Tzu, she had not dropped a single game in her five matches. That emotion was there in the open in the bronze medal match, where Sindhu celebrated every point with a scream. She was fierce on court. "It was a fresh game altogether, we both had losses yesterday and came back. For us, it was very important in getting a medal for the country and at the Olympics. It's not easy. It's a big thing. There were really long rallies, but I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax," Sindhu said. Her performance was a heady cocktail of power and pace. Sindhu sprinted through the opening game and returned for the second even more attacking and fluent. Bingjiao, with her net-play, tried to keep up with her till the interval of the second game, but Sindhu was all over her after that, trapping her to the back of the court with steeply angled cross court shots and a barrage of smashes. As she neared match point, Park had to repeatedly exhort a fired-up Sindhu to calm down. In the end, with a powerful, wristy cross court shot, Sindhu closed the game, raised both arms above her and screamed with joy.
60 First day, first medal. That's the piece of history Mirabai Chanu wrote for India as she thrust a 115kg barbell up above her with the practiced ease of a world beater. At the Tokyo International Forum, early in the morning of the first day after Olympics was declared open, Chanu won the silver in 49kg women's weightlifting with a combined total of 202kg. It marked the first time that India has won a medal on the opening day of an Olympics, signaling what may turn out to be a landmark Games for the Indian contingent. Chanu lifted 87kg in snatch and 115kg - just four kilos less than her own world record-in the clean & jerk, behind only China's Hou Zhihui's total of 210kg. Zhihui is the world record holder in the category. Chanu's coach Vijay Sharma's booming voice resonated through the hall, as the diminutive lifter from Manipur ran to the backroom after her lifts to wrap herself around her 6ft2 father figure. Chanu is now only the second weightlifter from India to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. Someone from the coaching staff handed her a phone-on the other end was Jeremy Lalrinnunga and other teammates at their training base in Patiala, screaming and dancing with joy. Chanu broke into a jig herself. "Balle balle kiya!" she said, laughing. After the medal ceremony, Chanu came out to the media area, the silver around her neck. She held it and kissed it. "Medal bahut bhari hai, (the medal's quite heavy)," she said, beaming throughout. "I wanted to win the gold, I tried, but I will accept the silver. "I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. The first thing I will do is party!" "Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance... Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. "Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. If not for Chanu, this day could have gone very differently for India. Or rather, it would have gone along more familiar lines. Indian athletes were involved in four medal events on the opening day, including Chanu's event. In each of these events, the Indians were strong contenders- Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, both ranked in the top three in the world, in 10m air pistol; Elavenil Valarivan (seeded No 1 for Tokyo 2020) and world record holder Apurvi Chandela in 10m air rifle; and women's world No 1 archer Deepika Kumari and Praveen Jadhav in mixed team archery. Yet, despite their billing, it was not their day and none of them could make it to the medal rounds, sparking fears that this could be yet another Olympics where India would have to wait anxiously for a medal. Five long years At the 2016 Rio Games, where Chanu had made her Olympics debut, everything had gone wrong for her. Of the six attempts given to lifters - three in snatch, three in clean & jerk - she had managed to complete just one lift in snatch. Three months ago at the Asian Championships, she had almost relived that horror, with two no-lifts in snatch. It's the kind of thing that ends careers. Not for Chanu. "We have spoken so many times about that day in the Rio Olympics in these five years," said coach Sharma. "Every time I would tell her that she is now a different athlete. It is that incident that has brought us where we are today." In Tokyo, if she was still haunted by those memories of Rio, she did not show it. From the moment her event started, Chanu's body language was confident and relaxed. On her ears she wore gold earrings in the shape of the Olympic logo, gifted to her by her mother after her Rio experience. For her first attempt - 84kg in snatch - she stepped to the stage and bowed to the bar. Then, in one clean motion, Chanu had cleared the lift. She flashed her big smile. She was in control. She was ready to script her extraordinary tale of redemption. For her next lift, she cleared 87kg with comfort. She beamed. Only Zhihui, who also holds the world record for snatch, was lifting more. Chanu could not finish her last snatch, where she attempted 89, more than she had ever done. It didn't matter much, because next up was clean & jerk, which Chanu has made her own. She cleared 110kg on her first attempt with such consummate ease that it looked like she was in training. By the time she was going for her second lift, set at 115kg, the entire field except Zhihui had already fallen away. In the end, the 7kg difference between Chanu's best snatch (87kg) and Zhihui's best (94kg) decided the medal. "The amount of discipline and commitment she has shown is extraordinary. You see how mentally strong she was today. That comes only with great hard work," Sharma said. "During these rough times of the pandemic, when lives have come to an abrupt halt and mere survival has become an isolating task, victories such as yours will serve as a small reminder of the joy that hope and perseverance can bring," read a letter addressed to Chanu by Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic gold medallist, who posted it on Twitter. From Rio to the silver in Tokyo was a journey that involved meticulous training, a psychologist, fixing a bad back and realigning her posture with the help of Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter who is now a renowned physical therapist and strength coach in the US, winning the world championship in 2017, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games a bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships and becoming the world No 1. In a way, a medal in Tokyo was always within her strong grasp. But when it came-on a day when India were contenders in three other medal events but did not win in any of them-Chanu's joy was infectious and may just be what the young Indian contingent needs as inspiration.
61 It needed the women's basketball team to deliver a seventh straight Olympic gold, track cyclist Jennifer Valente to overcome a dramatic crash and cross the finish line in front, and the women's volleyball team to win a maiden title on the final day for USA to get to where it is - at the top. It was that close. Heading into the last day of Tokyo 2020, the Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory of second spot in the medals tally. They were still dominating in the volume of overall medals, but China had two more golds - the decisive column in arranging the order. Of the 13 pieces of the priceless yellow on offer on Sunday, USA earned three, China nil. It gave USA its 39th gold medal, edging past China by a solitary gold. It was that close. USA finished with 39 gold and a total of 113 medals; China won 38 gold and 88 overall. It is the American contingent's third straight finish at the top of the standings, and the seventh consecutive Olympics from where it has won the most medals. Save 2008 Beijing, where China's gold shone brighter, USA has topped the gold count at every Olympics from 1996 Atlanta. Previously, it was never that close. The dominance was dented in these unprecedented Games. In 2016 Rio, USA ended with 46 gold and 121 medals overall while China had 26 gold and 70 overall. In 2012 London, the Americans won 46 gold (104 overall); China had 38 gold in a total of 91. Ironically, USA's most productive disciplines at these Games - 11 and seven gold to top the swimming and track and field charts, respectively - is also where its stranglehold on the tally eased. Of course, Simone Biles - the great gymnast looking to add to her stature in Tokyo - could have single-handedly tightened it again before she pulled out of four individual events to deal with the "twisties" (stress and loss of confidence while doing routines). In Rio, USA won 32 athletics medals, including 13 gold. The overall tally in Tokyo was still a good 26, but the gold count dipped to seven. The men's track squad didn't have a single individual gold to flaunt for the first time in modern Olympic history (USA boycotted 1980 Moscow). The drought stretched till the final events when the 4x400m relay team quenched the thirst. Team USA had splashes of individual brilliance in the pool from the likes of Caeleb Dressel (five gold) and Katie Ledecky, who won the 800m and 1500m but had her iron grip loosened in the 400m and 200m by young Ariarne Titmus of Australia, which ended behind USA with nine gold and 20 medals in swimming; more than double from Rio. The sink came in the relays. Forget gold, American swimmers failed to win a medal for the first time while entering a relay event when Great Britain stunned all with the men's 4x200m freestyle victory. In the mixed races of swimming and track and field, USA finished fifth in the 4x100m medley relay and won bronze in the 4x400m relay, behind Poland and Dominican Republic. China had the upper hand in mixed events across sport, winning three gold to USA's none. China, in contrast, continued to boss the disciplines it usually does. Diving alone gave the country seven golds, and so did weightlifting, both disciplines in which the next best nation was at a distant one gold. Chinese shooters clinched four gold, and so did their paddlers. Such is the nation's might and expectation on the table that the only title it didn't win in table tennis resulted in a tearful apology for failure by the mixed doubles team. Who beat them? Japan. The home contingent delivered a historic Games in more ways than one. Battling a year's delay and uncertainty, ever-growing costs and the pressure to perform at home without local fans cheering on, Japan had its best Olympics ever with 27 gold and 58 total medals to finish third. Its previous highest haul was 16, at 1964 Tokyo and 2004 Athens. Host nations generally tend to punch above the weight at every Olympics, and Japan benefitted from the five sports that were added in Tokyo: skateboarding (three gold; five total), sport climbing (one silver and bronze), karate (one gold; three total), surfing (one silver and bronze) and baseball/softball (two golds). It wasn't just about the newbies. Japan won nine golds in judo and five in wrestling (four by women), took on powerhouse USA in the women's basketball final for its first-ever medal, and overcame China in table tennis. That belied the situation in a country that saw considerable opposition to staging the Games amid the pandemic from its own people. "We believe our athletes' earnest spirit and all-out performance moved people," Tsuyoshi Fukui, chef de mission for the Japanese team, said.
62 India's Olympic Silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai broke down in tears and honoured the truck drivers who provided free lifts from her home to the training centre in Imphal during her early training days at an event in her village home on Thursday. Since her arrival at home after winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the 49 kg women's weightlifting category on July 27, she has been attending many felicitation events. In most of the events, she as well as her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi mentioned how the truckers had been helping her in reaching her training centre at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal from her home at Nongpok Kakching village which is about 25 km north east of the capital. She had wanted to meet them once and seek blessing for her success. At that point of time during her early training, local transport was very limited in her village. So the sand/stone carrying trucks which passed through her village in the early hours of the day on their way to Imphal from Etham Moirangpurel area often provided free lifts to Mirabai. "Those were the days when I faced a lot of hardship. So I feel like crying when I see the uncles and others here today. What I am today and can stand here before you is due to their help and support," said Mirabai while thanking the truck drivers. "I've been requesting to arrange such a meeting so that I can seek blessings again for my achievement. I am so happy to meet you all again," she said. During Thursday's event, Mirabai honoured the truck drivers by presenting gifts as a token of appreciation. The members of the truck association of the area who were present during Thursday's event also expressed their gratitude to Mirabai for remembering them after winning a medal in the world's biggest sporting event. Mirabai, who won the country's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, became India's first silver medallist in women's weightlifting, and second only to Katnam Malleswari to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
63 As women's sports viewership and the influence of female athletes rises, Olympics bronze medallist - PV Sindhu got even the fashion police hooked to her off-court style and her latest pictures in a pantsuit are enough to back our claim. While her stellar performance at the badminton court in Tokyo Olympics 2020 is currently the talk of the town, her ultimate boss lady vibes and minimal chic fashion in a well-fitted and contrasting pantsuit at a recent press conference in India makes us raise a toast to the sports-style queen. A couple of pictures recently flooding the Internet give a sneak-peek of Sindhu's uber cool look as she put her sartorial foot forward ahead of the press conference. The pictures feature the sports diva donning a sultry beige tank top, layered with a white-base blazer that sported broad checks in blue. The well-fitted blazer came with full sleeves and two front pockets and was teamed with a pair of wide-legged beige trousers that laid fashion inspiration for those wanting to look cool with minimal efforts. It is no secret that the minimalist fashion of neutrals is wardrobe mainstays despite their subdued palette and Sindhu's fuss-free approach only makes us fall in love with the trendy colour tone this season. Accessorising her look with a wristwatch and a gold finger ring, Sindhu completed her attire with a pair of white heels from Melissa that gave a touch of style to the basic look. Leaving her luscious tresses open down her back in side-parted hairstyle, Sindhu opted for a dewy makeup look with a dab of pink lipstick, rosy blushed cheeks and filled-in eyebrows. Striking elegant poses for the camera, Sindhu established that being inspirational in sports as well as the fashion world is a cakewalk for her, her confidence and beauty. PV Sindhu was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Bornali Caldeira.
64 A video from a hockey match in Tokyo Olympics 2020 is going viral and not for the reasons you would imagine. The clip has now prompted laughter as it shows the cameraman covering a waddling cockroach during an ongoing match. The incident took place during the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina. Many are now sharing the video that shows a cockroach walking along a part of the field. It was showed as a replay of a shot was being played. Many are now sharing the clip online, just like this Twitter user. The post, since being shared, has gathered more than five million views and the numbers are only increasing. It has also accumulated tons of comments from people. "Is my sense of humor just really dumb or is this genuinely the funniest," wrote a Twitter user while re-sharing the post. "I'm obsessed with this," shared another. "This is the most random thing I've seen," expressed a third along with a laughing out loud emoticon. "This video has set the bar so high for me, I don't think anything will ever make me feel as amused as an Olympics cameraman focusing on a roach just vibing instead of focusing on literally anything else," commented a fourth. The camera after hovering on the insects for a few seconds got back to the action to show the Spain vs Argentina match, reports LadBible. What are your thoughts on the video?
65 It had the promise of being one of India's finest days at the Olympics. Instead, one by one, each of India's top guns faltered and then faded, followed by that all-too-familiar sinking feeling that tells the story of India at the Games. There was gloom under the bright sun at Yumenoshima Archery Park. Atanu Das's win over 2012 London gold medallist South Korean Oh Jin Hyek on Thursday had raised immense expectations, but that doused as he succumbed to Japan's Takaharu Furukawa on Saturday without much of a fight. It was immediately followed by a disastrous and inexplicable exit of the world's No 1 flyweight boxer, Amit Panghal, in his very first fight in Tokyo. A few hours later, Pooja Rani, one win away from a medal in the middleweight category, was denied that triumph, outclassed by China's Li Qian in the quarterfinals. Even as an inconsolable Rani left the ring, PV Sindhu, the 2016 Rio silver medallist, was going down to a masterclass from Tai Tzu Ying in the women's singles semi-finals. The 26-year-old, unlike the others, will love to fight another day when she plays for bronze against China's He Bingjiao on Sunday. Somewhere in between, Anjum Moudgil fell out of contention in the 50m rifle 3-position qualification, slipping below the top eight in the standing stage to finish 15th. Tejaswini Sawant, India's second entry, ended 33rd to be eliminated. There were two bright spots. The women's hockey team somehow kept their hopes afloat in the morning with a scrappy 4-3 win over South Africa. Later, after Ireland lost to Great Britain, India found themselves in the quarterfinals for the first time at the Olympics. Over at Tokyo's national stadium, discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur threw 64m in the qualifiers, the second best throw of the day, to enter the final in style. For Panghal and Sindhu, it was not just the losses but the manner in which they came that was difficult to explain. Sindhu, so attacking and skillful in her straight games victory over Akane Yamaguchi in the quarters on Thursday, did not push the pace against Tai Tzu, squandered a big lead in the first game and then got outplayed in the second. Was it a meltdown? That question hung even larger over Panghal. The world championship finalist and Asian Games champion was his normal self in the first round against Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas at the Kokugikan Arena in their round of 16 match. He ducked and weaved out of Rivas's range and landed fast, accurate, punches of his own. He was moving fast, controlling the ring. The judges were 4-1 in Panghal's favour at the end of the round. In the next two rounds, everything fell apart for the 25-year-old from Haryana. He ducked and weaved but got caught by some solid punches to the head and the body. In return, Panghal did not have much to offer. His movement had become sluggish. His attacks became more and more intermittent. By the third round it was as if a different boxer was in the ring, one who had run a half-marathon just before a fight. Panghal's arms were frozen, his body slouched, and all he could do was try and pedal away from the barrage of punches coming his way from Rivas, who had immediately sensed the difference and was in full explosive mode. When Panghal found the will to throw a punch, it was slow and wayward. Rivas rained upper cuts, hooks and body punches, dominating a boxer who had beaten the best in the world in the last three years to such an extent that one of the five judges even counted the third round 10-8 in Rivas's favour. The Colombian is a Rio Olympics silver medallist in light flyweight but Panghal and Rivas's paths have never crossed in competition. Panghal left the arena in a hurry, his face grim, without speaking to the press. But Panghal sparred with Rivas in Italy this year during India's build-up to the Olympics. Panghal also fought in a series of tournaments leading up to the Olympics, trained abroad and looked in good shape. Panghal's typical game of counter - hitting overhead shots and quickly slipping out of the zone--worked in the first round. He is generally slow to start with, so the first round going in Panghal's favour was an advantage. The strategy was to not stay close to Rivas, score and move away. Panghal was caught in the firing line of Rivas for far too long in the second and third rounds. The Colombian ripped him apart with his combinations and brutal upper cuts. Did Panghal's pre-bout preparation go wrong? "It's not necessary to put too much power and too much energy," said India's boxing high performance director Santiago Nieva. "He (Panghal) did that. In some moments, he couldn't move and stayed inside and he didn't have the energy to respond." The coaching staff said that Panghal told them he felt his energy levels suddenly dip during the fight and that he was unable to handle the intensity. Nieva said that in their extended training sessions in Italy before coming in to Tokyo, Panghal and Rivas had sparred multiple times. "The first time Amit sparred with him was similar to this," Nieva said. "Then he improved in the next sparring. In the last sparring he did with the Colombian, he won two rounds. I've never seen him tire like this. The truth is Amit had a difficult time today."
66 Actor Shah Rukh Khan on Friday was offered a 'part 2' of his 2007 film Chak De! India. It came from none other than Sjoerd Marijne, the coach of the India women's hockey team. Sjoerd also thanked Shah Rukh for 'all the love and support'. Taking to Twitter, Sjoerd wrote, "Thank you @srk for all the love ! It's great to have support from the best in Bollywood. It's time for Chak De part 2, what say?" Though Sjoerd shared the tweet for Shak Rukh, he tagged a different handle. His tweet came a few hours after Shah Rukh said, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory." The women's hockey team couldn't win the bronze medal as they lost the match to Great Britain at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The conversation between Shah Rukh and Sjoerd on Twitter started a few days ago after the women's hockey team created history by entering the semifinals of the Olympics, for the first time. Earlier, Sjoerd had tweeted a picture with the team and wrote, "Sorry family, I coming again later," followed by emojis. Reacting to the tweet, Shah Rukh, who had essayed the role of hockey coach Kabir Khan in the sports drama Chak De! India, had encouraged the team to bring home a gold medal. He had tweeted, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." In the film, his character lead the Indian women's hockey team to a win against Australia in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh is now shooting for Pathan, which also features Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. He was last seen in the 2018 film Zero, directed by Anand L Rai.
67 First day, first medal. That's the piece of history Mirabai Chanu wrote for India as she thrust a 115kg barbell up above her with the practiced ease of a world beater. At the Tokyo International Forum, early in the morning of the first day after Olympics was declared open, Chanu won the silver in 49kg women's weightlifting with a combined total of 202kg. It marked the first time that India has won a medal on the opening day of an Olympics, signalling what may turn out to be a landmark Games for the Indian contingent. Chanu lifted 87kg in snatch and 115kg - just four kilos less than her own world record - in the clean & jerk, behind only China's Hou Zhihui's total of 210kg. Zhihui is the world record holder in the category. Chanu's coach Vijay Sharma's booming voice resonated through the hall, as the diminutive lifter from Manipur ran to the backroom after her lifts to wrap herself around her 6ft2 father figure. Chanu is now only the second weightlifter from India to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. Someone from the coaching staff handed her a phone - on the other end was Jeremy Lalrinnunga and other teammates at their training base in Patiala, screaming and dancing with joy. Chanu broke into a jig herself. "Balle balle kiya!" she said, laughing. After the medal ceremony, Chanu came out to the media area, the silver around her neck. She held it and kissed it. "Medal bahut bhari hai, (the medal's quite heavy)," she said, beaming throughout. "I wanted to win the gold, I tried, but I will accept the silver. "I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. The first thing I will do is party!" she said. "Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance... Congratulations to her for winning the silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. "Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu for our country's first medal on the very first day. India is proud of her daughter," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. If not for Chanu, this day could have gone very differently. Or rather, along more familiar lines. Indian athletes were involved in three other medal events on the opening day. In each of these, the Indians were strong contenders - Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, both ranked in the top three in the world, in 10m air pistol; Elavenil Valarivan (seeded No. 1 for Tokyo 2020) and world record holder Apurvi Chandela in 10m air rifle; and women's world No. 1 archer Deepika Kumari and Praveen Jadhav in mixed team archery. Yet, it was not their day, sparking fears that this could be yet another Olympics where India would have to wait anxiously for a medal. Five long years At the 2016 Rio Games, where Chanu had made her Olympics debut, everything had gone wrong for her. Of the six attempts given to lifters - three in snatch, three in clean & jerk - she had managed to complete just one lift in snatch. Three months ago at the Asian Championships, she had almost relived that horror, with two no-lifts in snatch. It's the kind of thing that ends careers. Not for Chanu. "We have spoken so many times about that day in the Rio Olympics in these five years," said coach Sharma. "Every time I would tell her that she is now a different athlete. It is that incident that has brought us where we are today," he added. In Tokyo, if she was still haunted by those memories of Rio, she did not show it. From the moment her event started, Chanu's body language was confident and relaxed. On her ears she wore gold earrings in the shape of the Olympic logo, gifted to her by her mother after her Rio experience. For her first attempt - 84kg in snatch - she stepped to the stage and bowed to the bar. Then, in one clean motion, Chanu had cleared the lift. She flashed her big smile. She was in control. She was ready to script her extraordinary tale of redemption. For her next lift, she cleared 87kg with comfort. She beamed. Only Zhihui, who also holds the world record for snatch, was lifting more. Chanu could not finish her last snatch, where she attempted 89, more than she had ever done. It didn't matter much, because next up was clean & jerk, which Chanu has made her own. She cleared 110kg on her first attempt with such consummate ease that it looked like she was in training. By the time she was going for her second lift, set at 115kg, the entire field except Zhihui had already fallen away. In the end, the 7kg difference between Chanu's best snatch (87kg) and Zhihui's best (94kg) decided the medal. "The amount of discipline and commitment she has shown is extraordinary. You see how mentally strong she was today. That comes only with great hard work," Sharma said. "During these rough times of the pandemic, when lives have come to an abrupt halt and mere survival has become an isolating task, victories such as yours will serve as a small reminder of the joy that hope and perseverance can bring," read a letter addressed to Chanu by Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic gold medallist. From Rio to the silver in Tokyo was a journey that involved meticulous training, a psychologist, fixing a bad back and realigning her posture with the help of Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter who is now a renowned physical therapist and strength coach in the US, winning the world championship in 2017, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships and becoming the world No 1. In a way, a medal in Tokyo was always within her strong grasp. But when it came - on a day when India were contenders in three other medal events but did not win in any of them - Chanu's joy was infectious and may just be what the young Indian contingent needs as inspiration.
68 "The whole world is praising the performance of Indian women's hockey team and they deserve a warm welcome back home," said team captain Rani Rampal's father. Reacting to their 3-4 defeat at the hands of Great Britain in the bronze medal match in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the skipper's father, at his residence in Kurukshetra, said, "We don't have any regrets. Their game was wonderful and tough till the last moment. It is not a defeat but a victory of their efforts." He said these girls have laid the foundation by reaching the semi-finals after a long gap and their defeat for a bronze medal cannot become a hurdle in their way ahead. "They still deserve a warm welcome. We will make all arrangements to welcome them like heroes," he added. Hockey player Navjot Kaur's father Satnam Singh also praised their team spirit and fight. "The way our daughters fought in this match is commendable," he said. He said the team's journey to the semi-finals in the Olympics is the story of struggle of the daughters of India. It will inspire new players to take their legacy forward, he added. Sharing similar sentiments, another player Navneet Kaur's father Buta Singh said the girls should be considered winners of hearts. "They made all efforts to bring a medal for the country. These daughters of India will be treated in Shahabad the same way as it is done after winning a medal," he said. The families said their daughters will return on August 10 and not just Shahbad or Kurukshetra but the entire Haryana is ready to welcome them. Family members of the players said it was a tough day for them. They remained glued to the television sets soon after the match started. Rampal said he got up at 5am to watch the match on Friday and prayed for the team's good performance along with his family at a home-built temple. Navjot's mother Manjeet Kaur left the room in tears in the final moments of the match and later spoke to her daughter over the phone, praising them.
69 India, edging towards what could be their best ever performance at the Olympics, is in the hunt for a surprise medal from where they were not looking. Young woman golfer Aditi Ashok has produced two brilliant rounds to be in a three-way tie for second at the halfway mark of the four-day strokeplay event at the Kasumigaseki Country Club course. The 23-year-old shot a bogey-free five-under 66 on Thursday morning at Kawagoe to maintain stay in a tie for second place she her four-under 67 in the first round. Aditi, along with Denmark's Nanna Madsen Koerstz and Kristine Emily Pedersen were all nine-under-par 133. American world No.1 Nelly Korda, daughter of former Australian Open tennis champion Petr, shot a sensational 62 to enjoy a four-shot lead at 13-under par. Another solid round will keep the Bengaluru golfer in medal contention while a tropical storm forecast to hit on Saturday could lead to the event being cut to 54 holes. "We continue to track the tropical storm which is expected to affect our area beginning Saturday through Sunday," the International Golf Federation said in a statement. "If we are unable to start or complete 72 holes, the Women's Olympic Golf Competition will revert to a 54-hole event," it said. Aditi, ranked 200 in the world, has proved a surprise in a field featuring the world's best players. As a teenager, she was the youngest at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where golf made its debut. She finished 41st in five years ago. The best woman player India has produced - she became the first Indian to win on the Ladies European Tour with two titles in 2016 - took up golf as a five-year-old, after she heard cheers from a nearby course while in a restaurant with her family. The Kasumigseki course had no fans, with Games volunteers asked to cheer the players, and Aditi was as calm as the surroundings with consistently brilliant putting. In the first round she was five-under until bogeying the final hole. On Thursday, Aditi's green play was equally good, be it for birdies or saving pars with medium-range putts after an early start. Diksha Dagar, India's second entry, was six-over for the tournament to be tied 51st in the 60-player field. She carded one-over 72 after a 76 in the first round.
70 Actor Salman Khan called her 'Nation's superstar and 'Asli Dabang'. And she very much is as the now Olympics silver-medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's medal count at Tokyo Olympics in a resounding victory, clinching a silver medal in 49 kg category in women's weightlifting event. Her silver is only the second Indian weightlifting medal since Karnam Malleswari's at Sydney 2000. "Sab sapna jaisa hai.Bahut bada moment hain mere liye (This feels like a dream)," shares Chanu who always dreamed ahead and has showed the world that dreams do come true. "Jab main game shuru kiya mera sapna tha. Pehle toh samajh nahin aata tha ki kya karna hain..games mein kaise karna hai. But game mein jaake kuch bada achievement lena hai. Isliye main dheere dheer mehnat kiya. Maine sapna rakha tha ki Olympic mein jaake kaisa hoga. Olympic medal lene se kya hoga. Jab se main games shuru kiya tha tabse sapna tha. Bahut mehnat kiya maine." Chanu, who is from Manipur, is thrilled that more and more girls will be inspired to take up weightlifting now. " Bolte hain 'Ladki kuch nahin kar sakti'. Woh bhi karke dikhana tha pura India ko ki ladki kar sakti hai (I wanted to show everyone that girls have the strength and they can do it)," says Chanu, adding, "Humne karke dikhaya hai. Sabhi ladkiyo ko bhi pata chalega ki ladki kar sakti hai. Ladke se koi kami nahin hai. Koi bhi ladki sports mein jaana chahti hain toh family ki bahut support zaroori hain bahut zyada. Ladki sirf padai hi nahin sports mein bahut kuch kar sakti hai. Jo uske pasand hai. Main chahti hoon ladkiyan weighlifting mein aake, weightlifting aur India ke naam ko upar le jaaye," she says. The athlete is overwhelmed with a congratulatory call from PM Narendra Modi, to messages on social media from actors such as Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, and Anushka Sharma, who even applauded her for her Olympic ring-shaped earring, which her mother gifted by selling off her own jewellery. "Rio ke baad maine man mein aaya tha ki Olympic ka ring main rakha chahti thi (After Rio's failure, I wanted to keep the ring of Olympics close to me)," she says, adding, "Maine mummy ko bola mujhe aisa chahiye. Woh bole chain ke liye, par chain toh mujhe nahin chahiye thi kyunki Olympic medal chahiye tha. Isliye maine earring mein banwake rakha tha." Chanu is loving all the adulation coming her way, and her increase in social media followers count as well. "Main social media itna follow nahin karti thi, sirf training mein focus karti thi. Phone itna use nahin karti thi. Abhi dekha toh itna friends ho gaya hain mera," she smiles, adding, " Main khud ko proud feel karti hai. Sabhi ne pehchana hain ki weighlifting kya hai. Aur main kaha se aayi hoon. Sachi bolon toh kisi ko pata nahin chalte thi ki Manipur kaha rehte hai. Manipur chota sa state hai, use hum nikal ke kar sakte hai," she says. Her family hadn't eaten on Saturday till her game had finished, and later celebrated with fish, but she plans to have Eromba, a popular Manipuri delicacy when she goes back home. "Yeh spicy dish main kaafi saalo se nahin khayi hoon. Aur ab khana chahti hoon mummy ke haath hai. Unhone mere liye itna sacrifice kiya tha. Aaj un logo ki wajah se pura duniya pehchani mujhe," she says. Her Rio failure had left her disheartened and so much so that she had vowed to win an Olympic medal one day. She credits her coach Vijay Sharma who she says keeps her motivated. "Sabhi players ki alag alag cheez hoti hain. Kuch down bhi chale jaate hai kharab hone se. Mera andar aisa hain ki aaj agar acha nahin hua toh main kal kar sakti hoon. Isliye main taiyari mein rehti hoon. Mere Vijay sir ne bahut motivation diya hain ki kuch fail hote hain toh woh mujhe samjhate hain ki aaj hi khatam nahin hua hain, aage door tak jaa sakte hai. Isliye jo aaya hain use face karna chahiye. Mind ko strong karna chahiye," she shares. Ask her if she ever wants a biopic on her, and she laughs and says: "Haan. Jo bhi mere liye movie banayigi woh mere liye bahut bada baat hain. Koi bhi bane toh acha hain. Dekhte hain kya hoga." Author Tweets @Nainaarora8 Follow more on Facebook and Twitter
71 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan had a heartwarming response to India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne after the historic win against Australia and qualification for the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. Khan, who famously played the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the film 'Chak de India', replied to a tweet by coach Marijne to give his best wishes to the Indian team. Seen celebrating with his team after the match, Marijne posted a photo on Twitter and wrote: "Sorry family , I coming again later." Responding to it, Khan requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Marijne had a witty and sweet reply to this. "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," tweeted Marijne. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach. �� - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) August 2, 2021 Actors who played the role of hockey players in 'Chak De! India' also congratulated the real-life Indian women's hockey team on their win. Taking to Instagram, Sagarika Ghatge Khan wrote: "The Indian women's hockey team created a history today by entering the Olympics semi finals for the first time. Congratulations to the whole team and more power to pyr women." Actor Vidya Malavade, who essayed the role of the team captain, took to Instagram and shared a picture of the reel vs real team. "My phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning and I was just a part of the reel ..This .. These women are the real deal ..such pride .. such grit .. so much power.. Team INDIA Onwards and Upwards ladies ..#JAIHIND Here's wishing Rani and her team all the very very best .. Go conquer girls." she wrote. Indian women's hockey team match The Indian women's hockey team created history on Monday here at Oi Hockey Stadium -- North Pitch -- as they defeated Australia 1-0. The Indians started slow off the blocks but grew in confidence as the match progressed. Australia had the first shot at the goal but India goalkeeper Savita did just enough to deny Amrosia Malone, whose slap shot from inside the circle hit the post. The Indians thereafter adopted an aggressive approach and caught the Australian defence off guard quite a few times. A day after the Indian men's team entered the Olympic semifinals following a 49-year gap, the world no. 9 women's side also produced a phenomenally gritty performance to make it way into the last four.
72 Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won two of their three badminton doubles Group A matches in the Olympics. So did Indonesia's Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo and Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. Despite the same number of wins (2), losses (1) and points (2), the Indian pair was ousted while the other two progressed to the quarter-finals. Reason: Group stage qualification. Since the format was introduced in 2012 London, changing from a straight knockout, it has worked for some, but not for others like the world No.10 Indian pair, eliminated in Tokyo via game difference-like goal difference in football. They finished third in the group of four. The world No.1 Indonesian pair topped the group with a +3 game difference (games won minus games lost) and the world No.3 Chinese Taipei combine, stunned by Shetty and Rankireddy in the opener, advanced with a +2 difference. The Indians were only +1. On Tuesday, Shetty and Rankireddy earned a 21-17, 21-19 win in 42 minutes over Great Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, their first victory in two meetings against the world No.18s. By then the qualifiers from the group was clear. It was a tough group with three top-10 pairs but it was the straight games loss against Gideon and Sukamuljo on Monday that cost Shetty and Rankireddy. A lot depended on the match between Gideon/Sukamuljo and Lee/Wang as the Taipei pair losing would have led to Shetty and Rankireddy's qualification. But minutes before the Indian pair stepped on to the court, Lee and Wang had won in three games over the Indonesians, rendering the match against the Great Britain pair inconsequential. "We knew the moment Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin won, we didn't stand a chance," Shetty said. "They won in two games and we won in three. We feel sad. Unfortunately, even after winning two matches in the group, we don't go through. That is badminton and we have to live with it." The result was akin to 2012 London where Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were eliminated in women's doubles as they finished third despite winning two matches with the top two going through. "Because of that (Indonesians losing), we came into it (the match) thinking it was going to be our last game in the Olympics," said Rankireddy. "So, we weren't under pressure. We kept it simple. But it was disappointing to see the Indonesians lose. We have learnt so much from this badminton experience; there are a lot of positives to take home."
73 PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she roared her way into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. Sindhu required only 23 minutes to take the first game, with the India shuttler showing her supremacy with some top-notch smashes making Yamaguchi sweat. However, the match ended up being a 56-minute-long affair, with Yamaguchi staging a terrific comeback in the second game. With Sindhu leading 14-8, the Japanese shuttler narrowed the lead to 15-14 after the second game interval. However, a late revival saw Sindhu regroup and seal the game despite Yamaguchi's spirited fightback. The Japanese shuttler, quick on her feet with amazing court coverage, raced to an early lead with her deft shots. But Sindhu soon made a fine recovery, making her opponent toil hard for every point. Sindhu combined attack and defense and made some great calls on the line to race to a 10-7 led. Yamaguchi kept relying on the drop shots but Sindhu made great use of her reach to nullify the challenge. Sindhu raced to a 14-9 lead and looked ominous but a missed smash provided Yamaguchi to make a comeback. Sindhu though didn't let her guard down and kept her lead intact/ Yamaguchi showed great defensive skills in front of a relentless attack from Sindhu, but the India raced to an 18-11 lead. Yamaguchi showed great reflexes to get a point from a difficult situation in a rally but Sindhu came back strong again to take the first game 21-13. The second game started on an even keel with both players tied on 3-3. But a service error from Yamaguchi handed Sindhu the advantage, who then hit a great cross court smash to move ahead 5-3. The tall Indian shuttler employed the aggressive smashes and was aided by some unforced errors from Yamaguchi to move ahead 10-5. Sindhu had stormed into the women's singles quarterfinals after beating Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games in the Round of 16 match. She remained unbeaten in the Group Stage, defeating world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu had won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics after she went down to Spain's Carolina Marin in the final in a thrilling encounter. Since then, the Indian shuttler has won the World Championships gold in 2019, and also won silver medals at the World Championships in 2018 and 2019. Sindhu also won the silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games and also a silver in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
74 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned about the threat of coronavirus pandemic in view of the upcoming festivals. During his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, PM Modi said, "My very best wishes to all of you for the forthcoming festivals. At the time of festivals and celebrations, you must remember that Corona has not yet gone from amongst us. You must not forget the protocols related to Corona." With the second wave subsiding there has been a laxity in following covid protocols with an increase in tourist influx at tourist destinations. PM Modi recently interacted with the chief ministers of states where the number of covid-19 cases have been rising. The government has also been trying to expedite the vaccination programme. A total of 39,742 new cases have been reported over the last 24 hours with the country's active case load at 408,212. Also, the daily positivity raise is at 2.31%. With India not seeing any significant reduction in its covid-19 cases for last one months, public health experts have cautioned that cases remaining constant for this much time sends a warning signal of a third wave as reported by Mint earlier. PM Modi also requested the citizens to cheer for athletes representing India at the Tokyo Olympics currently underway. "These sportspersons have reached where they are after overcoming numerous hurdles in life. Today, they possess the strength of your love and support - that's why, come.let us together extend our good wishes to all of them; encourage them. On social media, our Victory Punch Campaign for the support of Olympics sportspersons has begun. Do share your Victory Punch with your team.Cheer for India," PM Modi said. India has sent its largest ever contingent of 127 athletes in 18 disciplines to Tokyo Olympics currently underway. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu from Manipur got India its first medal by winning silver in the 49-kg women's weightlifting category on Saturday. PM Modi also spoke about the Kargil war that India fought and won with Pakistan. "Tomorrow, that is the 26th of July is Kargil Vijay Diwas as well. The Kargil war is one symbol of the bravery and patience on part of India's Armed Forces which the whole world has watched. This time this pride filled day will be celebrated amid Amrit Mahotsav. That is why this day becomes all the more special. I wish you read the enthralling saga of Kargil," he said. The country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of Indian independence. Freedom struggle, and ideas, achievements, actions and resolve at 75, are the five pillars of the 75 week-long celebrations. "Amrit Mahotsav is not a programme of any government; neither a programme of any political party.it is a programme of crores and crores of Indians.a bow to our freedom fighters by every independent and grateful Indian. And the extension of the basic sentiment behind this festival is immense.the spirit entails treading the path of our freedom fighters.building a country of their dreams. Just the way champion proponents of Freedom had joined hands for the cause, we have to come together for the development of the country. We have to live for the country, work for the country.and in that, even the smallest of efforts too produce big results," PM Modi said. There are dedicated weekly themes for each of the 75 weeks to celebrate the country's achievements and development across various sectors since Independence. These programmes are focussing on social, cultural, scientific and technological high points in the country's post-independence trajectory. They will also cover policy initiatives that have helped India grow not only domestically but also on the international stage. He also spoke about water conservation. "Saving every drop of water, preventing any kind of wastage of water. it should become a natural part of our lifestyle. Such a tradition should be made in our families, which would make every member proud," PM Modi said. This comes in the backdrop of water supply getting a leg-up in the Union budget presented in February, wherein an outlay of Rs2.87 trillion was announced for the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission Urban. The aim is to supply water to 4,378 urban local bodies with 2.68 crore tap connections. "Indeed, the monsoon and rainy season is not only beautiful and pleasant, but it is also nurturing, life-giving. The rain water that we are getting is for our future generations, we should never forget that," he said. In July 2019, the government had formed a new ministry, Jal Shakti, to address all water issues in the country. The Jal Shakti ministry was formed by integrating it with other existing ministries, such as water resources and the ministry of drinking water and sanitation.
75 Actor R Madhavan said he was at a 'complete loss of words' on seeing Olympian Mirabai Chanu enjoying a meal at her home in Manipur. She returned to India recently after her silver medal win at the women's weightlifting 49 kgs category. In the photo, Mirabai is seen rice with some curry while sitting on the kitchen floor with two others. She looked at the camera for the picture while still eating her food. Retweeting the photo, Madhavan wrote, "Hey this cannot be true. I am at a complete loss of words." Mirabai also shared a fresh picture from her home, sharing a better look at the large spread that was prepared for her. "That smile when you finally eat ghar ka khana after 2 years," she wrote with her photo. After her big win, Mirabai had told reporters that the first thing she wants to do is eat some pizza. Since then, pizza chain Domino's has promised the 26-year-old free pizza for life, while multiplex chain INOX said on Wednesday that she would never have to pay for another movie ticket. She returned to her hometown of Imphal on Tuesday and is now spending time with her family. Earlier, actor Anushka Sharma has also expressed her admiration for Mirabai, sharing a picture of her golden earrings that she wore to the match. The earrings were a gift from her mother and were shaped after the Olympic rings. Other Bollywood stars, too, shared their congratulations for Mirabai after her win. Anil Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu !! This is incredible!! #TeamIndia #Cheer4India." Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu on bringing India a silver medal in weightlifting and giving us a strong start!" Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "Congratulations #mirabai & thank you for making India proud. #Olympics #silver - Jai Hind #MirabaiChanu." Dia Mirza wrote, "This is precious #MirabaiChanu @mirabai_chanu Creates history by winning Olympic silver for #Weightlifting #Cheer4India #TeamIndia."
76 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Ex-US envoy says India may lead the world by 2030, lists areas Former US ambassador to India Richard Verma has said India may lead the world in every category and with the youngest workforce in the region, the South Asian country will hold that advantage until 2050. Leaders from Cong, 14 other parties meet as Oppn launches offensive The Congress and 14 other Opposition parties decided there would be no change in their stand on the Pegasus snooping issue and resolved to continue protesting during the remaining Monsoon Session of Parliament, two leaders told HT. Olympic medalist Mirabai inaugurates sports medicine machine at RIMS Manipur Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won India's first silver medal in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, inaugurated a new arthroscopy machine at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a premier medical institute in Imphal, Manipur, on Monday. Brazil's electoral court to probe Prez Bolsonaro for attacking voting system Brazil's Superior Electoral Court announced Monday it will investigate far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for his constant and baseless attacks on the country's electronic voting system. R Madhavan imagined Saif Ali Khan 'socking' his face for kissing Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti R Madhavan has revealed that during his romantic scene with Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti, the actor couldn't help but think of her brother, actor Saif Ali Khan. Kiara Advani looks like a goddess in white backless gown for Shershaah promotions Shershaah actor Kiara Advani knows how to pull together the perfect red carpet look no matter what the occasion. In the past, we've seen her in bold tangerine pantsuits and charming embroidered sarees. 'You'd never see Ganguly do that': Anderson on India batsman's 'fearlessness' Commenting on how IPL has given rise to a new generation of 'fearless' cricketers, England legend James Anderson cited the example of India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
77 The medals can really wait. Even if those medals are intimately tied up with history-Simone Biles, already heralded as the greatest gymnast of all time, came to Tokyo as the first person to defend an Olympic all-around title in more than 50 years. These were supposed to be her Olympics. Her success was a given, and the only question seemed to be how much higher she can push her own lofty levels. Instead, Biles withdrew first from the women's team event, and then, on Wednesday, from Thursday's individual all-around event citing mental health issues. Her decision was yet another example of a radical shift in the sporting world, one which challenges the notion that elite athletes are forged of steel in mind and body, and must not show vulnerability or frailty. "We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do," Biles told reporters. Perhaps there is no better stage than Tokyo 2020 to move the conversation on mental health in sport forward. Deferred by a year because of the pandemic, and now being held under strict Covid-19 restrictions-empty stadiums, daily testing for every athlete, face masks to be worn at all times in the venues (except when the athlete is competing)-the need to speak openly about anxiety, stress or depression has never been higher. Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron, was the face of this discourse heading into the Games when she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, speaking of "long bouts of depression" and the difficulties of handling the pressure of being a top tennis player. A home favourite, Osaka again pointed to the oppressive pressure of expectations after her third round upset in Tokyo. "There must be so many athletes that deal with depression, that deal with some kind of mental health struggle at the Game," Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, had told HT in an earlier interview. "It's something I've personally dealt with multiple times. Ever since 2014 I've talked openly about it because it's important to me, because a lot of people are struggling with the same exact thing. It was hard for me to ask for help, it was hard for me to become vulnerable and show that side of me." Remember Sally Robbins? At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Australian stopped rowing in the women's eight event in the final stretch as she was too exhausted. Unable to put oar to water, she lay on her team mate's lap. It dashed Australia's medal hopes, and Robbins became an object of ridicule. She was accused of mental weakness with the Australian media dubbing her "Lay-down Sally". With some of the most iconic athletes in the world speaking openly about their mental struggles, the sporting world has come a long way since. Phelps recalled the usual way athletes have been taught to deal with emotions, in pursuit of a single-minded goal of winning. "I was really good at compartmentalising things, just stuffing things down and not dealing with it," he said. "Now I've been able to see where it leads me and it's a dark place, a scary place, and I don't want to go back there, and I hope nobody else goes back there." Katie Ledecky, one of the world's great swimmers, won her fifth Olympic gold on Wednesday in the newly introduced 1,500m freestyle for women. But the American is aware that her defeats to younger Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in other events is being seen as a major failure. "I'm kind of at peace with it, I kind of laugh when I see things like 'settles for silver'," Ledecky told reporters. "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or feel like silver or any other medals besides gold is a disappointment. I would much rather people be concerned about people who are really, truly struggling in life." Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi, who completed a double of individual medley wins by claiming the 200m event on Wednesday, had also struggled with depression in 2019 and had wanted to give up swimming. Asked about it, she said: "I had times when I wanted to give up swimming, but I learned to accept it and turned it into a strength." The social isolation necessitated by the pandemic has also been hard for athletes, as it has for most people. Biles felt the absence of social interaction in Tokyo. "Usually you hang out in the village.all that stuff. It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do," she said. The health situation has prompted the US women's gymnastics team to stay in a hotel. "Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be Covid safe, the protocols and everything," Biles said. But the face of the Games, ahead of tennis stars Osaka and Novak Djokovic, would have preferred to feel the warmth of fellow athletes from around the world. PV Sindhu knows only too well the kind of pressure top athletes feel. A medal-starved nation is eagerly hoping the badminton world champion would hopefully deliver gold, after her silver in Rio 2016. That in itself can be a scary thought - add to that months spent in isolation without training or competition last year and the challenges of getting back on track for the Games. "Definitely the mental aspect plays an important part, especially during this pandemic," she said on Wednesday. "Athletes have been really going through tough times, on and off court."
78 The medals can really wait. Even if those medals are intimately tied up with history - Simone Biles, already heralded as the greatest gymnast of all time, came to Tokyo as the first person to defend an Olympic all-around title in more than 50 years. These were supposed to be her Olympics. Her success was a given, and the only question seemed to be how much higher she can push her own lofty levels. Instead, Biles withdrew first from the women's team event, and then, on Wednesday, from Thursday's individual all-around event citing mental health issues. Her decision was yet another example of a radical shift in the sporting world, one which challenges the notion that elite athletes are forged of steel in mind and body, and must not show vulnerability or frailty. "We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do," Biles told reporters. Perhaps there is no better stage than Tokyo 2020 to move the conversation on mental health in sport forward. Deferred by a year because of the pandemic, and now being held under strict Covid-19 restrictions - empty stadiums, daily testing for every athlete, face masks to be worn at all times in the venues (except when the athlete is competing) - the need to speak openly about anxiety, stress or depression has never been higher. Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron, was the face of this discourse heading into the Games when she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, speaking of "long bouts of depression" and the difficulties of handling the pressure of being a top tennis player. A home favourite, Osaka again pointed to the oppressive pressure of expectations after her third round upset in Tokyo. "There must be so many athletes that deal with depression, that deal with some kind of mental health struggle at the Game," Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, had told HT in an earlier interview. "It's something I've personally dealt with multiple times. Ever since 2014 I've talked openly about it because it's important to me, because a lot of people are struggling with the same exact thing. It was hard for me to ask for help, it was hard for me to become vulnerable and show that side of me." SALLY'S SORROW Remember Sally Robbins? At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Australian stopped rowing in the women's eight event in the final stretch as she was too exhausted. Unable to put oar to water, she lay on her team mate's lap. It dashed Australia's medal hopes, and Robbins became an object of ridicule. She was accused of mental weakness with the Australian media dubbing her "Lay-down Sally". With some of the most iconic athletes in the world speaking openly about their mental struggles, the sporting world has come a long way since. Phelps recalled the usual way athletes have been taught to deal with emotions, in pursuit of a single-minded goal of winning. "I was really good at compartmentalising things, just stuffing things down and not dealing with it," he said. "Now I've been able to see where it leads me and it's a dark place, a scary place, and I don't want to go back there, and I hope nobody else goes back there." Katie Ledecky, one of the world's great swimmers, won her fifth Olympic gold on Wednesday in the newly introduced 1500m freestyle for women. But the American is aware that her defeats to younger Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in other events is being seen as a major failure. "I'm kind of at peace with it, I kind of laugh when I see things like 'settles for silver'," Ledecky told reporters. "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or feel like silver or any other medals besides gold is a disappointment. I would much rather people be concerned about people who are really, truly struggling in life." Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi, who completed a double of individual medley wins by claiming the 200m event on Wednesday, had also struggled with depression in 2019 and had wanted to give up swimming. Asked about it, she said: "I had times when I wanted to give up swimming, but I learned to accept it and turned it into a strength." PANDEMIC BLUES The social isolation necessitated by the pandemic has also been hard for athletes, as it has for most people. Biles felt the absence of social interaction in Tokyo. "Usually you hang out in the village.all that stuff. It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do," she said. The health situation has prompted the US women's gymnastics team to stay in a hotel. "Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be Covid safe, the protocols and everything," Biles said. But the face of the Games, ahead of tennis stars Osaka and Novak Djokovic, would have preferred to feel the warmth of fellow athletes from around the world. PV Sindhu knows only too well the kind of pressure top athletes feel. A medal-starved nation is eagerly hoping the badminton world champion would hopefully deliver gold, after her silver in Rio 2016. That in itself can be a scary thought - add to that months spent in isolation without training or competition last year and the challenges of getting back on track for the Games. "Definitely the mental aspect plays an important part, especially during this pandemic," she said on Wednesday. "Athletes have been really going through tough times, on and off court."
79 Shah Rukh Khan left hearts skipping beats with his latest picture for Dabboo Ratnani's 2021 calendar shoot. The actor posed shirtless while he stared right into the camera. Shah Rukh featured a wet hair look while sporting a trimmed beard. Dabboo Ratnani shared the black-and-white picture on Instagram and wrote, "Once You Become Fearless, Life Becomes Limitless Invincible & Charismatic Shah Rukh Khan For #dabbooratnanicalendar." The picture drew all sorts of reactions from fans. "Kaha chhupa ke rakhe the ye picture (Where were you hiding this picture?)" asked a fan. "Why are you doing this to us, Dabboo?" said another. "Someone calling the ambulance," a third fan commented. A few also felt that the picture was oozing the Pathan vibe, referring to his upcoming movie. Several fans dropped comments such as 'hotness', 'hawt,' 'amazing', 'charming', along with a few heart and fire emojis. Some fans also requested Dabboo to share more pictures and the behind-the-scenes shots of the shoot. Over the past few weeks, the celebrity photographer has been sharing pictures of numerous stars who have featured in his calendar shoot this year. This includes Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Leone, Hrithik Roshan, Parineeti Chopra, and Saif Ali Khan. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh recently made the headlines for his reaction to the Indian women's hockey team's victory against Australia at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The Indian team beat Australia with a score of 1-0 and it led to numerous Twitter users comparing the moment with the film Chak De India. Shah Rukh too channelled his inner Kabir Khan when he retweeted the viral picture of coach Sjoerd Marijne and the Indian team and said, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." The coach responded, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." Shah Rukh is set to make his acting comeback with Pathan. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The actor has been on a hiatus since the release of Zero, in 2018.
80 New DelhiChirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won two of their three badminton doubles Group A matches in the Olympics. So did Indonesia's Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo, and Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. Despite the same number of wins (2), losses (1) and points (2), the Indian pair was ousted while the other two progressed to the quarter-finals. The reason: Group stage qualification. Since the format was introduced in London 2012, changing from a straight knockout, it has worked for some, but not for others such as the world No.10 Indian pair, eliminated in Tokyo via game difference-like goal difference in football. They finished third in the group of four. The world No.1 Indonesian pair topped the group with a +3 game difference (games won minus games lost) and the world No.3 Chinese Taipei combine, stunned by Shetty and Rankireddy in the opener, advanced with a +2 difference. The Indians were at +1. On Tuesday, Shetty and Rankireddy earned a 21-17, 21-19 win in 42 minutes over Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, their first victory in two meetings against the world No.18. By then, the qualifiers from the group was clear. It was a tough group with three top 10 pairs but it was the straight games loss against Gideon and Sukamuljo on Monday that cost Shetty and Rankireddy. A lot depended on the match between Gideon/Sukamuljo and Lee/Wang as the Taipei pair losing would have led to Shetty and Rankireddy's qualification. But minutes before the Indian pair stepped on to the court, Lee and Wang won in three games over the Indonesians, rendering the match inconsequential. "We knew the moment Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin won, we didn't stand a chance," Shetty said. "They won in two games and we won in three. We feel sad. Unfortunately, even after winning two matches in the group, we don't go through. That is badminton and we have to live with it." The result was akin to London 2012, where Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were eliminated in women's doubles as they finished third despite winning two matches with the top two going through.
81 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 5pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Absence of officials from parliamentary panel meet sets dangerous precedent: Tharoor Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the absence of three officials from a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) on the Pegasus spyware issue sets a dangerous precedent for Parliamentary accountability and democracy. "This is unprecedented and extremely dangerous," Tharoor, who heads the panel, told HT. 70 Delta Plus variant cases found across 16 states, UT: Govt tells Lok Sabha As many as 70 cases of Delta sub-lineage AY.1, also known as Delta Plus variant, of coronavirus were found in genome sequencing, Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Bombay HC on Shilpa Shetty case: 'Reporting what police said never defamatory' The Bombay high court on Friday made some significant observations regarding the right to privacy and press freedom as it was hearing the Rs.25 crore defamation suit filed by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty in connection with husband, businessman Raj Kundra's arrest in the pornography case. Delhi high court issues notice to Ramdev on allopathy comment row The Delhi high court which on Friday heard the case against Ramdev's disparaging remarks on allopathy gave the Yoga guru a week's time to let the court know what his stand regarding the case is. Ramdev has been asked to reply within next Friday and the case is likely to be heard against on August 10. Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu triumphs over Akane Yamaguchi to enter semi-final PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she stormed into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. MS Dhoni's new haircut sparks mixed reactions. Pictures go viral MS Dhoni has sparked a chatter online after pictures of his new hairstyle were posted online. Aalim Hakim, a celebrated stylist, shared the pictures on his official Twitter handle that show the former India cricket team captain sporting a new look which includes a funky hairstyle and a beard. When Lata Mangeshkar 'flew into a rage' because Raj Kapoor implied she was 'ugly' Lata Mangeshkar was the inspiration behind Raj Kapoor's 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, but for reasons that she didn't appreciate. His daughter Ritu Nanda revealed the story in her 2002 book, Raj Kapoor Speaks.
82 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 5pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Absence of officials from parliamentary panel meet sets dangerous precedent: Tharoor Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the absence of three officials from a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) on the Pegasus spyware issue sets a dangerous precedent for Parliamentary accountability and democracy. "This is unprecedented and extremely dangerous," Tharoor, who heads the panel, told HT. 70 Delta Plus variant cases found across 16 states, UT: Govt tells Lok Sabha As many as 70 cases of Delta sub-lineage AY.1, also known as Delta Plus variant, of coronavirus were found in genome sequencing, Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Bombay HC on Shilpa Shetty case: 'Reporting what police said never defamatory' The Bombay high court on Friday made some significant observations regarding the right to privacy and press freedom as it was hearing the Rs.25 crore defamation suit filed by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty in connection with husband, businessman Raj Kundra's arrest in the pornography case. Delhi high court issues notice to Ramdev on allopathy comment row The Delhi high court which on Friday heard the case against Ramdev's disparaging remarks on allopathy gave the Yoga guru a week's time to let the court know what his stand regarding the case is. Ramdev has been asked to reply within next Friday and the case is likely to be heard against on August 10. Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu triumphs over Akane Yamaguchi to enter semi-final PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she stormed into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. MS Dhoni's new haircut sparks mixed reactions. Pictures go viral MS Dhoni has sparked a chatter online after pictures of his new hairstyle were posted online. Aalim Hakim, a celebrated stylist, shared the pictures on his official Twitter handle that show the former India cricket team captain sporting a new look which includes a funky hairstyle and a beard. When Lata Mangeshkar 'flew into a rage' because Raj Kapoor implied she was 'ugly' Lata Mangeshkar was the inspiration behind Raj Kapoor's 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, but for reasons that she didn't appreciate. His daughter Ritu Nanda revealed the story in her 2002 book, Raj Kapoor Speaks.
83 An Olympics debut can be a tricky affair. It can energize an athlete to the top of their game, like it did with sabre fencer Bhavani Devi on Tuesday. It can also bring an athlete down with doubts and anxieties. Pooja Rani's mind was playing games with her since the morning of her debut. She could not shake off the negative thoughts. "What if I lose? How bad will it be to exit in the first round?" The 30-year-old boxer from Haryana, a two-time Asian champion, wanted to rush to the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, put on her boxing gloves and be done with the bout. "It was so stressful," Rani said, after what turned out to be an easy win where she connected with just about every punch she threw at Algeria's Ichrak Chaib. "Ring mein jane ke bad relax ho gayi (I felt relaxed when I entered the ring)." With this win, Rani moved into the quarterfinals, one win away from a guaranteed bronze, joining Lovlina Borgohain, who won her round of 16 match on July 27. They will be hoping for Mary Kom's company too; Kom has her Round of 16 bout on July 29. Rani walked to the ring sporting her usual black bandana and immediately got down to working Chaib, who was also making her Olympic debut. Chaib's spirited aggression was met with smart and precise counters from Rani. The difference in experience and skill was marked. Rani feinted with her right, saw Chaib's eyes follow her hand and landed a solid left. Then Rani connected with a left hook that made Chaib wobble and lose her balance. The intent was clear from the opening minute. Rani had found her range and she was going to dictate. It didn't bother her that Chaib was a southpaw. In the second round, Rani began to connect hard with her jabs too, easily moving out of Chaib's lunging attacks and hitting her flush in the face. The precision and speed from Rani must have been a joy for the Indian women's boxing coaches Raffaele Bergamasco and Ali Qamar. Chaib looked rattled but the Algerian wanted to make a match of it. She continued to attack the whole time, and Rani continued evading and countering, landing her favourite left hook multiple times. Rani sailed through 5-0. "I was connecting very well from the start," she said. "My left hook and right-left combination was going well and it made me feel good. I was asking the coaches how it was going after the first round and they told me to continue the way I am fighting." As a teenager, Rani had started boxing without telling her parents, who did not want her to be in a fighting sport. At that time, her coach in Bhiwani, Sanjay Sheoran, had worked tirelessly to convince her parent to allow her to continue. "It's my coach's birthday and I want to dedicate this win to him," Rani said. Bergamasco was satisfied with her performance, but his mind was already on the next challenge. Rani will face China's Li Qian, the 2016 Rio bronze medallist and 2018 world champion in the quarters. Rani has fought Qian thrice and lost thrice, the last time at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Jordan in March last year. "Rani was strong today. She was smart and had better control of her bout. We have to make a strategy for the Chinese girl," said Bergamasco. It would not be easy but riding on the thrill of making her Olympic debut, Rani is hoping to pull off an upset.
84 The India women's hockey team bowed out of the race for an Olympic gold on Wednesday, but only after a spirited fight of the kind that has defined their Olympic campaign. Against four-time medallists Argentina, they started brightly before running out of time, but not out of steam, at the Oi hockey stadium. The final few minutes were nerve-wracking, as India, in search of an equaliser, pushed world No. 2 Argentina deep into defence. At the hooter, the scoreline read 2-1. "Vamos, vamos," the Argentina contingent erupted after coming through the tense final moments. Coach Carlos Jose Retegui, who had been pacing up and down the sideline barking instructions, ran to the pitch to celebrate with his team. The Indian players were dejected, but the shoulders didn't drop. They face 2016 Rio champions Britain in the bronze play-off on Friday. "We are disappointed because we were very close to the gold and silver medal," said India captain Rani Rampal. "We put up a strong fight. the two chances they got, they converted. We also had opportunities, but today was not our day. Argentina deserved it because in the first two quarters, we could have done a few things better. In the third and the fourth quarters we played energetically, which we did not in the first two quarters. We still have a bronze medal match, we'll reflect on the things we can improve." India took the lead in the second minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurjit Kaur, who had scored with a drag-flick from a penalty corner to give India their gritty quarter-final win against Australia too. First attack of the day, first goal. But if India managed an upset against Australia, preserving their 1-0 lead for 38 minutes of frenetic defensive play, that was not to be against Argentina. Argentine skipper Maria Noel Barrionuevo converted penalty corners in the 18th and 36th minutes to take her team to the final. The Indian women's hockey team, playing in their first Olympic semi final, overcame a nervous period after their bright opening and battled to create their own chances against the four-time Olympic medallists (Argentina last won a medal in London 2012, a silver). A fighting India were twice denied by experienced goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi, who first saved Gurjit Kaur's penalty corner and then kicked away Navneet Kaur's deflection from close range. India sought a penalty corner referral for dangerous ball but it was not awarded. A furious Rampal asked for a long corner but that was also denied. For large parts of the match though, Argentina were in control of the midfield, mounting a series of attacks from the left flank. For India, the seasoned Deep Grace Ekka was once again a rock in defense, making several crucial clearances and interceptions. But minutes into the second quarter, Augustina Albertarrio earned a penalty corner and Maria Noel scored. It began a period of Argentinine domination. India failed to convert two penalty corners and Argentina kept up the pressure. Another goal looked imminent and it also came via Maria Noel. It shook India out of their defensive mindset. They now put the largely untested Argentine defence under pressure. Chances did come, but the scoreline did not budge. "We tried to take away our nerves, to deal with it," said India coach Sjoerd Marijne. "This is the first time they are playing semi-finals in the Olympics. It can give you nerves. Injections a little bit to the left, not trapping the ball...if you have three PCs, this can't happen. But that is about playing at the highest level. Today that was the difference". The Dutch coach also pointed to the fact that India had less recovery time between matches. "These are not excuses, this is reality," he said. "The main thing for us was keeping up the energy and I think that was really good." Marijne immediately got the team into a huddle after the loss and reminded the players that a bronze medal was still there to be won.
85 The India women's hockey team bowed out of the race for an Olympic gold on Wednesday, but only after a spirited fight of the kind that has defined their Olympic campaign. Against four-time medallists Argentina, they started brightly before running out of time, but not out of steam, at the Oi hockey stadium. The final few minutes were nerve-wracking, as India, in search of an equaliser, pushed world No. 2 Argentina deep into defence. At the hooter, the scoreline read 2-1. "Vamos, vamos," the Argentina contingent erupted after coming through the tense final moments. Coach Carlos Jose Retegui, who had been pacing up and down the sideline barking instructions, ran to the pitch to celebrate with his team. The Indian players were dejected, but the shoulders didn't drop. They face 2016 Rio champions Britain in the bronze play-off on Friday. "We are disappointed because we were very close to the gold and silver medal," said India captain Rani Rampal. "We put up a strong fight. the two chances they got, they converted. We also had opportunities, but today was not our day. Argentina deserved it because in the first two quarters, we could have done a few things better. In the third and the fourth quarters we played energetically, which we did not in the first two quarters. We still have a bronze medal match, we'll reflect on the things we can improve." Another gritty fight India took the lead in the second minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurjit Kaur, who had scored with a drag-flick from a penalty corner to give India their gritty quarter-final win against Australia too. First attack of the day, first goal. But if India managed an upset against Australia, preserving their 1-0 lead for 38 minutes of frenetic defensive play, that was not to be against Argentina. Argentine skipper Maria Noel Barrionuevo converted penalty corners in the 18th and 36th minutes to take her team to the final. The Indian women's hockey team, playing in their first Olympic semi final, overcame a nervous period after their bright opening and battled to create their own chances against the four-time Olympic medallists (Argentina last won a medal in London 2012, a silver). A fighting India were twice denied by experienced goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi, who first saved Gurjit Kaur's penalty corner and then kicked away Navneet Kaur's deflection from close range. India sought a penalty corner referral for dangerous ball but it was not awarded. A furious Rampal asked for a long corner but that was also denied. A late charge For large parts of the match though, Argentina were in control of the midfield, mounting a series of attacks from the left flank. For India, the seasoned Deep Grace Ekka was once again a rock in defense, making several crucial clearances and interceptions. But minutes into the second quarter, Augustina Albertarrio earned a penalty corner and Maria Noel scored. It began a period of Argentinine domination. India failed to convert two penalty corners and Argentina kept up the pressure. Another goal looked imminent and it also came via Maria Noel. It shook India out of their defensive mindset. They now put the largely untested Argentine defence under pressure. Chances did come, but the scoreline did not budge. "We tried to take away our nerves, to deal with it," said India coach Sjoerd Marijne. "This is the first time they are playing semi-finals in the Olympics. It can give you nerves. Injections a little bit to the left, not trapping the ball...if you have three PCs, this can't happen. But that is about playing at the highest level. Today that was the difference". The Dutch coach also pointed to the fact that India had less recovery time between matches. "These are not excuses, this is reality," he said. "The main thing for us was keeping up the energy and I think that was really good." Marijne immediately got the team into a huddle after the loss and reminded the players that a bronze medal was still there to be won.
86 India Women's hockey team created history after beating Australia in the Olympic quarter final match on Monday. This is the first ever Olympic semi-final spot secured by the women's team and as anticipated, the news left netizens flooding Twitter with heartfelt wishes and good luck messages for the upcoming matches. The hashtag #GoForGold is currently trending on the micro-blogging site after the flurry of tweets from people. The winning goal of the quarter final match was scored from a penalty kick by Gurjit Kaur. The team was congratulated by several eminent personalities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a message of congratulations for the team. Netizens shared all kinds of tweets to wish the team all the best with the trending hashtag. From actor Preity Zinta to sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik who tweeted one of his creations inspired from the win, the wishes kept on pouring in. Check out the tweets: This individual took a route of nostalgia and shared a scene from the Shah Rukh Khan starrer movie Chak De India. It is bound to give you goosebumps. India is set to face Argentina in the semifinals.
87 As reigning world champion P V Sindhu's hopes of securing India's first-ever Olympic gold in badminton came crashing down after slumping to a straight-game defeat against world no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's singles semifinals earlier today, Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises shared a rather encouraging message for the ace badminton player. Praising Sindhu for her guts which led her so far in the international game, Harsh Goenka tweeted, "Well played@Pvsindhu1!Medals are not made of gold, silver or bronze but really made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And all of these you have plenty..." He also added, "Tomorrow sure will be a better day and 1.3 billion hearts are expectantly awaiting for the bronze!" thus encouraging the champion player and setting another example of inspiring tweets on his social media platform. Well played @Pvsindhu1 !Medals are not made of gold, silver or bronze but really made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And all of these you have plenty. Tomorrow sure will be a better day and 1.3 billion hearts are expectantly awaiting for the bronze! pic.twitter.com/iJBAZBkDt8 - Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) July 31, 2021 Within an hour of posting, the industrialist's tweet garnered over 500 likes and several comments as people came in support of the sportsperson. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games, however, remained in the hunt for a bronze and will be competing against China's He Bing Jiao in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 in 40-minute clash here. "I'm a bit sad because it's the semifinals, but I tried my best, it's just not my day. I fought until the end," said Sindhu after the match. "In the second game I gave away a huge lead but still I was fighting back because you never know, it can change at any moment. It's the Olympics, you have to fight until the last point and I have done that. "I was prepared for her skills, so I don't think that troubled me a lot. At the end of the day the level of the semifinals is going to be really high - you can't expect easy points. I just couldn't be on the winning side." This is Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs. On her bronze medal match, Sindhu said: "It's going to be a bit sad. I need to go back and relax and prepare for tomorrow because it is not over yet. I still have a chance. "...I hope I can give my best. It just wasn't my day (today), but I'm going to try it again tomorrow." In the bronze medal play-off, Sindhu will next take on world no 9 He Bing Jiao, an opponent who has beaten the Indian nine times so far in 15 meetings. Sindhu, however, had won the last time they crossed swords at the 2019 BWF World Tour Finals. The Chinese hasn't played any international tournament since participating at the 2020 All England Championship.
88 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena, and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high-domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just assured India of a second medal at the Olympics -- after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver on the first day -- beating an opponent she had lost to three times in three matches before this one, to move into the semi-finals of the 69kg (welterweight) in women's boxing. Both losing semi-finalists get bronze medals in Olympic boxing, but Borgohain has the chance to do something no other Indian boxer has done in an Olympic ring - fight in the final. And she said after the bout that she was gunning for history. "I would talk about my journey, but not today. I have the gold to win," Borgohain said. "There is only one medal and that is gold, that is what we compete for." There was more to cheer on Friday as PV Sindhu pulled off a clinical straight-games quarter-final win over her long-time rival Akane Yamaguchi of Japan to take a step closer to a medal. The success of these women fits with an important gender shift in the country's sporting culture. Sakshi Malik (bronze) and Sindhu (silver) were India's only medallists at Rio 2016, and Dipa Karmakar's brave finish just off the podium in gymnastics was the other major highlight. Borgohain, 23, did just enough in her Olympic debut bout on Tuesday for a split decision, but in the quarter-final against Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei, the 2018 world champion was in control for the full three rounds. The lanky boxer from Assam controlled the range with her stiff jab and some nimble footwork. When Chen did find a way in, she was met with a solid left hook to the head. But Borgohain's best was yet to come. In Round 2, Chen, having lost the first, grew more and more desperate with Borgohain's control of the ring. Her attacks became more reckless and Borgohain, unfazed and perfectly poised, took full advantage. The round went unanimously in Borgohain's favour. Between the rounds, coach Raffaele Bergamasco, furiously fanning her with a towel, said: "The whole of India and Assam are watching. You have the opportunity to create history." In Round 3, still dictating the movement in the ring, still using her quick jab and hook combination, Borgohain did just that. After Vijender Singh's in 2008 and Mary Kom's in 2012, India will have another Olympic boxing medal. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, sporting a traditional gamosa around her neck after the fight. Borgohain's path to Tokyo has been hard. Last year, after almost seven months without training or competition because of the pandemic, she tested positive for Covid-19 on the day the Indian boxing squad flew out to Italy for a prolonged training and competition trip in October. Left behind in New Delhi, Borgohain had to be hospitalised for a few days. "She has been very strong mentally. We had to work on her strength and conditioning after Covid and it took a couple of months. She was very dedicated," said Bergamasco. In December and January, while the rest of the elite women boxers trained as a team, Borgohain worked on her fitness at the Inspire Institute of Sports in Ballari, Karnataka. By the end of January she felt ready to get back into the ring, but there was bad news from home-both her mother's kidneys were failing. In February, Borgohain made a two-day trip to Kolkata to be with her mother, who was undergoing a kidney transplant there. In her first tournament after this period of chaos, the Boxam International invitational in Spain, she lost in the very first round. By May, the two-time world championship bronze medallist was back in the flow, winning a bronze in the Asian Championships in Doha. Borgohain comes from Baromukhia, a village near Assam's border with Nagaland. Her father owns a small tea plantation and she has two older sisters, Lima and Licha, (one is in the CISF the other with the BSF). Growing up, Borgohain was fascinated by Lima and Licha training in Muay Thai. When she was old enough, Borgohain started training in the martial art too. In 2012, Sports Authority of India boxing coach Padum Boro was scouting for new recruits because he did not have enough boxers to represent Assam in the upcoming sub-junior nationals. He saw Borgohain in action in her school. Impressed by her height and her skills, Boro convinced her to join the SAI boxing programme in Guwahati. "I was told by the coach, just don't use the kick, and throw as many punches as possible," Borgohain had told HT in an earlier interview. She went on to win gold in the nationals with just a few months of training. In her Olympic semi-final on August 4, Borgohain will run into world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, who she has never fought before.
89 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena, and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high-domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just assured India of a second medal at the Olympics -- after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver on the first day -- beating an opponent she had lost to three times in three matches before this one, to move into the semi-finals of the 69kg (welterweight) in women's boxing. Both losing semi-finalists get bronze medals in Olympic boxing, but Borgohain has the chance to do something no other Indian boxer has done in an Olympic ring - fight in the final. And she said after the bout that she was gunning for history. "I would talk about my journey, but not today. I have the gold to win," Borgohain said. "There is only one medal and that is gold, that is what we compete for." There was more to cheer on Friday as PV Sindhu pulled off a clinical straight-games quarter-final win over her long-time rival Akane Yamaguchi of Japan to take a step closer to a medal. The success of these women fits with an important gender shift in the country's sporting culture. Sakshi Malik (bronze) and Sindhu (silver) were India's only medallists at Rio 2016, and Dipa Karmakar's brave finish just off the podium in gymnastics was the other major highlight. Borgohain, 23, did just enough in her Olympic debut bout on Tuesday for a split decision, but in the quarter-final against Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei, the 2018 world champion she was in control for the full three rounds. The lanky boxer from Assam controlled the range with her stiff jab and some nimble footwork. When Chen did find a way in, she was met with a solid left hook to the head. But Borgohain's best was yet to come. In Round 2, Chen, having lost the first, grew more and more desperate with Borgohain's control of the ring. Her attacks became more reckless and Borgohain, unfazed and perfectly poised, took full advantage. The round went unanimously in Borgohain's favour. Between the rounds, coach Raffaele Bergamasco, furiously fanning her with a towel, said: "The whole of India and Assam are watching. You have the opportunity to create history." In Round 3, still dictating the movement in the ring, still using her quick jab and hook combination, Borgohain did just that. After Vijender Singh's in 2008 and Mary Kom's in 2012, India will have another Olympic boxing medal. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, sporting a traditional gamosa around her neck after the fight. Borgohain's path to Tokyo has been hard. Last year, after almost seven months without training or competition because of the pandemic, she tested positive for Covid-19 on the day the Indian boxing squad flew out to Italy for a prolonged training and competition trip in October. Left behind in New Delhi, Borgohain had to be hospitalised for a few days. "She has been very strong mentally. We had to work on her strength and conditioning after Covid and it took a couple of months. She was very dedicated," said Bergamasco. In December and January, while the rest of the elite women boxers trained as a team, Borgohain worked on her fitness at the Inspire Institute of Sports in Ballari, Karnataka. By the end of January she felt ready to get back into the ring, but there was bad news from home-both her mother's kidneys were failing. In February, Borgohain made a two-day trip to Kolkata to be with her mother, who was undergoing a kidney transplant there. In her first tournament after this period of chaos, the Boxam International invitational in Spain, she lost in the very first round. By May, the two-time world championship bronze medallist was back in the flow, winning a bronze in the Asian Championships in Doha. Borgohain comes from a village called Baromukhia, near Assam's border with Nagaland. Her father owns a small tea plantation and she has two older sisters, Lima and Licha, (one is in the CISF the other with the BSF). Growing up, Borgohain was fascinated by Lima and Licha training in Muay Thai. When she was old enough, Borgohain started training in the martial art too. In 2012, Sports Authority of India boxing coach Padum Boro was scouting for new recruits because he did not have enough boxers to represent Assam in the upcoming sub-junior nationals. He saw Borgohain in action in her school. Impressed by her height and her skills, Boro convinced her to join the SAI boxing programme in Guwahati. "I was told by the coach, just don't use the kick, and throw as many punches as possible," Borgohain had told HT in an earlier interview. She went on to win gold in the nationals with just a few months of training. In her Olympic semi-final on August 4, Borgohain will run into world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, who she has never fought before. "I thought I will play it easy, whatever the situation I will handle," Borgohain said about her quarterfinal fight. "I used to think too much about it."
90 Sprawled on the blue turf of the Oi hockey stadium, exhausted and exasperated, they breathed hard as they lay on their backs under the hot sun. Manpreet Singh and his men had pushed themselves - and had been pushed - to the limit against world champions Belgium. They had gone into the last quarter level at 2-2, and had then endured a harrowing barrage of attacks and penalty corners to lose 5-2. When the dust settled, Belgium were through to their second straight Olympics final, and India, to their first medal match - a play-off for the bronze against Germany - since 1980. The Tokyo heat made little difference to the teams in a thrilling semi-final that was played at a breathless pace. India, playing their first Olympic semi-final in 49 years, made a fierce start. Cheered on not just by their support staff in an otherwise empty stadium, but also by the Indian women's team, India matched Belgium attack for attack. Though it was Belgium who drew first blood, early in the second minute when Loick Fanny Luypaert converted a penalty corner, India responded with rapid forays. They were rewarded with back-to-back penalty corners, and Harmanpreet Singh slotted home with a low drive in the 7th minute. Belgium were yet to settle down after the equaliser when India went 2-1 up. This time, it was a brilliant field goal set up by Amit Rohidas from the right. Receiving a ball from the midfield, Rohidas split open the defence with a cross that went straight to Mandeep Singh in front of goal. Singh, surrounded by defenders, stopped the ball, turned his back to the goal, and slapped a reverse tomahawk to send the ball past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch. Belgium, though, had an ace up their sleeve - their prolific and explosive drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, arguably the most accomplished player and prolific scorer in the world right now. The team centred their game around him, with fast, frequent forays into the striking circle to try and win penalty corners (PC), and it worked. Five PCs went Belgium's way in the second quarter and Hendrickx scored off one to equalize. Yet, things were going alright for India. They were creating chances, fighting for and getting plenty of possession, and looking strong in defence as they thwarted one PC after another. What they didn't do, pointed out coach Graham Reid, was take the chances they got. "Belgians are the best in the world with Australia," Reid said. "You've got to keep building on that score but we didn't do that. We had the opportunities but we didn't take them and paid the price for not getting that scoreboard pressure on." Then came the big blow, something Reid and feared and warned the team to avoid - Manpreet got a green card three minutes into the 4th quarter, reducing India to 10 men for two minutes. It was enough. Belgium attacked in waves, won three PCs, and Hendrickx scored with a angled shot off the last to give Belgium the lead. A few minutes later, Hendrickx completed his hat-trick off a penalty stroke. It was four minutes of mayhem. India were left chasing and gasping for breath. Rohidas made some good stops, rushing in and putting his body in the line and Sreejesh backed him up, but India were overwhelmed. "These days teams are more switched on when the opposition has 10 players on the pitch and they took advantage of that," Reid said. "Hockey is about gaining momentum and keeping it." The outcome was nearly sealed, but India chose to go for broke. They replaced Sreejesh with an attacker in the final few minutes, and ended up conceding a fifth with the goal unprotected. When it was all over, the loss was hard to swallow because there was a period when India were ahead 2-1. "They were better than us in the third and fourth quarters," said Manpreet. "We were going to the D and it was getting a bit mixed. We were getting the penalty corners but we were not able to execute them. On the other hand, when they got an opportunity they scored." Manpreet said the team would be looking to put the defeat behind them and refocus for the bronze medal match. "We still have an opportunity to return home with a medal, a bronze," he said. "We'll be doing our best to boost the team." And the men will be on hand, screaming encouragement, when the women's team play their historic semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday.
91 Sprawled on the blue turf of the Oi hockey stadium, exhausted and exasperated, they breathed hard as they lay on their backs under the hot sun. Manpreet Singh and his men had pushed themselves - and had been pushed - to the limit against world champions Belgium. They had gone into the last quarter level at 2-2, and had then endured a harrowing barrage of attacks and penalty corners to lose 5-2. When the dust settled, Belgium were through to their second straight Olympics final, and India, to their first medal match - a play-off for the bronze against Germany - since 1980. The Tokyo heat made little difference to the teams in a thrilling semi-final contest that was played at a breathless pace. India, playing their first Olympic semi-final in 49 years, made a fierce start. Cheered on not just by their own support staff in an otherwise empty stadium, but also by the Indian women's team and their coaching staff, India matched Belgium attack for attack. Though it was Belgium who drew first blood, early in the second minute when Loick Fanny Luypaert converted a penalty corner, India responded with rapid forays into the opponent's half. They were rewarded with back-to-back penalty corners, and Harmanpreet Singh slotted home with a powerful low drive in the 7th minute. Belgium were yet to settle down after the equaliser when India went 2-1 up. This time, it was a brilliant field goal set up by Amit Rohidas from the right flank. Receiving a ball from the midfield, Rohidas split open the defence with a cross that went straight to Mandeep Singh in front of goal. Singh, surrounded by defenders, stopped the ball, turned his back to the goal, and slapped a reverse tomahawk to send the ball past seasoned Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch for a fine finish. Belgium, though, had an ace up their sleeve - their prolific and explosive drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, arguably the most accomplished player and prolific scorer in the world right now. The team centred their game around him, with fast, frequent forays into the striking circle to try and win penalty corners (PC), and it worked. Five PCs went Belgium's way in the second quarter and Hendrickx scored off one to equalize. Yet, things were going alright for India. They were creating chances, fighting for and getting plenty of possession, and looking strong in defence as they spiritedly thwarted one PC after another. What they didn't do, pointed out coach Graham Reid, was take the chances they got. "Belgians are the best team in the world with Australia," Reid said. "You've got to keep building on that score but we didn't do that. We had the opportunities but we didn't take them and paid the price for not getting that scoreboard pressure on." Then came the big blow, something Reid and feared and warned the team to avoid - Manpreet got a green card three minutes into the 4th quarter, reducing India to 10 men for two minutes. It was enough. Belgium attacked in waves, won three PCs, and Hendrickx scored with a powerfully angled shot off the last to give Belgium the lead. A few minutes later, Hendrickx completed his hat-trick by slotting home a penalty. It was four minutes of mayhem. India were left chasing and gasping for breath. Rohidas made some good stops, rushing in and putting his body in the line and Sreejesh backed him up, but India were overwhelmed. "These days teams are more switched on when the opposition has 10 players on the pitch and they took advantage of that," Reid said. "Hockey is about gaining momentum and keeping it." The outcome was nearly sealed, but India chose to go for broke. They replaced Sreejesh with an attacker in the final few minutes, and ended up conceding a fifth with the goal unprotected. When it was all over, the loss was hard to swallow because there was a period when India were ahead 2-1. "They were better than us in the third and fourth quarters," said Manpreet. "We were going to the D and it was getting a bit mixed. We were getting the penalty corners but we were not able to execute them. On the other hand, when they got an opportunity they scored." Manpreet said the team would be looking to put the defeat behind them and refocus for the bronze medal match. "We still have an opportunity to return home with a medal, a bronze," he said. "We'll be doing our best to boost the team." And the men will be on hand, screaming encouragement, when the women's team play their historic semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday.
92 In Simone Biles's decision to quit, lies a crucial lesson for young women everywhere. It comprises a single, two-letter word: No. Biles's decision to pull out of the Olympics does more than shine a welcome spotlight on mental health. By prioritising her own well-being over every tribal call for team and nation, she has reclaimed the power of saying "no". In a month when the Norwegian women's handball team has been fined for refusing to play in bikini bottoms and choosing shorts, like male players, the word stands out like a flashing beacon particularly in cultures and societies like ours where good girls don't say no; where they are brought up to never complain, never ask for anything for themselves; where they put family first and eat last and the least. From their birth, girls are indoctrinated into submitting to the unquestionable authority of patriarchs: Fathers, brothers, husbands, and fathers-in-law. Please "adjust" is what they are told when they are pulled out of school, made to do housework unlike their privileged brothers, or, find themselves in abusive marriages. Even the slightest deviation cannot be tolerated. And, so, this past week, in Savreji Kharg, Uttar Pradesh, 17-year-old Neha Paswan was beaten to death and then strung from a bridge, allegedly, by her grandfather and uncles, for saying no to changing out of the pair of jeans that she had chosen to wear for a religious ritual. Earlier in July, a 19-year-old woman in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, was beaten up and hung from a tree for refusing to return to a violent marriage. The main accused are her father and two cousins. In Dhahod, Gujarat, in June, two girls, 13 and 16, were thrashed by a group of 15 men in an incident that was videotaped. Their crime? Talking on a mobile phone. These incidents are part of the every day normal for young girls who cannot be allowed to cross male-ordained Lakshman rekhas. This is a world where mobile phones are out of reach for women of a certain impressionable age, lest they do the unthinkable: Strike friendships with boys, break caste and gotra endogamy, fall in love, perhaps, run away and elope. This view of the hapless young woman, incapable of making her own decisions, who must be protected by her father and brothers, her husband and father-in-law, her village elders, and even the laws of the land and the courts is pervasive. It's what leads to a 23-year-old woman's father convincing a judge of the Kerala High Court that his daughter could not have possibly converted and become Hadiya of her own free will. It's what has led to the enactment of so-called "love jihad" laws in four Bharatiya Janata Party-run states despite the National Investigation Agency telling the Supreme Court that there is zero evidence of a "conspiracy" to lure and entrap innocent Hindu girls into marriage, and conversion, by Muslim men. In this normal world, a 19-year-old adult Hindu woman and a Muslim man arrive at the Ballia district magistrate's office to marry under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The marriage is thwarted on the basis of a complaint by the woman's father. For good measure, members of the Karni Sena group are on standby to physically prevent the marriage. Like old Hindi movies, the police turn up in the last scene, find no evidence of love jihad, but arrest the man anyway, on charges of kidnapping. The woman is handed over to her father and, a day later, issues a statement saying she was being tricked by the man. What kind of law subverts the agency of women who are guaranteed the status of equal citizens by the Constitution of India? Worse, perhaps, is the silence of Opposition parties and, even, the higher judiciary. It is a silence borne of the certainty of majoritarian public support in favour of "controlling" daughters. It's a silence validated by the data that tells us that even in urban India, 93% of all marriages that take place continue to be arranged marriages. But Simone Biles also tells us that saying no carries a price. For putting herself above her team, there has been applause for sure, most critically from her own team, but there has been no shortage of critics, including the odious Piers Morgan and a troll lynch mob that hides bravely behind anonymous handles. Women should not have to pay such a high price for asserting themselves. But they do. It is absurd that a woman who speaks up about workplace sexual harassment should be dragged to court by a boss whose entitled predatory behaviour was an "open secret" for over two decades. It is shameful that a woman in a rape trial should have not just her identity revealed in the court judgment, but also details of her private life. Women who protest in public are shamed in public, as students at Banaras Hindu University were when they marched against a molestation incident on campus and were ticked off by their vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi that they had "sold a woman's modesty and brought dishonour to the university". Launched to protest against discriminatory curfew hours in college hostels, Pinjra Tod founders Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were arrested in May 2020 under anti-terrorism laws and released 13 months later on court orders. Simone Biles might have just made it that much easier for young women everywhere. Her decision tells girls that they matter, their voices are important, and that it's okay to put themselves first. It reclaims the first word that every girl must learn because it is raw and powerful and has the capacity to bring about change. Namita Bhandare writes on gender The views expressed are personal
93 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday encouraged the Indian women's hockey team, after the girls lost following a valiant fight in the bronze medal match against Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite going down 2-0 at one point, the Indian team scored three quick goals to take lead in the match and put the Rio Olympics gold medalists on the backfoot. But Britain bounced back in the fourth quarter and won the match 4-3. Prime Minister Modi, taking to his official handle on Twitter, said: "We narrowly missed a medal in Women's Hockey but this team reflects the spirit of New India- where we give our best and scale new frontiers. More importantly, their success at #Tokyo2020 will motivate young daughters of India to take up Hockey and excel in it. Proud of this team.
94 Mirabai Chanu on Saturday won a silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition to open India's counter at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Manipur athlete lifted total weight of 202 kgs to win the medal. The gold in the event was won by China's Hou Zhihui with combined weight total of 210 kgs. She picked a total of 87 kgs in the snatch part of the event and ended with a lift of 115 kgs in clean and jerk. She is the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Day 2 Live Blog Chanu has been a world champion in the past, when she won the gold medal in the 48 kg category in Anaheim. She is the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 48kg category. (More to follow...)
95 The Indian women's hockey team lost 1-4 to defending champions Great Britain, its third consecutive defeat at the Olympics here on Wednesday. The Indians wasted chances galore as Hannah Martin (2nd and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute), Grace Balsdon (57th minute) scored for Great Britain to hand the reigning champions their second consecutive win in Pool A. For India, Sharmila Devi scored the lone goal in the 23rd minute. The Indians need at least a point from this game to be safe but they now will have to win their remaining two matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. India had earlier lost 1-5 to world no.1 the Netherlands before slumping to a 0-2 defeat against Germany. India will next play Ireland on Friday.
96 Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won India's first silver medal in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, inaugurated a new arthroscopy machine at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a premier medical institute in Imphal, Manipur, on Monday. "RIMS is one of first few institutes in the country with a Medical Council of India/ National Medical Commission-recognised MD course in sports medicine," said director professor A Santa Singh of RIMS, "We are grateful to the ministry for supporting us." Manipur introduced the MD course in sports medicine at RIMS during the last academic session.
97 India women's hockey team scripted a historic win over Australia in the quarterfinal match on Monday, beating the tournament favourites 1-0 to book their first-ever Olympic semifinal spot. It took a Gurjit Singh dragflick from a penalty corner to give India the lead in the first quarter. Australia tried to get a goal back, getting several penalty corner opportunities throughout the match, two of them coming in the final quarter. But defender Monika was up to the task, along with goalkeeper Savita, who ensured that India do not give away their hard-earned lead. After the historic win, the Twitterati applauded the historic achievement of the team. Here is a look at some of the reactions: India will face off against Argentina in the semifinals, who defeated Germany 3-0 to book a spot in the semis. With a semis spot booked, India women's hockey team are guaranteed a chance to play in a medal match in Tokyo 2020.
98 Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh to Vandana Katariya, a member of the India women's hockey team that participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this year. "We are proud that Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya made an unforgettable contribution to India's great performance in women's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics," the chief minister said. "In recognition of this, she would be given a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh."
99 The Indian women's hockey team has grabbed a spot in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympic Games and the credit majorly goes to the final goal by Gurjit Kaur. India's last best performance in the Olympics was back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. In that edition of the Games, women's hockey made its debut in the Olympics and the sport was played in a round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the finals. Let us know more about the Indian hockey player who brought about the historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarterfinals. Thank you, Gurjit, for taking us one step closer to a dream Olympic outing. Let's hockey for the Gold now. This story was first published on Life Beyond Numbers.
100 Vinesh Phogat, one of India's strongest medal contenders at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reacted sharply to a media report on Thursday as she tweeted about her request for a physiotherapist to accompany India's women wrestlers. Vinesh, who will represent India in the women's freestyle wrestling's 53kg category, posted a photo of the news report on Twitter and wrote,"Is it a crime to ask for one Physiotherapist for four women wrestlers when there are instances of one athlete having multiple coaches/ Staff? Where is the balance?We have asked for a Physio long back and not at the last moment as reported." Vinesh has been in great form in the run up to the Games. She has won gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Asian Games. She also won the yellow metal at the Asian Championships in Almaty in the run up to the Olympics.
101 Reigning badminton world champion PV Sindhu sailed into the women's singles semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics with a straight-game triumph over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. The Indian shuttler sealed a 2-0 win against Yamaguchi, winning the first game 21-13, followed by 22-20. Yamaguchi of Japan had earlier defeated Korea's Kim Gaeun 21-17 21-18 in another pre-quarterfinals.
102 If you're wondering who are these ROC athletes winning so many medals at the Tokyo Olympics, here's everything you need to know. ROC athletes are currently joint-third on the Olympics leader board with a tally of 16 medals. But ROC is not a country. It's a way for the Olympics to ensure that innocent athletes do not suffer because of doping bans on their countries. 335 athletes are contesting under the ROC banner. They can neither wear their country's flag nor does their national anthem play when they step up on the podium. ROC is the acronym for Russian Olympic Committee. That's because Russia has been banned from competing in the premium sporting event. Why was Russia banned? In 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency imposed a four-year ban on Russia from competing in all major global sporting events. An investigation from WADA had found a country-wide doping operation that involved over thousand athletes who benefited from state-sponsored doping programs between 2011 and 2015. Apart from the Tokyo Olympics, the ban had barred Russia from competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2022 and Women's World Cup in 2023 as well as the 2024 version of Summer Olympics. The doping scandal is also the subject of an Academy Award-winning 2017 Netflix documentary called Icarus. Russia appealed against the ban which was then reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to two years. How are Russian athletes allowed? Athletes from Russia who were found not involved in the doping investigations by WADA are allowed to compete but they can do so only as neutrals and not under the Russian flag. As per the guidelines, athletes competing under the ROC banner can wear uniforms of Russian colours but the name, flag or anthem of Russia is not permitted. Outside Olympics, Russian race car driver Nikita Mazepin is a good example. Mazepin competes in Formula 1 with the Haas F1 team under the Russian Automobile Federation flag. Similar Olympic bans This is not the first of its kind ban. Afghanistan was banned from competing in Sydney Olympics in 2000 when it was under Taliban rule. That ban was due to the regime's discrimination against women. Even before the Tokyo Olympics, Russian athletes were banned from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics because of doping. Kuwait had also faced a similar ban in 2016 due to a law in the country that did not abide by the Olympic Movement's principles. Kuwaiti Olympians took part under the name "Athletes from Kuwait."
103 Lovlina Borgohain created history by winning a bronze medal in her debut Olympic Games. The 23-year-old from Assam lost the 69kg women's boxing semifinal bout against world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey at the Tokyo Olympics on August 4. Bollywood celebrities took to social media to congratulate Lovlina. BOLLYWOOD CONGRATULATES LOVLINA BORGOHAIN FOR OLYMPICS WIN after Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom. Celebrities lauded her historic win on social media. Kareena Kapoor took to Instagram to congratulate Lovlina. Ali Bhatt also congratulated the boxer for 'bringing home the bronze'. Sharing a photo of Lovlina, Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai on bringing home bronze at your debut Olympics! We're all so proud of you #TokyoOlympics @WeAreTeamIndia (sic)." Varun Dhawan lauded Lovlina too. He wrote, "You packed quite a punch! Many congratulations to Lovlina Borgohain for winning the bronze (sic)!" Mira Rajput hailed Lovlina and wrote that it's time to teach the boys how to fight like girls. Check out how other celebrities congratulated Lovlina Borgohain for her historic bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics: Super achievement .. the whole country is proud of you for bringing in the bronze - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) Lovlina Borgohain is the third Indian to win a medal at the Tokyo Games after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and badminton player PV Sindhu. Lovlina has won two bronze medals each at the World championships and the Asian Championships earlier. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Kareena Kapoor to Alia Bhatt, celebs laud Lovlina Borgohain for bronze win at Olympics
104 Check out six ways in which Google is bringing all the details and the fun from the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to the comfort of your home. Tokyo Olympics 2020: The Tokyo Olympics kick off today and Google has shared a new blog post highlighting features that will help users enjoy the Olympics from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Here are six ways Google will help out followers of the 2020 Olympic games. Google Search adds country rankings, other trivia Searching for anything around the Olympics will show you the latest information around your favourite events, sports and players and also country rankings. Even if you can't catch the games live, users can watch a daily recap video or check out the any other major news related to the Olympics. Enjoy the new Google Doodle Google has also launched a new Doodle ahead of the games, its largest interactive Doodle yet. The new 'Champion Island Games' Doodle was created in collaboration with Japanese animation studio 4C. It allows users to enter the tournament and select a team, following which they can compete across multiple retro 16-bit sports like skateboarding, rugby and climbing and try to beat the reigning champions. There are multiple side-quests too. YouTube, Google TV to feature official broadcaster highlights Starting today, live events as well as clips and highlights from official Olympic broadcasters, including Marca Claro and Eurosport will be available to watch on the respective YouTube channels. "Earlier this month, we added Olympic-related content on YouTube with new YouTube Originals series 'Strive,' 'How To Olympics,' 'Break the Record' and a feature-length documentary 'World Debut' ahead of opening ceremonies," Google said in a post. Google TV users can head to the 'For You' tab and open the Olympics page to find apps from official broadcasters and tune into live streams and missed events, or be inspired by popular sports movies, sports shows and videos on Japan and more. Ask Google Assistant who won Google Assistant will be able to answer questions around the competitions through the tournament. Users will be able to ask Assistant questions like "Hey Google, who won women's basketball in the Olympics?" or "Hey Google, how many medals does France have in the Olympics?". Users can also ask the voice assistant for fun facts around the tournament. These features will work from any Assistant-enabled device, including your phone, speaker and TV. Find apps around the Olympics on the Play Store The Google Play Store will also feature a number of apps around the Olympics including the official Olympics app and other apps related to broadcasters, news organisations, social media, sports and games, plus fitness. Explore Japan with Street View, Google Arts & Culture and Translate Google will be bringing Japan to those enjoying the Olympic Games from home. Users can now enjoy Google Street View in Maps and check out the streets of Tokyo, the snow-capped mountains and cave formations. Google Arts and Culture will also allow users to check out Japan's traditional crafts and mouth-watering food. Google Translate will also help you learn Japanese if you desire.
105 After Mirabai Chanu won India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics in women's weightlifting category, a message has gone viral on social media with the claim that wrestler Priya Malik has won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Multiple and users have congratulated Priya Malik with captions like, "remember the name congratulations for winning gold in wrestling " India Today Anti-Fake News War Room ( AFWA) has found that wrestler Priya Malik has won the gold medal in 73 kg world title at the Cadet World Championships in Budapest on Thursday, July 22. Till now India has won only one silver medal in Tokyo Olympics in weightlifting. The archived versions of the posts are saved and . At the recently held Cadet World Championships in Budapest, , out of the five golds, India won two at 43kg and 73kg as Tannu Malik and Priya Malik respectively dominated the finals. Priya Malik defeated Belarus wrestler to win the gold medal at 73kg. This news appeared in several news on July 23. Priya Malik is from Mokhra village in Haryana that has given India the likes of India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist in wrestling, Sakshi Malik. India has so far won only one silver medal in weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics. Hence, the viral post claiming wrestler Priya Malik won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics is misleading. ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic Fact Check: Wrestler Priya Malik has won gold medal but not at Tokyo Olympics
106 Badminton player PV Sindhu has created history and Indians all over the world are ecstatic. Sindhu scripted history after she defeated He Bingjiao of China 21-13, 21-15 in the women's singles bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. She became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She had earlier won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Dia Mirza and more have taken to social media to celebrate the historical win. BOLLYWOOD LAUDS PV SINDHU Bollywood celebs celebrated While Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on winning the bronze...Third place medal and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud (sic)," Kareena Kapoor shared PV Sindhu's picture with a heart emoji. Congratulations on winning the bronze and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud - Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) Calling Sindhu "one of a kind" sportsperson, Taapsee Pannu said her win must be celebrated across the country. She wrote, "Our girl is getting home the bronze !!!!!She did it!!! One colour at a time I say!Come on champ @Pvsindhu1...This calls for a celebration !!!!!!...You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU!(sic)." Our girl is getting home the bronze !!!!! She did it!!! One colour at a time I say! Come on champ This calls for a celebration !!!!!! You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU! - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) Actor and BJP MP Sunny Deol tweeted that he was proud of Sindhu's win. "Proud of you @Pvsindhu1. First Indian woman to win #Olympics Medal Twice! Making India and Indians proud. #PVSindhu #Bronze #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 (sic)," Deol wrote. Proud of you First Indian woman to win Medal Twice...!! Making India and Indians proud. - Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) See more celeb wishes here: Dia Mirza wrote, "You are Gold Girl @Pvsindhu1 Congratulations!!! India is proud of you. #Olympics #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India #TeamIndia (sic)." You are Gold Girl Congratulations!!! India is proud of you. - Dia Mirza (@deespeak) Congrats !!! Always making India proud ! - dulquer salmaan (@dulQuer) Sindhu became only the 2nd Indian after Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Kareena to Abhishek, Bollywood lauds PV Sindhu's historic bronze win at Tokyo Olympics
107 The top five Indian athletes on Twitter with the most mentions include P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain and Mary Kom, among others. Read more here. Tokyo Olympics: As we head into the second week of the 2020 Olympics, a number of women athletes are currently leading the trends in social media. New statistics shared by Twitter reveal that in India, athletes including Mirabai Chanu and P.V. Sindhu are attracting a lot of attention on the micro-blogging platform. A tweet by Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been the most retweeted tweet of the Olympic Games by Indian audience so far. Meanwhile, badminton player P.V. Sindhu is the athlete with the most India mentions during the games. Check out all the interesting statistics from the Tokyo Olympics below. Note that these findings are based on Twitter data collected between July 23 and July 30. P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain lead 'most mentioned' list The top five Indian athletes on Twitter with the most mentions include P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, Mary Kom, Deepika Kumari, and Atanu Das. Meanwhile the sports Indians are talking about the most on Twitter include Boxing, Olympic Weightlifting, Badminton, Olympic Field Hockey, and Tennis. These are the most liked tweets around the Olympic games in India. I am really happy on winning silver medal in #Tokyo2020 for my country - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 24, 2021 Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021 Finally its a dream come true for me. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/e6ewz3cNXO - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 24, 2021 Heading back to home , Thank you #Tokyo2020 for memorable moments of my life. - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 26, 2021 Big Day It was Excitement & Emotional. I won the First Match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi and become the First INDIAN Fencing Player to win a Match at Olympic but 2nd Match I lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet. I did my level best but couldn't win. I am sorry - C A Bhavani Devi (@IamBhavaniDevi) July 26, 2021 Top hashtags and emojis Twitter has also revealed that #Tokyo2020, #Olympics, #Cheer4India, #TokyoOlympics and #TeamIndia are the most used hashtags in tweets related to the game. The most used emojis include the (clapping hands emoji), (second place medal emoji), (first place medal emoji), (Thumbs up emoji) and the (sports medal emoji). Women athletes are topping the Twitter charts not just in India, but globally too. The three athletes with the most global mentions on Olympics conversations are Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal, American gymnast Simone Biles and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade.
108 Dairy brand Amul congratulated boxer Lovlina Borgohain with an animated doodle published in a post on social media as she won a medal for India after she clinched the bronze in the women's boxing welterweight category (64-69kg) at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The doodle shared by Amul features an after her win with the Amul girl encouraging the boxer as well. "Borgohain Sabse Behtar! Amul, We Love It," reads the text on the graphic. "#Amul Topical: Indian boxer wins bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics," Amul said in the caption of their post. See Amul's post here: As the post went viral with thousands of likes, in the comments section. The 23-year-old boxer from Assam lost the women's boxing semifinal bout against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey on Wednesday. Lovlina failed to change the colour of her medal but became only the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish at the showpiece after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic Amul congratulates Lovlina Borgohain with animated doodle for bronze win at Tokyo Olympics
109 Following is India's schedule on the day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. After a disappointing loss in the semi-final to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying, India's star shuttler and reigning World Champion PV Sindhu will have her eyes on the bronze medal when she takes on her Chinese opponent, He Bingjiao. If Sindhu emerges victorious, this will be her second Olympic medal after the silver medal in Rio Olympics where she lost to Carolina Marin in the final. There will be two quarter-final events as well. Boxer Satish Kumar will lock horns with Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov in men's super heavy category. Also, Manpreet Singh-led India will look to continue their winning run in the tournament with a win over Great Britain in the quarter-final. India faced only one defeat in the group stage against Australia. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza will be seen in action again in the Eventing Cross Country team and individual event. Following is India's schedule on the ninth day of the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. Golf: Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4: 04:00 AM. Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Cross Country Team and Individual: 04:15 AM. Boxing: Satish Kumar vs Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan) in men's super heavy (+91kg) quarterfinals: 9:36 AM. Badminton: PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao (China) in women's singles bronze medal play-off match: 5 PM. Hockey: India vs Great Britain in Men's quarterfinal: 5:30 PM.
110 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
111 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
112 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
113 On Sunday (August 1), badminton player PV Sindhu created history after defeating He Bing Jiao of China 21-13, 21-15 to win the women's singles bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu has become the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Celebs like Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde, Kajal Aggarwal and Samantha Akkineni took to social media to congratulate PV Sindhu for inspiring girls across the country to dream big. MAHESH BABU AND CHIRANJEEVI LAUD PV SINDHU'S HISTORIC BRONZE WIN Celebs took to social media to congratulate in the women's singles bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Mahesh Babu took to Twitter and wrote, "Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze @Pvsindhu1! Immensely happy and proud!! #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze ! Immensely happy and proud!! - Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) Chiranjeevi took to Twitter to share a picture of himself with PV Sindhu and congratulated her for becoming the first Indian woman to bring home an Olympics medal twice in a row. He wrote, "Congrats @Pvsindhu1 on winning the medal & creating history for being the first Indian woman to bring an Olympic medal twice in a row. Delighted that both medals won so far are by Indian women! No stopping our Women Power!! You make India proud!#MirabaiChanu @Pvsindhu1 #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Congrats on winning the medal & creating history for being the first Indian woman to bring an Olympic medal twice in a row.Delighted that both medals won so far are by Indian women! No stopping our Women Power!! You make India proud! - Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) OTHER CELEBS CONGRATULATE PV SINDHU ON HER HISTORIC WIN Samantha Akkineni took to her Instagram stories and wrote, "And she does it againI can't imagine what this takes @pvsindhu1. We absolutely love you and respect your hardwork and dedication. You are so special (sic)." Pooja Hegde also congratulated PV Sindhu for inspiring girls to always dream big. She wrote, "It takes a lot of grit, focus and sacrifice to achieve what you've done. Such a big reminder to dream big and put the work that goes in to it. First Indian female athlete to win consecutive Olympic medals. Take a bow. Thank you for the inspiration @pvsindhu1 (sic)." Kajal Aggarwal shared a video on her Instagram stories and wrote, "@pvsindhu historic indeed! #Somuchrespect #Andpride (sic)." Namrata Shirodkar wrote, "You have done India proud once again @pvsindhu1. Many congratulations on your incredible win at the #Tokyo2020Olympics!! #GirlPower (sic). also lauded PV Sindhu's historic win at the Tokyo Olympics. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Mahesh Babu to Chiranjeevi, celebs congratulate PV Sindhu for historic bronze win at Olympics
114 A decade ago, when Aditi Ashok was only 13, she had impressed the city's veteran golfers with her temperament. It is the same temperament the world got to view as Aditi competed with the world's top golfers for three days before missing an Olympic medal by a whisker. “Aditi was mature beyond her years even when she was a teenager. A bad shot is all it takes to ruffle a golfer. But nothing appeared to unsettle her and she went about her game with calm and poise. For the past three days, too, it is her fantastic temperament that was on display. Even when she lost, she did not flinch and went about the formalities just as she would have had she won,” said former twotime national champion Vandana Agarwal. Ashok had won the Eastern India Tolly Ladies & Girls' Amateur Golf Championship championship in 2011. In 2014, she overcame a bizarre day which saw her score as many as four double-bogeys to win the event again. Agarwal won her first national title in 1997, a year before Ashok was born. Indrajit Bhalotia, who was India no.1 in 2000 when Ashok was only two and has seen her development as a golfer over the years, said unlike the other Indian athletes who may have lost their nerve or choked at the finish, Ashok lost out simply because she missed a vital putt in 72 holes. “Driving off the tee is not Ashok's biggest strength. But in the Olympics, her drives were even weaker because she is just recovering from Covid. She was, therefore, always 40 yards behind the leaders. It was her consistently excellent putting that ensured she was in second position for almost the entire duration of the tournament. It is the missed putt on the 17th hole that edged her out of the top-three spots,” said Bhalotia. Gaurav Pundir, the golf course superintendent at The Tollygunge Club, said Ashok's remarkable play throughout the tournament would inspire many young golfers to aim high. “She may have lost a medal but she has won many hearts. She was superb all through. In fact, she had done very well on the opening day in the Rio Olympics as well,” he recalled.
115 Aditi Ashok's wry smile after her tap-in to complete her fourth round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Japan's Saitama said it all. The smile couldn't hide the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal. Overnight second on the leaderboard, Aditi carded three-under 68 for a total of 15-under 269 but that was not enough. Both Mone Inami of Japan and Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot six-under on the last day to pip Aditi at the post. Inami won the silver in the play-off. The Indian football team in Melbourne (1956), Milkha Singh in Rome (1960), PT Usha in Los Angeles (1984), Joydeep Karmakar in London (2012), Dipa Karmakar in Rio (2016), the women's hockey team on Friday, Aditi a day later. The gnawing pain of finishing fourth on the biggest stage just refuses to ebb. Aditi, a Bangalore girl, said finishing fourth "kind of sucks". "I didn't know that I have joined the list of Indian athletes who missed out on an Olympic medal. Obviously you don't want to join that club. But yeah, I guess I've joined it. I think I gave it my 100 per cent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give just three medals, kind of sucks. In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it's hard to be happy with a fourth place in Olympics. I played well and gave it my 100 per cent," Aditi, who fell short by a stroke, was quoted as saying by the International Golf Federation. Joydeep Karmakar, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish, said he understands what Aditi is going through. "Obviously it sucks. The difference between an Olympian and an Olympic medal winner. I could feel for Aditi when she smiled after the tap-in. I have been through this and I know what was going on in her mind," Karmakar told The Telegraph on Saturday. Nine years ago at the London Olympics, he missed the bronze by a whisker in the 50m rifle prone. "When I saw Vijay Kumar on the podium wearing the silver medal I just broke down. Just couldn't control myself as realisation dawned upon me on what I had missed," Karmakar said. "It's a devastating feeling. It's stark and dark. And when you see the financial benefits an Olympic medal winner gets in our country it becomes more depressing." Aditi was unlucky as her putts missed the cup on the 17th and 18th holes. A birdie in one of the two holes would have taken her to the play-off round with Japanese and the Kiwi. "Maybe I made too many through the four rounds, golfing gods were like, okay, we're not going to give her this one," the 23-year-old said. "I just tried my best, even the last hole, although it was really out of range, it was almost a long putt, but I still tried. So yeah, I think I gave it my best shot." Never mind, Aditi. Paris is just three years away.
116 In terms of medals, the 2012 London Olympics has been India's best show at Olympics so far with 6 medals (2 silver and 4 bronze). A total of 83 athletes, 60 men, and 23 women competed across 13 sports at the edition. But with Neeraj Chopra and Bajrang Punia still in contention, India, who so far have 5 medals to their name, are in with a chance to better their best Olympics so far with 7 medals. However, with many close shaves where Indian athletes missed out by a whisker, the tally of India's medal list could have been much more impressive. Here are five instances from this edition of the Olympics where India missed out on a possible medal: Kamalpreet Kaur Kamalpreet Kaur finished a commendable sixth in the women's discus throw final with best attempt of 63.70m. However, in qualification, Kamalpreet Kaur produced one of the strongest performances by an Indian, finishing second. Inexperience of playing at the Olympics and the pressure of the situation most likely came to her undoing. Saurabh Chaudhary Nineteen-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary from India topped the 10m air pistol shooting qualifier at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He scored 586 out of 600 to raise hope for a gold medal. However, in the main round, Saurabh Chaudhary finished seventh in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Tokyo Olympics, disappointing one and all who pinned their hopes on the sharp shooter. Deepak Punia (Wrestling) Deepak Punia stormed into the semi-finals with two wins and was just two wins away from clinching a gold medal. However, in the semis, the Olympic debutant at just 22, ran into eventual gold medal winner David Taylor of USA. Deepak lost the bout by technical superiority but still had a shot at a bronze medal. He led the bout against San Marino's Myles Amine but lost the lead in the final ten seconds, giving away a takedown to lose the bronze medal match with barely any time left. Women's hockey team The women's hockey team's story was straight out of a Bollywood flick. Captained by Rani Rampal, India delivered their best-ever performance at the Olympic Games by making it into their first-ever semi-finals. India was ranked ninth coming into the tournament and punched above their weight to reach semi-finals. They stunned higher-ranked Australia in the quarter-finals and suffered a close 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-final. Still in contention for a bronze, India had to endure another narrow loss against Great Britain, this time by 5-4. It was an inspirational campaign as Sjoerd Marijne coached team repeatedly punched above their collective weight. Aditi Ashok (Golf) Indian golfer Aditi Ashok ranked 200th in the world went to Tokyo Olympics without any expectations. However, Aditi's turned out to be a surprise package as she came agonisingly close to clinching historic Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2020 in women's individual strokeplay. Aditi finished 15 under and had to hit a birdie in the 72nd hole to force a bronze medal playoff with Lydia Ko. However, she failed to do so after rain interrupted her momentum.
117 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
118 23-year old placed second ahead of big names after first round one Indian golfer Aditi Ashok got off to a brilliant start at the Tokyo Olympics Golf competition, carding a four-under 67 in the opening round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club here on Wednesday. Aditi, who caught the golfing world's attention five years ago at the Rio Olympics, shared the second place with World No. 1 Nelly Korda. She was one shot behind the leader, Madalene Sagstrom of Sweden, who shot 66. Aditi may well have had a share of the lead but for a bogey on the 18th hole. While Sagstrom shot a bogey free five-under 66, Aditi had five birdies against one bogey and that on the closing hole. She was placed well ahead of some big names in women's golf, including the formidable defending champion, Inbee Park (69). India's other entrant in the field, Diksha Dagar (76) had a rough start in her maiden Olympics as she had five bogeys and no birdies to lie at the tied 56th spot. The 60-player field will play 18 holes each day and there will be no cut, so all players get to play 72 holes. Aditi birdied fifth and ninth from 15 feet and seven feet respectively. On the back nine, she added birdies on the 13th from 15 feet and another from almost 18 feet on 17th. In between, she had another birdie on 14th from under three feet after a superb approach. Placed at 5-under she bogeyed the last after missing a par from under seven feet. "I think I played better than I expected today because I had a lot of hybrids into the greens, so I didn't really expect to be like 5-under through 17," Aditi said. "But, I kind of holed some (good) putts and holed important par putts as well which kept the momentum. So, yeah, it was a good day." Five years ago when Aditi got into the Olympics, her father, Ashok, was on the bag and this time around it is was her mother, Maheshwari, who has been a big influence on her. "Yeah, my mom, she's caddying for me. Last time I had my dad on the bag, so the experience was just so incredible. I was like I want to have my mom next time and I made good on that promise," Aditi said. Aditi said she was a rookie last time but now has the wealth of experience. "...I just finished my high school exams and then I was at the Olympics in two months. But this time I think definitely a lot more experience, just playing on the LPGA the last five years makes you way better as a player than I was at Rio. "And I think the Olympic experience was, I didn't finish as well as I wanted to last time, but just seeing the effect that it had on golf in India was inspiring and that's kind of what motivated me for this one as well." The 23-year-old from Bengaluru, who has 18 Major appearances, had attracted global attention with a start of 68-68 in the first two rounds at Rio, but then faded to T-41st. Among others, South Korea's world number two Ko Jin-young , Finland's Matilda Castren and Spaniard Carlota Ciganda were tied fourth after all three carded 3-under 68 each. The South Korean team also boasts of the reigning Olympic champion Park Inbee (69) and World No. 4 Kim Sei-young (69) who are Tied-7th and sixth-ranked Kim Hyo-joo (70) who is T-16th. New Zealand's former World number one Lydia Ko (70) was four behind the leader, while Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, a double major winner, stumbled to 77 with six bogeys and is tied for 58th in the 60-player field. Major winners Feng Shanshan of China and Canadian Brooke Henderson shot 74 each.
119 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympic Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games, which concluded yesterday, but put many athletes' mental health at risk. It was particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates were staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso had said. Some teams tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simone Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she had said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there were no spectators in the stands and it meant athletes had nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this caused anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes needed “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes had complained that the rules in place made it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”. Athletes from Netherlands, who quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19, went on strike, protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. The Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC.
120 Abdullah Al-Rashidi, 58, a seven-time Olympian, won his second straight skeet-shooting bronze on Monday If it's the Olympics, nothing is impossible. And no age too old or too young for Olympic glory. Ask Abdullah Al-Rashidi, a seven-time Olympian, who, at 58 years, won his second straight skeet-shooting bronze on Monday. The only difference: At Rio in 2016, he was considered an independent athlete, not a Kuwaiti. Kuwait's national Olympic committee had been suspended by the IOC for government interference so Al-Rashidi and his compatriots at the Rio Games had to compete as part of an independent team. That meant no team uniform - he wore an Arsenal football jersey - no Kuwaiti flag or national anthem should anyone win gold. This time, he made sure he had the Kuwaiti flag out first, draping it over his shoulders even before the medal had been presented. "I am happy to see my Kuwaiti flag and second Olympic medal," Al-Rashidi said, promising to return at the 2024 Paris Games, when he would be a sprightly 61. Hours before Al-Rashidi's feat, Japan's Momiji Nishiya became the second youngest champion in summer Olympic history, aged 13 years and 330 days, by winning the inaugural women's skateboarding street competition. Only Marjorie Gestring, who was 13 years and 268 days when winning the women's 3m springboard diving at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, has secured gold in a summer Games at a younger age. Nishiya came out on top of an unusually young field of competitors, with all three medallists in their teens. Brazilian silver medallist Rayssa Leal is also 13, while bronze medallist Funa Nakayama, also from Japan, is 16. If it's the Olympics, anything is possible.
121 Expectations sky-high from men's & women's teams As the final whistle blew after the India versus Great Britain bronze medal playoff match of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Friday, the likes of Rani Rampal and Savita Punia slumped to the ground in tears. They lost the match 4-3 and with that ended their dream of winning a medal for the first time in women's hockey. They should not feel disheartened by the defeat, though. Because when nerves calm down, they will realise that what they have achieved in Tokyo is beyond anybody's imagination. A team of rank outsiders stunned the world by playing the bronze playoff. They fought valiantly and sent a message to the rival teams. Henceforth, ignore us at your own peril. On Friday, even when down 0-2, they came back strongly to score three goals (Gurjit Kaur in the 25th and 26th minutes) and Vandana Katariya (29th). After Grace Baldson scored the fourth goal off a penalty corner, Indian women gave their all to restore parity. Unfortunately, it was not their day. Salima Tete, Savita, Rani, Gurjit and Vandana have all made us proud with their brilliant display. There is no shame in this heartbreaking defeat. One of the reasons for the success of the men's and the women's teams was the fact that there was no superstar or a prima donna. In the past, we have seen one or two players thinking they were bigger than the team, and they let the team down. But in Tokyo, what we saw was completely different. Both the teams believed in teamwork and for that much credit goes to the two coaches, Australian Graham Reid and Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne. They inculcated team bonding and there was no place for ego. That's their USP in Tokyo. Now that the teams have caught the imagination of the country, the players will get a lot of attention wherever they go. The accolades and constant media attention may make you believe you are larger than life. It will be interesting to see how Reid or Marijne's successor (he announced Friday's match was his last) deal with the situation. Tokyo has been a happy hunting ground for Indian hockey. In 1964, we got back the gold we lost in the Rome Olympics, by beating Pakistan. In 2021, 41 years since the Moscow triumph, the men won an Olympic medal in the same city and the women finished fourth. In women's hockey, India's best performance in the Olympics before this was a fourth-place finish in Moscow, but there were no semi-finals in that edition. Only six teams competed in a round-robin format and the top two featured in the final. The future looks bright for the sport in India. The Commonwealth Games (in Birmingham) and Asian Games (Hangzhou in China) are lined up for next year. Expectations will be sky-high after the resurrection in Tokyo.
122 Indian Women's hockey team reach quarter-finals after nail-biting win against South Africa; Pooja Rani knocked out It was a mixed day for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as shuttlerPV Sindhu, boxerAmit Pangal, archer Atanu Das all bid goodbye to the Games while discus throwerKamalpreet Kaur produced one of her best performances to advance to the finals of the Olympics. Indian Women's hockey team also overcame a stiff South African challenge to prevail 4-3 in a closely fought encounter riding on Vandana Katariya's historic hat-trick. However, the team's quarter-finals hope still hinged on Ireland vs Great Britain's match. Great Britain's victory over the Irish ensured India finished as the fourth place team in Pool A and qualified for the knock-outs. India's archery campaign at the Olympics ended without a medal after Atanu Das lost to home favourite Takaharu Furukawa 6-4 in an intense five-setter in the men's individual pre-quarterfinals here on Saturday. Das failed to find a 10 in the fifth set and slipped to the red-circle for an 8 that proved costly as Furukawa sealed the issue by one point margin in the decider. Das was the lone archer in the fray after his world number one wife Deepika Kumari succumbed to a 0-6 rout by eventual gold medallist An San of Korea on Friday. Indian boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the Olympics with a stunning 1-4 loss to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez, beaten by the Colombian's relentless attacks and pace in the pre-quarterfinals. Despite this loss, the 25-year-old Panghal remains one of best-performing Indian boxers in recent times, having secured a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games, followed by an unparalleled silver medal at the world championships in 2019. Women boxer Pooja Rani was also beaten by China's Li Qian 5-0. The day that started on such a negative note soon turned positive as Indian Women's hockey team took the field. Rani Rampal-led side put up a dazzling attacking display but some slacky defending allowed theSouth African side to levelthrice in the game beforeNeha Goyal's goal ensured the win for the Indians. In Athletics, discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur produced one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics, though in a qualifying round, as she made it to the finals of the ongoing Games after finishing second here on Saturday. The 25-year-old Kaur, competing in qualification B, sent the discus to a distance of 64m in her third and final attempt to be one of the only two automatic qualifiers for the final round, the other being American Valarie Allman (66.42m). The Indian ended ahead of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba. Perkovic qualified at third and Perez at seventh. The final will held on August 2. Seema Punia, another discus thrower, failed to qualify for the finals. ShootersTejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil also fell short of reaching the finals, as didSreeshankar in Men's Long Jump. GolferAnirban Lahiri scored an eagle but will need a miracle to win a medal. The Calcutta boy is tied-30 at the end of Round 2. However, the biggest upset of the day for the Indians came when PV Sindhu was knocked out of the Women's singles Badminton semi-finals byworld no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games, however, remained in the hunt for a bronze and will be competing against China's He Bing Jiao in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 in Tokyo. This is Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs.
123 She broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in consecutive Olympics The scoreline read 19-15 and China's He Bing Jao had no answer to PV Sindhu's crosscourt smash. At 20-15, Sindhu murmured to herself: "One more point". One more point would give her the badminton bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games. And that point came after a brief rally, Sindhu unleashing another winner. The final score: 21-13, 21-15. Emotions took over the moment as the 26-year-old let out a scream of joy. Her Korean coach Park Tae-Sang, seated on the sidelines, was euphoric. Sindhu went to her coach, embraced him. A pat from the coach and Sindhu walked to the other side of the court and swept off beads of sweat. She smiled. India cheered. China's world No. 2 Chen Yu Fei took the gold, beating Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying 21-18, 19-21, 21-18 in the final. Sindhu broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in consecutive Olympics. Her overflowing trophy cabinet already has a silver medal from the Rio Olympic Games five years back. Before her, only wrestler Sushil Kumar, now languishing in jail on a murder charge, had won two medals back-to-back in the Beijing (bronze) and London (silver) Games. She is also only the fourth player to win two consecutive medals in women's badminton singles in the Games' history. "I'm on cloud nine. I'm going to enjoy this moment. It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me - should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best, my all. I'm really happy and I think I've done really well. It's a proud moment, getting a medal for my country," Sindhu was quoted as saying by the world body BWF's website. It was indeed a great moment for every Indian. After her demoralising loss to Tai Tzu-ying on Saturday, it was Sindhu of yore on Sunday. Those smashes, deft net-plays, Sindhu was a treat to watch. She stuck to the game plan and did not give Bing Jao much of a chance. "It's not easy. It's a big thing. There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax," she said. Under Park, Sindhu's overall game has improved a lot. She is now more confident in front of the net and defensively also very compact. This was India's third medal this Olympics and, interestingly, all have been earned by women. Besides Sindhu, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver on July 24, while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is assured of at least a bronze. A big shout-out to woman power.
124 She was seen wearing beautiful and dainty Olympic-ring themed earrings, a gift from her mother Mirabai Chanu opened India's medal counter on Day 1 of the Tokyo Olympics, as she clinched the country's first silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition. The Manipuri athlete showed immense grit and determination as she ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. Mirabai was seen breaking down in tears after achieving this historic feat. She later danced to celebrate her medal at the Olympics. Besides the euphoria, what caught our attention, were her earrings. She was seen wearing beautiful and dainty Olympic-ring themed earrings. The gold-toned Olympic rings are believed to be a gift from her mother that she carried on her, along with an ever-cheerful face. It depicted her dedication and passion for the game. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chanu for her "stupendous performance" through his tweet. Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021 Rahul Gandhi, too, tweeted his wishes for the athlete. Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu for our country's first medal on the very first day. India is proud of her daughter. - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 24, 2021 What do you have to say?
125 In a thrilling 56-minute women's singles badminton quarter-final clash, PV Sindhu defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, making way for her entry into the semi-final. Several Indian film stars on Friday congratulated badminton player PV Sindhu on her latest win at the Tokyo Olympics. Farhan Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu, Suriya, Nithiin and Lakshmi Manchu among others took to social media and expressed pride in Sindhu. "What a great game @Pvsindhu1!! You had us all on the edge of our seats. Wow!!! All the best for the semi's #Tokyo2020 #Badminton #TeamIndia," Farhan Akhtar tweeted. The actor played athletes in the films Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toofan. Taapsee Pannu, who is set to play a cricketer in Shabaash Mithu, also congratulated PV Sindhu. The actor posted on Twitter, "Through to the semis @Pvsindhu1 bring it home !!!!!!!" Lakshmi Manchu wrote on Twitter, "What a thrilling match! Our girl @Pvsindhu1 was on Semi-Finals here we come.." Here are all the celebs who expressed excitement for PV Sindhu on social media. What a great game @Pvsindhu1!! You had us all on the edge of our seats. Wow!!! All the best for the semi's #Tokyo2020 #Badminton #TeamIndia - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 30, 2021 Through to the semis @Pvsindhu1 bring it home !!!!!!! - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) July 30, 2021 Woooow! Rockstar brilliant!!! - Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) July 30, 2021 It's such a proud moment for India to see @Pvsindhu1 entering into the semi finals..congratulations and All the very best! - nithiin (@actor_nithiin) July 30, 2021 Indian pride @Pvsindhu1 storms into semi finals Congratulations and All the best #PVSindu #OlympicGames #GoForGold #Tokyo2020 #TokyoOlympics2020 - Manoj Manchu (@HeroManoj1) July 30, 2021 Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on reaching the semi finals of #Tokyo2020 Now just 2 more matches to win! Go Girl!Our best wishes are with you!#Olympics #IndiaTodayAtOlympics - Anil Ravipudi (@AnilRavipudi) July 30, 2021 What a thrilling match! Our girl @Pvsindhu1 was on Semi-Finals here we come.. #Olympics2020 - Lakshmi Manchu (@LakshmiManchu) July 30, 2021 Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on reaching into semifinals of #Tokyo2020 . Go For Gold..Wishing you the best!! #Olympics - Bobby (@dirbobby) July 30, 2021 Well done @Pvsindhu1 way to go #Tokyo2020 - Gopichandh Malineni (@megopichand) July 30, 2021 In a thrilling 56-minute women's singles badminton quarter-final clash, PV Sindhu defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, making way for her entry into the semi-final. The 26-year-old shuttler previously won a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
126 Bhopal: India's women's hockey team has scripted history after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time with a stunning 1-0 victory. They beat Australia, who had been looking for their first medal since securing a podium finish in Sydney in 2000, in the quarter-finals. Although, Gurjeet Kaur scored the only goal in the match, the entire team showed a great mix of aggression and strategy and did not allow Australia to dominate. Three of the players who made India root for its national sports once again, were trained at the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy based in Gwalior during their early years. Vandana Katariya, Sushila Chanu and Monika Malik were trained in the state. They have represented Madhya Pradesh at least once at national tournaments. Two players, who have been kept as reserve in the national team at Olympics, E Rajani and Reena Khokhar, also have represented the state early in their career. The women's team began slowly at the Olympics. They lost their first three league matches against the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain. The women's team finally got their well-deserved first win at the league against Ireland by 1-0. They booked their seat in the quarter finals after winning their fifth league match against South Korea by 4-3. Vandana, who has trained at SAI Bhopal chapter for several years, scored three goals in the deciding league match. Vandana has represented MP in Jharkhand National Games and senior national hockey tournament in the past. When the team was put against Australia, who were the top-scorers of the other pool, Vandana, Monika and Sushila, all amazed the opponents with their display. The chief coach of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in Gwalior, Paramjeet Kaur, said the Indian team has turned impossible into possible. MP academies have become the training centres for the players of both MP and other states, she said. It is a big day to celebrate as all these players were connected with either the academies or they had represented MP in national tournaments, added Kaur. * Sushila Chanu... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2006-2012 * Monika Malik.... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2010-2011 * Vandana Kataria....SAI Bhopal * Reena Khokhar.... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2010-2011 * E Rajani....SAI Bhopal
127 Self-regulatory ad industry entity Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor, adding that such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. Indian athletes including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya have won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOn-Wheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but their violations are treated as a violation of government's rules.
128 Tai Tzu Ying beat PV Sindhu in two straight sets to reach the final of the Women's singles in Badminton in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian star player PV Sindhu lost to the second seed and the World No 1 Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying in two straight sets in the semi-final of the women's singles of Badminton in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Tzu Ying was just too good for Sindhu on the day, defeating her 21-18, 21-12. Thereby she was out of the gold medal contention and will now play in the Bronze medal match on Sunday. Sindhu was her athletic self, but Tzu Ying attacked Sindhu on her strength, ie., power game and dumbed it down and ran her around the court and Sindhu just had no answer to Taipei star's game. The first game was pretty close as Sindhu matcher her shot for shot and was proving to be a mouthwatering and well-fought set as she would score one point and her opponent would score another, it was going well till 16-16 but Tzu Ying ended up taking the first game. The second set was all Tzu Ying despite Sindhu's strong start. There was a point her or two there, but Tzu Ying was just relentless in her pursuit and despite Sindhu's best efforts, she lost the game 12-21 and was out of the gold medal contention. The match lasted 40 minutes and now Sindhu will face China's He Bing Jio for the bronze medal.
129 The Indian contingent's first day at the Tokyo Olympics brought out a range of emotions. While Mirabai Chanu led India to it's first ever podium finish on Day One of Olympics with a silver medal in 49kg weightlifting event, Sourav Chaudhury made hopes soar with a fine display in the qualifying round only to crash out of the finals with a 7th place finish. India strikes first medal at Olympic #Tokyo2020 Mirabai Chanu wins silver Medal in 49 kg Women's Weightlifting and made India proud Congratulations @mirabai_chanu ! #Cheer4India - Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 24, 2021 Archers disappoint India's campaign in mixed team archery event at the Tokyo Olympics came to an end on Saturday as Deepika Kumari and Pravin Jadhav lost 2-6 to Korea's An San and Kim Je Deok. Deepika and Jadhav had gone 0-4 down in the first two sets but fought back to make it 2-4. However, the Koreans, who were the heavy favourites going into the match prevailed over the Indian pair and progressed to the semi-final. Badminton: India lose in Mixed Doubles In the Badminton Mixed Doubles event,India's Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra lost toChinese Taipei'sYun Ju & I Ching in straight sets to crash out of the tournament. The Chinese Taipei side looked sharper, hungrier as the Indian duo was left reeling for a single set. In the end, it was a well-earned victory forChinese Taipei. However, Manika Batra made amends in the Singles event, oustingGreat Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in Round 1.In just 30 minutes, Batra demolished her opponent 11-7,11-6,12-10,11-9. - MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) July 24, 2021 Fired up by Manika Batra's win, Sutirtha Mukherjee carved out a winagainst Sweden's Linda Bergstrm in her Women's Singles first-round match. Sutirtha was trailing 3-1 at one point of time, and the comeback will surely add to her confidence going into the second round. Table Tennis: Amazing comeback by our girl Sutirtha Mukherjee (WR 98) to come back from 1-3 down to beat higher ranked Linda Bergstrom (WR 78) 4-3 of Sweden in opening round. Next Sutritha will take on WR 55 Fu Yu of Portugal. #Tokyo2020withIndia_AllSports - India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 24, 2021 Vikas Krishnan loses Boxing prelims Indianboxer Vikas Krishanlost out to Quincy Mensah Okazawa of Japan in Preliminaries - Round of 32 bout. Vikas Krishan was dominated through and through by the 25-year-old Japanese. 10-9 to the home boxer in the first round, 10-8 in the second and the third round confirmed the result. Krishan was left with a bloodied eye, failingto win a medal. Shooting: Chandela, Valarivan out The day began with Indian duo of Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan kickstartingIndia's Olympic campaign, participating in thewomen's 10m air rifleshooting qualification round. Elavenil finishedwith a qualification score of 626.5, whileChandela finishedwith a qualification score of 621.5. The scores were not good enough to qualify and both the shooters bowed out of the finals. Hockey: Men qualify, women lose In another tale ofgritin the Tokyo Olympics, Indian men's hockey team came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-2 in their opening match.Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace and goalieSreejesh produced some brilliant saves to ensure India finished with three points in their opening match. India will face favourites Australiaon Sunday. However,The Indian women's hockey team could not match the intensity of the world no. 1Dutch team. Rani and Cofought valiantly in the first two quarters before losing the steam to go down 1-5 against Netherlands in their opening pool match at the Tokyo Olympics here on Saturday. Felice Albers gave Netherlands the lead in the sixth minute before the advantage was evened out by India skipper Rani Rampal in the 10th minute. The Indians defended bravely in the first two quarters to go into the half time locked at 1-1 but the break seemed to have broken their momentum as the Dutch came out all guns blazing after the change of ends and pumped in three goals to nip any chance of an upset in the bud. Rowers finish at No. 5 In men's Rowing,India pair Arvind Singh and Arjun Jat finished fifth place in Lightweight Men's Sculls with a time of 6:40:33, qualifyingfor Repechage. India out in Judo In Judo,Sushila Devi lostin the first round. Air pistol: Saurabh Chaudhary out in final round In Men's 10m air pistol event,Saurabh Chaudhary produced one of the best displays of the Indian contingentsso far, topping the qualifying round of the event with a score of586. However, the 19-year-old could not replicate the same form in the finals. He finished 7th in the finals, having ignited hopes of a podium finish with a flawless display in the qualifying round. - #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 24, 2021 Although, not all hopes are lost asSaurabh Chaudhury still has another chance, in the mixed team event with Manu Bhaker. In the Men's singles Group D match,B Sai Praneeth lost his opening men's singles Group D match, going down to Israel's Misha Zilberman 17-21, 15-21. Tennis: Sumit Nagal moves ahead In Tennis,Sumit Nagal, India's last entrant into the Olympics, beatthe 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in the first men's singles encounter. The last time India won a match in tennis singles was 25 years ago, when Leander Paes won the historic bronze at the 1996 Atlanta.
130 The 23-year-old missed it by a whisker but she has done more than that, it's a very big step forward for Indian golf Saturday was a day to remember for Indian golf. Especially women's golf. Aditi Ashok made all of us proud. She may not have won a medal. The 23-year-old missed it by a whisker but she has done more than that. It's a very big step forward for Indian golf. Obviously a medal would have given us a little bit more joy but that is immaterial now. Since Friday morning the whole nation was talking about Aditi. I have been very closely associated with the sport for long but I have not seen this kind of euphoria before. World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the US won the gold medal. Our own Aditi was just two strokes behind her. Nelly took gold with a four-round total of 17-under 267. Japan's Mone Inami and New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who won silver and bronze, respectively, after a play-off for second place, finished only a stroke ahead of Aditi. The Indian finished at fourth place with 15-under 269. What an incredible performance! She was not outplayed, she fought till the very end. And I strongly believe this fighting spirit would help women's golf in India in the coming days. Playing golf in almost the same rhythm for four days itself is tough. Many factors are involved in it. The level of concentration, how your muscles behave, the weather and, of course, the course. She was very determined throughout the rounds. Through the four days, Aditi was in contention to bag an Olympic medal. It was not an easy job. We all have to cherish the moment. In our country nobody talks about golf. I do not blame them. Because we, the golfers, have not won anything remarkable. But Aditi has won the hearts of millions. That is why people are talking. We didn't expect anything from her. So it is giving us more joy. We have to encash the opportunity. Today the President of the country, the Prime Minister, other important political persons, sports lovers and others are all talking about golf. It is good for Indian golf. This was Aditi's second Olympics. In Rio 2016, she made her Olympics debut and finished a distant 41st. She didn't get enough opportunities to prepare for the Tokyo Games owing to the pandemic. But still she has managed this kind of a performance, which is a very strong statement. Not only Aditi, Diksha Dagar, the other woman golfer who represented the country, also did a decent job. Aditi's performance in Tokyo gave me more satisfaction because it is like completing the full cycle for me. When I started playing golf, people had no idea about what I did. Very few people used to discuss the game. I used to think - one day people will know about the game and that time has arrived. Courtesy Aditi Ashok. Smriti Mehra is a pioneer of women's golf in India. She was the first woman from the country tobecome a member ofthe world's leading golftour for women, theUS-based LPGA Tour
131 Self-regulatory ad industry entity Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor, adding that such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. Indian athletes including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya have won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOnWheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. “Advertisers shall not, without permission from the person, firm or institution under reference, contain any reference to such person, firm or institution which confers an unjustified advantage on the product advertised or tends to bring that person, firm or institution into ridicule or disrepute,” ASCI code states. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but their violations are treated as a violation of government's rules. The code adds that if and when required to do so, then the advertiser and the ad agency shall need explicit permission from the person, firm or institution to which reference is made in the advertisement.
132 Deepika Kumari crashes out in the quarter-finals; Shooters continue tragic run; Avinash Sable breaks his own national record This can go down as one of the most memorable days in India's Tokyo Olympics journey. Primarily because today's outing gives hope for more medals, courtesy Lovlina Borgohain and PV Sindhu. Well, there's more good news. The Indian women's hockey team found their mojo back with a win over Ireland, and the men clinched their third straight game before starting their quarter-finals journey. On a sad note, archer Deepika Kumari ended her stint with anexit in the quarter-finals. Here's a round-up of all that has happened for India today in Tokyo: Boxing: Lovlina shines, Simranjit knocked out This is the highlight of the day. Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) assured India of their first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games when she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei to enter the semifinals. The 23-year-old Assam boxer prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four where she will square off against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, who hammered Ukraine's Anna Lysenko in her quarterfinal bout. Borgohain, a two-time world championship bronze-medallist and teh first female boxer from Assam to qualify for the Games, displayed tremendous calm in the face of a plucky opponent, who had beaten her in the past. Earlier, Simranjit Kaur (60kg) lost to Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee in the pre-quarterfinals to make an early exit from the Games. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded fourth, went down 0-5 despite a gritty performance. Badminton: Sindhu storms into semis Reigning world champion PV Sindhu kept alive India's hopes of a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton by reaching the semifinals of the women's singles with a straight-game win over world No.5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attacking all-round game to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza. "The first game was mostly under my control. I was gaining the lead but I didn't take it easy because in her previous matches she came back. But I maintained the lead and finished it off," Sindhu, seeded sixth, said. "In the second game I was leading but then she came back. But I still fought back, I never lost hope and I continued with the same tempo. I am very much happy with the way I controlled the shuttle, not many errors," she added. Archery: Deepika Kumari crashes out Kumari's quest for an Olympic medal ended in heartbreak for the third time as she surrendered tamely to Korean top seed An San in straight sets in the quarters. It was all over in six minutes. The fancied Indian misfired three 7s in a row after drilling in as many 10s in succession to snuff out any chance of a comeback after being 0-2 down in the opening set. An, who had a perfect opening set of 30, closed it out despite shooting in the red-circle thrice in succession (7-8-9) in second and third sets. "I am not sure what happened. I tried hard but I could not perform to my own expectations," Deepika, who shot a pathetic four 7s from seven arrows, said after her loss at the Yumenoshima Park. Athletics: Sable's record, rest collapse Avinash Sable shattered his own 3000m steeplechase national record but failed to qualify for the final while sprinter Dutee Chand produced a below-par performance to make an exit from the Tokyo Olympics. MP Jabir also brought up the rear in men's 400m hurdles while the mixed 4x400m relay team finished eighth and last in the second heat race as the Indians made a disappointing start to their athletics campaign. The 26-year-old Sable failed to qualify for the final despite clocking a better time than the top three in another heat race. He clocked 8 minutes 18.12 seconds in heat number 2 to finish seventh and better his earlier national record of 8:20.20 that he had set during the Federation Cup in March. In the evening session, the Indian quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Ravathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan and Rajiv Arokia clocked season's best timing of 3:19.93 but it was good enough for a bottom-place finish in heat number 2. Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza made an impressive debut in Equestrian, achieving 28 penalty points and ranking 6th. He will again be back on Day 2. Golf: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri endured an erratic day at the course and was even-par after 16 holes in the second round which was suspended due to persistent thunderstorms over the east course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Friday. Lahiri, 4-under on first day, was one of the 16 golfers who were yet to finish their rounds and was tied 20th at the time of suspension of play. They will return on Saturday morning at 7.45 am and the third round will start after that. Lahiri bogeyed the second, but made up with a birdie on the sixth to turn in in even par. On the back nine, he birdied the 10th but dropped a shot on the 13th. Hockey: Men continue winning run Striker Gurjant Singh was twice on target as India comfortably outclassed hosts Japan 5-3 to complete their pool proceedings with four victories after having already sealed a quarter-final berth. Apart from Gurjant (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India to hand the eight-time Olympic champions their third consecutive win in Pool A at the Oi Hockey Stadium. Kenta Tanaka (19th), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th) were the goal getters for Japan, who were already knocked out of the last-eight race ahead of Friday's tie. Welcome win for eves Navneet Kaur scored a late winner as the Indian women's hockey team kept its quarterfinals hopes alive in the Olympics with a 1-0 win over Ireland in a must-win penultimate pool match on Friday. After goal-less three quarters, which India completely dominated but failed to breach the Irish defence led by goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, Navneet finally found the back of the net in the 57th minute to bring smiles on the Indian faces. Needing a win to keep their hopes alive after three consecutive losses, India had to wait anxiously for 57 minutes despite being the dominant team on display and creating innumerable scoring chances. Sailing: Saravanan third, Kumanan dissapoints Already out of the medal contention, Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan finished a commendable third in one of the two laser event races on Friday that saw him move up three places to 20th position overall. After finishing third in the race number nine, Saravanan, however, ended at 15th in the next to remain at 20th overall out of 35 sailors in the laser event with 156 net points. Only the medal race remains in the competition at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. In the men's skiff 49er, the Indian pair of KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar finished 17th, 11th and 16th in three races to still occupy overall 17th spot out of 19 competitors with 116 net points. Three races and medal round still remain in the competition. Nethra Kumanan continued her disappointing form as she dropped four places to 35th with 251 net points out of 44 sailors in the women's laser radial after finishing 37th and 38th in the ninth and tenth races. Only the medal race remains in the competition. Each event consists of a series of races. Points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two and so on. Shooting: Bhaker, Sarnobat out Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat crashed out of the 25m pistol qualifications (rapid fire stage) as both finished outside the top-8 at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. It means the pistol shooters will return home empty-handed for the second straight time at the Olympics. Bhaker shot 290 in the rapid fire stage of the qualifications for a total of 582, a day after scoring 290 in precision at the Akasa Shooting Range, while the more experienced Sarnobat managed 573 (287+286). The field comprised 44 shooters in the qualifications. Placed an impressive fifth after the first stage of qualifications, the 19-year-old Bhaker faltered after a promising start, slipping with two 8s and many 9s, numbers that led to her downfall in what has turned out to be a forgettable maiden appearance at the Games.
133 Table tennis champ Harmeet Desai, who now trains in Germany and represents the Loire Nord Table Tennis Club in the French League, is back to his hometown Surat for a short break. He tells us, “After spending four months in France and Germany, I was keen to have a short break and meet my family. Some of the players from my training centre have gone to participate in the Olympics and so, I flew down to India for a break.” Harmeet's parents had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year and his father had to be hospitalised. Recalling that phase, he shares, “I was really worried for my parents and even though I wanted to come back to be with them, it wasn't possible due to the prevailing circumstances back then. So, it was a pretty emotional reunion for us.” Harmeet's fianc é e Krittwika Sinha Roy, a member of the Indian women's TT team, has also come down from her hometown Kolkata to spend a few days with Harmeet's family. He shares, “Krittwika and my mom are busy preparing delicacies that I love the most and I am relishing maa ke haath ka khaana. Before coming here, my coach had asked me to ensure that I don't put on more than two kilos during this break. I am making sure to work out so that I don't gain weight. Once I go back to Germany, I plan to be on a very strict diet again for the next few months. Krittwika and I have also been practising together at home.” Recently, Harmeet celebrated his birthday at home and he says that it turned out to be a memorable experience. He shares, “We had a small get-together. Krittwika gifted me bedsheets and pillow covers which had my family photos as well as memorable moments from my professional journey, like winning the Arjuna Award.” While there has been a fresh surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, Harmeet says that he isn't too stressed about flying back to Germany. He shares, “I have taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine, so I am feeling a little relaxed. Also, since I am fully vaccinated now, I don't need to quarantine there.” Talking about bio-bubbles, the table tennis champ says, “Every sportsperson has to accept it and get used to it. I feel that it's a small sacrifice that we need to make to get to do what we love — play our sport.” While he missed out on qualifying for the Olympics this time, Harmeet says that it has only made him more determined. He shares, “I will be giving it my all in the next three years to ensure that I can qualify for the next Olympics. Overall, I am very optimistic about India's medal prospects this time. I believe that we will win more than 10 Olympic medals.” Krittwika and Harmeet will be getting married in December. He says, “It will happen in Kolkata. However, right now, we haven't decided how big the ceremony will be because it will depend on the COVID-19 situation.”
134 At 7.40am on Friday, 13-yearold Soumili Guha was screaming sitting before the TV at her Behala home when India women's specialist drag flicker Gurjit Kaur powered the equaliser in the hockey bronze medal match against Great Britain at the Olympics. The difference between Guha and millions of other new fans who were doing the same thing around that time in Kolkata lies in the fact that while the rest of the city were pinning their hopes for an Olympic medal, Guha actually wanted to be in Gurjit's shoes and hoped to flick it same way, one Olympic down the line. While both the Indian men and women's team left a mark world Olympics this year, 5,000km away in Kolkata, TOI visited neighbourhoods in the city that remain principal catchment areas for hockey players where kids and teenagers still prefer to dribble and scoop the ball with a stick rather than with legs as in football and bats as in cricket. “When she flicked the ball in the nets, it seemed I had an adrenaline rush. I couldn't help but grab my stick and shadow practice it over the next few minutes. This team has made us dream big and I wish I will be there at that stage one day and make my nation proud,” said Guha, who has been training for four years now at Behala Jagrihi club. From a sport that was played across the state and had representation in independent India's first team, hockey has over the years lost its glamour and have reduced to pockets. In Kolkata, Behala Chowrasta, Bhowanipore and Entally are three such pockets apart from Howrah, Baruipur, Rishra and Chandernagore on the city fringes. With hockey regaining its lost place over the last couple of weeks and real hockey stars like Rani Rampal, Vandana Katariya, Simranjeet Singh and P R Sreejesh emerging out of the shadows of Bollywood's bright lights of 'Chak De India', young trainees, trainers and sports lovers opine this is the perfect opportunity to bring the focus back to the game. “My friends used to taunt me for wasting time in hockey while they practised other popular sports. But after the recent heroics of our hockey team, these friends were the first to congratulate me,” said 12-year-old Ankit Shaw, who plays at the Entally Hockey Academy. However, pointing at a worn out 6ftx10ft office and the hockey pitch under ankle-deep water, Subir Pan, the joint secretary of the academy, said unless the basic facilities get better, such short boosts won't have any long-term effect on the game. Veteran hockey coach and official Gopal Ghosh said the recent feat at Tokyo will be a confidence booster for the current as well as upcoming generation of hockey players as well as sports lovers in general. “I am an ardent cricket fan. But perhaps for the first time, I was watching India's hockey matches over India's feisty show on the first day of the test match in England. The glamour and glitz associated with cricket has drifted us a long way from other games. We needed this jolt to be shaken into reality,” said Soumya Mukherjee, a techie. The spirited show is even inspiring some of the players like Puja Shaw (25) on the verge of retirement to take a last dash at the game. “I started the game at the age of 14 and have represented Bengal at the national stage. But I didn't get much from the game and have taken up a job at a private firm. But after the gutsy show by some of my national team mates, I feel like giving one last go at professional hockey again,” said Shaw.
135 Puri-based internationally acclaimed sand animator Manas Kumar Sahoo congratulated in his own unique way. Sahoo made an enthralling sand animation to honour Mirabai Chanu who became the first Indian to score a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sahoo's artwork featured a portrait of Mirabai Chanu. The message on his creation read, "Congratulations to Mirabai Chanu." In the sand animation, Sahoo beautifully crafted Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's face. In fact, he spent two hours creating the extensive sand art. See his masterpiece: Talking to India Today, Manas Kumar Sahoo said, "We have created a sand animation and congratulate her for by winning a silver medal in the world's biggest international sports arena. We are all incredibly proud of her." Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on Saturday in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics, bringing pride to billions of Indians. Earlier, Manas Kumar Sahoo released 2.50 minutes animated sand art film based on the grand bathing ritual on the eve of Snana Purnima, bringing the holy trinity closer to his devotees. In the film, Sahoo depicted Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath bathing rituals on the Snana Mandap, the Pahandi Bije, and Chhera Pahanra (ritualistic sweeping of the floor) by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deo. Following the legendary Milkha Singh's death, of him with the words "Salute to you superhero flying Sikh." My heartfelt homage to the through my - Manas sahoo (@SandArtistManas) Read | Read | Graphic Odisha sand artist sculpts fitting tribute to Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu
136 The Indian women's hockey team had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. While they lost against Argentina, they will now play for the bronze in their maiden Olympic podium clash at Oi Hockey Stadium. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medalmatch start? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Friday, August 6. Where will Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match be played? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
137 Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain was not satisfied after taking the bronze medal in the women's welterweight (64-69kg) category as she stated she had prepared for gold at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She still made India proud with a hard-earned bronze. However, India still has three big chances to secure more medals today. Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) enjoyed fruitful outings at the Tokyo Olympic Games as they secured semifinal berths in their respective weight categories at the Makuhari Messe. On the opening day of the wrestling competition, Ravi Dahiya defeated Bulgaria's Georgi Vangelov 14-4 on technical superiority to reach the last-four in the men's 57kg category, while compatriot Deepak Punia overcame China's Zushen Lin 6-3 on points to advance to the semifinals. Dahiya will take on Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan in the last-four, while Punia will be up against David Morris Taylor of the USA. Earlier, Dahiya had won his opening-round bout by technical superiority against Colombia's Oscar Tigreros to secure a quarterfinal spot. Competing in the Round-of-16 bout against the Colombian wrestler, the 23-year-old Dahiya, who is making his Olympic debut, showed no nerves as he dominated the bout to win by technical superiority (13-2). Dahiya landed attack after attack and went 13-2 up, winning the bout by technical superiority with minutes to spare. In wrestling, building up a 10-point lead over the opponent results in a victory by technical superiority. At 3.30 pm later in the day, The Indian women will take on Argentina in the second semi-final of the women's field hockey competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Sjoerd Marijne's charges created history by becoming the first Indian team to make it to an Olympic quarter-final and then went a step further by getting the better of three-time gold medallists Australia to book a place in the semifinals.
138 Table Tennis Federation termed Manika Batra's behaviour 'unprofessional' after she refused to have the national coach by her side. The Table Tennis Federation of India has threatened action against the star player, Manika Batra, after she refused to have the national coach Soumyadeep Roy by her side during one of the games in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The Secretary General of the federation, Arun Kumar Banerjee has said that the matter will be taken up for discussion once the whole contingent is back in India. Banerjee stated that Manika Batra's behaviour was 'unprofessional', calling Soumyadeep Roy, the personal coach of fellow Indian player Sutrtha Mukherjee, who was knocked out in the second round of Women's singles. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Banerjee said, "Personal coach is a wrong statement. Sutirtha plays in Soumyadeep's academy, but he is the national coach. To say her coach was not allowed with her is wrong on Manika's part." Banerjee further said that Manika Batra had applied for a personal coach and they had recommended as well but demanding that her personal coach be in place of Soumyadeep and calling him Mukherjee's personal coach was wrong on her part. Manika had earlier requested the grant of the field of play (FOP) access for her personal coach Sanmay Paranjape but the access wasn't granted even though his last-minute approval for travel to Tokyo was given. Manika's campaign came to end on Monday after she lost to Austria's Sofia Polcanova in the third round of women's singles. She and Sharath Kamal were already eliminated from the mixed doubles competition after losing in the Round of 16.
139 Hockey team left high and dry by mighty Australia; Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina crash out; Pranati Nayak fails to make the all-round final; Shooters fail to fire Expectations soared after Mirabai Chanu won India its first medal in the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. But things didn't really go according to plan for the Indian contingent in Japan. Among the women, Manika Batra, MC Mary Kom and PV Sindhu stood out but there was disappointment from Sania Mirza and Pranati Nayak's quarters. The women's tennis doubles team -- Mirza and Ankita Raina -- crashed out after a first round defeat while Nayak failed to qualify for the all round finals. After managing a win versus New Zealand in the opener, the Indian hockey team succumbed to Australia 7-1 in their second group stage clash. Let's take a look at all that happened for India today: Hockey: Australia leave India high and dry The Indian hockey contingent doesn't look like they'll end their 41-year-old medal drought at the Games. The hero of the previous game versus New Zealand, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, was a bundle of nerves against Australia, and conceded as many as seven goals in India's 7-1 rout. To add to that, India's defence was not at its best as India This morale-shattering loss has probably exposed every possible chink in India's armour. The world no. 1 side simply toyed with the Indian defence after the first quarter and scored goals at will to comfortably secure their second consecutive win in the competition. For India, it is their biggest loss since Australian Graham Reid took charge of the team as coach in April 2019. India's lone goal came from the stick of Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute, and that was the only thing to relish for Reid's men. Artistic Gymnastics: Pranati Nayak does not qualify India's lone gymnast at Tokyo Olympics, Pranati Nayak failed to qualify for the All Round finals of Artistic Gymnastics competition. The 26-year-old from West Bengal recorded a total score of 42.565 over the four categories -- floor exercise, vault, uneven bars and balance beam -- at the Ariake Gymnastic centre. She is now ranked at 29th overall at the end of subdivision 2. There are a total of five subdivisions, from which top 24 gymnasts (best score across all four apparatus) qualify to the all-round final, which will be held on July 29. The top eight gymnasts in each event qualify for the respective individual event finals to be held from August 1 to 3. However, Nayak finished at the bottom half in all the events. Badminton: PV Sindhu eases past Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova It was a good start for India's prime medal hope. Sindhu thrashed Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova in straight games in the women's singles group J match. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded sixth, beat the 58th ranked Polikarpova 21-7 21-10 in a lop-sided opening match. "Even though it was an easy first match I didn't take it in an easy way. It wasn't like I wasn't prepared. Every time, it is very important to be focused and be prepared for every single point in every single match," Sindhu said after the match. The world number seven Indian will next play Hong Kong's world number 34 Cheung Ngan Yi in the group stage. Boxing: MC Mary Kom wins opener, Manish Kaushik disappoints on debut Kom is 38 years old, but does not want to stop. The six-time world champion Mary Kom (51kg) powered into the pre-quarterfinals with a superb tactical victory over Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez Garcia but Kaushik's (63kg) Games debut ended in disappointment following a hard-fought opening-round loss. The 38-year-old Mary Kom, who is a 2012 Olympic bronze-medallist and a multiple-time Asian champion, prevailed 4-1 against a rival who is 15 years her junior and a Pan American Games bronze-medallist. But Manish, a Commonwealth Games silver-medallist and a world championship bronze-winner, went down 1-4 to Britain's Luke McCormack in an edge-of-the-seat clash. Rowing: Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh in semi-finals Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh qualified for the semifinals of the men's lightweight double sculls repechage. The Indian duo clocked 6:51.36 to finish in third place at the Sea Forest Waterway. Poland's Jerzy Kowalski and Artur Mikolajczewski finished at the top with a timing of 6:43.44, followed by Spain's Caetano Horta Pombo and Manel Balastegui, who clocked 6:45.71 in the repechage 2. The semifinals will be on July 27. Sailing: Kumanan 27th, Saravanan 14th Nethra Kumanan was placed 27th after two races while Vishnu Saravanan was at 14th after his first race as the Indian sailors opened their Games campaign. Kumanan finished 33rd in the first race of the women's laser radial before recovering a bit by taking the 16th spot in the second for an overall 27th place with 49 net points. Saravanan then finished 14th in the men's laser event before the second race was postponed due to bad weather conditions at the Enoshima Yacht Harbour. Each event consists of a series of races. Points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two and so on. Shooting: Shooters dissapoint, unfortunate day for Bhaker The fancied Indian shooting team drew a blank for the second day running, with a major weapon malfunction leading to a heartbreaking exit for the young Manu Bhaker in the women's 10 air pistol event. Appearing in her maiden Olympics, the 19-year-old finished a creditable 12th, despite losing nearly 20 minutes during the qualifications after the cocking lever in her pistol broke down, forcing her to go to a designated area for getting it fixed. Manu shot 575, while the cut-off was 577. Yashaswini Singh Deswal, the other first-timer at the Games, recovered from a subdued start to end 13th, with a total score of 574. In the men's 10 air rifle event, both the experienced Deepak Kumar and the teenaged Divyansh Singh Panwar finished a lowly 26th and 32nd, respectively. Deepak aggregated 624.7 while Divyansh shot 622.8 over the six series, scores which were never going to be enough to make the final. India's Angad Vir Singh Bajwa missed two targets out of 75 to be placed 11th on count back at the end of the third round in men's skeet qualifications. He looks to be in search of a top-six finals spot. Angad had scores of 25, 24, 24 in the first three series and will come back on Monday to shoot the final two series. Compatriot Mairaj Ahmad Khan shot 71 and was placed 25th out of the 30 shooters in fray. Swimming: Patel, Nataraj fall short Indian swimmers Srihari Nataraj and Maana Patel's Olympic campaign came to an end as the two youngsters failed to qualify for the semifinals of their respective events. Competing in their maiden Olympics, both swimmers were unable to match their personal best performances in the 100m backstroke events. Srihari managed a time of 54.31s to finish his men's 100m backstroke heat in a creditable sixth place. The 20-year-old has a personal best of 53.77s that he had clocked at the Sette Colli Trophy in Italy to qualify for the Tokyo Games in June. Overall, Srihari was ranked 27 among the 40 swimmers. The top 16 swimmers qualify for the semifinals. Table Tennis: Batra impresses, Sathiyan flops India's table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women's singles third round but G Sathiyan succumbed to the pressure on his Olympic debut to exit the men's singles competition. While the 26th seed Sathian was expected to beat world number 94 Hong Kong's Siu Hang Lam in his second round match after getting a first round bye, the same cannot be said about Manika, whose gritty approach under pressure proved decisive against her higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine. Manika, ranked 62, made a remarkable comeback after losing the first two games to prevail 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 in a second round match that lasted 57 minutes. Tennis: Sania-Ankita crash out Sania Mirza and debutant Ankita Raina were knocked out of the Games despite dominating a large part of their women's doubles opener against Ukrainian twin sisters Nadiia and Liudmyla Kichenok. Sania and Raina were running away with the contest after bageling their opponents but in a dramatic turnround, the Kichenok sisters came back from the dead to pull off a 0-6 7-6(0) 10-8 win at court 11 of Ariake Tennis Centre. Sania was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set but perhaps nerves got the better of her and ended up dropping her serve. From there on, it was not the same match, in which the Ukrainians looked out of sort, struggling with their serves and returns. The Indians became the prey and Ukrainians pounced on them.
140 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu kept alive India's hopes of a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton by reaching the semifinals of the women's singles with a straight-game win over world No.5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. Today, PV Sindhu will be crossing swords with Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying in the all-important and crucial semi-final of women's badminton singles in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. So far in the tournament, PV Sindhu has been brimming with confidence and has displayed a dominant brand of badminton. She has breathed fire in all her matches and has not dropped a single set so far. Head-to-head Sindhu, who has lost to Tai Tzu in last three occasions, however, has managed to outwit the Taiwanese shuttler in important events such as the 2016 Rio Games, 2019 World Championships and 2018 World Tour Finals. Time and location The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will begin at 3:20 PM (IST) on Saturday, July 31st at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza Court 1. On which channel? The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will be telecasted on Doordarshan, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD, Sony Ten 4, Sony Ten 4 HD, Sony Six, Sony Six HD in India. OTT Platform The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv App and Jio TV in India.
141 Soon after the men had entered the semi-final clash against Belgium, it was time for the women to make history. The Indian women's hockey team had defeated the mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. Soon after the men had entered the semi-final clash against Belgium, it was time for the women to make history. The Indian women's hockey team had defeated the mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. Gurjit Kaur had scored the lone goal in the match during the first half through a penalty corner. Soon after the ladies became a household name. With this win, it was the first time the eves entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. They will face Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final. The last time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. When will Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match start? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match will begin at 3:30 PM IST on Wednesday, August 4. Where will Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match be played? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
142 PWD minister Vijay Inder Singla said that Captain Amarinder Singh has given his nod for the renaming of roads and schools. Punjab School Education and Public Works Department (PWD) minister Vijay Inder Singla Friday said that the government has decided to name roads and schools of the state after Olympic medal winners. While congratulating the team for clinching the historic Olympics bronze medal in hockey after 41 years, the Cabinet minister said that the players have made India proud, and naming roads and schools would be a small token of gratitude to honour their achievement. Singla said that Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, has given his nod for the renaming of roads and schools and the respective department officials have been directed to initiate the process in this regard at the earliest. Giving further details, Singla added that the road connecting the residence and school in the area of the respective medal-winning players will be named after him/her. He added that the move will inspire youngsters to achieve their desired goals in their life. Singla said that in the hockey squad, 11 players were from Punjab - (Captain) Manpreet Singh, (Vice Captain) Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh, Samsher Singh, Varun Kumar, and Krishan Pathak. He said that in the women's hockey team - that played extremely well and missed out on a bronze by inches at the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Britain 3-4 - two members, Gurjit Kaur and Reena Khokhar, were from Punjab.
143 The 1-0 victory will go down in the history of women's hockey in India as one of the great and gutsy wins A Monday morning has never been so memorable for me. The Indian women's hockey team has made us all proud by entering the semi-finals of the Olympic Games for the first time in history. Nobody gave them a chance against Australia, three-time Olympic champions and No. 2 in the FIH rankings, but Rani Rampal and her fiery friends showed the world what they are capable of. I had thought if they make the last-eight stage that would be more than enough. But they had other plans. A team, which finished last in the Rio Olympics five years back, is now in the semis! The 1-0 victory will go down in the history of women's hockey in India as one of the great and gutsy wins. What a mind-blowing performance it was! Pardon me if I am going overboard but days like these make you feel over the moon. I am confident this win will see a resurgence of women's hockey in India. It's a great opportunity now for both men and women to bag medals. They just need to win one of the two matches and India will be on the podium in hockey. For the women, the build-up to Tokyo was not satisfactory. They lost matches during their exposure tours to Germany and Argentina early this year. They also had to deal with the dreaded virus when captain Rani and six other players and two members of the support staff tested positive for Covid-19 in late April. These women though refused to get bogged down by the adversity. The best part of the quarter final match was that India did not get cowed down by Australia's reputation. The Aussies topped Pool B while India were fourth in their pool. I have always said group matches count for little. You can win all your matches in the group yet book an early flight by losing the first knockout game. In Tokyo, the Indian women started badly but recovered well to record back-to-back victories which took them to the quarters. In the knock-outs, the funniest part is whoever plays well on the particular day will be on top. India did just that against Australia. They defended doggedly and not for a second did they lose focus. Goalkeeper Savita Punia was in a different zone. She had answers to everything the mighty Australians threw at her, saving as many as nine penalty corners. Deep Grace Ekka also was like a rock in the defence. Rani, Monika Malik, Gurjit Kaur were also brilliant. Gurjit did not have a good tournament but she delivered when it mattered the most by converting the only penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Rani was unlucky not to find her name on the scoresheet when her push hit the post early in the match. Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne and other members of the support staff also deserve credit for this show. To keep a whole bunch of players motivated during the pandemic is no joke. Marijne has done a wonderful job till now. We now face Argentina on Wednesday and the momentum is with India. The men have a tough match against Belgium on Tuesday. They have to ensure they do not concede penalty corners against a team which has been outstanding in that department. Alexander Hendrickx, the Belgian drag-flicker, has already scored 11 goals, including two against Spain on Sunday. He can punish us badly if we lose focus.
144 Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in weightlifting: Rice, sports club culture, and killer instinct help Manipur produce a world-class lifter like silver-medalist Chanu. Mirabai Chanu wins India's first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020: When one of India's greatest moments in weightlifting was being hoisted into reality by the legendary Karnam Malleswari, at the Sydney Games in 2000, the state of Manipur was laying the ground for their own moment in the sun, albeit 21 years later. Barring the Beijing Games, the state has sent four different women weightlifters over five Olympics - a generational effort that culminated in Mirabai Saikom Chanu's monstrous 202-kg combined lift for the Tokyo Olympics silver medal in the 49-kg weightlifting category. Two decades of consistently churning out weightlifters that are among the best in the world is Manipur's reminder that the Olympics are not a once-in-four-years event. But a way of life. Silver Medal for for #TeamIndia Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Wins India's First Medal, Settles For Silver In #Weightlifting #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #MirabaiChanu - Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 24, 2021 A way of life that begins at a young age because of the state's unique way of organised sport for young children through clubs. Former Commissioner of Youth Affairs and Sports for Manipur R K Nimai Singh tries to put into words this lay of the land when he says, "The sport club culture has been a part of Manipur for centuries now. These clubs might not necessarily be dedicated to a single sport. These clubs aren't associated with any state or national associations. They are only present because of the love of sport and an outlet of activity for young kids. For a Manipuri child, there is an option other than studying and that is to play." Early exposure In Manipur, children are afforded the opportunity to decide what sport to play and what sport to pick. By the time they reach their teens, they may not be specialists in a particular sport, but a consistent level of physical activity leads to a far easier transition than most young athletes when moving professionally into a discipline. As has been the case from the start of this century, a steady stream of women in weightlifting, heading to the farthest corners of globe to compete in the best tournaments on offer, continues to fuel the desire for what is a casual aspect of life, to become the centre-point of their existence. But what happens when these kids start to grow up? "In the beginning of the 90's, people started to realise that sport could be an earning profession," says Singh. The opening of a Sports Authority of India centre in Imphal suddenly gave weightlifters in the state the opportunity to go from spare parts of automobiles as weights, to real imported equipment. Former weightlifters were also part of the change as their careers transitioned from athletes to coaches. Mirabai Chanu's story trudges along the same lines - a young 12-year-old child lifting heavy logs in her hometown of Nongpok Kakching, 44 kilometres away from Imphal, who one day got noticed by Anita Chanu, a former international weightlifter and coach. Killer instinct What one Chanu saw in the younger Chanu was something most Manipuri experts in sport say is an intrinsic part of their cultural identity. "When I saw her lift for the first time, she had a killer instinct," says Chanu over the phone to The Indian Express. And how is that killer instinct quantifiable? "Explosive strength," stresses Chanu, who further explains by saying that people from the northeastern states of India are smaller in height but make up for it with a Maradona and Messi-esque low centre of gravity, a crucial aspect of why Manipur does so well in sport, be it weightlifting or football or boxing. That low centre of gravity saw Mirabai pick almost four times her body weight across five successful lifts in snatch and clean and jerk categories. But it isn't just height or body type or region, that defines their abilities. The secret also lies in what is put into their bodies. Or rather, what has been put into their bodies for generations. Something in the land A few days ago, on the eve of Indian sportspeople leaving for the Tokyo Games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked an athlete's uncle, 'Kaunsi chakki ka atta khilate ho'. That same question must now be asked of Manipur's athletes, except instead of wheat, it's their consumption of rice that dictates success in a sport like weightlifting. "Most athletes in lower weight categories come from Asian countries like China and South Korea. These countries are famous for sticky rice being a part of their diet. In Manipur, most people eat rice as a primary source of energy," says Sunil Elangbam, the secretary of Manipur weightlifting. This simplistic way of nutrition, one that has been a generational staple for them, is considered a prime source of fuel by experts for essential carbohydrates that end up aiding in physical training. These carbohydrates do the twin job of being easy to digest while pushing the body to recover faster after intense workouts. It is this combination of the right kind of food, the lay of the land, and generations of women to look up to in weightlifting, that brewed itself into the perfect storm. A silver in Tokyo, borne out of a killer instinct that now adorns the state, just as its glory in the Olympics do.
145 They would continue bringing out small processions in support of the team that has two members from the state - Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete The defeat of the Indian women's hockey team in their opening match in Tokeyo Olympics on Saturday failed to daunt the spirited enthusiasts of Jharkhand's Simdega. They would continue bringing out small processions in villages in support of the team that has two members from Jharkhand - Nikki Pradhan from Khunti and the Simdega girl Salima Tete. "Taking on the world number one, Netherlands, was like playing the final match and our team played rather well," Hockey Jharkhand president Manoj Konbegi defended the national women's team despite its 1-5 defeat in the inaugural match. Small children keep the enthusiasm alive in Simdega by going around their respective villages, carrying a banner saying Cheer for India and shouting slogans supporting the team. Nikki didi ko goal bachana hai, Salima didi ko goal marna hai and Bharat ko gold jitna hai are some of the slogans, besides Cheers for India and Chak de India, they shout while roaming around in their villages that produced many hockey stars. Besides shouting slogans, these children also dance to the tune of two songs that have been composed by local artistes recently and also uploaded on YouTube. "One of this was released on Wednesday," Konbegi informed about a Hindi song lyrics of which runs like Khelenge hockey dilojaan se (will play hockey wholeheartedly), adding it was sung by local artistes Kashinath Nayak and Jagannath Ram. But the other one, a Nagpuri song urging Khelo khelo khelo hockey pura dam lagake khelo (play hockey with all your energy)... that was presented by Laldhan Nayak and launched during the sub-junior national hockey championship held in Simdega last year was more popular. The song became a hit because it is in local Nagpuri dialect and also narrates the achievements of hockey legends from Jaipal Singh, Sylvanus Dungdung and Michael Kindo to Sumrai Tete and Kanti Baa. "This song is played whenever there is a hockey match and even at other gatherings," Konbegi said about its popularity, adding he also found it playing at social functions. "Even we were inspired by Laldhanji's song but made it in Hindi as that would be understood by people from outside the state," Kashillal Nayak replied when asked why they chose to render their song in Hindi instead of Nagpuri. The people of the region, including Simdega, that produced many hockey greats have hockey in their blood, Konbegi reminded, adding they were trying to keep their enthusiasm intact by launching songs and organising small gatherings in villages. "I will speak to Salima and also send her these video clips so that she and her teammates know how seriously these young children support them," he further informed. "Such things may not impact their game on Tokeyo but will surely motivate these children who are the future of hockey in this part of the country," Konbegi added to justify their activities.
146 India had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament and while they lost against Argentina. The women's team gave their all, but it was not enough as Great Britain win the bronze medal match clash at Oi Hockey Stadium. India lost 4-3 against GBR and they fall short by a goal. India had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament and while they lost against Argentina, they still have a chance on a podium finish. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Here are the details of the game: The end of the first quarter saw Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia on her toes. She made all the saves that Great Britain were trying to convert into gaols.The Indian defence will need to tighten Soon into the second quarter saw them getting a goal to their name.Elena Rayer does superbly down the right as she juggled the ball over her marker but sadly the ball deflected off Deep Grace and into the goal. Great Britain got another goal to their name after India was a man down.Great Britain stormed forward, before working it into Sarah Robertson in the D. She took a reverse tomahawk past a stunned Savita. Almost the end of the second quarter sawGurjit Kaur converted both her penalties into gaols helping India equalise. Indian women have changed the momentum. India'sVandana Katariya does nothing wrong in the D as she makes sure to get the goal India needed. Her goal got India into the leading position. Great Britain made sure to continuously put pressure on India.Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb smashed a superb flick into the goal after excellent work from Rayer down the right. From a yellow card to a flurry of penalty corners, GBR did what they are good at. They scored and took a lead. It was too much power for Savita as Grace Balsdon powers it right into the net. And that's the end.Indian girls are seen in tears. Savita Punia looks inconsolable even as a coach has an arm around her. So close yet so far for the women, but fans are surely very proud of their effort.
147 The clip captured by an Argentinian TV cameraman covering the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina was shared by Twitter user @s6ntispam. Olympics is all about glitz, glamour, and the game of course - both off and on the field. Though this time around the Olympic games are happening amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and there are no viewers in the stands but Tokyo 2020 Olympics has already produced many viral moments for viewers to watch and share. In a recent Olympic game, a cameraman decided to go rogue and film a cockroach in the middle of an ongoing women's hockey match. The clip captured by the cameraman of an Argentinian TV channel covering the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina played on July26,was shared on social media by Twitter user @s6ntispam. The viral post garnered over 4.9 million views and 64,900 retweets. In the clip the cameraman filmed a cockroach walking along a part of the field.The segment was shot when a replay was being played. The shot was shown live by an Argentinian TV channel broadcasting the Tokyo Games. The sports commentator was commenting about the match when he stopped and said, "Look at what we have here. A cockroach." Netizens were amused by the video and didn't mind that the cockroach took attention away from the game. The segment has now gone viral and garnered some funny reactions. The shot lasted for only a few seconds as the cameraman got back to the action between Spain and Argentina. The South American nation won the match 3-0.
148 Striker Vandana Katariya scored a historic hat-trick to keep alive the Indian women's hockey team's quarterfinals hopes in the Olympics with a fighting 4-3 victory over lower-ranked South Africa in its must-win final group match here on Saturday. Vandana (4th, 17th, 49th minutes) achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Indian woman hockey player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Olympics. Young Neha Goyal (32nd) was the other goal getter as the Rani Rampal-led side registered its second consecutive win at the Games. South Africa's goals came from the sticks of Tarryn Glasby (15th), skipper Erin Hunter (30th) and Marizen Marais (39th). With two wins from their final two pool matches, India have finished the group stages with six points from five games. By virtue of this win, India have jumped to the fourth position in Pool A, but Ireland still have a chance to leapfrog the Indians. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the last Pool A match between Great Britain and Ireland. The Indians will have to wait till the evening to know their fate. A Ireland loss or a draw will be enough for India to seal their place in the quarterfinals. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout round. Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Indians meant business and pressed hard on the South African defence from the start. In doing so, India secured two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the match but dragflicker Gurjit Kaur's poor execution continued in the tournament. Still it didn't take India long to open their account and in the fourth minute, Vandana gave her side the lead, tapping in from close range after being set up by Navneet Kaur's great run from the right flank. India kept up the pressure and penetrated the South African circle many times without much success. But seconds from the end of first quarter, a lapse in concentration from the defence cost India dearly as South Africa drew level through Tarryn Glasby, who deflected in a long shot from Taryn Mallett. India had enough time to regain their lead through a penalty corner but wasted the opportunity. Two minutes into the second quarter, Vandana restored India's lead when he deflected in Deep Grace Ekka's flick from their fourth penalty corner. The Indians had three more chances to extend their lead in the second quarter but they couldn't do so. The Rani Rampal-led side got two more penalty corners which they wasted, and then, Neha Goyal's effort from open play was saved by the South Africa goalkeeper. Just like in the first quarter, India gave away their lead seconds away from half time when Hunter found the net from her team's first penalty corner. Two minutes after the change of ends, Neha restored the lead again, deflecting in a Rani hit from a penalty corner as the Indians executed a fine variation. The fragile Indian defence wilted under pressure once again, when South Africa drew level for the third time in the match, through a Marais strike. South Africa enjoyed a good run of play in the initial minutes of final quarter and, in the process, secured three penalty corners quickly, but this time the Indian defence did enough to thwart the dangers. In the 49th minute, a brilliant Vandana saved the day for India when she deflected in Gurjit Kaur's flick from another penalty corner. Thereafter, the Indians fell back and looked contend to keep the possession as South Africa pressed hard. Two minutes from the final hooter, the Indians successfully referred a penalty corner decision given against them.
149 From the moment the announcer at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena called out her name and she walked out slamming her gloves against each other, Pooja Rani meant business. She entered the ring sans histrionics and walked away the winner with minimum fuss. In a word, she was dominating in her 75kg pre-quarterfinal bout. Pooja's 20-year-old opponent – Ichrak Chaib of Algeria – was jumpy and declared herself the winner even before the judges had taken a call. In a unanimous decision, the judges gave a 5-0 verdict in Pooja's favour. In her debut Olympic Games bout, Pooja was calm and self-assured. Next up is a somewhat familiar foe in China's Li Qian, a gold medallist at the 2018 World Championships and bronze winner at the Rio Olympics. She is the current world No. 3 and has defeated Pooja twice in as many meetings. “Pooja was extremely focused and she fought intelligently,” women's boxing high performance director Raffaele Bergamasco said. “Her opponent made the mistakes and she capitalised on those.” But Team Pooja knows it won't be the same against the Chinese. “Li Qian is very agile and difficult to attack. We will be working together on some counter-attacking strategies for her,” said Bergamasco said. Pooja came into the Olympics having won her second Asian Championships gold medal in May earlier this year. The confidence shone through in her opening fight. Right from the outset, the bout between Pooja and Ichrak showed the difference between the two boxers in experience and class. Ichrak was wildly throwing her punches, as most of them were either going wide or up. The Algerian found it difficult to get a measure of Pooja, and in between entangles, Pooja managed some scoring points with the jabhook combination. Pooja steadily got into her rhythm but was never required to put in her 100 percent in the opening round. The second round went more or less on similar lines. Ichrak kept charging towards Pooja with her full body weight, and the Indian would then smartly sidestep and start her flurry of counter punches. Pooja's combination punches as well as her dodging and blocking impressed the judges, with all of them voting in favour of the Indian once again. In the third, even as Ichrak was getting exhausted, the Indian chose to go on the defensive. There was some inelegant jostling, but it didn't impact the scoreline one bit. All the five judges once more were on Pooja's side.
150 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
151 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
152 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this isa notablyone-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
153 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
154 In a final day swoop at Tokyo 2020, the United States earned the bragging rights of Tokyo 2020 by moving ahead of China on the medal table. The three golds that they clinched on Sunday just put their noses in front at the finish line, 39-38. The one in women's basketball may have been on expected lines, but the women's volleyball team winning their first-ever gold drew them level, and Jennifer Valente's cycling gold proved to be the clincher. The one-medal gap between the top two is the closest ever. Before Tokyo, it was at Athens 2004 that the USA with 36 gold and China with 32 gold were involved in a tight race. The other interesting aspect of the tally was the emergence of first-time medal winners. In what is the largest list of medal-winning countries at any Games, 93 different nations earned a podium finish. The number of gold-winning nations at an edition - 63 - also broke the record of 59 set at Rio 2016. Just like in Rio, where Jordan, Kosovo and Fiji medalled for the first time, the Tokyo Games ended with three new countries joining the medal table - San Marino, Turkmenistan and Burkina Faso. The newest on the list of gold-winning nations are Qatar, Bermuda and the Philippines. The final tally seemed unlikely with just a few days left when China had a significant lead in the gold medal count. Over the last several editions, the top position on the gold medal table has been the preserve of the USA or China. In fact, the last Games where a third nation topped the standings was Barcelona 1992, with the 'Unified Team' of the erstwhile Soviet Union states securing the most gold medals. Fluctuating fortunes The US's gold medal count of 39 this time is down from the 46 golds they won at Rio 2016 and London 2012 each. China, which dominated on home turf in Beijing 2008 with 48 gold, won 26 gold in Rio 2016, just one behind Great Britain who finished second. In Tokyo though, the Chinese have equalled the gold medal haul they achieved in London 2012. The American haul this term dropped in their traditional strongholds like swimming (16 in Rio, 11 in Tokyo), athletics (13 in 2016 and seven now) and gymnastics (four and two). The retirement of Michael Phelps and the withdrawal of Simone Biles affected the tally. But the Americans still managed to gain new strides in other events - wrestling, shooting, golf, fencing, and the new 33 basketball and surfing events. China meanwhile improved their already impressive performance in weightlifting (seven gold medals this time compared to five in Rio) while matching the seven they won in diving from five years ago. Shooting was a successful event, as they clinched four gold, compared to the solitary gold Zhang Mengxue won in the 10m air pistol event in Rio. They also tripled their gold medal in swimming to three, but couldn't defend their women's volleyball title. New horizons The Americans won gold in Tokyo in several events not always considered their strengths. Lee Keifer won an individual foil gold in fencing, Nevin Harrison won in canoeing while Anastasija Zolotic triumphed in taekwondo's featherweight class. For China, gymnastics was a big success with four gold medals (including trampoline), while in Rio they failed to win a single gold medal. They also secured top spots on the podium in sports like canoeing, fencing, rowing, sailing and cycling. India's new high With their best-ever tally (one gold, two silver, four bronze), India finished 48th on the table - their highest position since the 1980 Moscow Olympics which was boycotted by 66 countries because of the Soviet-Afghan War. India finished 23rd in Russia, having won just the men's hockey gold. In fact, the 48th position in Tokyo is India's best finish at any Olympics where they won more than two medals (they were ranked 26th with a gold and bronze at Helsinki 1952). Golden sunrise in Japan Japan finished third - their best - in the overall medal table for the third time (after Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964). The 58 medals they won - 27 gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze - in 2021 make this their most successful edition. A stellar performance in judo helped the hosts in the overall ranking. In London, Japan won one gold medal in the sport and three in Rio. Over the 15 events in Judo this past fortnight, they won nine gold, two silver and a bronze. The Japanese also dominated the new skateboarding event, winning three of the four gold medals on offer. They also maximised the return of baseball and softball to the Games' line-up, taking both gold medals. Different name, similar haul Since the end of the Cold War, this was the sixth Olympic Games where 'Russia' competed as a country. But they could not use their name, flag or anthem based on International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctions due to the country's infamous doping scandal in 2014. Instead, the contingent went by the name Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). This was also the second smallest contingent from the country, 333 compared to the 282 that travelled to Rio. In terms of the total number of medals won in Tokyo, the 71 (20 gold, 28 silver and 23 bronze) put ROC third on the leaderboard. But they were fifth based on gold medals - the official standard - behind the USA, China, Japan and Great Britain. This was a better performance from the ROC compared to the 19 golds each in London and Rio. The gold medal in the women's team gymnastics event - their first ever as Russia - made the difference. The Olympic 'Ashes' A rivalry that transcends sports, Great Britain again pipped the Australians in the gold medal tally, 22 to 17 to finish fourth and sixth respectively in the overall tally, though the latter had a much better showing this time - they won just eight golds in Rio. The Australians, courtesy Ariarne Titmus' double gold over USA's Katie Ledecky, won nine golds in swimming compared to the three from Rio. Meanwhile, the Brits continued dominating the cycling event like only the Brits can, winning six gold, four silver and two bronze medals just as they did five years ago.
155 The 19-year-old became only the third player from Simdega to have participated in the Games. The other two are Michael Kindo and Sylvanus Dungdung Salima Tete reminds former hockey captain VirenRasquinha of the legendary Shahbaz Ahmed. This striking comparison is a breath of fresh air on a day that ended on a sore note for India women. Vying for a first-ever podium finish at the Olympics, Rani Rampal and company went down 3-4to Great Britain.But there's a lot to take heart from. Apart from Savita Punia's brave effort between the sticks, 19-year-old Salima stood out with her runs across the pitch, which were instrumental inkeeping India in the game throughout the pulsating sixty minutes. While praising Gurjit Kaur's stinging drag-flick which helped India equalise (2-2), let's not forget how Salima cut into the D to force a penalty corner. Such sheer tenacity and steady stickwork from a teenager is only a sign of great things to come. Salima's father Sulakshan is a proud man today. "I used to accompany Salima to hockey matches. I taught her the sport with bamboo stick. She was in school when she got selected to play for Ranchi team. She lost but we're happy about her achievement," he was quoted as saying by ANI. Salima hails from Barki Chhapar village under Sadar block of Jharkhand's Simdega district. Jharkhand: Visuals from the residence of hockey player Salima Tete, in Badkichapar village of Simdega district Tete is part of the Indian women's hockey team that will take on Great Britain for Bronze medal in #TokyoOlympics today morning pic.twitter.com/DUmhtxoB36 How did it change for Salima Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi remembers when her talent with the stick finally came to the fore. He recalledhow the scouts spotted her, and urged her to appear for trials for a government-run residential hockey centre. "There was no looking back for her after that, as she was talented and got selected. With time, she improved her skills and managed to convert every opportunity in her favour," he said. Salima went to an elementary school in her village, and later got enrolled at a girls high school, but academics never stopped her from playing the sport. In 2019, she was eventually appointed a TTE by South Eastern Railways. Humble beginnings Salima is one of the five siblings. Besides her, Mahima, her youngest sister, plays for the state team. Her parents are farmers. Her father, Sulakshan, said they never forced Salima or other kids to not dream big. "I was happy when she chose hockey as her career as I could see my dream pursue through her," he said. The big break Salima's first big break came in 2014 when she was included in the state team for a sub-junior national women's tournament in Pune. The team won silver. Her international debut happened two years later. In 2016, she was part of the side for the junior nationals in Spain. And then, one accolade followed another. She became vice-caption for national side at theU-18 Asia Cup in Bangkok, where the team clinched bronze. That same year, she broke into the senior national team, and two years later led the Indian squad at the Youth Olympics in Argentina, winning silver. "This was her defining moment and cemented her place in the national team (senior) next year and got opportunities to play regularly at national and international level," Salima's coach Pratima Barwa said in an interview. "She was a defender and true to her character, she would never let her opponents score easily," Barwa added. Following her qualification in Tokyo Olympics, she became the only third player from Simdega to have done so. In the past, only two male hockey players from Simdega - Michael Kindo and Sylvanus Dungdung -- have taken part in the Games.
156 Indian women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne said that they didn't win a medal but they have won something bigger after their loss in the semis. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Indian women's hockey team as Great Britain beat them 4-3 in the semi-final in the ongoing Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne, however, said that they didn't win a medal but they have inspired a lot of Indian girls to dream and take up the sport. The campaign of the women's team was going nowhere after three losses but two wins in a row and a Great Britain win over Ireland meant they qualified for the quarter-finals and that's where the real journey began as they beat the Australian team 1-0 and qualified for the semi-finals. But they lost to a string Argentian team in the semis. They had to now beat Britain to win the bronze medal and what a mouthwatering contest it was. No one really knew, who was going to win till the last minute as it was neck and neck but eventually Great Britain took the game by 4-3. Speaking to the press after the loss, coach Marijne, who has now quit after the match said, "We always had the belief that we can win a medal and we were really close. The girls believing in themselves makes me really proud. "I think that was one of the biggest steps we made. Every girl in the team has her own story and every story is amazing. Let's hope that a lot of women in India have seen this Indian team's performance and are inspired by the team to start playing hockey or any other sport," he added. The ex-Dutch player said that the team has won something bigger than the medal and appreciated his side's fighting spirit. "We showed a fighting spirit in the Bronze Medal match against Great Britain, but it wasn't enough. "We gave away too many PCs and in these kinds of matches, you have to convert all your PCs into goals and I must say Gurjit (Kaur) did really well. I told the team that we didn't win a medal, but we achieved something bigger than a medal and that's inspiring an entire nation," Marijne added. Talking about the turning point of his side's campaign, Marijne said that the loss to Great Britain in the group stage really transformed them as he was very angry with the team then and told that they will have to do better. "After the Pool match against Great Britain, I was extremely angry with the team. I told the team that if you go down then show that you really tried and then go down." "I told the team that they will have to do better and I think the team's mindset transformed after that match. I and Janneke had a lot of individual meetings with the girls and they found the key for the next matches themselves. I think that was an important part of the tournament for us," he said. 'This is the beautiful way to end the journey' In the presser Marijne also informed that this was his last game as coach of the Indian women's hockey team and that he wants to spend time with his family. "I don't have any plans because this was my last match with the Indian women. It's up to Janneka (Schopman) now. I will miss the girls, but I miss my family more. My family is No 1. I want to be with my son, daughter and wife after being away for three-and-a-half years. This is a beautiful way to end this journey," he said.
157 After Artem Dolgopyat landed Israel a spot on the top of the podium at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, netizens had a field day and trolled Anu Malik. Singers and music artists often take inspiration from other singers or old songs for their new tracks. It is appreciated as long as the music is inspired and not blatantly copied. On Sunday (August 1), after Israel landed a spot on the top of the podium at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games 2021, netizens had a field day and trolled Anu Malik. Now, you must be wondering what is the connection of Anu Malik to Israel's national anthem. As Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, won the second-ever gold, his country's national anthem played as he stepped on the podium. Netizens were soon to find an uncanny resemblance between Malik's song Mera Mulk Mera Desh from the movie Diljale (1996) and Israel's national anthem. Several social media users trolled Anu Malik for copying the music. Let's have a look at some of the memes: "The National anthem tune has some familiarity to the Indian song.. Mera Mulk Mera Desh?? Or is it just me?," tweeted one social media user. Another user tweeted, "Anu Malik just simply didn't copy Israel national anthem in 1996 film diljale song. It needs years or reaserch and analysis to find out which country isn't going to win medals for years. Visionary man." A user shared a hilarious meme and wrote, "Anu Malik after watching Israeli National Anthem being played on TV..." "Anu Malik made 1 billion people fool for complete 25 years and no one realised it , ek Gold medal to Anu Malik ka bhi banata hain," wrote on Twitter user. Another user shared a meme and wrote, "Everytime a country wins Gold at Olympics and its National Anthem plays Anu Malik..." Here is another funny meme Meanwhile, Anu Malik has retuend on 'Indian Idol 12' as a judge. The show will soon host its grand finale. on a related note, the Indian women's hockey team created history on Monday (August 2) after beating World no. 2 Australia in the quarter final match of women's hockey at Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and securing a spot in the semi-final for the first time ever.
158 Readers write from Nadia and Calcutta Towards fairness Sir - In a welcome move, the International Olympic Committee announced on Women's Day earlier this year that the Tokyo Olympics would be the "first ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history" with almost 49 per cent of the total athletes being women ("Fair games", July 24).This push was extended to the opening ceremony last Friday, where a rule change allowed countries to select both a male and a female flagbearer to share the honour of carrying their nation's colours. The Games have come a long way since 1900 when 22 women participated in the event in Paris for the first time. Since then, many efforts have been made to achieve gender balance at the Olympics. London 2012 marked the first time when all national Olympic committees managed to include at least one female athlete in their delegation in the history of the Games. Finally, the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires became the first fully gender-balanced Olympic event ever held.Several important decisions had recently been taken to create a more gender-balanced event programme and athlete quotas for Tokyo 2020. It is hoped that these actions will lead to full gender equality for all upcoming Olympic Games. Incidentally, India fell short of sending a gender-balanced contingent to Tokyo with 56 women as opposed to 71 men. A sobering truth is that in spite of being the second-most populous nation in the world, India performs poorly in multi-event competitions. This should act as a reminder to the sports ministry that there is an urgent need to improve infrastructure for both genders in India. S.S. Paul,Nadia Sir - While it is good to know that the Olympic committee is actively trying to bridge the inequities between men and women in sporting events, the reality remains that female athletes all over the world have access to lesser resources than men. It will need the active effort of all countries to truly make a change. Abhra Ganguly,Calcutta Eat right Sir - Since the outbreak of Covid-19, medical experts have urged people to pay attention to their nutrition so that their immunity is not compromised. A recent study has found that a Japanese fermented soybean dish,natto, may inhibit the ability of the coronavirus to infect cells. Whilenattomay not be easy to include in the Indian diet, we must consider eating more fermented food - rich in probiotic bacteria - to enhance the immune system. Aparajita Saha,Calcutta
159 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semifinals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It's not the first time we've been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar said, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, no one from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004 when industry hub Sidcul came up. “Before that, Pals were landowners and we, the workers. With Sidcul, the dominant castes had a windfall after selling off their land for industrial units and became property dealers. We remained workers, and the economic gap widened,” said a Dalit local. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will.
160 BLOODY MARY Irony can be cruel indeed. In the same week that India's women Olympians were being celebrated nationwide, a nine-year-old girl in Delhi was the victim of a bestial assault. While politicians rush to take credit for the achievements of sportspersons by attributing them to initiatives like 'beti bachao beti padhao', they also reveal their patriarchal mindsets when there are crimes against women. Reacting to the gangrape of two minors in Benaulim recently, the Goa chief minister asked why the 14-year-olds were out on the beach at night, implying the girls and their parents were to blame. He later said his statement was taken out of context but the truth is that India remains a maledominated society where justice for women is still elusive, however many medals are won by valiant women athletes. Yes, India's sportswomen are chipping away at the glass ceiling. In the 1960s, 90% of Arjuna (the top sports award) awardees were men and barely 10% were women. Today men make up around 60% awardees while the share of women has risen to over 30%. The story of hockey player Rani Rampal, the daughter of a Haryana cart puller and a domestic worker who once practiced with broken sticks, is remarkable. At first, disapproving family members told her that girls shouldn't play in short skirts but she bravely stepped out of home to take the field. Silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu was once a little girl lifting huge bundles of firewood by herself and carrying them into paddy fields. That is when her family noticed the strength in her thin arms. Herculean personal struggle enabled the weightlifter to escape from the clutches of domestic life to the liberation of sport. Sport is emancipating and gives social power to the powerless. But while Rani and Mirabai's stories are inspiring, some women are struggling even to find a job. A government report released during the Olympics showed a drastic decline of women's participation in India's workforce to a low of 16.1% during the July-September quarter of 2020. By comparison, the female participation rate in Bangladesh is 30.5%. And it's not just lockdowns to blame. According to the World Bank, India already ranks among the worst countries in percentage of employed women. Less than a third of Indian women (15 or older) are working or even seeking work, showing shrinking opportunities, greater burdens of housework and a surge in regressive mindsets that are increasingly confining women to the home. Nowhere is the hypocrisy of pious slogans versus real prejudice more glaring than in politics. The same politicians clamouring to celebrate 'nari shakti' at the Olympics are the ones who have consistently resisted greater representation for women in legislatures. Haryana throws up talented sportswomen, yet its chief minister M L Khattar once opined that if girls “dress decently”, boys wouldn't look at them the wrong way, again blaming women for crimes perpetrated against them. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath once wrote that woman power does not require freedom but protection, implying women are not capable of being independent. Former Uttarakhand chief minister Rawat decried women who wore ripped jeans. Of course, there are some male politicians, including Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who realise that there is now an important woman vote-bank with a mind of its own, and have come up with several gender-focused welfare schemes, a concept first developed by Jayalalithaa and pushed forward by Mamata Banerjee. Which is why medals and trophies are not enough; mindsets need to fundamentally change. On the Internet, gender and religious hatred often combine. Recently a website put up dozens of Muslim women for “sale”, as “deals of the day.” Women are still viciously trolled online. Denial and delusion lie at the root of the malaise. In celebrating the courageous few, we get sucked into the fantasy that 'all is well' when it comes to women. Sportswomen are indeed inspiring role models but as women grow more visible and challenge traditional stereotypes, they are also becoming the targets of fury from patriarchal forces deeply threatened by gender equality. The best way to celebrate India's women Olympians would not be with the usual politician-led extravaganzas, but by realising how urgently society's attitudes need to change. Otherwise, India's glory will remain stained with disgrace, as seen in the manner in which a woman Olympic hockey player's family was subjected to casteist abuse within hours of the team losing their semi-final match in Tokyo.
161 What were you doing on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 2021? Rubbing sleep from your eyes, putting off walking the dog, looking up a vaccination slot, isolating yourself? Or were you waking up to the fact that a girl from Manipur, spring in her step, eyes brimming with hope but sitting lightly on her slight frame, was about to hand India the 'What were you doing that day?' moment of these recent bleak times. For a brief while on Saturday, Mirabai Chanu made us forget the past year and half with a historic Olympic silver on a busy opening day for India that had promised much but as is typical, was delivering very little. In a flash, that bright, white metal belonged to all of us, as much as it did to the one who had claimed it in the weightlifting arena at Tokyo, banishing a few dozen ghosts of her own along the way, in particular the ignominy of a “Did Not Finish” tag against her name at Rio five years ago. In Tokyo, Mirabai was lifting against history, and a Chinese rival in Ho Zhihui who handled those weights as if they were shopping bags. Zhihui, world no. 1 in the 49kg class, raced to an Olympic record with Mirabai happy to give chase. The Indian lifted 202kg (87kg Snatch + 115kg Jerk) to Zhihui's 210kg (94 +116) and the silver was already in the bag. It contrasted well with the gold Olympic ring earrings she sported and which caught a nation's eye. More, it told us of the hoops Mirabai jumped through to get to the podium in Tokyo – mother Tombi Leima had pawned off the family's jewellery to get her youngest daughter those stunners ahead of Rio. On Saturday, she wore them to drive home a point. Mirabai's silver in this sport of fine nuances, and inner and upper body strength, is as much a testimony to her resilience as it is a nod to the pioneers of Indian women's weightlifting in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, when Kunjarani Devi and Karnam Malleswari battled odds to establish a tradition for the rest to follow. More interested in becoming an archer as a kid roaming Imphal's sprawling Khuman Lampak sports complex, Mirabai was, on Saturday, emulating Malleswari — India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist who lifted a bronze in 2000. That it took two decades and one pandemic-affected year for India's second medal in women's lifting, shows that turnaround times in sport take their own, well, time. In the interim, India's women medallists list has expanded to Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Sakshi Malik and P V Sindhu. Mirabai's opening day salvo may fire up the rest of the Indian contingent. Who knows, after decades of wait, there could finally be a hockey podium this time at Tokyo. That then, would be truly personal, for each one for us.
162 Readers write in from Calcutta, Maruthancode, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Chennai Mind over matter Sir - The decision of the American gymnast, Simone Biles, to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics during the artistic gymnastics team final took the world by surprise. Although it was initially reported that she had quit because of an injury, it was later clarified that Biles pulled out because of mental health concerns. The precedent for such an important move was recently set by the tennis star, Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open to prioritize her mental health. It takes incredible courage, especially for female athletes, to voluntarily withdraw from or sit out big competitions on grounds of mental health, primarily because of the criticism they inevitably receive, as Osaka did. They are, however, setting an important example for other sportspersons to follow. Rashika Gupta,Calcutta End of an era Sir - After prolonged suspense, B.S. Yediyurappa resigned from his post as the chief minister of Karnataka during a function celebrating the second anniversary of his government("Southern spice", July 28).The change in leadership did not come as a surprise; it was preceded by months of speculation. However, the claim that Yediyurappa stepped down voluntarily on health grounds is not true. To anyone paying attention to his outgoing speech, it was obvious that Yediyurappa was reluctant to step away from his position. Although Yediyurappa thanked Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, he also mentioned that he was not allowed to form the cabinet for a month and a half after the elections in spite of Karnataka being devastated by floods and rain. This hints at his glacial relations with the central leadership. The septuagenarian has sent out a clear message to his political detractors and the party high command that he is not among those who will join themargdarshak mandal, considered a 'retirement home' for party leaders who have crossed the age of 75. He has also made it clear that he will remain active in state politics and will not accept any assignment outside Karnataka. It is not yet known what the political calculations might have been for the ouster of the Lingayat strongman who is single-handedly responsible for building the presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the southern state. It remains to be seen how the BJP attempts to placate the Lingayat community which is miffed over the removal of its tallest leader. The claim that the BJP is 'a party with a difference' has been proved false by such an unceremonious change of guard. The saffron party is clearly blighted by factionalism, tussles for power and the practice of cutting regional leaders to size. In the light of all this, will the BJP be able to win the 2023 assembly elections and retain power in the state? G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu Sir - The resignation of B.S. Yediyurappa has shifted the political dynamics in Karnataka. Basavaraj Bommai has now taken oath as the 23rd chief minister of the state. With the assembly elections just two years away, it would be important for the new chief minister to show that he is committed to honest and transparent leadership, unlike Yediyurappa, whose tenures were plagued by accusations of corruption. Although it is more than clear that the BJP is trying to pacify the Lingayat community with Bommai, Yediyurappa continues to be their most prominent leader, with the community's seers rallying behind him. There is no doubt that the BJP in Karnataka will witness an intense power struggle in the coming months. Bhagwan Thadani,Mumbai Sir - Strong regional leaders have always worried the central command of major political parties in India. The emergence of regional leaders in the Congress after the demise of Indira Gandhi had caused much consternation among the party high command. Now it seems that the same worry might be plaguing BJP leaders. Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has attempted to concentrate power in just a few hands. However, certain leaders, like B.S. Yediyurappa in Karnataka, had always commanded respect among the common people. It is clear that Yediyurappa had become too powerful; the BJP wanted to take him down a peg or two. While Yogi Adityanath is similarly powerful in Uttar Pradesh, he is far more committed to theHindutvadoctrine, thus endearing him to the high command.The removal of Yediyurappa from a position of power does not bode well for the BJP. As the most popular party leader in Karnataka, he has the potential to determine the results of the next assembly polls. R. Narayanan,Navi Mumbai Sir - The saffron party has often publicly accused the Congress leadership of being subservient to the whims of the Gandhis. But is the BJP under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah any different? B.S. Yediyurappa may have said that the decision to step down as chief minister was voluntary, but this is far from the truth. His speech was indicative of his less-than-friendly relations with the BJP high command. The current situation in Karnataka is quite volatile. The Lingayat community will be sure to make its displeasure known in the next elections. Ravichandran Iyer,Chennai
163 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a national-level hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh) Full report on
164 14-time international winner golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, talks to The Sunday Express about how his father would have felt on watching Neeraj Chopra create history winning the gold: My father waited for so many years for an Indian athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. As this young boy Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Olympic Stadium, I am sure my father is crying up above in the heavens. Whenever I spoke with my father about sports, he would tell me that it is his biggest desire to see an Indian athlete win an Olympic medal. To see Neeraj Chopra dedicate the gold medal to my father, made us cry too. It's a special moment for the Milkha family as well as the whole of India. Let me give full marks to this young boy from Haryana. If my father would have seen him in the final today, he would have told him that determination, hard work, positive attitude is the key to success and that's what Neeraj has done all his life. My father's message to the youth of India was to work hard for your goals, stay determined, focus on the goal, belief in one's abilities and to be sincere in practice. He would tell me that if anybody can do all of these, one can achieve anything in life. That's the mantra, I too have followed in my sporting career right from the first day. I am not sure whether Neeraj would have met my father but if my father would have met Neeraj, he too would have been impressed by the amount of practice and hard work Neeraj does and would have complemented him. My father along my mother Nirmal Milkha Singh watched the Olympics with keen interest and there was hardly any event, which they did not watch on television over the last six decades. And they will applaud each medal and even those who missed the medals. Let me also congratulate Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. My message to her is that she played brilliantly and we all from the golfing world are proud of her. She should not be disheartened as age is on her side and she will be in contention for the next Olympics too. Her performance today is the biggest boost for Indian golf. Never mind, she did not win the medal but she has opened the doors for the youth of India to dream about becoming golfers and winning medals for India. Aditi fought Covid-19 too and came back strongly to come up with today's performance. She played superb in all the four rounds and nothing lacked in her game. It's just that sometimes things don't work your way and that's what happened with her in the final few holes. But to see him in contention for even the gold medal apart from silver and bronze medal till the last two holes was a huge moment. My father knew the agony of finishing fourth and missing out on a medal in Olympics, when he finished fourth in 1960 Rome Olympics. But he carried on. His message to Aditi would have been the same that she should strive hard and not to lose hope and dream about winning a medal in the next Olympics.
165 14-time international winner golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, talks to The Sunday Express about how his father would have felt on watching Neeraj Chopra create history winning the gold: My father waited for so many years for an Indian athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. As this young boy Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Olympic Stadium, I am sure my father is crying up above in the heavens. Whenever I spoke with my father about sports, he would tell me that it is his biggest desire to see an Indian athlete win an Olympic medal. To see Neeraj Chopra dedicate the gold medal to my father, made us cry too. It's a special moment for the Milkha family as well as the whole of India. Let me give full marks to this young boy from Haryana. If my father would have seen him in the final today, he would have told him that determination, hard work, positive attitude is the key to success and that's what Neeraj has done all his life. My father's message to the youth of India was to work hard for your goals, stay determined, focus on the goal, belief in one's abilities and to be sincere in practice. He would tell me that if anybody can do all of these, one can achieve anything in life. That's the mantra, I too have followed in my sporting career right from the first day. I am not sure whether Neeraj would have met my father but if my father would have met Neeraj, he too would have been impressed by the amount of practice and hard work Neeraj does and would have complemented him. My father along my mother Nirmal Milkha Singh watched the Olympics with keen interest and there was hardly any event, which they did not watch on television over the last six decades. And they will applaud each medal and even those who missed the medals. Let me also congratulate Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. My message to her is that she played brilliantly and we all from the golfing world are proud of her. She should not be disheartened as age is on her side and she will be in contention for the next Olympics too. Her performance today is the biggest boost for Indian golf. Never mind, she did not win the medal but she has opened the doors for the youth of India to dream about becoming golfers and winning medals for India. Aditi fought Covid-19 too and came back strongly to come up with today's performance. She played superb in all the four rounds and nothing lacked in her game. It's just that sometimes things don't work your way and that's what happened with her in the final few holes. But to see him in contention for even the gold medal apart from silver and bronze medal till the last two holes was a huge moment. My father knew the agony of finishing fourth and missing out on a medal in Olympics, when he finished fourth in 1960 Rome Olympics. But he carried on. His message to Aditi would have been the same that she should strive hard and not to lose hope and dream about winning a medal in the next Olympics.
166 Indian women's hockey team might have lost the opportunity to secure gold for the country, but everyone is lauding their swashbuckling performance at the Tokyo Olympics. match 3-4 to Great Britain at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Friday (August 6). Anand Mahindra, just like the rest of the country, is proud of their effort and took to Twitter to laud the team. The Mahindra Group Chairman took to Twitter and wrote, "Today we heard the underdogs growl ferociously. They will have their day. They have started a revolution that is unstoppable (sic)." Earlier, for winning an Olympic Silver Medal. He was also moved by Ravi Kumar Dahiya's village's reaction to him winning a silver medal at the Olympics. "Chinese athletes securing 'only' silver/bronze are being trolled by their fellow citizens. We may be lightweights in terms of medal performance but I'm so proud we're true to the real Olympic spirit where 'taking part' is more important. I applaud the residents of Ravi's village (sic)," Anand Mahindra wrote. So far, India has won three bronze and two silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra lauds Indian women's hockey team, says they have started a revolution
167 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a nationallevel hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Haridwar SSP Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S told TOI that all three accused were in custody now and investigation in the matter is on. “We have provided police protection to the family,” he said. This came even as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhamispoke to Katariya on Saturday and congratulated her on her performance. “We are proud of her achievement. She is an inspiration, especially for women. Her success will encourage many to take up sports, even those living in remote areas who lack facilities,” said Dhami. The state has also announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Katariya. Besides, she would be honoured with the Tilu Rauteli award, Uttarakhand's highest recognition for women. The award is named after a young warrior in Pauri Garhwal in the 17th century who is believed to have fought seven wars by the time she turned 21. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh)
168 The atmosphere was all charged up at the KD Singh Babu Stadium as players and sports enthusiasts broke into celebrations soon after India defeated Germany in the bronze medal playoff match at the Tokyo Olympics, breaking a 41-year medal jinx. Celebrations at the stadium were led by deputy sports officer Ranjit Raj. Lucknow has given many international hockey players like Olympics Syed Ali and Sujit Kumar, Ravinder Pal, Rajneesh Mishra and Imran Ali. Veterans expressed happiness over the team's success. Syed Ali, who represented India in 1976 Olympics, said: “The entire country is proud of our players. Lalit Upadhyay is one of our trainees. Most of the national players have played here in the tournaments organised by us.” Another former Olympian, Sujit Kumar, said both the men's and women's team performed exceptionally well. He said players toil hard to win matches and politics should be kept out of the game to provide maximum encouragement to them. Meanwhile, Sahara India Pariwar also congratulated 'Men in Blue' for their stunning victory in Tokyo Olympics. In a statement, the Sahara Group said it was a proud moment for every Indian and Indian hockey team had once again reclaimed the glory of the national game. “Sahara has stood unconditionally, a long and difficult path with Indian Hockey for 22 long years sponsoring during the time when our national game needed much required attention and support. We feel proud that the Indian Hockey has come a long way and the long walk has brought laurels for our nation,” the statement said.
169 In 2013, at the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it was decided that Tokyo would be the host city for the 2020 Olympics. The world was more than half a decade away from the pandemic. Like all plans that went for a toss in 2020, the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to take place between July 24 to August 9, 2020, was rescheduled to 2021. A pall of uncertainty was cast across the sporting world. While life seemed to move on for some with the work-fromhome model, sportspersons found it hard to even continue with their routine practice, let alone participate in any event. The challenge was both logistical and emotional for those preparing for the big game. "With Olympics getting postponed, uncertainty loomed large over us. Still, the goal was to continue with our preparation. I kept Olympics as my goal and we kept pushing ourselves," says the ninetime senior national champion Sharath Kamal Achanta, who has won eight Commonwealth Games medals and is a two-time Asian Games medallist. And after the first wave came the second one and the going got tougher. "It was tough to find motivation. We practiced at home. I decided to have a routine and have short term goals. That kept me going mentally. Training form home was important to improve our fitness because we just did not know how long things would go on like this. But it was important to have Olympics as the bigger goal to keep moving forward," says Sharath. At 20, swimmer Srihari Nataraj represented the country at Tokyo this month and had previously participated at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast. "It was hard to get training for around six months during the lockdown. But I went with my strength routine to keep it up and not put on weight and maintain fitness with the equipment I had," he says. Regular training resumed after he got access to the pool but there were breaks again with the second wave. Like thousands across the world, Srihari also went with the flow. For more than two years, Subha Venkatesan, the athlete representing India in the 4 X 400 mixed relay team at the Olympics, stayed in the camp in Patiala. She was part of the 4 X 400m women's relay team that won silver medal in the Asian junior athletics championships in Japan. In 2019, she won two silver medals at the Junior South Asian Games held in Nepal. Subha's longtime coach Indira Suresh worked with her during her time in Chennai (when Subha began training at Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu's Centre of Excellence) and Nagercoil. It is at SDAT that Subha began honing her skills. "She had good endurance and we worked on her motor qualities. She never shied from hard work and since she stayed at the sports hostel, we could focus a lot more. For the last two years, she has been working with a foreign coach," says Indira, who agrees that the last one-and-a-half years have not been easy for sportspersons like Subha. "It has been two years since she met her family. After the pandemic broke out, they have all been at the camp, following all the norms of social distancing. There were times when she would feel homesick but the coaches would talk to her to boost her morale. Had she visited home in between, she would have had to quarantine herself for two weeks in her hometown and two weeks on her return to the camp. It would mean a loss of one month of training before the Olympics. One cannot afford to do that. During times of complete lockdown, they all followed their fitness regimens in their rooms," says Indira. But then, sportsmanship is also about beating those uncertainties and marching on with singleminded focus. Olympics also requires an enabling ecosystem, which is provided not only by the government but also private parties. For more than two decades, an institution in Moodbidri has been helping Olympians. "In times of covid, when immunity is the key word, who will have better immunity than sportspersons? They are trained to take on any adversity and be unperturbed," says Dr Mohan Alva of Alva Education Foundation, which has previously sent Olympians like Satish Rai, MR Poovamma, Dharun Ayyasamy, and Mohan Kumar. This year, the foundation has sent Dhanalakshmi S and Subha to participate at Tokyo. Dr Alva points out the fact that from the beginning of last year, sporting activities have come to a standstill. "At school, district, state or national level, no sports meets have happened. Our sports culture is linked to schooling and this has made it very tough and has had an impact on the athletes. They need regular competitions and continuous training," says Dr Mohan, who feels that discussions to improve sports should happen not just during the Olympics but throughout the year. "Our ministries have the budget but a lot of it goes into paying the salaries of the employees. Private organisations should help but they also need government support to enable the players. Both at the state and centre, more budget should be allocated and with a quantum jump in that, we can see improvements." Beating all challenges, sportspersons from across the world are finally in Tokyo and a new chapter is being added to India's sporting history. The event itself is a testament to the undying spirit that Olympics stands for.
170 Golfer Aditi Ashok, who has her roots in Jamkhandi in Bagalkot district but was born and brought up in Bengaluru, narrowly missed out on a medal by finishing fourth on Saturday in the women's event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Her relatives in Jamkhandi were nevertheless thrilled by her performance and distributed sweets to neighbours and friends in the afternoon. Aditi's paternal uncle Basavaraj Gudlamani told STOI that she had placed tied 41 at the Rio Olympics in 2016. “This time, we hoped she'd win a medal, but she missed. However, her achievement has come on the biggest sporting stage. Her businessman father Ashok moved to Bengaluru about 25 years ago. He has been updating us on Aditi's exploits. She is an extremely dedicated golfer. We're confident she'll win gold in the next Olympics,” he said. He added: “We don't know much about golf and how it is played. After Aditi's achievements in recent years, many children in our town have shown interest in golf, but they lack information and training here.” Another paternal uncle Arun Gudlamani, added: “We're waiting for Aditi and her father to come here to celebrate the performance.” Sports lovers from Bagalkot and other towns in North Karnataka are celebrating by showering her with congratulatory messages and best wishes.
171 In the backdrop of the nation's grim history in women's hockey, reaching semifinals at the Olympics is a defining moment at so many levels. Despite not winning a medal, the women have not only relaunched the sport, but have shown that there is a bright future ahead, asserts former India hockey captain Pritam Rani Siwach. “Yeah matt socho medal nahi aaya (Don't be disheartened thinking Indian women did not win a medal). The performance in Tokyo is equivalent to winning a medal and these girls have shown they can defeat the best in the business. Today I say it with confidence that the girls will perform even better in the Olympics 2024,” Siwach told TOI from Sonipat, Haryana. It is for the first time ever that Indian women made it to the hockey semifinal at the Olympics. The former captain acknowledged that there has been change in the attitude of people, but still the struggle to encourage girls in sports persists, specially at the grassroots where talent lies in abundance. “With job assurity and rewards people's attitude has changed towards sports in general. I run a hockey academy in Sonipat and I have to get personally involved to convince parents to let their girl child play. Financial limitations exist and lack of awareness is widespread in rural areas. The situation was similar when Neha Goyal, Sharmila Devi and Nisha Warsi had started playing,” said Siwach, who was part of the hockey team that won gold in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Praising women in sport, the 1998 Arjuna Award winner remarked that girls have to fight their way through social barriers if they have to make a name in sports. “And I salute these women who are doing well in sports because the majority of them have fought for their rights at home and outside. It is never easy,” she said. Siwach is excited to welcome her proteges and said she would want all the women to be treated as medal winners. “They are achievers. I will give them the treatment that's accorded to a medallist at the Olympics,” she concluded.
172 Vandana Katariya is the first Indian woman hockey player to score an Olympic hat-trick during the match with South Africa in which India won 4-3. With the Indian contingent performing outstandingly in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the country is overjoyed and states are announcing rewards for players from their respective states. NowUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for India women's hockey team memberVandana Katariyafor her performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Vandana Katariya is the first Indian woman hockey player to score an Olympic hat-trick during the match withSouth Africa in which India won4-3 to keep quarterfinal hopes alive. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all are proud of Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya whose contribution to the game will always be remembered. Vandana Katariya has played for the women's hockey senior national team in more than 200 international matches and was also part of the team that won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games. Dhami also announced that an attractive new sports policy would soon be introduced in the state to help find and grow young talents from different sports. Indian women's hockey teamlost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match in Tokyo on Friday, with dreams of winning the first-everOlympic medal in women's hockey shattered. The India women's hockey team qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Rio in 2016 finishing 12th out of 20 teams. However, they managed to finish fourth this time, shattering all earlier records and showcasing their rise over the years.
173 Watching gymnasts in action can be a lot of fun. It draws the interest of many fans. A skilled gymnast produces many jawdropping moments, expertly combining exceptional strength, balance, flexibility, power, grace, coordination, control and extreme precision. The common understanding is that the sport is for the young; especially in the case of women. Nadia Comaneci was just 14 when she became the first gymnast to be awarded a 'Perfect 10' at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Comaneci received six more Perfect 10s in Montreaal en route to three gold medals. From then on, it was common to see 14 and 15-year-olds topping the sport till the 1996 Atlanta Games. In 2000, there was a rule change which stated that gymnasts must be 16 or older in the Olympic year to compete. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, however, there was a huge controversy. Some of China's female gymnasts were pint-sized and looked so young that it was believed they had fudged their ages. The Chinese gymnastics team, men included, claimed 11 gold medals. Soon after the Games, their passports were pulled offline and are no longer available. The ongoing Tokyo Olympics, though, has seen a paradigm shift. Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan received a standing ovation after competing in vault during the women's artistic gymnastics qualifications. She is 46, mother of a 22-year-old, and is competing in her eighth Olympics. Chusovitina, who recently said Tokyo Olympics would be her last, did not make the final. Simone Biles, the proverbial G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) in gymnastics, wasn't even born when Chusovitina secured a gold for her team on debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Biles, 24, is part of a United States women's gymnastics team whose average age is 20.8. It is USA's oldest women's team since 1952. My-Kayla Skinner, who is also 24 but a few months older than Biles, is the oldest. The German team's average age is 26; its oldest member is 32. Simona Castro of Chile is 32. Vanessa Ferrari of Italy is 30. The Dutch twins Sanne and Lieke Wevers are nearly 30. “Being older, it's been awesome because with all the experience I've had, I feel like my gymnastics has been better than ever,” Skinner said during an interaction in Tokyo. India's Pranati Nayak, who participated in the allround artistic gymnastics event but couldn't progress to the finals, is 26. Dipa Karmakar, who impressed all with her feistiness at the 2016 Rio Olympics as she finished fourth in the women's vault finals, was 23. Dipa became a household name for executing one of the most dangerous feats in gymnastics — the Produnova vault — often referred to as the “vault of death.” Experts feel it is difficult for a girl in her teens to generate the power it takes to execute the move safely. “To pull off such routines flawlessly, you need to improve your muscle strength and have experience and vision to accomplish it; more importantly, generate tremendous amounts of power and energy throughout. The rewards are high,” said Dipa's mentor and Dronacharya Award winner gymnastics coach Bishweshwar Nandi. Dipa is one of Nandi's students. Biles has four Olympic gold and a staggering 19 World Championships gold medals in her kitty. And, the G.O.A.T has hinted she isn't retiring anytime soon. She is gunning for more.
174 The Olympic Games are a prestigious global event where athletes represent and compete to bring glory to their nations. As such, any unsavoury remark that comes their way is only viewed as unfortunate and uncalled for. Which is why when South Korean gold-medalist An San, an archer, faced criticism for her short hair at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, viewers jumped to defend and support her. The 20-year-old has won two gold medals, and set a new Olympic record, but what a certain section of people in her home country noticed and criticised her for, was her hairstyle. [RT] Korean men are attacking An San(), a gold medalist in archery, for "being a feminist". They've assumed she's a feminist from her haircut, etc. They're claiming her medal needs to be taken away. (translations below)#Tokyo2020 #Olympics @Tokyo2020ko (@abaisse_burdock) July 28, 2021 ANew York Timesreporter Kelly Kasulis Cho said on Twitter that targeting her was evidence of an "online anti-feminist movement" in her country. "South Korean Olympic gold medalist in archery, An San, is being criticised by male netizens for her short hair - yet another display of the online anti-feminist movement in a county where haircuts can still be controversial among select groups," Cho tweeted. South Korean Olympic gold medalist in archery, An San, is being criticized by male netizens for her short hair - yet another display of the online anti-feminist movement in a county where haircuts can still be controversial among select groups. pic.twitter.com/wmjXPBW6Ce - Kelly Kasulis Cho (@KasulisK) July 29, 2021 "For context: There is a prominent online anti-feminist movement in S. Korea. Ilbe comes to mind - it's a site where a lot of men campaign against women, and sometimes their taunts move from the web to the real, physical world. A hair style can launch a hate campaign," she continued. For context: There is a prominent online anti-feminist movement in S. Korea. Ilbe comes to mind - it's a site where a lot of men campaign against women, and sometimes their taunts move from the web to the real, physical world. A hair style can launch a hate campaign. - Kelly Kasulis Cho (@KasulisK) July 29, 2021 It is sad that the amount of hatred people have for feminists has motivated them to troll San, and even ask for her medals to be taken away. But, not letting anti-feminists have a field day with their misogynistic rants, some women have been sharing photos of their own short hair in support of San, aReutersreport states. AnIndependentreport states thatChannel News Asia, a local news organisation, has reported that there have been at least 6,000 photographs of women in short hair posted on social media platforms in support of the archer. Additionally, South Korean politician Sim Sang-jung has also publicly defended San, tweeting: "With that firm look, please shoot through every prejudice in the world. We stand by your short-cut hair and support you." (@sangjungsim) July 29, 2021 Per theIndependentreport, San herself reportedly addressed the controversy on her Instagram stories, where she shared a photo of some of the comments she received, writing: "While you're sending messages in your room driven by your inferiority complex, I'm winning two gold medals at the Olympics," according toKorea JoongAng Daily. She is believed to have previously told a commenter - who had asked her about her hairstyle - that "it is more comfortable".
175 29 year-old halfback, who led the women's hockey team in the 2016 Olympics, promises to fight back after the loss to Netherlands As the final whistle blew signaling the end of the India vs Netherlands Women's hockey match in Tokyo, the camera caught a dejected Sushila Chanu walking down slowly towards the tunnel. Yes, a 5-1 defeat may have looked like a hammering at the hands of the current top-ranked team in the world, but nobody who saw the match would have missed the grit and determination displayed by the Indian women till the second quarter of their first match. Perhaps this is what makes Sushila Chanu optimistic about the team's chances in the Olympics 2020. Having led the side in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the experienced campaigner who has over 150 games under her belt is a fighter, be it hockey or the larger game called life. When The Telegraph Online caught up with Sushila after the match, the 29 year-old halfback wasn't dwelling on the defeat but was rather optimistic in her views. "Our opening game with the world champions wasn't outstanding. We displayed good energy and momentum till the second quarter. Going forward, we were always a threat but three goals in the third quarter took the game away from us. We hope to bounce back stronger against Germany on Monday." Not known to many, Sushila shares an uncanny similarity with former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Sushila works as a ticket checker at the Central Mumbai Railway since 2010. Asked about the difference between the current team and the team she led in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sushila said, "This team has a great balance, with a perfect mix of young and experienced players. We've spent a lot of time together in training. Physically, we are much stronger compared to the past. Credit also goes to our coaches and the entire fitness team for working so hard on us. The team that qualified for Rio lacked experience. Indian Women's team qualified for the Olympics after a gap of 36 years in 2016, and the understanding was just not there." Injuries are not new in Sushila's career, having suffered a number of them over the years. However, the former captain absolutely refuses to give up and finds a way to make a comeback every time. "Hockey is a way of life for me. I've been on the field, with a hockey stick in hand since I was 11 years old. These injuries are part and parcel of an athlete's career. The important thing is to fight back for the love of the game. My goal is to see India win a medal in the Olympics and no injury can keep me away from trying to make that happen. Moreover, my family, coaches, friends and my manager have been a pillar of support. They've stood by me whenever things were difficult and with them around, any challenge looks doable." Sushila Chanu is one of India's eighteen Olympic athletes to have secured a sponsorship deal with popular sports brand Puma. Asked about the deal, the athlete heaped praises on the sports management company, Athletes Today. "Athletes Today have been with me since the end of the Rio Olympics. In these five years, they have always been supportive. Professionalism is something I admire a lot about them and moreover, they care about women in sports. "Abhishek & Radhika (co-founders of Athletes Today) happened to me at a time when I was struggling and needed the support of external people. They stood by me and helped use my public image to inspire more girls to take up hockey and sports. In a cricket obsessed nation, it's nice of them to get us sponsorship deals from such a major sports brand. I'm thankful to them." The conversation, however, soon shifted back to hockey with the halfback focusing on the upcoming games. Asked about the toughest opponents in this year's Olympics, Sushila named Netherlands, Australia and Germany. "But on a given day we can take them on. It depends on the collective performance of the team," she said, brimming with confidence. India has long meted out step-motherly treatment to women athletes and sportspersons. Be it the discrimination in pay or the uneven opportunities for women to shine, the list goes on. Sushila, however chooses to look at the bright side, pointing to the positives. "Women athletes in this country have been serial winners. Mirabai Chanu's silver medal, even the performance of women in the Rio Olympics, stands testimony to this fact. Things are changing now with the youth becoming more aware about gender discrimination. Be it men or women, we all share a common goal _ to make India proud on the world stage. I've not faced any issues of gender discrimination so far in my career. We have a professional environment and the credit goes to the Hockey India management."
176 Simdega, known as the state's hockey cradle, celebrated through Monday; now everyone is talking of an Olympic medal Olympian Salima Tete's village in Badkichapara in Jharkhand's Simdega district was without electricity since Sunday owing to incessant rain during the last few days. So, her family and a few neighbours pooled in resources to arrange for a generator set watch their girl play against Australia in Tokyo. As the hockey eves stunned their opponents with a 1-0 victory in a nail-biting finish on Monday, the whole of Simdega erupted in joy, celebrating India women's maiden entry to the hockey semi-finals of the Olympics. Even chief minister Hemant Soren joined the rest of India to heap praise on the national women's team for inching closer to a medal. Congratulations to the entire women's team for the historic feat by entering the semi-finals and prayers for further success, he said in a Hindi tweet. Two players from Jharkhand-Salima Tete (Simdega) and Nikki Pradhan (Khunti) _ played Monday's high-octane quarter finals. While this is Salima's first exposure on the Olympics stage, Nikki is representing the country in the Olympics for the second time. TheIndian womenwill now take on Argentina in the semifinals on August 4. Celebrations in Salima's native district of Simdega, known as the hockey cradle of Jharkhand, continued through Monday. Players of all ages sang songs and danced to the beat of the nagada at the local astroturf hockey stadium built by the state government to nurture talent. Some players even took out a rally that marched through town areas hailing the team's success. Salima's father Sulakshan Tete, a former player and now a small-time farmer, told local media that every family member harboured a single dream - a medal. "We are naturally excited to see our daughter in the Olympics. But we are more happy to see the team doing well after a poor start in the earlier matches. We are all praying that Team India returns with a medal," he said. An official of Hockey Simdega said that everyone in the village was worried after power lines tripped due to inclement weather. "We contacted the district administration for help and officials tried hard to repair the transformer. But due to the erratic weather, power wasn't restored. However, Salima's family, along with local residents, managed to organise a generator set to watch the match," the official said. Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi said that the ongoing Olympics would help hockeyregain some of its lost glory in the country. "Both the men's and women's teams have entered the semifinals. The entire country is now pinning hopes on them like never before. Win or lose, this tournament is sure to help the game and scores of budding players will start to dream big once again," he said. Also, Simdega, he added, would live up to its reputation of being the nursery of hockey in the state and churn out more promising players. "Emotions are running high within the sporting fraternity. Currently, it's hockey, hockey, hockey everywhere in the district. People are excited even more because two daughters of Jharkhand are also playing," he added.
177 For the first time in Olympics history, Gujarat had three young players representing the country in Tokyo Games. The air was thick with excitement, but the results did not meet the expectations. The three athletes from Gujarat — Ankita Raina, Elavenil Valarivan and Maana Patel — all on their Olympics debut in Tokyo, failed to win the coveted medal. But, despite the disappointment, they may just have inspired a generation of young and ambitious athletes by just making it to the biggest sporting event on the earth. Maana Patel, arguably the best swimmer the state has produced so far, made it to the Olympics via the universality quota. Competing in the 100m backstroke, Maana finished second in the three-woman heats with a timing of 1:05.20, behind Zimbabwe's Donata Katai, who clocked 1:02.73, while Grenada's Kimberly Ince (1:10.24) finished third. Maana, whose personal best was1:03.77, later told TOI that the occasion got the better of her. “I was numb and the race didn't go as per what I had planned.” “All the training I had done here felt brilliant, so I was very confident about my race. I was getting my best times in training here. On that basis, I was expecting a much faster time in the race. But, honestly before the race I was super stressed and nervous. I guess that affected me physically also. I felt my muscles getting stiffer. I was shivering while wearing my costume. I think I let the pressure get the better of me.” She, however, termed the race a good learning experience going forward. A lot was expected of tennis star Ankita Raina who paired with Sania Mirza in the women's doubles event. The pair, however, lost in the first round despite being ahead for most of the match. The Indian pair was leading 6-0, 5-3 before the Ukrainian twin sisters Liudmyla Kichenok and Nadila Kichenok staged a remarkable comeback. The duo lost 6-0, 6-7 (0-7), 8-10 to bow out of the event. About the loss, Ankita said, “The result was disappointing. I was not able to sleep that night. Earlier too I have lost matches being up or have won matches from being down. But this happening in Olympics was heart-breaking, devastating and disappointing because all that comes to mind is the years of hard work that has gone behind it, not just for me but for all the people who've worked with me.” The 28-year-old added, “I am still thinking what I could have done better to improve or change the result of the match.” For shooter Elavenil Valarivan, too, it was a disappointing Olympics. The highly-rated Elavenil, who was the topranked player in the women's 10 metres air rifle event and was a major madal hope for the country, finished 16th in the qualification round with a score of 626.5. Only the top eight athletes qualify for the final. China's Qian Yang clinched the gold medal. In the 10m air rifle mixed team event that took place on Tuesday, Elavenil and Divyansh Singh Panwar shot a combined series of 626.5 to be placed 12th after the first stage qualification. On the performance in the mixed team event, Elavaenil's mother Saroja Valarivan told TOI, “The results of the team event were a huge disappointment. We were expecting a podium finish for either of the two Indian pairs. This was totally unexpected. But, this has been an immense learning curve for the shooters.”
178 With Neeraj Chopra winning gold, Indian athletics now has a legacy, a precedent and pioneer, and a totem who is just 23 years old. Healing Neeraj's gold: For years it hurt -the two fourth-place finishes of Milkha Singh and PT Usha at the Olympics. It was the closest that Indian athletics reached the vicinity of the podium. As much as Milkha and Usha were romanticised and revered, there was still a part of their own psyche that refused to come into grips with the near miss. No longer though, as Chopra's historic throw in Tokyo shall exorcise the ghosts of Rome and Los Angeles. Usha herself thanked Chopra for realising her unfulfilled dream. Beyond that, Indian athletics now has a legacy, a precedent and pioneer, and a totem who is just 23 years old, who has just begun his career and with the potential to take Indian athletics to further heights. Renaissance Hockey bronze: Forty one years of crushing pain is over. For long, it seemed India hockey was quietly rolling down the slope of ignominy, its heyday a sodden reel of the past, beyond redemption and retrieval. The longer the wait for an Olympic medal continued for the record Olympic champs, the lonelier Indian hockey felt. But the men's bronze medal-and the near bronze medal of the women's team-could potentially wake up the sleeping giant. Hockey's stature and popularity could soar, the team would only emerge stronger, bag more laurels, and the sport in the country of hockey's Bradman, Dhyan Chand, would witness a second wind that could reinstate the departed glory. Messiah Mirabai's silver: For 21 years, Karnam Malleswari's bronze remained India's only weightlifting medal in the Olympics. Though a popular sport, it seemed drifting down the drain after it got embroiled in doping scandals. The sport was teetering in an existential crisis when Malleswari's spiritual heir burst into the circuit from Imphal, with a beatific smile and charming demeanour. She showed nerves of steeliest steel to overcome injuries and hurt and chart a new path in India's weightlifting history. A path that would be devotedly followed by a thousand unknown Mirabais in the country. The most inspiring of India's medals could inspire a barbell revolution, and no doubt restored the credibility of the sport in the country. Successor Lovlina's bronze: In Mary Kom's Olympics swan-song, she found her successor too-Lovlina Borgohain, the doughty, gritty boxer from Baromukhia. Like her mentor, she has technique, tactical awareness and composure to be more than a one-off, to be a talisman of women's boxing in years to come, to rule the world for many more years. In her bouts in the Olympics, she illustrated Mary-like tenacity to not surrender and keep fighting, even if your adversary has a better repertoire and reputation. Her emergence came just around the time when women's boxing was slithering away from public eyes. Her emergence would catalyse its reemergence. Sustenance Ravi's silver and Bajrang's bronze: Since the Beijing Games, India has been churning out world-class wrestlers at a breezy clip. But winning medals, especially in Olympics, is indispensable in sustaining the legacy from going askance. All it would take is a poor outing for an Olympic sport to go out of fashion. But Ravi and Bajrang ensured that wrestling would continue as India's most prolific medal-winning stream in this century. Bajrang's medal was more or less guaranteed, the colour of the medal was the only speculation, he is ranked second in the world and considered one of the finest around, but Ravi's emergence was unprecedented, making his success sweeter. They could usher in an era of world dominance. Continuity Sindhu's bronze: Though she could not upgrade her silver in Rio, her bronze was well-yearned, accomplished as it was against a tough pool of competitors. As with the wrestlers, it was important that she keeps winning medals so as to keep the torch of tradition flickering, to reassert India's stakes as one of the badminton powerhouses of the world. The medal could fuel her for more glory and a shot at completing the medal set in Paris.
179 A brave and determined Indian women's hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the Olympic Games semifinals for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world no.2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight tie. As scores of celebs congratulated the team, several netizens recalled the iconic sports drama 'Chak De! India' starring Shah Rukh Khan. Actress Vidya Malavade, who essayed the role of the team captain, took to Instagram and shared a picture of the reel vs real team. She captioned it as, "& Indian Womens Hockey Team creates HISTORY .. at the Tokyo Olympics beating the World No 2 Team Australia 1-0 My phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning & I was just a part of the reel ..This .. These women are the REAL DEAL ..such PRIDE .. such GRIT .. so much POWER .. Team INDIA Onwards & Upwards ladies ..#JAIHIND Here's wishing Rani & her team all the very very best .. Go conquer gurls." On the other hand, her co-star Sagarika Ghatge shared a post stating, "The Indian women's hockey team created history today by entering the Olympics semifinals for the first time - congratulations to the whole team and more power to our women." Coming into the match, the odds were totally against India as in world no.2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the narrow win over the Hockeyroos. Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur rose to the occasion when it mattered and converted India's lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute to surprise the Australians. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. The Rani Rampal-led side will play Argentina in the semifinal on Wednesday.
180 Archer Deepika Kumari has said the federation should not have decided on her partner for the mixed team event in the Tokyo Olympics based on one performance in the men's individual ranking round at the showpiece event. In the men's individual ranking round, Pravin Jadhav secured the 31st spot while Atanu finished at the 35th spot, and hence Pravin was chosen as Deepika's partner in the mixed team event. However, heading into the Olympics, Deepika had trained alongside her husband Atanu Das. The pair of Atanu and Deepika had also won gold in the Paris World Cup Stage 3 which was played a month prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Deepika and Pravin ended up losing the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Olympics against An San and Kim Je Deok. "The matter has closed, we cannot do anything about it. If at that time, a decision was taken strongly then the situation might have been different. Obviously, there are qualities that an athlete has, team coordination is also very important. We prepared together for many years but here it came to an end," Deepika said after Atanu's match on Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, Atanu Das bowed out of men's individual event after losing to Japan's Takaharu Furukawa in the 1/8 Eliminations Round at Yumenoshima Park. Furukawa defeated the 29-year-old 6-4 in the decider to cruise into the quarterfinals of the men's individual event. Deepika had also bowed out of the women's individual event after losing to An San of South Korea. Pravin Jadhav and Federation's side of the story Splitting the in-form archery couple Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari for the mixed pair event at the Tokyo Olympics might have stunned many but Indian chief coach Mim Bahadur Gurung said it was a "clean and fair selection". "It was a clean and fair selection. We went with our highest ranked players in the qualification round. It was not a mistake," Gurung told PTI, defending the decision to pick Jadhav ahead of Das. The archery couple Deepika and Das had come to Tokyo less than a month after winning a World Cup gold medal in Paris. But here, Jadhav was the best among the Indian trio, finishing 31st, four places ahead of Deepika's 'favourite' partner Das in the individual ranking round. On what basis are the mixed teams formed The mixed teams are normally formed on the basis of top scores by the male and female archers of a country. A country has the option of switching to their best combination but India opted against it and put up a new pair for the Olympics. In fact, Deepika also sounded upset at the last-minute change and said it "mattered". But Gurung, who has worked with Jadhav since his early days at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, maintained that it was an automatic choice. "I don't know what she (Deepika) has said... It's always the highest ranked two players who team up for the mixed pair competition. "It was an automatic choice. Won't it be hurting to leave someone out despite topping for us. We didn't want to play with his career. "Had Atanu also lost, there would have been questions and allegations. Who would have been blamed then?" Gurung said the new pair were shooting exceedingly well in the pracitce with consistent scores of 38-39. "I can't really say what went wrong after they went on to the field. But at the practice range, they were hitting 39/38s consistently. Jadhav also had shot well in the morning," the coach said, citing an example of their comeback win against Chinese Taipei in the morning session. Asked about the poor six by Jadhav, he said: "He was expected to be consistent after hitting three 10s but unfortunately he could not continue. He (Jadhav) said he faltered while trying to give something extra." He further gave an example of the USA mixed pair team of Brady Ellison and Mackenzie Brown who made a shocking first round exit against Indonesia. "It's a cruel sport, there will always be ups and downs, otherwise the world No. 1 Brady Ellison would not have lost," the coach concluded.
181 For all of us Chak De! girls, it is a month of celebrations, yet again. Our movie Chak De! India released on August 10, 2007 and today (in August), we got the news that our Indian women's hockey team has created history by entering the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. For me, it is like reliving the excitement all over again. I can't contain my happiness and excitement ever since I woke up and got the news,” says Chitrashi Rawat, who played Komal Chautala in the film. Chitrashi, who has been playing hockey since she was 17, adds, “This is so nostalgic. I am extremely proud of what our girls have achieved and very happy. I am sure it is not just me, but everyone who watched Chak De! India would be drawing a parallel between the movie and the real game. For me, someone who has been a hockey player, who was a part of the movie, it is a different feeling altogether. I am also thankful to these girls for giving me a chance to relive those moments,” says Chitrashi. She adds that she has been closely following all the hockey matches of Indian women's team at the Olympics. “I have been regularly watching the matches, following highlights. I am so, so proud of Vandana Kataria, who became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics. We used to be in the camp together when I was training. I fondly remember all those training days with her,” says Chitrashi.
182 Will the Tokyo Olympics provide the impetus for examining gender inclusivity in sport beyond the lens of representation alone? Will the Tokyo Olympics -itbegan on Friday - witness the breaking of the glass ceiling as well as of records? The International Olympic Committee seems to think so. On Women's Day this year, it announced that the tournament would be the "first ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history" with almost 49 per cent of the total number of athletes being women. Indeed, five major participating countries, including Russia, China and the United States of America, are sending more women athletes to the competition than men. The contingent from the US will have 329 women and 284 men. China's representation of women is more than double of that of its men - 298 to 133. The push towards making the Olympics more gender-inclusive is welcome. The issue must, however, be examined beyond the lens of numbers alone. Representation and even performance in international events do not necessarily guarantee equal treatment for women athletes. The gender pay gap in sports remains staggering, with even the most successful football team in the world since 1991 - the US women's soccer team - not making nearly as much as their male counterparts. The asymmetry is evident in the importance accorded to women sportspersons by the media as well; studies have shown that women's sports receive the same amount of coverage now as they did in the 1980s. These disparities are even more acute in India, which has traditionally frowned upon women participating in professions considered to be the domains of men. India is sending only 56 women to the Tokyo Olympics as opposed to 71 men. This is a pity, because India's medal tally had seen significant contributions from women in the Asiad and the Commonwealth Games. Ironically, in 2021, an Olympic year, the Union government slashed the sports budget by Rs 230.78 crore. This is likely to further reduce women sportspersons' share of resources related to equipment, training and sponsorship. Other obstacles faced by women - social discrimination, unethical treatment, the policing of their bodies - run deep in sport and often remain unidentified. Even laws governing sports bodies and tournaments can be prejudicial. In 2014, the Indian sprinter, Dutee Chand, had her gender questioned and had to fight a ban for having high testosterone levels. These prejudices must be actively rooted out through mechanisms - inclusive, sensitized laws, parity in payment, awareness programmes to address social conservatism and so on - that enable women to shatter the gender glass ceiling. The Olympics - one of the premier sporting competitions in the world - treating women equitably could provide a momentum for broader transformations. It must be remembered that the Games are taking place during an unprecedented global health crisis. The staging of the competition, therefore, is a testament to the ferocity of the human spirit. What is needed, however, is for the fierceness of spirit to be matched with the forces of humanitarianism and empathy. If global sporting culture were to be imbued with these salutary values, the day that women athletes break the glass ceiling would, hopefully, not be far away.
183 "There was only so much my parents could do -- Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid," Rani Rampal shared Indian women's hockey team skipper Rani Rampal became the youngest player in the national team for 2010 World Cup at the age of 15. The 26-year-old, who participated in the Olympics this year, shared her inspiring journey on the Humans of Bombay page recently. Hailing from Shahabad Markanda in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, Rampal talked about how she started practising with a "broken hockey stick". With her father working as a cart-puller and mother as a househelp, it became difficult to make ends meet. "I wanted an escape from my life; from the electricity shortages to the mosquitoes buzzing in our ear, from barely having two meals to seeing our home getting flooded. There was only so much my parents could do - Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid." Rampal developed an interest in hockey once she started spending hours watching the game at a nearby academy. "Every day, I'd ask the coach to teach me. He'd reject me saying, 'You aren't strong enough to pull through a practice session.' So, I began practicing with a broken hockey stick-I used to run around in a salwar kameez. But I was determined," she said, adding that she finally managed to convince the coach too. Rampal's family, however, were not in favour of watching their daughter play in a skirt. "I'd plead, 'Please mujhe jaane do (please let me go). If I fail, I'll do whatever you want.' My family gave in." Sharing her training schedule, Rampal said, "Training would start early; we didn't have a clock, so mom would look at the sky to check if it was time to wake me." She added, "At the academy, it was mandatory for each player to bring 500 ml of milk. My family could only afford milk worth 200 ml; so I'd mix the milk with water and drink it." The hockey player's coach helped her with her dietary needs and also bought her hockey kits and shoes, she shared. "I wouldn't miss a single day of practice. I remember I won Rs 500 at a tournament and gave the money to Papa. He hadn't ever held so much money in his hands. I promised my family, 'One day, we'll have our own home'; I did everything in my power to work towards that." As a proud parent, Rampal's father now encourages her to "play until your heart's content". "With my family's support, I eventually became captain of the Indian hockey team!" she said. In 2017, she fulfilled her dream of buying a home for her family. "We cried and held each other tightly! And I'm not done yet," she wrote.
184 On Monday, when the Indian women's hockey team created history by entering the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, one man currently living in the US couldn't hold back his joy. The former coach of the junior women's hockey team Baljeet Singh Saini, who had trained some of the girls of the current national team, couldn't be happier. “It's a great achievement by the women's team. It's good to see that their hard work has finally paid off,” said the former India player, from his current base in Sacramento. Baljeet had worked with the likes of Udita Duhan, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi and Lalremsiami during his stint as the coach of the junior national women's team. Of the four players, two of them were also part of the team that won silver in the Hockey 5s event at the Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires in 2018. Asked what is it that has set the team apart from the others in the tournament, Baljeet said, “The biggest advantage of the Indian team is that they were together for most of the time over the past one year when the other teams were taking a break because of the pandemic. As a result, they were able to train a lot and SAI, HI and IOA should all be praised for doing a great job in making sure they were able to do that.” It was only for a short period that the players were able to take a break and visit their family. Otherwise, they remained at SAI Bengaluru after the pandemic began and have left no stone unturned to make good use of the delay in Olympics and prepare for the same. The two-time Olympian also credited coach Sjoerd Marijne for the fitness of the players and said it made a big difference to how they played compared to earlier times.As the team prepares to take on Argentina in the last-four stage for a place in the final, Baljeet believes this performance will help the game regain its popularity among the masses.
185 The history of women's participation in sports in India is riddled with disparities, and weightlifting is no exception. Spearheading this wave is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, whose feats in the weightlifting ring have given her enduring fame. On July 24, the 26-year-old weightlifter became the first Indian to win a medal in Tokyo Olympics and also the country's first silver medal in women's weightlifting. She lifted 84 kg and 87 kg successfully behind China's Zhihu, who lifted 94 kg to create an Olympic record and win the gold. For Mirabai, the fascination for the sport started at the age of 15 in 2006, when she was reading a chapter in her text book about Kunjarani Devi (the most decorated Indian sportswoman in weightlifting). She walked up to her mother and announced her desire to be a weightlifter and just in a decade she has become a force to reckon with in the country. She is as busy as any superstar may be. Her calendar is perennially buzzing with events, photoshoots, interviews and meetings with dignitaries in Manipur. When we requested her for a Zoom interview, she politely said, "Ma'am, there is no internet connection at my place." We wondered how this world champion managed to cross continents to reach Tokyo from a small village, Ongpok Kakching, located at the foothills of Imphal East in Manipur, where she lives in a moderately build two-room house with her five siblings (two younger brothers and three elder sisters) with limited internet and electricity. But here she is, turning the tide to sail through to fulfil her dream. Bringing the glory home On July 27, when Mirabai returned home, she was accorded a hero's welcome. All eyes were on the television sets and she was trending on Twitter as the country saw the athlete run to hug her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei with tears rolling down her face. "It is because of my parents that I have achieved this victory. They have made a lot of sacrifices for me," she says. Mirabai won many hearts after she shared a photo of hers sitting on the floor and eating with her family after two years. The picture gathered many reactions on Twitter including one from actor R Madhavan. A Manipur-based film production company has announced plans to make a biopic on the life of Mirabai that will showcase her childhood and life in a village; her introduction and training in weightlifting; participation at national and international events, and her win at the Tokyo Olympics. As Mirabai unravels her journey, she says that in winning the silver medal for the nation lies her greatest motivation. "The victory, which has come with a mammoth of struggle and patience, is yet to sink in. I dreamed of something that, although wasn't impossible, wasn't easy either," she says. "I always wanted to win an Olympic medal - for many years, India didn't have any in this category. I also wanted to show that women can do anything. Considering the place and background I come from, it was important for me to prove that talent can come from anywhere. And men and women are equal," Mirabai tells us on the phone from her village. Enduring struggles Long before Mirabai produced lifts that were strong enough to clinch an Olympic silver medal, she would take lifts from truckers, who were kind enough to drop her off to her training centre at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal (around 32 kms from her village). There is still no regular bus service from her place to the training venue. "I would wake up at 5am because all the trucks coming from Etham Moirangpurel area would pass through my village early in the morning. The drivers honked from a distance and I would know they are nearby and that I should get ready. They would praise my enthusiasm and knew that I couldn't afford to travel to the training venue," recalls the young athlete, who despite the odds never complained about the lack of resources. "It was free transport for me and I wanted to train so there was no complaint about anything." Although Mirabai would get Rs 10-Rs 20 for her journey, she would save as much as she could for nutritious food. Her father, a government employee in the Public Works Department, couldn't afford to spend for her special diet. "We are eight members in the house. Often, there wasn't enough for two meals a day," she says. She would have a glass of milk and some non-veg food once a week. "My mother would arrange non-veg for me. I would only have regular food that we all ate at home." During her initial days of training, Mirabai would spend hours observing women lifting weights. "I would only watch the weightlifters and go back home. This was a routine but I would constantly think about it. There was not a single moment when I wasn't thinking about weightlifting," she says. Her perseverance paid off with a silver medal, financial aid from the state government, and the Indian Railways. She will now be serving as the additional superintendent of police (Sports). Those big little dreams Despite her many feats, the struggles that the Manipuri athlete has endured drives her to keep improving. This positive attitude is her biggest asset as she never loses hope. She says, "This victory is for every woman who dreams. I wanted to earn this medal so I can prove that women can do anything and I wish more women would come forward in weightlifting and other sports." She wants to teach weightlifting to the children in her village. "I want to teach every child in my village, especially women in Manipur, as they are the victims of harsh racial remarks outside," she says. Even as women are scripting success in almost all sectors today, the weightlifter is certainly an idol for all sportsperson. However, she feels that women have to cross far more hurdles in their journey to reach the top, especially in sports. "Parents should support their girls in whatever they wish to do. Let them dream and win, they can make the nation proud. I wish many more women to take up weightlifting and other sports and bring many more medals," she adds.
186 The tears are yet to dry, they still are struggling to check their emotions but the Indian women's hockey players, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, believe sunny days are ahead for the sport in the country. In a virtual interaction on Saturday, skipper Rani Rampal thanked the nation for the love and support they have received and hoped there would be sustained interest in women's hockey following their fairy-tale run. The 29-year-old striker pointed to the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold as the benchmark and inspiration for the seniors in the current team. “There are many young players who may not be aware of our achievements in 2002. But that was what inspired us. Hopefully our performance will inspire the junior and sub-junior teams because the 2024 and 2028 Olympics belong to these players,” she said. She urged the future generation to work hard and believe in its dreams. “I want to tell the future generation to keep dreaming and work hard for it. Everything is possible, you just need the passion. Believe in yourself even if others don't. There will be struggles but never give up,” was Rani's message. Rani emphasised on the need to build on the momentum as a packed 2022 beckons the Women in Blue. First up is the Birmingham Commonwealth Games followed by the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Also in the pipeline is the Asia Cup. A gold at Hangzhou will seal India's berth at the 2024 Paris Games, while a victory in the Asia Cup will be the ticket to the World Cup next year. “With our performance we have made a mark in world hockey and it is important for us to continue with the progress. I don't know if I will be part of it but one-day the women's hockey team will be part of the Olympic podium,” said Rani. Rani conceded that the scale of their achievement hasn't sunk in yet. “The other teams appreciated us and said we have a bright future. I don't think we have realised it (the scale of achievement) yet. It may take some time to sink in. To get here we have sacrificed a lot. But the future is brighter for our youngsters. They know what it's like to be in the semifinals at the Olympics.” While Rani respected chief coach Sjoerd Marijne's decision to head back to the Netherlands to be with his family, she hoped that the team's rise would continue with the likes of analytical coach Janneke Schopman and scientific advisor Wayne Lombard still in the mix.
187 Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne posted a million-dollar selfie with his players after their historic win over Australia in the quarterfinals at Tokyo Olympics 2020. While several Bollywood celebrities took to their social media handles to laud the Indian women's hockey team's performance at the Olympics, Shah Rukh Khan had, perhaps, the best response to coach Sjoerd Marijne's tweet. than expected because now, India is scheduled to face Argentina at in the semifinals on August 4. Sharing a picture with his players, Marijne wrote, "Sorry family, I'm coming again later (sic)." Sorry family , I coming again later - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) Shah Rukh Khan, who has played the role of a hockey coach in the much-acclaimed film Chak De! India, couldn't keep himself from sharing coach Sjoerd Marijne's tweet. SRK, who was equally pumped by the team's stupendous performance, wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back.for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan (sic)." Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back.for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) For the uninitiated, Shah Rukh Khan played the role of Kabir Khan, coach of the Indian women's national field hockey team, in the film Chak De! India. Directed by Shimit Amin, the film released in 2007. The film also starred Vidya Malavade, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge, Chitrashi Rawat and Anaitha Nair. The match between India and Argentina will take place at the Oi Hockey Stadium. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic SRK reacts to coach Sjoerd Marijne tweet on India women's hockey team's historic win
188 Thanks to the pandemic, nothing is as it used to be in the pre-Covid world, but national table tennis coach Soumyadeep Roy doesn't find the Olympic Village in Tokyo to be too stifling despite the protocols and restrictions. "It's normal as usual, like what we get to see during other multi-discipline events like the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games... Tense-yet-focused faces, gruelling practice sessions and a bevy of activities. The Olympic spirit is very much there. The mood in the Village is much more relaxed than what we expected," Soumyadeep told The Telegraph from Tokyo on Thursday. "Yes, there are protocols which everyone has to follow, that's normal. Like, every morning by 8.30am you have to give your sample for Covid-19 testing. We are wearing masks and on arrival we were given a kit with hand sanitisers and soap," he added. The Village is home to around 11,000 athletes and thousands of support staff. It straddles 44 hectares of reclaimed land in the Tokyo Bay, with 21 residential towers, a 3,000-seat canteen, a park, gyms and recreation facilities. The Indian contingent is staying in Tower 15 on three floors (11, 12 and 13). "I am on floor 13," Soumyadeep said. The best part of staying at a Games Village during a multi-event sporting extravaganza is that one gets to have a glimpse of famous names from other disciplines. During his playing days, Soumyadeep had bumped into swimming legend Ian Thorpe during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He has gone to Tokyo with a wish too. "It would be nice if I manage to meet my favourite Novak Djokovic. He is an inspiration," he said. On Wednesday, shuttlers B. Sai Praneeth and Chirag Shetty posted photos with Djokovic at the dining hall on their respective Twitter handles, but Soumyadeep doesn't have a liking for a freeze frame. "I am not into taking selfies. Even when I met Thorpe, it was just a handshake and a hello," the former paddler, who was just 19 when he represented India in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, said. Sutirtha Mukherjee, one of the two women table tennis players in Tokyo and Soumyadeep's student, is having an experience of a lifetime. "Tokyo is her first Olympics. She has prepared for this for a long time. She is so excited that at times I have to calm her down. The other day she met Viktor Axelsen (top Danish badminton player). She is also a big (PV) Sindhu fan. They are staying on the same floor, so they get to meet very often," Soumyadeep said. The Indian paddlers were handed a tough draw on Wednesday, but Soumyadeep said they were expecting that. "In the mixed doubles, where we have a chance to win a medal, Sharath and Manika drew No. 3 seeds Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-Ching of Taiwan. It's a tricky match but we were anticipating China. That would have been a lot more difficult. Sharath is expected to enter the third round where Ma Long of China awaits. Let's see what happens," he said.
189 On the opening morning of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became India's first medallist at the Games, winning a silver in women's weightlifting (49 kg). “It still hasn't sunk in,” she tells us, and that's perhaps also because she travelled a long and winding path to get to this moment, battling both injuries and depression en route. The “lowest point” of her life was the 2016 Rio Olympics, she says, where as a medal prospect, she failed to register a successful lift in the clean and jerk section, finishing a disappointing 11 out of 12 competitors in the fray. “It hurt me a lot,” recalls the young weightlifter, adding, “I had worked so hard to reach there and I missed a medal. I kept wondering how I missed. It was a low phase.” But the worst was yet to come. Even after she made a comeback in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a back injury put her out of action. The 26-year-old admits to feeling hopeless about her career then. She says, “I set a record there (Commonwealth Games) and things were looking good. But then I got injured. I lost all hope because I couldn't train. I felt I would never make a comeback; I would never lift again.” All this makes Mirabai's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics all the more impressive. “This medal is my redemption. It has renewed my faith in my abilities,” she says. The 26-yearold – who was welcomed at the Delhi Airport on Monday by a sea of supporters and media – spoke to us about her celebration plans, why she's still getting used to the win and more. Excerpts: The Manipur girl says she was battling some doubts going into the event. In an interaction post her return to India, the weightlifter tells us, “I got my periods a day before the event. It affects the body and I was nervous and scared. I had my doubts about my performance. But I decided I couldn't let this stop me from achieving my goal.”
190 On the opening morning of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became India's first medallist at the Games, winning a silver in women's weightlifting (49 kg). “It still hasn't sunk in,” she tells us, and that's perhaps also because she travelled a long and winding path to get to this moment, battling both injuries and depression en route. The “lowest point” of her life was the 2016 Rio Olympics, she says, where as a medal prospect, she failed to register a successful lift in the clean and jerk section, finishing a disappointing 11 out of 12 competitors in the fray. “It hurt me a lot,” recalls the young weightlifter, adding, “I had worked so hard to reach there and I missed a medal. I kept wondering how I missed. It was a low phase.” But the worst was yet to come. Even after she made a comeback in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a back injury put her out of action. The 26-year-old admits to feeling hopeless about her career then. She says, “I set a record there (Commonwealth Games) and things were looking good. But then I got injured. I lost all hope because I couldn't train. I felt I would never make a comeback; I would never lift again.” All this makes Mirabai's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics all the more impressive. “This medal is my redemption. It has renewed my faith in my abilities,” she says. The 26-year-old – who was welcomed at the Delhi Airport on Monday by a sea of supporters and media – spoke to us about her celebration plans, why she's still getting used to the win and more. Excerpts: The Manipur girl says she was battling some doubts going into the event. In an interaction post her return to India, the weightlifter tells us, “I got my periods a day before the event. It affects the body and I was nervous and scared. I had my doubts about my performance. But I decided I couldn't let this stop me from achieving my goal.” The last few days have been a whirlwind of emotions for the Olympic medallist. Courtesy her silver medalwinning effort at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, she has become a household name. While she has been known in the sporting circles, the fame that an Olympic medal brings in India is new for her. She admits this will take some getting used to. “The Prime Minister called me,” she exclaims, “I had never imagined in my life that I would one day receive a call from India's PM. I was so spellbound that I couldn't even respond to him initially. Sab se itni appreciation aur pyaar mil raha hai. I am not used to this par main bahut khush hoon.” Mirabai's triumph has highlighted a curious trend in India where people from the north-east are praised as having made India proud when they achieve something. However, people from the region are constantly subjected to racist jibes otherwise. Mirabai asserts her Indian-ness by saying, “I am as Indian as anyone else.” But she dismisses the casual racism very matter-offactly. “I'm just happy I could make the country proud and make my state Manipur and north east proud too. People are praising me. There will always be some who say something negative,” says the Olympic medallist.
191 In spite of India's promising performance at the Tokyo Olympics, persistent problems plague Indian sports The value of perspective cannot be overstated, especially when the odds that have to be battled are formidable. Indian athletes, in particular, are regularly expected to perform in situations where the odds are heavily stacked against them; that they are often able to give the nation the honour of a podium finish in spite of innumerable roadblocks is a testament to their grit and excellence. India's medal tally at the London Olympics was impressive - it had won six medals, of which two were silver and four were bronze. At the Tokyo Games, which conclude today, India has surpassed all expectations by putting up its best-ever performance at the Olympics - it has won a gold, two silver and four bronze medals. For this, the nation's Olympians must be lauded, not least because their achievements come at a time when training for sportspersons has run into immense challenges owing to the global pandemic. There are other, equally pressing, reasons for acknowledging the athletes' achievements. Their success seems to be falling prey to the oldest trick in the book of the political fraternity - politicians claiming credit for the achievements of sportspersons. Not only did the prime minister say that the Indian women's hockey team embodies the 'spirit of New India' - a phrase synonymous with the Bharatiya Janata Party's political ascendance - but posters praising the bronze-winning boxer, Lovlina Borgohain, featured photographs of the Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the state's sports minister, Bimal Borah; Ms Borgohain's image, interestingly, has gone missing from the posters. The self-congratulatory stance adopted by Indian leaders is only made worse by the irony of their actions - in an Olympic year, the Union government slashed the sports budget by Rs 230.78 crore. This would have a direct impact on resources related to training, infrastructure and sponsorship, all of which play a key role in a sportsperson's ability to win medals. In stark contrast, China, India's regional competitor, plans to make sports a $773 billion industry by 2025, a 70 per cent increase from 2019. An Olympic gold in a track-and-field event is inspiring, but India's total kitty of medals remains modest, especially in view of its population and the fact that it sent its biggest-ever contingent of athletes to Tokyo. The absence of institutional support is one part of the problem; Indian sportspersons also have to contend with the lack of a thriving sporting culture that prioritizes excellence. This makes the model adopted by Odisha for bolstering hockey talent worth emulating: it has, in recent years, been the principal sponsor for the men's and women's hockey teams, both of which made history by reaching the semi-finals, with the men's team clinching the bronze. The template of providing funds, building modern training facilities and hosting quality competitions along with the creation of a robust sporting network at the grass roots seems to be yielding dividends in sharp contrast to the limited success of Central programmes like 'Khelo India'. The government and citizens must perceive sport as a potential driver of the economy that can generate employment and attract investment. What Odisha has thought today, the rest of India must do tomorrow.
192 A day after her family was subjected to casteist slurs, hockey star Vandana Katariya, the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, hit out at abusers with a series of “Dalit Lives Matter” tweets and posed a question to her followers: “Kya Dalit hona gunah hai (is it a crime to be Dalit)?” Two men who harassed her family were, meanwhile, arrested. One of them, a national-level hockey player, could be suspended. TOI had reported the incident on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because the Buddha's enlightenment, Ambedkar's immortality, Kanshiram's mettle and the essence of humaneness run through me. #DalitLivesMatter,” she tweeted in Hindi on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because I am the courage of the oppressed, hope of the marginalised, a representative of those who stand alone. #IamProudDalit #DalitLivesMatter,” another tweet said. While the account is still unverified — it is yet to get the blue tick — on August 3, Vandana had posted it was her official Twitter handle. The two men mocked her family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Times View: It is a matter of both shame and concern that the family of an international hockey player had to face caste abuse. However, it's good to know that one of the accused has been arrested and that other villagers have supported the family. A strong statement on the incident by the state's chief minister backed by further prompt action would be reassuring to the family and other Dalits in the state.
193 PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss announced prize money of ₹10 lakh to the Indian women's hockey team, which fought hard against Great Britain before losing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics recently. In a statement on Friday, Mr. Anbumani said he was saddened to see the entire Indian women's hockey team in tears after losing to Great Britain. "They may have lost the match, but they have won the hearts of the Indians. There is no need to shed tears. Rather, they have made India proud," he said. Mr. Anbumani pointed out that this was the first time the Indian women's hockey team had reached the semifinals of the Olympic Games. "Not many would have known the pain and the hardwork that had gone into this achievement. While other teams had world class training facilities, the Indian team did not have it. They trained in local grounds under severe restrictions. Teams of other countries received several crore rupees in sponsorship deals, but the Indian team didn't. While they got money from the Odisha government, it wasn't enough to cover their basic expenses for the team to participate in the Olympics," he said. "The team, led by Rani Rampal, had 8 players participating in their first Olympic games out of the total of 16 players. Also, the players were under mental distress because some people indulged in violence outside Vandana Katariya's house. Despite all these hardships, the team defeated strong teams like Australia and went to the semifinals. This achievement should be etched in golden words in the history of women's hockey in India," he said. "Though you led in the first half against Great Britain, the game changed only in the end. There is no need to shed tears. The world is going to see all of you win the gold medal in the next Olympic Games and shed tears of joy. I would like to congratulate all of you for that now. I would like to present ₹10 lakh on behalf of Pattali Makkal Katchi," he said.
194 Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar told The Indian Express that 3-4 youths were bursting crackers and dancing outside their house in Haridwar. "They said how can people of my caste play in the national team?" The family members of Indian women's hockey team player Vandana Katariya alleged a group of youths in their locality in Haridwar burst crackers and danced in celebration and passed casteist remarks after India lost to Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics Wednesday. An FIR was lodged and the main accused, Vijaypal (25), was arrested from Roshnabad stadium Thursday morning and raids are being conducted in search of the other accused, police said. Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar told The Indian Express, "We saw 3-4 youths bursting crackers and dancing outside our house. They said how can people of my caste play in the national team?" He added, "Our family is in a state of fear because the youths also threatened to kill us. We have filed a complaint narrating the entire incident." He added that the accused youths live in the same locality in Roshnabad area about a few metres from their house. "Two of them are hockey players and they have an enmity with us but this kind of behaviour on the defeat of the national team in the Olympics is unacceptable. There should be a case of sedition filed against them," he said. According to a statement from Haridwar Police, an FIR under IPC Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and SC/ST Act has been lodged against three persons Vijay Pal, Ankur Pal and Sumit Chauhan and other unidentified persons at Sidcul police station.
195 No woman from Kerala made it to the Tokyo Games A second could be an eternity in sports. But on that sultry August evening in 1984 in Los Angeles, one-hundredth of a second was enough to stand between glory and despair for more than a billion Indians. It was truly a run into history. A tall and lanky 20-year-old, with a tongue-twister name, Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, missed her tryst with destiny to become India's first woman Olympic medallist by the narrowest of margins in the country's sport history. After crossing the finishing line together, a determined lunge at the photo finish helped Romania's Cristieana Cojocaru beat Usha by 0.01 seconds to win the bronze in the 400 metres hurdles. Years later, Usha rued how she had run out of energy in the last 35 metres. The villain was her non-nutritional diet at the Olympic camp consisting of justkanjiandkadumanga(rice porridge and her home-made mango pickle) for more than a week. She was forced to depend on this as no Indian food was available at the camp and she couldn't stand the American baked potatoes and boiled chicken. She had no clue about nutrition issues and there was none to advise her either. Compare this with India's Tokyo Olympic medallist weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, who received such support for five years as the services of a famed conditioning coach and physio in the United States of America for which she was flown out a day before that country imposed restrictions on Indians. A daily fruit-and-fish diet comprising salmon, tuna and pork belly - all imported from Norway - was also ensured for her. The LA Olympics turned out to be the moment of her greatest disappointment; but it also made Usha India's greatest woman athlete. For no Indian woman athlete has come nearer to her record in a track-and-field event even today although the weightlifter, Karnam Malleswari, became the country's first woman Olympic medallist at Sydney 16 years later. India's sprint queen reigned on Asian tracks for two decades, harvesting records and medals aplenty. The 'Payyoli Express's' was much more than a personal achievement. She set a trend. Hundreds of Kerala girls from similar humble backgrounds were inspired to flock to sports to not only compete but also fight their own wretched living conditions. Consequently, India's athletic world came to be dominated by Malayali girls from then. From Usha making Malayali women's Olympic debut at Moscow in 1980 to that of her protg, Jisna Mathew, at Rio 2016, as many as 19 Kerala women have worn India colours in the past 11 Games. Usha participated in three Olympics; her famous contemporary, Shiny Wilson, made it to four. Their successors, K.M. Beenamol, made it to three while the long-jumper, Anju Bobby George (the only Indian gold medallist at the IAAF World Athletics), the middle-distance runner, Chitra Soman, and Usha's trainee, Tintu Luka, attended two each. Tokyo Olympics 2020 would go down in history for various reasons, including its being held in 2021 due to Covid-19. But for Kerala, it would be historic as the first Olympics in four decades without a single woman competitor from the state. That too when the 127-member Indian squad boasted of a record 56 women. The 18-member athletic team included nine women. In a reversal of tradition, the Indian squad this time had a record nine men, including seven athletes from Kerala, where sports has long been dominated by women with 14 of them figuring in the state's total of 16 Arjuna award winners. Three Kerala women who were expected to make it to Tokyo failed in the trials held in Patiala, mainly on account of their injuries and the lack of sufficient preparations. While Jisna Mathew (4 x 400 m gold, Asian Athletics, 2017) finished fourth in the trials for mixed relay, V.K. Vismaya (4 x 400 m gold in the 2018 Asian Games) ended up last in the trials and the middle-distance runner, P.U. Chitra (1500 m gold winner at Asian Athletics, Doha, 2019), narrowly missed out. The Rio Olympics had four Malayali women: O.P. Jaisha (marathon), Anilda Thomas (4 x 400 m relay), Tintu Luka and Jisna Mathew. Usha's trainees and national-record holders, Mayookha Johny (triple jump) and Tintu Luka (800 m), had also attended the London Olympics in 2012. Why? Most athletes, coaches and officials in Kerala blame it on the pandemic and the lockdown that deprived them of sufficient training, workout, competitions and travel. Tournaments were cancelled and there were restrictions on mobility. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics by a year was welcomed by the sporting community as it was expected to provide it with more time for preparations. But the persistence of the pandemic perpetuated the restrictions. Since there were no competitions, Usha conducted meets at her school of athletics in Kozhikode from last September for her 20-odd wards. With her school and its synthetic track securely surrounded by hills, Usha's trainees were India's first athletes to resume training after the lockdown. Yet, it did not go as expected as the unrelenting virus caused further lockdowns. Usha says that the pandemic completely truncated her wards' practice schedules as social distancing and the wearing of masks killed training protocols. This, however, begs a question. Why then the record rise in the number of men who made it? Surely in Kerala too, every hurdle happens to be far more challenging for women than men on account of entrenched inequities. In spite of the better performance on the conventional indicators of health and education, the high incidence of domestic violence, a high suicide rate among women, low employment rateet alexpose Kerala's patriarchal underbelly. According to a research paper on the relationship between patriarchy and sports in Kerala, "gendered practice of sports marginalizes women in multiple ways." Besides the pandemic, many detect a falling interest among Kerala's girls to join sports compared to the past. With economic prosperity and lower number of children in families, parents' priority is studies over sports. The primary reason for the waning interest appears to be the rise in Kerala's general economic status since the 1990s. For long, sports was one of the attractive professions for Kerala's youngsters dogged by poverty and high unemployment. It offered a passport to jobs and livelihood for Kerala's youth, much like it did for the young footballers of South America. Most of Kerala's famed sportspersons have come from poor families who live in hilly regions; they are thus physically stronger, making them suitable for endurance sports. The routine run to and from school through rough terrain makes them potential athletes. Kerala women's advancement in sports also has to do with the generally better indicators like sex ratio, female literacy, life expectancy, higher age of marriage and lower infant and maternal mortality rates, notwithstanding the state's patriarchal trappings. Most women athletes happen to come from lower middle-class Christian farming families settled in the high ranges. Socially progressive than others, Christian families and churches have always encouraged girls to acquire education, take up sports or jobs like nursing to which Hindus and Muslims were indifferent due to caste and religious prejudices. Kerala's women - mostly Christians - have traditionally excelled across the country and abroad as nurses. Kerala's Christian community has provided the country with the largest number of nuns. Since the 1970s, with the state setting up a string of sports schools and organizing more competitions, they began to look at sports as a livelihood option. But with rising economic prosperity, physically demanding and less-paying professions are becoming unattractive in Kerala in spite of high unemployment. This and Kerala's high wages have led to a huge inflow of migrant labourers from other states to take up manual jobs. According to a report, there has been a 40 per cent drop in the number of nuns and priests from Kerala. Ditto with the number of nurses getting registered or migrating abroad, according to a study by the World Health Organization. Once among India's poorest states, Kerala has gone up economically since the 1990s and is now one of the five most prosperous states, thanks to the flow of remittances from the Malayali diaspora in the Gulf. Kerala's per capita income in 2019 was 1.5 times higher than that of the national average with annual remittances crossing Rs 1 lakh crore that formed 30 per cent of the state's GDP. Girls being encouraged to take up sports would be the least priority for most middle-class families. Pursuing sports for survival must have been affected by other factors, such as the fall in population (Kerala had the lowest decadal growth rate in the 2011 census) and the rise of the nuclear family. There is another new trend: the declining sex ratio at birth in contrast to the state's overall picture of females outnumbering males. Kerala saw the sharpest fall among major states in the last five years, according to the latest National Family Health Survey report. It fell to 951 in 2019-20 from 1,047 in 2015-16, while Kerala had the highest overall sex ratio - 1,121 - among the major states, up from 1,049 during NFHS-4. The author, a senior journalist based in Trivandrum, has worked with various print and electronic media organizations
196 TOKYO POWER PLAY It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. A day after her bronze medal win in a match she dominated, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by the United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses 10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures managing director Tuhin Mishra. Rani Rampal, who led the Indian women's hockey team that made the semi-final for the first time ever early Monday morning, trended all day on social media. Rampal and teammates such as Savita Punia and Gurjit Kaur have suddenly become household names, executives said. “These performances are being noticed by brands, for appearances and commercial engagements,” said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Rampal. “For some, we expect regional associations. We understand that only a few of the players will get recognition, but it's a start. If they return with a medal, then the brand interest would escalate even more.” Rampal used to practise with a broken hockey stick because her family couldn't afford to buy one. “We are interested in associations with the young achievers who have proved themselves at the Olympics. They represent a new dynamic for young India, and we are exploring both regular endorsements and digital associations,” said Mayank Shah, senior category head at biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products. The company is among the contributors to Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation that promotes sports. Shah declined to mention specific athletes Parle was considering, stating that talks are in the early stages. Diagnostics startup Healthians announced free health screening for all Olympic participants from India for four years, apart from 10 years of free health checkup packages for medal winners. “India needs more sportspeople to put us on the world map with mega wins and participate in international sporting events such as Olympics,” said former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, an investor in the company. Others such as boxer Lovlina Borgohain and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who have already won medals, are on the radar of brands as well. Domino's signed a digital association deal with Chanu after she won a silver medal, while another four-five deals are being discussed, said her representatives. “We believe in the power of women in sport and have consistently invested in them, ensuring that the athletes are equipped with the right gear for training. Two such women athletes whose talent we spotted early on are Mirabai and Lovlina,” said Sunil Gupta, senior director, Adidas India. Brands that had bet on athletes prior to the games, such as Visa, Thums Up and Adidas, are reaping the benefits. Global card payment brand Visa, which signed Sindhu and launched 'a million cheers' campaign on television and digital platforms including YouTube and social media, is escalating its campaign centered on her as a Team Visa athlete. Borgohain, Chanu and Sindhu are already supported by sportswear and footwear maker Adidas.
197 Still alive', Daniil Medvedev tweeted. That was perhaps the follow-up to his on-court quandary at the Ariake Tennis Park when he wondered, “I can die. I can finish the match, but if I die, who will take responsibility?” World No. 2 Medevedev dug deep in suffocating conditions, where his vision blurred as he struggled with his breathing, which prompted chair umpire Carlos Ramos to ask if he could continue. The 25-year-old, however, held his ground to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Paula Badosa, however, couldn't push forward in the women's singles, struggling with the conditions in Tokyo, 33 degrees and 73 percent humidity. She left the court in a wheelchair after retiring with a heatstroke against Marketa Vondrusova. The Czech won the first set 6-3, taking five games in a row after Badosa took a 3-1 lead, having broken at love in the fourth game. Medvedev, who needed attention from the physio in each set, required two medical timeouts for problems with his abdomen, left arm and thigh during the twohour, 26-minute encounter. “The last physio visit was because I was cramping, 30 minutes after the match it's okay. The first one I had a blocked diaphragm (muscle). It's the same thing,” said Medvedev, who took a shower in cold water after the second set which caused cramps in the decider. Organizers later announced that matches would begin at 3pm starting Thursday to make it easier on the players, who had called for change in timings at the start of the event. In the last eight, Medvedev will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic kept it short and sweet with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 20-time major winner will play home hope Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarters. Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed to Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-7 (4), 2-6. Humbert will play ROC's Karen Khachanov for a place in the semifinals. Among the women, world No. 6 Elina Svitolina, the highestranked player to make the Tokyo quarterfinals, put out Camila Giorgi of Italy, 6-4, 6-4. By making the semifinals, the Ukrainian won herself the opportunity to play for one of the medals. “I know that for Ukraine the Olympics is a really big thing,” Svitolina told The Olympic Channel. “I value the Olympics as a Grand Slam. I'm in the semifinals and I get a chance to get a medal. It is very special for me, but I try to take it one match at a time.” In the semis, Svitolina will take on Vondrousova. The No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland outlasted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 and will play Kazakh Elena Rybakina next. In men's doubles, Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury lost to Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig of Croatia 4-6, 7-6 (2), 10-7. The British pair led by a set and a break but suffered a late collapse. Murray said he was unsure if he would play at another Olympics after his bid for a third gold ended on Wednesday.
198 Indian women's hockey team skipper Rani Rampal on Saturday condemned the allegedly casteist abuse that her teammate Vandana Katariya's family has faced, saying it was nothing short of shameful. The family of Ms. Katariya, who scored four goals during the Olympics, found itself at the receiving end of allegedly casteist slurs from a few people in their neighbourhood in Haridwar after the team lost the semi-final clash against Argentina on Wednesday. "It's such a bad thing which has happened. We work so hard to represent our country. Stop all these things like discriminating on religion, casteism because we work above all these things," Ms. Rani said during a virtual press conference. India finished fourth in the Games after going down to Great Britain 3-4 in an intensely fought bronze play-off. "We come from different parts of India, follow different religions. But when we come here we work together for India. It's so shameful when we see people indulging in such behaviour," Ms. Rani said. "But there are also people who have given us so much love even though we didn't win a medal. So they should learn from such people. If we want to make India a hockey nation, we need everyone." Two men had reportedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Ms. Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area of Haridwar in a gesture of mockery. When some members of the family came out hearing the noise, the two men also passed casteist remarks against them, saying the team had lost because it had too many Dalit players in it, according to local officials. The 29-year-old striker had scored a hat-trick against South Africa in the group stages of the Olympics, becoming the first first from the country to achieve the feat. Ms. Rani hoped that people will learn from this incident and such things will not happen in the future. "It's a bad a thing, it shouldn't have happened... maybe they will learn in the future to not do such things."
199 It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. A day after her bronze medal win in a match she dominated, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by the United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures managing director Tuhin Mishra. Rani Rampal, who led the Indian women's hockey team that made the semi-final for the first time ever early Monday morning, trended all day on social media. Rampal and teammates such as Savita Punia and Gurjit Kaur have suddenly become household names, executives said. “These performances are being noticed by brands, for appearances and commercial engagements,” said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Rampal. “For some, we expect regional associations. We understand that only a few of the players will get recognition, but it's a start. If they return with a medal, then the brand interest would escalate even more.” Rampal used to practise with a broken hockey stick because her family couldn't afford to buy one. “We are interested in associations with the young achievers who have proved themselves at the Olympics. They represent a new dynamic for young India, and we are exploring both regular endorsements and digital associations,” said Mayank Shah, senior category head at biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products. The company is among the contributors to Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation that promotes sports. Shah declined to mention specific athletes Parle was considering, stating that talks are in the early stages. Diagnostics startup Healthians announced free health screening for all Olympic participants from India for four years, apart from 10 years of free health checkup packages for medal winners. “India needs more sportspeople to put us on the world map with mega wins and participate in international sporting events such as Olympics,” said former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, an investor in the company. Others such as boxer Lovlina Borgohain and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who have already won medals, are on the radar of brands as well. Domino's signed a digital association deal with Chanu after she won a silver medal, while another fourfive deals are being discussed, said her representatives. EARLY BETS PAY OFF “We believe in the power of women in sport and have consistently invested in them, ensuring that the athletes are equipped with the right gear for training. Two such women athletes whose talent we spotted early on are Mirabai and Lovlina,” said Sunil Gupta, senior director, Adidas India. Brands that had bet on athletes prior to the games, such as Visa, Thums Up and Adidas, are reaping the benefits. Global card payment brand Visa, which signed Sindhu and launched 'a million cheers' campaign on television and digital platforms including YouTube and social media, is escalating its campaign centered on her as a Team Visa athlete. Borgohain, Chanu and Sindhu are already supported by sportswear and footwear maker Adidas.
200 Samantha Akkineni never misses an opportunity to hit the gym. Despite being a Sunday, Samantha decided to work out and revealed who her inspiration was. Sharing a video of her from the gym, the actress revealed that Olympic silver medal-winner Mirabai Chanu was her inspiration for her workout session on a Sunday. The actress also gave a shout-out to Mirabai Chanu for making India proud at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. MIRABAI CHANU INSPIRES SAMANTHA AKKINENI . She has been sharing photos and videos from the film's shooting spot. On Sunday (July 25), she took to Instagram stories to share a video of her working out at the gym. In her caption, she revealed that her inspiration to hit the gym on a Sunday is in the women's 49kg weightlifting event. Samantha has been training with Arunava Bhattacharya and tagged him and Mirabai Chanu on her video. Here's the video: SAMANTHA'S UPCOMING FILMS Samantha Akkineni was last seen in directors Raj and DK's The Family Man 2, which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. She played the role of Raji, who is a part of a rebel group in Sri Lanka. Though she received applause for her performance, . The actress is currently shooting for mythological film, Shaakuntalam, directed by Gunasekhar. Samantha also has Vignesh Shivan's Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kadhal. She shares screen space with Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara in the rom-com. ALSO SEE | ALSO SEE | Graphic Samantha Akkineni's Sunday inspiration at the gym is Mirabai Chanu. Watch video
201 Shah Rukh Khan starred as Indian women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in 2007 drama Chak De! India. The Shimit Amin-directed film followed an underdog Indian team's historic win at the Olympics. In a reel-inspires-real moment, Indian women's hockey team on Monday scripted history by entering the Olympic Games semifinals for the first time. Fans were of course reminded of Shah Rukh Khan's 2007 sports drama Chak De! India, which followed an underdog Indian women's hockey team's historic win at the Olympics. Like in the film, India defeated Australia to enter the semis. Elated at their win, India's coach Sjoerd Marijne posted on Twitter a picture of himself with the team members from inside a bus. "Sorry family, I coming again later," the coach wrote alongside the photo. Hours later, superstar Shah Rukh Khan quoted his tweet and wrote in his typical tongue-in-cheek style that the coach can take his time to come back home but return with a gold for a "billion family members". Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Shah Rukh signed off the tweet as his Chak De! India character Kabir Khan, who was the coach to the Indian team. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," Shah Rukh tweeted. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach. - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) August 2, 2021 As fans celebrated the actor's wit, Marijne quoted Shah Rukh's tweet and quipped, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." The Indian women's hockey team beat three-time champions and world no 2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight tie on Monday. Several cast members from Chak De! India, including Chitarashi Rawat and Shilpa Shukla, have also congratulated the Indian team.
202 The 47-year-old coached the team to its best ever performance in the Olympic Games, guiding them to a creditable fourth place finish here Sjoerd Marijne has quit as the head coach of the Indian women's hockey team after guiding them to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 47-year-old on Friday revealed that the bronze medal match against Great Britain in the ongoing Olympics was his last assignment with the side. The Indian women came tantalisingly close to winning their maiden Olympic medal before losing to Great Britain 3-4 in a close bronze play-off match. Hours after this feat, Marijne announced that it was his last assignment with the Indian team. "I don't have any plans because this was my last match with Indian women. It's upto Janneka (Schopman) now," the Dutchman told the Indian media in a virtual press conference. "I will miss the girls but I miss my family more. My family is No 1. I want to be with my son, daughter and wife after being away for three and a half years. This is a beautiful way to end this journey," he said. We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger. We have made Indians proud again and we inspired millions of girls that dreams CAN come true as long as you work hard for it and believe it! Thanks for all the support! It has been learnt that both Marijne and team's analytical coach Janneka Schopman were offered an extension by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) but the former refused the offer due to personal reasons. Sources in the know of developments told PTI that Schopman is expected to take over Marine's position on a full-time basis now. Marijne, a former Dutch player, took over the reins of the Indian women's team first in 2017 but was appointed the coach of the men's side later that year. However, in 2018, he was re-designated the women's coach in a rejigging of roles. Marijne has played for The Netherlands, and guided the Dutch Under-21 women's side to a World Cup title and the Dutch senior women's side to a gold at the Hockey World League Semi Finals in 2015. The affable Dutchman has been unable to visit his family for the last 16 months due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions and this ultimately proved too much for him to deal with. He had made efforts to get back home but could not because of the restrictions. He then began writing a book detailing his experiences of being in India during the lockdown.
203 Vandana Katariya becomes the first Indian women to score a hattrick in Olympics Striker Vandana Katariya scored a historic hat-trick to keep alive the Indian women's hockey team's quarterfinals hopes in the Olympics with a fighting 4-3 victory over lower-ranked South Africa in its must-win final group match here on Saturday. Vandana (4th, 17th, 49th minutes) achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Indian woman hockey player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Olympics. Young Neha Goyal (32nd) was the other goal getter as the Rani Rampal-led side registered its second consecutive win at the Games. South Africa's goals came from the sticks of Tarryn Glasby (15th), skipper Erin Hunter (30th) and Marizen Marais (39th). With two wins from their final two pool matches, India have finished the group stages with six points from five games. By virtue of this win, India have jumped to the fourth position in Pool A, but Ireland still have a chance to leapfrog the Indians. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the last Pool A match between Great Britain and Ireland. The Indians will have to wait till the evening to know their fate. A Ireland loss or a draw will be enough for India to seal their place in the quarterfinals. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout round. Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Indians meant business and pressed hard on the South African defence from the start. In doing so, India secured two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the match but dragflicker Gurjit Kaur's poor execution continued in the tournament. Still it didn't take India long to open their account and in the fourth minute, Vandana gave her side the lead, tapping in from close range after being set up by Navneet Kaur's great run from the right flank. India kept up the pressure and penetrated the South African circle many times without much success. But seconds from the end of first quarter, a lapse in concentration from the defence cost India dearly as South Africa drew level through Tarryn Glasby, who deflected in a long shot from Taryn Mallett. India had enough time to regain their lead through a penalty corner but wasted the opportunity. Two minutes into the second quarter, Vandana restored India's lead when she deflected in Deep Grace Ekka's flick from their fourth penalty corner. The Indians had three more chances to extend their lead in the second quarter but they couldn't do so. The Rani Rampal-led side got two more penalty corners which they wasted, and then, Neha Goyal's effort from open play was saved by the South Africa goalkeeper. Just like in the first quarter, India gave away their lead seconds away from half time when Hunter found the net from her team's first penalty corner. Two minutes after the change of ends, Neha restored the lead again, deflecting in a Rani hit from a penalty corner as the Indians executed a fine variation. The fragile Indian defence wilted under pressure once again, when South Africa drew level for the third time in the match, through a Marais strike. South Africa enjoyed a good run of play in the initial minutes of final quarter and, in the process, secured three penalty corners quickly, but this time the Indian defence did enough to thwart the dangers. In the 49th minute, a brilliant Vandana saved the day for India when she deflected in Gurjit Kaur's flick from another penalty corner. Thereafter, the Indians fell back and looked contend to keep the possession as South Africa pressed hard. Two minutes from the final hooter, the Indians successfully referred a penalty corner decision given against them.
204 Still alive', Daniil Medvedev tweeted. That was perhaps the followup to his on-court quandary at the Ariake Tennis Park when he wondered, “I can die. I can finish the match, but if I die, who will take responsibility?” World No. 2 Medevedev dug deep in suffocating conditions, where his vision blurred as he struggled with his breathing, which prompted chair umpire Carlos Ramos to ask if he could continue. The 25-year-old, however, held his ground to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Paula Badosa, however, couldn't push forward in the women's singles, struggling with the conditions in Tokyo, 33 degrees and 73 percent humidity. She left the court in a wheelchair after retiring with a heatstroke against Marketa Vondrusova. The Czech won the first set 6-3, taking five games in a row after Badosa took a 3-1 lead, having broken at love in the fourth game. Medvedev, who needed attention from the physio in each set, required two medical timeouts for problems with his abdomen, left arm and thigh during the two-hour, 26-minute encounter. “The last physio visit was because I was cramping, 30 minutes after the match it's okay. The first one I had a blocked diaphragm (muscle). It's the same thing,” said Medvedev, who took a shower in cold water after the second set which caused cramps in the decider. Organizers later announced that matches would begin at 3pm starting Thursday to make it easier on the players, who had called for change in timings at the start of the event. In the last eight, Medvedev will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic kept it short and sweet with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 20-time major winner will play home hope Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarters. Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed to Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-7 (4), 2-6. Humbert will play ROC's Karen Khachanov for a place in the semifinals. Among the women, world No. 6 Elina Svitolina, the highest-ranked player to make the Tokyo quarterfinals, put out Camila Giorgi of Italy, 6-4, 6-4. By making the semifinals, the Ukrainian won herself the opportunity to play for one of the medals. “I know that for Ukraine the Olympics is a really big thing,” Svitolina told The Olympic Channel. “I value the Olympics as a Grand Slam. I'm in the semifinals and I get a chance to get a medal. It is very special for me, but I try to take it one match at a time.”
205 A day after Vandana Katariya's family was subjected to casteist slurs, a series of “Dalit Lives Matter” tweets was sent out from a Twitter account purportedly belonging to the hockey star and asked: “Kya Dalit hona gunah hai (is it a crime to be Dalit)?” Two men who harassed her family were, meanwhile, arrested. One of them, a national-level hockey player, could be suspended. TOI had reported the incident on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because the Buddha's enlightenment, Ambedkar's immortality, Kanshiram's mettle and the essence of humaneness run through me. #DalitLivesMatter,” one of the tweets said in Hindi on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because I am the courage of the oppressed, hope of the marginalised, a representative of those who stand alone. #IamProudDalit #DalitLivesMatter,” said another. While the account is still unverified — it is yet to get the blue tick — on August 3, Vandana, the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, had posted it was her official Twitter handle. TOI had a day earlier reported that men from the dominant caste in her village, Roshnabad, burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked her family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. While the complaint had spoken of two men at the time, Ankur Pal, 20, and Sumit Chauhan (his age wasn't clear), one more person, Ankur's brother Vijay Pal, 25, was later identified on Thursday. Vijay is a hockey player himself and has represented Uttarakhand at the national level. A source at Hockey Uttarakhand, the state's hockey association, told TOI that Vijay could be suspended from representing the state or taking part in trials if he's found guilty. All three were booked and Vijay and Ankur were arrested. Sumit is yet to be traced. Vandana's elder brother Shekhar said, “Members of the dominant caste threatened me inside the police station in the presence of an officer. Cops did nothing. What happened was not just an attack on our family but the whole nation. Police took the case very lightly … We are scared. We want protection.” On Thursday, however, most in Vandana's village rallied behind her. Times View: It is a matter of both shame and concern that the family of an international hockey player had to face caste abuse. However, it's good to know that two of the accused have been arrested and that other villagers have supported the family. A strong statement on the incident by the state's chief minister backed by further prompt action would be reassuring to the family and other Dalits in the state.
206 This Olympic Games gave the country its best medal haul ever and a gold too! But there were also those who came tantalisingly close to making the cut Appearing at every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1920, India had another exhilarating run this time around, having sent a 124-member contingent to Tokyo. Here are the biggest Indian performances from the latest Games. THE GOLDEN ARM Already an Asian Games and Asian Championship gold medalist, Neeraj Chopra entered Tokyo 2020 as one of the dark horses for a gold medal in the javelin throw. After a seamless qualification round, Chopra approached the finals with the equanimity of a man who knew he was destined for greatness. A nation waiting with bated breath, India's woeful history in track and field, the demons that rage inside the mind before the biggest moment of one's life could all have derailed Chopra, but the 23-year-old held his nerve and came up trumps. Recording a distance of 87.58m, Chopra took gold, ahead of J. Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, immortalising his name in the annals of Indian athletics. A SILVER AS GOOD AS GOLD Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya came within touching distance of winning gold at Tokyo 2020, but in the final running, was outplayed by Russian Olympic Committee's Zavur Uguev. A gutted Dahiya commented that a silver medal "will not give me satisfaction", but for the millions of Indians who cheered for him in the final, it was nothing short of a monumental prize for a masterful athlete. While Dahiya went down fighting in the final, admitting that Uguev had been the better wrestler on the day, Bajrang Punia took down Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in clinical fashion to claim bronze. Deepak Punia, however, missed out on bronze by a whisker, conceding a takedown in the last 10 seconds of his bronze medal match against San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine. LIFTING THE SPIRITS OF A BILLION PEOPLE Saikhom Mirabai Chanu went into the Olympics as second-favourite to seal the gold medal in the women's 49 kilograms weightlifting category. Despite the enormous burden of expectations and the turbulence inflected by injuries in recent years, the 26-year-old remained unfazed on her way to lifting 202 kilograms (87+115) to eclipse Karnam Malleswari's stellar performance at Sydney 2000. Chanu's incredible display not only gave India an early surge of momentum in Tokyo, but also guaranteed personal redemption for her, as she managed to banish the ghosts of Rio 2016, where she had failed to execute a single legitimate lift. SINDHU DOES IT AGAIN After winning silver at Rio 2016, the ever dependable P.V. Sindhu became the first Indian woman to earn a second individual Olympic medal as she bagged bronze in Tokyo. The reigning world champion may have succumbed to Tai Tzu-ying in the semi-finals, but held her own against China's He Bingjiao in the battle for bronze. Sindhu's calibrated aggression and big match temperament shone through as she never let Bingjiao settle down. However, barring Sindhu, none of the members of India's badminton delegation could advance beyond the group stages. MIXED FORTUNES FOR THE FISTS OF FURY India's boxing cohort for the Olympics produced a number of surprises, both good and bad. The legendary Mary Kom crashed out in a controversial call in the round of 16 in what is likely to be her Olympic farewell, a somewhat underwhelming end to one of the most inspiring Olympic careers enjoyed by an Indian. Kom's departure opened space for a new titan to rise - 23-year-old Lovlina Borgohain. Defying the odds in the welterweight category, Borgohain progressed with an assurance rarely seen in one so young, before eventually ending her time in Tokyo with a bronze medal for the country, becoming only the third Indian boxer to grab a medal at the Games. Among other boxing results, Simranjit Kaur and Pooja Rani were both eliminated ahead of the quarters whereas from the men only Satish Kumar was able to make it to the last eight. A GLORIOUS RESURGENCE FOR THE NATIONAL SPORT Hockey, India's unofficial national sport, had long ceased to be India's national obsession. At Tokyo 2020, however, both the men's and the women's teams turned on the style to bring hockey back into the limelight. Winning an Olympic medal after 41 years, the men's team rallied against Germany in one of the most memorable come-from-behind wins to seal the bronze medal. Down 3-1, the Indians produced a mesmerising spell of play in which they scored four times in seven minutes to rattle their German counterparts. In the end, they hung on to win by the odd goal in nine. Even though the women could not secure bronze themselves, falling agonisingly short against Great Britain, their energy and resilience proved that the future of women's hockey in India has not been brighter in a generation. HITTING (AND JUST MISSING) THE BULLSEYE In spite of not landing a medal, India's archery unit made the country proud with a string of valiant performances, none more so than Atanu Das's nail-biting victory over Oh Jin-Hyek in the round of 32. Das, alongside Pravin Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai, also made it to the quarters of the men's team event, matching the achievements of Deepika Kumari (in the women's individual event) and Jadhav and Kumari (in the mixed team event). THE BEST OF THE REST Seemingly in cruise control for much of her time in Tokyo, golfer Aditi Ashok missed out on what would have been a historic medal after finishing fourth in the women's individual stroke play. Elsewhere, Kamalpreet Kaur finished a commendable sixth among the women's discus throwers, shooter Saurabh Chaudhary occupied the seventh position in the men's 10metre air pistol face-off, and Chaudhary along with Manu Bhaker registered another seventh place finish in the mixed 10metre air pistol.
207 The withdrawal of star US gymnast Simone Biles from team and all-round individual events at the Tokyo Olympics ignited a social and political firestorm on Wednesday after right-wing commentators and trolls accused her of letting down her team and her country. Former Olympians, celebrities, and political figures from the liberal side of the spectrum rushed to defend Biles after she was attacked from the white-dominated right for bailing out following a sub-par performance that put the US team's medal prospect in jeopardy. Widely considered the greatest American gymnast of all time, Biles, who is black, was expected to lead the US to a clutch of team and individual gold medals at Tokyo, after her four-gold medal performance at the Rio 2016 Games, including individual all-around title. But after stumbles in the early rounds she dropped out of events “to focus on my mental health”, triggering criticism from right-wing commentators, one of whom called her a “selfish sociopath” and a “shame to the country”, and said “we are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles”. Some of the right-wing trolls invoked the “courage” of Kerry Strug, an American gymnast who performed despite an injured ankle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Biles' defenders, however, argued that more recent disclosures of what gymnasts are put through in a win-at-allcost culture raised questions about whether Strug's effort was raw courage or coercion by a “hectoring” coach. Underlying Biles' withdrawal and reference to mental health issues is a troubling story surrounding sexual abuse that she and other female gymnasts endured at the hands of Larry Nassar, the doctor for the US women's national gymnastics team, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to de facto life without parole. “We are talking about the same girl who was molested by her team doctor throughout her entire childhood and teenage years. That girl has endured more trauma by the age of 24 than most people will ever go through in a lifetime,” Andrea Orris, a former gymnast-turned-fitness trainer said. Biles also found support from the Biden-Harris establishment and many current and former athletes. “Putting your mental health first is hard in normal circumstances. Doing it when the eyes of the world are upon you takes extraordinary strength. Grateful to @Simone_Biles for demonstrating what strength looks like on and off the mat,” tweeted US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Michael Phelps, the iconic swimmer who holds the record as the most decorated Olympian in history, said athletes need support when they feel vulnerable, rather than someone trying to fix them.
208 Here are the top 5 news updates of August 6, 2021: 1. Bronze lost but hearts won: Indian women's hockey team signs off 4th at Olympics after narrow loss The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off but the stout-hearted side managed to record its best ever finish at the Games today. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no.4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. 2. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award India's highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award, which was named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was today rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics. Making the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. 3. RBI keeps policy rate unchanged for 7th time in a row; repo retained at 4 pc The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today decided to keep benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4 per cent but maintained an accommodative stance as the economy is yet to recover from the impact of second COVID wave. This is the seventh time in a row that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has maintained status quo. RBI had last revised its policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting interest rate to a historic low. 4. Opposition leaders support farmers, join Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar Several leaders of opposition parties, including former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, today extended their solidarity to protesting farmers and joined their Kisan Sansad at the Jantar Mantar, saying the three "black" agri laws will have to be withdrawn. Leaders of 14 opposition parties met at Parliament House and then reached the nearby Jantar Mantar to participate in the Kisan Sansad, which began on July 22 to mark over seven months of the farmers' protests at Delhi's border points against the laws. "Today all opposition parties together decided to support the farmers and demand the withdrawal of the three farm laws," Gandhi said. 5. Sensex ends 215 pts lower as Reliance tumbles Equity benchmark Sensex dropped 215 points today, tracking losses in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC and SBI, after the Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged and maintained its accommodative stance. The 30-share index ended 215.12 points or 0.39 per cent lower at 54,277.72, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 56.40 points or 0.35 per cent to 16,238.20. Reliance Industries was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, shedding over 2 per cent, followed by UltraTech Cement, SBI, Tata Steel, HDFC and Axis Bank. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, NTPC and Bajaj Auto were among the gainers.
209 Table tennis champ Harmeet Desai, who now trains in Germany and represents the Loire Nord Table Tennis Club in the French League (he flies to France during matches), is back to his hometown Surat for a short break. He tells us, “After spending four months in France and Germany, I was keen to have a short break and meet my family. Some of the players from my training centre have gone to participate in the Olympics and so, I flew down to India on July 7 for a one-month break. I will be flying back to Germany on August 6.” Harmeet's parents had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year and his dad had to be hospitalised. Recalling that phase, he shares, “I was really worried for my parents and even though I wanted to come back to be with them, it wasn't possible due to the prevailing circumstances back then. So, it was a pretty emotional reunion for us.” Harmeet's long-time girlfriend Krittwika Sinha Roy (they had gotten engaged in March), a member of the Indian women's TT team, has also come down from her hometown Kolkata to spend a few days with Harmeet's family. He shares, “Krittwika and my mom are busy preparing delicacies that I love the most and I am relishing maa ke haath ka khaana. Before coming here, my coach had asked me to ensure that I don't put on more than two kilos during this break. I am making sure to work out so that I don't gain weight. Once I go back to Germany, I plan to be on a very strict diet again for the next few months. Krittwika and I have also been practising together at home.” Recently, Harmeet celebrated his birthday at home. He shares, “We had a small get-together. Krittwika gifted me bedsheets and pillow covers which had my family photos as well as memorable moments from my professional journey, like winning the Arjuna Award.” The two will be getting married in December. He adds, “It will happen in Kolkata.” While there has been a fresh surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, Harmeet says that he isn't too stressed about flying back to Germany. He shares, “I have taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine and so, I am feeling a little relaxed. Since I am fully vaccinated now, I don't need to quarantine there.” Talking about bio-bubbles, he says, “Every sportsperson has to accept it. I feel it is a very small sacrifice that we need to make to get to do what we love — playing our sport.” While he missed out on qualifying for the Olympics this time, Harmeet says it has only made him more determined. He adds, “I am very optimistic about India's medal prospects this time. I believe that we will win more than 10 Olympic medals this time.”
210 Manipur Chef Minister N. Biren on Friday assured Sushila Pukhrambam of the State, who is a member of the Indian women's hockey team for Tokyo Olympics, that she would be appointed in the Sports department on her return. Besides, an incentive of ₹25 lakh would be given to her. Mr. Biren spoke to Ms. Pukhrambam, now in Tokyo, through videoconferencing on Friday. The Chief Minister told her that the country appreciated the inspiring performance of the Indian women's hockey team. To a question by Mr. Biren, Ms. Pukhrambam said she is working as chief train ticket collector. Asked what kind of job she wanted, the player said she would accept any job suitable to her. The Chief Minister told her that most of the international players from Manipur, beginning from Mary Kom, were posted in the Police department. The government would create some jobs in the Sports department for players like Ms. Pukhrambam. He also wanted to know whether she would stay in Manipur if she got a suitable job. To this, Ms. Pukhrambam said she would certainly stay in Manipur to train promising and talented girl hockey players. She urged the Chief Minister to do something for hockey players since it was gaining popularity throughout the world.
211 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad in Haridwar district. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv Temple lane and the dominants live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semifinals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It is not the first time we have been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar Kataria added, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, not one person from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us. Things could have been resolved had they tried to reach out. But they didn't.” Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will. “We had good relations with the Dalits in our village. We want peace,” an upper caste man who didn't want to share his identity said.
212 Early Friday morning, as the Indian women's hockey team walked onto the astroturf at the Oi National Stadium in Tokyo for their semifinal match against Great Britain, thousands of kilometres away, people trickled into a hall lined with asbestos sheets and took their place on a rug in front of a projector. Hesal, a tribal village in Khunti district of Jharkhand, listed as Naxal territory, seems a long way from even the state capital. On days such as these, when the rains churn the mud roads, the distance is even longer. Yet, even with its non-existent roads and crushing poverty, the tribal village has sent at least 12 hockey players to the state and national teams. Nikki Pradhan, the defender in the Dream 16 team that played in Tokyo, grew up here, playing with bamboo balls and sticks. Hesal is home to about 60 families, 80% of them tribals. The village has only one health sub-centre that mostly stays shut and no school, with most children walking down to nearby Pilaul. It was this walk to school that was to change Nikki's life, along with an other children of her generation. At the Pilaul Middle School was "Mahato sir", Dasrath Mahato, who played hockey for Bihar from 1978 to 1981 and who joined the school in 1988 as Assistant Teacher. "He wasn't a sports teacher but every game period, he encouraged us to play hockey. He trained anyone who showed an interest, including me," recalls Shashi, 32, Nikki's sister, elder to her by five years, who played hockey for Bihar and Jharkhand, and now works for the Railways. "We would play with bamboo sticks and bamboo balls. Sir took us to tournaments in villages, including with men. After Class 8, those of us who played the game reasonably well were sent to the Bariatu Girls' Hockey Center in Ranchi, a boarding school for hockey players. Before we left for Ranchi, he handed Nikki and me food and money," says Shashi. Mahato, who is now general secretary of the Khunti unit of Hockey Jharkhand, says, "Around 77 of my students, including the Pradhan sisters, have made it to several top level circuits... It is a matter of great pride." He has a regret, though. "Khunti still lacks basic facilities for training. Simdega (the district from where Salima Tete, the only other Jharkhand player in the Olympics team, hails) has 13 day centres for hockey, two boarding centres for women and three for men, where education, training and lodging are taken care of. Khunti has only one boarding centre each for men and women, apart from eight day centres," Mahato says. The district has two astroturfs, but they are mostly under water during the rains. But every such challenge only spurred Hesal's girls and boys to come out stronger. After playing national-level hockey for 10 years, from 1998-2004, Hesal girl Neelam Mundu, 32, took to teaching the game. In 2017, she was recruited by Tata Trusts for its programme to "professionalise grassroot-level hockey" in India. Since the pandemic began, Mundu says, she has not been able to travel much to hold lessons. "I get Rs 8,000 a month to teach hockey. When I took to the game, we thought if we played well, we could at least get into a school where our food and accommodation were taken care of, where we at least didn't have to worry about getting married off," she says. One of Munda's students is Junita Pradhan, a Class 8 student of a private school in Khunti. From 7 to 9 every morning, Junita walks barefoot with her hockey stick to the Khunti Sports Shop, where Mundu coaches her and 25 other girls and boys. The hockey stick cost her Rs 400, so she had to shelve her plans of buying shoes. On Friday, she skipped practice to watch the Olympic semifinal. While sad the team lost, she says, "I saw Nikki didi play. I entered the sport due to her." Standing beside his under-construction house, Nikki's father Soma Pradhan, a former constable with the Bihar Police, is a proud father, but it took him long to get here. "I wasn't happy about the girls playing this game. I did not know much about it. People used to tell me that no one would marry my girls if they played hockey." Soma points out that Hesal does not have toilets still while power is erratic and the mobile network patchy. "Even while we were watching the match, we missed some part of it," he says, adding that in June, a power failure meant he got news of his daughter's selection for the Olympics two days later. On Friday morning, surrounded by cheering villagers, he felt his heart weighing down as his daughter leaned against her hockey stick after an agonisingly close match. "But at least the girls played well," he says.
213 Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from the women's gymnastics team event and the individual all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics seems to have divided America along the conservative-liberal lines. The four-time Olympic gold medalist pulled out to look after her mental health and support has poured in from different quarters. But there were also those who criticised her move. Who all are criticising Biles? There's an uncanny similarity in the nature of criticism. Charlie Kirk, an American conservative activist and also the founder of Turning Point USA, has called the gymnast a "selfish sociopath" and "a shame to this country". "We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles," Kirk said on his podcast, adding: "Simone Biles just showed the rest of the nation that when things get tough, you shatter into a million pieces." Writing for The Federalist, a conservative online magazine, their political editor John Davidson aimed a thinly veiled dig at Biles, suggesting that she should be ashamed of her withdrawal. "Biles doesn't suffer from a specific mental illness, at least not that we know of or that's ever manifested itself before," Davidson wrote. "What she experienced wasn't that, it was something more common among professional athletes: she got psyched out. She wasn't mentally tough when she needed to be," he went on. "Instead of being ashamed of that, or apologising to her teammates and her countrymen, Biles seemed to revel in taking care of her 'mental health', whatever that means." How has the mainstream media reacted? Reaction from the mainstream US media has been overwhelmingly positive. The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today lauded Biles for showing courage and putting her mental health first. "I'm very proud of Simone, and I can't imagine the bravery that it takes to just say, 'I'm not going to do it today,'" three-time Olympic gold medalist and Biles' former team-mate Aly Raisman told ESPN. On NBC's primetime broadcast, legendary swimmer Michael Phelps threw his weight behind Biles, hoping that this would be "an eye-opening experience". Biles is a rags-to-riches story, a black sportsperson in a country which is still going through an evolution in terms of racial and gender equality. She is also a survivor of abuse, as was part of the group that had the disgraced ex-US Team doctor Larry Nassar. The latter was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for crime related to his sexual abuse of underage gymnasts. Biles, on the other hand, is one of the stars, believed to have become the face of the liberals who allege racial bias in all walks of life. Do the brickbats reflect a polarised America? Biles' reproval has come chiefly from right-aligned commentators and outlets. On his Fox Sports radio show, Doug Gottlieb has questioned the gymnast's ability to handle criticism. "Generally, we don't have any sort of critique for our female sports teams. On one hand you want to be viewed, treated, and compensated the same as the men, but on the other hand, whatever you do, just don't be critical of us," he said, as quoted by The Guardian. On another Fox show, Clay Travis opined that Biles should apologise to her team-mates, as her pull-out "represents a fundamental breach of the most important aspect of team sports". How have politicians reacted? Biles has been outspoken in her disapproval of former US President Donald Trump and also strongly supported the Black Lives Matter movement. After the Olympics pull-out, she, however, has found backing from Republican Senator Mitt Romney. "I love and admire Simone Biles and our Olympians. Beyond their determination and sacrifice, they evidence the greatness of the human spirit, in victory and in defeat. I take pride in them, not so much for the medals they win as for the grace, humanity & character of their hearts," Romney tweeted. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama tagged Biles in a tweet and posted: "Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_Biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you. Congratulations on the the silver medal, Team @USA!" How has Biles reacted to bouquets and brickbats? She has spoken about how the "outpouring of love" has helped her look at things from a different perspective. "the outpouring love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before." Biles commented through a tweet on Thursday.
214 After news of casteist abuse against Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya's family went viral, Indians questioned the silence of other sportspersons on the matter. Soon after India's women's hockey team lost to Argentina in a semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics, two men allegedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area in a gesture of mockery on Wednesday evening, an official at SIDCUL police station said. When some members of Katariya's family came out hearing the noise, the two men passed casteist remarks, saying the team had lost because it had too many Dalit players in it, he said. A man, identified as Vijay Pal, has been arrested and booked in connection with the incident under section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code and the SC-ST Act, the official said. People across India took to social media to raise their voices and condemn the casteist abuse. Many questioned why no Indian athletes and/or celebrities are condemning the attack on Katariya's family. "India is a country where Ravindra Jadeja & Raina can take pride in being upper-castes & the whole country, fans, netas, cricketers, etc stand in support with their casteism. But a Dalit hockey star who has to hide her caste will still be abused by UCs & no one will stand with her," Sankul Sonawane wrote on Twitter. On Friday morning, an old tweet of cricketer Hardik Pandya went viral wherein he had taken the knee to protest the racism against Blacks. Many questioned why Pandya is silent about casteist atrocities back home. Here's what others are saying about the matter.
215 Modi also congratulated all the members of the team and their coach for their achievement - the best finish by Indian women's hockey team in past 41 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke on phone with the Indian women's hockey team after they lost to Britain in the bronze medal match and finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. "You all played very well. Though your four-five years of hard work couldn't be converted to a medal, you hard work and sweat have become an inspiration to crores of daughters of the country. Don't be disappointed," Modi told an emotional Indian team. He also congratulated all the members of the team and their coach for their achievement - the best finish by Indian women's hockey team in past 41 years. Modi further inquired about the injury sustained by India's Navneet Kaur after colliding with Argentina's Agustina Gorzelany in the hockey semi-final match. Taking the names of each players, PM congratulated them and asked them to stop crying as he could hear them break down. Rani Rampal, the team captain, thanked the Prime Minister for the encouragement. PM Modi then went on to praise Vandana Katariya and Salima Tete for their performance at the match. "Please stop crying. The whole of India is proud of you. There is no need for disappointment. India's identity in hockey has been revived and it's because of you people," he added. The Prime Minister also spoke with team coach Sjoerd Marijne and thanked him for his and the team's hard work.
216 "Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face!" Justin Bieber wrote One of the most decorated American gymnasts, Simone Biles', withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics drew everyone's attention and got them to focus, once again, on the importance of mental health. Ahead of the women's gymnastics team final, Biles decided to withdraw from the sport to prioritise her well-being. "We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we're human, too," she was quoted as saying by AP. Supporting her decision, Justin Bieber took to social media to speak about the time when he was thought to be "crazy" for not completing his world tour for the promotion of his album Purpose. "People thought I was crazy for not finishing the Purpose tour but it was the best thing I could have done for my mental health!" the pop sensation wrote on Instagram. Bieber went on to say he was "proud" of Biles. "Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face! I know we don't know each other but I'm so proud of the decision to withdraw." He added, "It's as simple as - what does it mean to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul. Sometimes our no's are more powerful than our yes's. When what you normally love starts to steal your joy it's important we take a step back to evaluate why."
217 PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The PM, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with home minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India's greatest sportspersons”. “Naming the country's highest sports honour in the name of the country's greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud,” Shah said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons.
218 DALITS IN OLY STAR VANDANA'S VILLAGE About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv Temple lane and dominant Pals live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. While the incident shocked the nation, village Dalits said it wasn't new to them. “It is not the first time we have been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar Kataria added, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, not one person from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us. Things could have been resolved had they tried to reach out.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004, when industry hub Sidcul came up. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to said they harbour no ill-will. “We had good relations with the Dalits in our village. We want peace,” an upper caste man who didn't want to share his identity said. “We want a fair trial.”
219 There's a second medal, India. This one's still growing wings. It could metamorphose into silver, or gold, perhaps something even bigger. So, you could hold on to your congratulatory messages for now or just holler it. Like Lovlina Borgohain did today. That scream was one for the ages. More than just relief, it also bellowed belief. “I want to win gold. There's only one medal and that's gold,” she would say after outwitting an old foe, the former world champion Nien-Chin Chen for a shot at the semis in the women's 69kg boxing in Tokyo. To think, Lovlina took up boxing only in 2012, the year Mary Kom was winning India's first boxing medal at the Olympics. Today, when a much-travelled legend was unable to figure whether she had won or lost, the apprentice was writing history of her own, borrowing a little from the Manipur icon here, a little bit of Muhammad Ali there and some from Thai martial art Muay Thai. Something of a hand-medown from her elder sisters, the twins Licha and Lima, Muay Thai was Lovlina's first love. She was even national sub-junior champion once, and on Friday, she was smartly combining it all. The real impact — and promise — of Lovlina's bronze is being felt back home. She grew up in the village of Baro Mukhia in Assam's Golaghat, 300 km from Guwahati. There were no paved roads, and piped water and medical facilities were unheard of. Little has changed in the years since then. Hopefully, Lovlina's medal will change the fortunes of the village.
220 There's a second medal, India. This one's still growing wings. It could metamorphose into silver, or gold, perhaps something even bigger. So, you could hold on to your congratulatory messages for now or just holler it. Like Lovlina Borgohain did today. That scream was one for the ages. More than just relief, it also bellowed belief. “I want to win gold. There's only one medal and that's gold,” she would say after outwitting an old foe, the former world champion Nien-Chin Chen for a shot at the semis in the women's 69kg boxing in Tokyo. To think, Lovlina took up boxing only in 2012, the year Mary Kom was winning India's first boxing medal at the Olympics. Today, when a much-travelled legend was unable to figure whether she had won or lost, the apprentice was writing history of her own, borrowing a little from the Manipur icon here, a little bit of Muhammad Ali there and some from Thai martial art Muay Thai. Something of a hand-medown from her elder sisters, the twins Licha and Lima, Muay Thai was Lovlina's first love. She was even national sub-junior champion once, and on Friday, she was smartly combining it all. The real impact — and promise — of Lovlina's bronze is being felt back home. She grew up in the village of Baro Mukhia in Assam's Golaghat, 300 km from Guwahati. There were no paved roads, and piped water and medical facilities were unheard of. Little has changed in the years since then. Hopefully, Lovlina's medal will change the fortunes of the village.
221 We women all want to feel good in our skin," said German gymnast Sarah Voss, as she explained her decision to wear a full body suit at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championship in April this year. On Sunday, she was joined by her teammates who wore unitards that covered their arms and legs for the Tokyo Olympics' qualifying round, making a statement against what they described as the "sexualisation" of women in sports. "We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear," said German gymnast Elisabeth Seitz. Women athletes everywhere are protesting rules and conventions that expect them to wear outfits which have less to do with function and more to do with glamour and "sex appeal". Most sporting bodies remain conformist and sexist in their approach to athletic outfits. Take what happened with the Norwegian women's beach handball team in the recent European Beach Handball Championship: After their repeated complaints against the mandated bikini bottoms were ignored, they played wearing shorts. The European Handball Federation imposed a fine of 150 euros per player, although after outrage from other teams and the general public, it promised to do something to change the uniform rules. It's been nearly half a century since John Berger observed, "Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at." The tyranny of the "male gaze" is strongest in fields like cinema and sports. For women athletes, it cuts both ways: They're forced to wear clothes that make them self-conscious, and they're also criticised if they embrace glamour and femininity, as happened with Florence Griffith Joyner. Finally, athletes themselves are starting to be heard: The Norwegian Handball Federation supported its players and offered to pay the fine on their behalf. Others need to follow its example.
222 Vishal Singh, the grandson of Major Dhyan Chand, is thrilled to see Indian hockey team getting a bronze medal. He believes every sport is performance oriented and only the enhancement in performance is key to get attention, infrastructure and other facilities. Vishal thanked the Centre for replacing the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award with the name of his grandfather, but said that the hockey wizard deserves Bharat Ratna. TOI spoke to Vishal, a sports officer based at Baran and a hockey coach, to know how medals and performances will improve the facilities in sports in India. “I believe everything in sports is performance oriented. In the past 41 years, we were not getting any medal in hockey. Thus, ironically our national game was not getting that much attention. I believe the performance of Indian men and women in hockey is phenomenal and this is certainly going to boost the game in India,” Singh said. Vishal is the son of Major Dhyan Chand's eldest son Brij Mohan Singh. Vishal's father had migrated to Kota when he got a job as sports officer. “Since then our family is based at Kota and Baran,” he added. “Also I would like to add that we tend to forget the achievement of sportsman within some time. Thus, I will urge the government of India and other states, including Rajasthan to focus, plan and execute for the improvement in facilities and infrastructure in other sports as well.” He said that sportsmen were vouching for changing the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award since 2012. “The moment PM Narendra Modi announced it, we had good number of people coming to our home and congratulated us. I think I am blessed to be part of the family which had Major Dhyan Chand,” he added. Vishal believed that his grandfather deserves Bharat Ratna. “He was the man who had denied a job in German Army and their citizenship that was offered to him after his performance in Berlin Olympics in1936. He was a true patriot.”
223 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv temple lane and the dominant Pals live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It's not the first time we've been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar said, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, no one from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004 when industry hub Sidcul came up. “Before that, Pals were landowners and we, the workers. With Sidcul, the dominant castes had a windfall after selling off their land for industrial units and became property dealers. We remained workers, and the economic gap widened,” said a Dalit local. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will. While Dalits said they had grown more aware about their rights over the years, those from the dominant caste saw it as a “problem”.
224 Calcutta: From Zafar Iqbal to Mir Ranjan Negi, the India women's hockey team's stunning quarter-final win over Australia has rekindled hope in many a former star, tempting them to weave bigger dreams around Rani Rampal's band of fearless achievers. "They haven't reached this far just by fluke. They did struggle initially in the league phase, but never did they give up. They never took a step back, rather kept persevering and now you can see the result. "Such perseverance only showed that ladkiyon mein dum hai aur woh ladkon se accha khelein," Iqbal, a former India captain and also a member of the India hockey team that clinched gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, told The Telegraph. Negi, on the other hand, feels that the real story has been "more thrilling" than the reel, referring to the Bollywood blockbuster Chak De! India. "This win against Australia is more thrilling than what we saw in Chak De! India. The film went according to the script, but in Tokyo, our women's team has created history. Sitting miles away from the stadium, I'm getting goosebumps," former India goalkeeper Negi, whose life story was one of the inspirations behind the 2007 movie, said. "Nobody had any expectations from this team. Honestly, I too didn't have any, but these girls have proved everyone wrong," Negi, also a former goalkeeper coach of the men's and women's teams that won gold in the 1998 Asian Games and 2002 Commonwealth Games, respectively, added. In Wednesday's semi-final, India will face Argentina. "The Argentina women's team is really good. But there's no need for our girls to fear them. They just need to focus on their strengths. Just make sure you plan properly, make minimum wrong passes and keep the ball in your control," the 65-year-old Iqbal advised. And according to Negi, all they need to do is stay calm. "The momentum is with them and at this point, they can beat any team in the world. But they have to be calm.".
225 There is a lot of euphoria surrounding the Indian women's hockey team's performance at the Olympics. The Tokyo sojourn has been a period of awakening for the team. But once the dust settles, the big question is, what will this mean to Indian women's hockey? Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who bid adieu to the team after Friday's match, believed the team's journey was bigger than winning a medal. “We didn't win a medal, but we won something bigger. We aimed to inspire a whole nation and make India proud,” said the Dutchman in a virtual press conference. Going forward, Marijne said it was important to build on this success story. “The last match we played under pressure was the Olympic qualifiers and that was almost two years ago. What needs to be done is to organise the Hockey India League for women, play more Pro League matches and conduct more matches in India and play more matches overseas,” he pointed out. Marijne also hoped the team's performance in Tokyo would serve as an inspiration. “I think every girl in this team has her own story and each one of them is amazing. That is something I experienced, especially from where I come from, the Netherlands, we don't have stories like this. I hope they inspire a new generation of girls who will start playing. Not just hockey, but any sport,” he added. The Dutchman, who worked in tandem with his compatriot Janneke Schopman, the analytical coach, and scientific advisor Wayne Lombard, pointed out that belief was a huge part of the team's structure. “Earlier, if I had told someone that the no.10 in the world can win an Olympic medal, people would have said, 'you can say what you want coach, but we are not believing you.' But we always had the belief that we could win a medal and we got very close to it. This was because of the belief the girls had in themselves. I'm very proud of them,” he said. During the competition, Marijne and Schopman, apart from working out strategies, also showed emotions like anger and empathy to turn things around after India lost their first three matches in the league phase. They even had the team watch an inspirational movie and short clips about being in the moment. Hence he seems at ease handing over the job to Schopman who he said he always considered as an equal. Before the bronze-medal playoff the message was simple. “You have to give everything so you can look in the mirror and say,' I did everything I could. We showed fight and spirit but it wasn't enough,” opined the coach.
226 Mumbai: A medal isn't the only measure of a champion. The Indian women's hockey team proved to be a success story with their performance at the Tokyo Olympics, garnering love and respect along the way. It was only their third Olympic hockey appearance, but yet managed to claim the spotlight. Rani Rampal and her girls from nowhere became champions, winning hearts of crores of people at home and across the globe, in their own way. The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled when they lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match on Friday. The Indian women had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semi-finals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained elusive as world no. 4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. However, the Indian eves left the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch with respect and proved that the greatness of sport lies not just in winning medals, but being champions despite having anything in their kitty, yet conquering the world. It was one of the rare moments as the English women were seen consoling their opponents after India lost the bronze medal-winning match against them. A soothing act by the English women, which has been rare in the field of sports. Indians, who were underdogs when the games began, punched above their weight and rattled their opponents with their fight. As Nazleen Madraswawalla, former Indian player said, "It has been a day of mixed emotions, as Indian women went down fighting to the former 2016 Olympic Champions 3-4. It was a great display of top-class hockey along with determination and grit. The hunger was evident, but it did not convert into the outcome we so dearly wished for." Recalling the painful moment, Nazleen, who is now settled in New Zealand, said, "It was painful to know that the opportunity to stand on the podium and create history was snatched away in the blink of an eye." But the striking forward of yesteryears, Nazleen, added, "In this loss, I don't see defeat. I see this as a moment to understand how these girls worked as a team, and gave their all till the very last whistle." There was individual brilliance, with Vandana Katariya becoming the first Indian player with a hat-trick, and the custodian Savita Punia's 100 per cent accuracy rate, and Gurjit Kaur scoring in the last three matches with her powerful drag flicks. "Self-belief is crucial as unless they believe in themselves, the next steps will be too difficult to navigate, and my advice to those who are in the team, the young players who are waiting in the ranks to represent India, and those who aspire to do great things for this game, three words: Dedication, focus and self-belief," Nazleen added. No medal. But celebrate the India women's hockey team anyway. They deserve it. The strides they have made in international hockey have been nothing short of incredible champions.
227 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of ?25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The Prime Minister, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India''s greatest sportspersons”. “Naming the country's highest sports honour in the name of the country's greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud,” Shah said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons. BJP President JP Nadda said, “Naming the highest sporting honour after the 'magician of hockey' is a welcome decision and the nation embraces it.” Party MP Gautam Gambhir, a member of two cricket World Cup winning teams, said the Khel Ratna Award should have been named after a sport's personality when it was launched.
228 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The Prime Minister, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India''s greatest sportspersons”. "Naming the country''s highest sports honour in the name of the country''s greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud," Shah said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons. BJP President JP Nadda said, “Naming the highest sporting honour after the 'magician of hockey' is a welcome decision and the nation embraces it.” Party MP Gautam Gambhir, a member of two cricket World Cup winning teams, said the Khel Ratna Award should have been named after a sport's personality when it was launched.
229 Simdega residents gather to watch semi-final match in a tent While the Indian women's hockey team faced defeat against Argentina during the semi-final clash in the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, family members of Salima Tete and Nikki Pradhan-part of the national squad hailing from this state, have hailed the players for having fought till the end. In Badkichapar village in Simdega district where Salima lives, all hockey fans and villagers were enthusiastic hours before the match. Outside Salima's house, villages pooled in resources with the help of Hockey Simdega, the district outfit, to set up a tent for viewing the match. On Tuesday night, the district administration also gifted Salima's parents a 43 inch LED TV along with a D2H connection and installed it immediately, as a token of appreciation for the athlete's achievement for the district and the state. By the time the match began at 3pm, villagers across different age groups descended outside Salima's home to watch the historic match. Chants ofSalima-Salimaranted in the air whenever her visuals popped up on the screen. "Gaon ki beti khel rahi hai. Pehli baar etna bada TV mein dekhe usko(Daughter of the village is playing. I am seeing her for the firstI time on such a big TV," remarked Banti Mahto, a middle-aged man, part of the village crowd. "Disappointed with India's loss, but hopes aren't lost all together. Whole country's blessings are with the team.Betiyan jitegi jarur(Daughters will win for sure)," said Salima's father, Sulakshan Tere. Similar views were expressed by Nikki's kin. Her sister Shashi Pradhan, a former player and railway employee said, "The game is still not over." She added that the girls fought valiantly in true spirit and the match was an apt semi-final. "It was just about one lucky shot. Probably, it wasn't India's day today," she commented. Hopes of a bronze medal are still alive both for the men and women's team. The latter will take on Great Britain on August 6 for their final clash.
230 Sonepet, Shahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Kolasib, Lulkidihi, Roshnabad or Badkichapar: the Indian women's hockey players hail from different parts of the country. But they are driven by a common passion and purpose. “Desh ki liya kuch karna hai,” is the team mantra. They have already done enough to make the country proud, transforming themselves from also-rans to podium contenders as they reached the semifinals at the Tokyo Games with a commendable win over Australia. Two steps away from their maiden Olympic medal, Rani Rampal and her band of courageous girls will look to punch above their weight again when they take on world No. 4 Argentina in their last-4 clash on Wednesday. What is required of them is a knockout punch despite the odds. While they go about rewriting history, it is important that the Sjoerd Marijne-coached team stay focused as the weight of expectations has increased after their male counterparts failed to overcome the Belgian challenge in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Las Leonas will start as formbook favourites. The twotime silver medallists (2000, 2012) are looking to return to the podium, having missed out on one at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The two teams faced each other earlier this year when India had toured Argentina, playing seven matches against various teams. They faced the senior side in three matches, splitting points in the first match (1-all) before going down in the next two (0-2, 2-3). The key difference between Australia and Argentina is their on-field approach. While the Aussies are all aggression and pace, Argentina are conventional in their approach, focusing on the midfield and controlling the pace of the match. Patience is a virtue that they exhibit in abundance to wear the opposition down. Not only will India have to play out of their skin, they will also have to display the bold brand of hockey like they did against Australia. India will be in with a real chance if the defenders can keep away from conceding penalty corners which is among Argentina's strengths. Also, the midfield and strikers will have to use the flanks well to move ahead. Dutchman Marijne conceded Argentina is the team to beat. “It will be a difficult match for us, Argentina is a good team. We played them in January and we know that Argentina is a hard team to beat. Their defence is very strong. We have to convert our goal-scoring opportunities like we converted the penalty corner against Australia. It's all about focusing on the task and staying in the moment.”
231 The Indians defended bravely - often throwing their bodies on the line - and attacked boldly, stunning three-time champions Australia 1-0 in a thrilling quarter-final From Zafar Iqbal to Mir Ranjan Negi, the India women's hockey team's stunning quarter-final win over Australia has rekindled hope in many a former star, tempting them to weave bigger dreams around Rani Rampal's band of fearless achievers. "They haven't reached this far just by fluke. They did struggle initially in the league phase, but never did they give up. They never took a step back, rather kept persevering and now you can see the result. "Such perseverance only showed that ladkiyon mein dum hai aur woh ladkon se accha khelein," Iqbal, a former India captain and also a member of the India hockey team that clinched gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, told The Telegraph. Negi, on the other hand, feels that the real story has been "more thrilling" than reel, referring to the Bollywood blockbuster Chak De! India. "This win against Australia is more thrilling than what we saw in Chak De! India. The film went according to the script, but in Tokyo, our women's team has created history. Sitting miles away from the stadium, I'm getting goosebumps," former India goalkeeper Negi, whose life-story was one of the inspirations behind the 2007 movie, said. "Nobody had any expectations from this team. Honestly, I too didn't have any, but these girls have proved everyone wrong," Negi, also a former goalkeeper coach of the men's and women's teams that won gold in the 1998 Asian Games and 2002 Commonwealth Games, respectively, added. In Wednesday's semi-final, India will face Argentina. "The Argentina women's team is really good. But there's no need for our girls to fear them. They just need to focus on their strengths. Just make sure you plan properly, make minimum wrong passes and keep the ball in your control," the 65-year-old Iqbal advised. And according to Negi, all they need to do is stay calm. "The momentum is with them and at this point, they can beat any team in the world. But they have to be calm."
232 German Judo star Martyna Trajdos was shaken up and slapped by her coach just before her match and said that this ritual keeps her awake before fights. A viral video of a coach shaking his player ferociously and then giving her a couple of slaps to get her ready before her match has raked in over 5 million views on social media. Many players and coaches follow various pre-game rituals, but this was out of the ordinary and that the views of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics have never seen before. German Judo star Martyna Trajdos was thoroughly shaken up by her coach and received a couple of slaps as part of his pep talk before her match against her Hungarian opponent Szofi Ozbas. While Trajdos clarified later after the match that this is the 'ritual' she chose for herself before the Games, the coach Claudiu Pusa has landed in trouble. The International Judo Federation has issued a warning against Pusa for 'bad behaviour' towards his player. Trajdos, who was competing in the 63kg category of women's Judo, lost the Round of 32 game but has requested everyone to not blame her coach as she said that she requested him to do this as it keeps her awake before the match. Taking to Instagram, Trajdos wrote, "Look's like this was not hard enough! I wish I could have made a different headline today. As I already said that's the ritual which I chose pre competition ! My coach is just doing what I want him to do to fire me up!" While the ritual invited some harsh criticism on social media as many said that this is not how a player should be motivated, most of the users on Twitter had a laugh about and came up with hilarious reactions to the same. Many of them were reminded of their alarm clocks, while many of them were reminded of what coffee and energy drinks do to them. Here are some of the reactions:
233 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a national-level hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Haridwar SSP Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S told TOI that all three accused were in custody now and investigation in the matter is on. “We have provided police protection to the family,” he said. This came even as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Katariya on Saturday and congratulated her on her performance. “We are proud of her achievement. She is an inspiration, especially for women. Her success will encourage many to take up sports, even those living in remote areas who lack facilities,” said Dhami, adding that he had invited the hockey player to his official residence after her return from Tokyo. The state has also announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Katariya. Besides, she would be honoured with the Tilu Rauteli award, Uttarakhand's highest recognition for women. The award is named after a young warrior in Pauri Garhwal in the 17th century who is believed to have fought seven wars by the time she turned 21. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh)
234 WOMEN'S GOLF Ace Indian golfer Aditi Ashok followed up her first-round 67 with another brilliant, blemish-free five-under 66 to stay in contention for an Olympic medal in Tokto on Thursday. The 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, took her two-day total to nineunder 133 to be tied second with the Danish duo of Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63). The trio was four shots behind the world No. 1, American Nelly Korda, who shot a stunning nine-under 62 on another brilliant day for scoring at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Diksha Dagar (72), the other Indian in the 60-player field, was tied 53rd on sixover 148. With the threat of thunderstorms over the weekend, the 72-hole competition could be reduced to a 54-hole affair, and Aditi knows that she needs to start attacking the pin from the get-go on the third day to be on the podium. “Whether it's 54 or 72 holes, I'm not going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be aggressive and make more birdies,” Aditi said. Although the birdies were hard to come by after she picked up shots on the second and sixth holes, the Bengalurean was solid right through. “I played well today and scrambled fewer times compared to the opening round,” she said. The 23-year-old hit a purple patch on the home stretch, picking up birdies on three of the last four holes – 15th, 17th and 18th to stay within striking distance of the leader. She could have had another birdie on the par-3, 16th hole but missed a tough 15-foot putt. “The last three holes, I had a couple shots that were just a good number for me, and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day,” said Aditi, who hit within 7-8 feet of the flag on the closing holes. “I could have definitely created more birdie opportunities today, but I'm happy that I played bogey-free and stayed consistent with my game plan,” said Aditi, who was solid with her hitting and didn't give herself any long putts. The youngster knows she is on the cusp of winning a medal, but isn't getting ahead of herself. “It's definitely at the back of my mind, but on the course, I'm not thinking much about it. I'm just trying to hit the best shot I can hit,” said Aditi, who is coming off a career-best third-place finish on the LPGA. Leading scores (after 36 holes): 129: Nelly Korda (US, 67, 62); 133: Aditi Ashok (Ind, 67, 66), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Den, 69, 64), Emily Kristine Pedersen (Den, 70, 73); 134: Madelene Sagstrom (Swe, 66, 68); 135: Mone Inami (Jpn, 70, 65), Ko Jin-Young (Kor, 68, 67).
235 Karnam Malleswari created history at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal when she clinched a bronze in weightlifting. On Saturday in Tokyo, 21 years later, Mirabai Chanu improved on that feat by bagging a silver, a news that brought immense joy to Malleswari. "After a long gap there has been some good news in the weightlifting family of the country," Malleswari told The Telegraph. "It is a wonderful feeling, the way Mirabai performed today and did the country proud. I extend my hearty congratulations to Mirabai, her team and her family members, all of whom had a role to play in her success." Asked why the country had to wait for two decades for a weightlifting medal since her bronze, Malleswari said: "See, most of the Indian athletes who have reached the world level, the Olympic level, have come out of the interior areas of the country, villages and small towns. And so long as we don't reach those backward areas to provide coaching and develop infrastructure, the situation will not change. "And after another 20 years you will be asking Mirabai the same question that you are asking me now. "There is no dearth of talent in our country but the onus of nurturing that talent, of providing them with the requisite training lies on us, doesn't it? There may be a kid who is a terrific sprinter in a backward region. But there isn't an athletic track anywhere close. "A youngster may have the potential to be a great weightlifter but there are no gyms around. How then do you expect an athlete to develop his talent? So, as long as we do not make coaching and infrastructural facilities available at the grassroots level, from one medal to the next this yawning gap will remain." Malleswari strongly disagreed when asked if fewer women take to weightlifting because it is a more 'manly' pursuit. "It is not about the mindset. I took to lifting 30 years back. It is, I reiterate, more due to the lack of basic facilities. "Yes, the government has brought good schemes for those girls and boys who have reached a certain level. But there has been hardly any development at the grassroots level. And if the situation does not change, one medal in 15-20 years is all we will get. "And the credit for that medal will almost totally go to the athlete himself/herself, to their own talents and perseverance - a reason why Mirabai deserves a lot more credit for having overcome her injury and groomed herself to the podium," she concluded.
236 Naomi Osaka's power was doused by pressure at the Ariake Tennis Park on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Japanese, the face of the Tokyo Games, fell to the left-handed ware of Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 1-6, 4-6 in 70 minutes. “I'm really glad to be here,” a downcast Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame to flag the Games off, insisted. “I'm sad that I lost, of course, but all in all really happy with my first Olympic experience.” Osaka's last match, coming into her home competition, was at the end of May. The world No.2 had taken a mental health break after she refused to do press conferences during the French Open. Osaka addressed the media briefly at the mixed zone following her loss. Vondrousova, the 2019 French Open finalist, ranked 42 in the world, owned the stats. That said as much about her performance as it did about her opponent's struggle on the day. “I feel like I should be used to it by now,” said Osaka of the pressure. “At the same time, I think the scale of everything is a bit higher because of the break that I took. I'm glad I didn't lose in the first round, at least.” The ninth seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic ousted reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to make the quarters. Tokyo: US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles sent shockwaves through the Olympics on Tuesday, tearfully citing concerns for her mental health after a dramatic withdrawal mid-competition during the women's team final. The 24-year-old four-time Olympic gold medallist - one of the faces of the Tokyo Games - got off to a shaky start at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre with a lacklustre opening vault. Stunned onlookers watched as Biles was led off the competition floor before returning wearing a tracksuit. Soon afterwards, USA Gymnastics confirmed she would sit out the remainder of the final with an unspecified medical issue. Speaking to reporters after the final Biles said concerns for her mental wellbeing prompted her decision to withdraw. “At the end of the day, I have to do what's right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my wellbeing,” she said. Biles cited Osaka as an inspiration and said she thought it was good to be talking about mental health in sports. “At the end of the day, we're human too so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than do what the world wants us to do.” If Biles fails to recover in time for Thursday's individual allaround competition, it would mark a stunning turn of events at a Games which she had been strongly expected to dominate. Biles later began crying as she revealed a loss of confidence in her abilities. “I just don't trust myself as much as I used to,” she said. “I feel like I am also not having as much fun. That just hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken.” In the end, the Russian team beat the Americans by 3.5 points, a significant margin in the sport.
237 Naomi Osaka's power was doused by pressure at the Ariake Tennis Park on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Japanese, the face of the Tokyo Games, fell to the left-handed ware of Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 1-6, 4-6 in 70 minutes. “I'm really glad to be here,” a downcast Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame to flag the Games off, insisted. “I'm sad that I lost, of course, but all in all really happy with my first Olympic experience.” Osaka's last match, coming into her home competition, was at the end of May. The world No.2 had taken a mental health break after she refused to do press conferences during the French Open. Osaka addressed the media briefly at the mixed zone following her loss. Vondrousova, the 2019 French Open finalist, ranked 42 in the world, owned the stats. That said as much about her performance as it did about her opponent's struggle on the day. “I feel like I should be used to it by now,” said Osaka of the pressure. “At the same time, I think the scale of everything is a bit higher because of the break that I took. I'm glad I didn't lose in the first round, at least.” The ninth seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic ousted reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to make the quarters. US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles sent shockwaves through the Olympics on Tuesday, tearfully citing concerns for her mental health after a dramatic withdrawal mid-competition during the women's team final. The 24-year-old four-time Olympic gold medallist - one of the faces of the Tokyo Games - got off to a shaky start at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre with a lacklustre opening vault. Stunned onlookers watched as Biles was led off the competition floor before returning wearing a tracksuit. Soon afterwards, USA Gymnastics confirmed she would sit out the remainder of the final with an unspecified medical issue. Speaking to reporters after the final Biles said concerns for her mental wellbeing prompted her decision to withdraw. “At the end of the day, I have to do what's right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my wellbeing,” she said. Biles cited Osaka as an inspiration and said she thought it was good to be talking about mental health in sports. “At the end of the day, we're human too so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than do what the world wants us to do.” If Biles fails to recover in time for Thursday's individual allaround competition, it would mark a stunning turn of events at a Games which she had been strongly expected to dominate. Biles later began crying as she revealed a loss of confidence in her abilities. “I just don't trust myself as much as I used to,” she said. “I feel like I am also not having as much fun. That just hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken.” In the end, the Russian team beat the Americans by 3.5 points, a significant margin in the sport.
238 Ever since she returned home from Rio de Janeiro with a silver medal, PV Sindhu has been wanting to change it to gold. Five years on, she had an opportunity on Saturday, only to fluff her lines as touch artist Tai Tzu Ying proved a cut above. The world No. 1 Chinese Taipei shuttler outclassed Sindhu 21-18, 21-12 in the women's singles semifinals on Saturday. Try as she did, Sindhu was no match for her opponent, especially in the second game. “I'm sad because it's the semifinals. I tried my best but it was just not my day,” a wistful Sindhu said. Sindhu will now contest the bronze medal playoff with He Bing Jiao of China on Sunday. Bing Jiao lost the other semifinal to top seed Chen Yufei of China 16-21, 21-13, 21-12. Though Bing Jiao enjoys a 9-6 win-loss record, Sindhu won their last meeting at the World Tour Finals in 2019. Against Tai, Sindhu looked good in the first game and led 5-2. Retrieving almost everything, Sindhu went into the break up 11-8. But it was just a matter of time before Tai unfolded her bag of tricks. She won four straight points to move to 12-11. Having wrested the initiative, Tai looked unstoppable. The world No. 1 played three body smashes and many drop shots to take the sting out of Sindhu's attack. The Indian worked hard to stay close till 18-18 before Tai clinched the issue. If the first of the three points that Tai won, a round the head drop, was a delight to watch, the straight smash was ferocious. It was easy pickings for Tai in the second game, as she repeatedly troubled Sindhu at the net. Though Sindhu tried to alter the pace of the game with some aggressive smashes, Tai was fully in control. The trademark crosscourt acute-angled drop, a shot which many men shuttlers struggle with, was a regular feature of her second game and won her points. She went into the break up 11-7 lead and finished the match with a powerpacked crosscourt smash to avenge the pre-quarterfinals loss to Sindhu at the Rio Olympics. “I was prepared for her skills, so I don't think that troubled me a lot. The level of the semifinals is going to be really high. You can't expect easy points. I just couldn't be on the winning side,” Sindhu said.
239 INDORE: Chak De India! The moment of climax when the Indian women's hockey team beat the Australian hockey team...a dream that many even feared would come true on Monday, thanks to the fighting spirit of the women who did not back down and played demonstrating their 'fight-back' attitude! A new history has been created-a history that will inspire many and create new benchmarks for every sportsperson. The Indian women's hockey team has scripted this history! They booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time after beating Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Rani Rampal and her team will face in the semis Argentina, which beat Germany 3-0 in the previous quarter-finals match. Recounting the match, there were several moments that can inspire anyone to dream and follow those dreams. It was the match of a century, where the Indian women's hockey team made the entire country proud. As we look at the team creating history, we must remember to look back and see these women. Most of these are women who have grown up with a lack of facilities. They have lived in poverty and imbibed a fighting spirit from their nascent years. The Chak De moment is also that both teams are playing the semi-finals after more than four decades. It was a true and wonderful surprise for the entire country. After losing three matches, their attempt portrayed one thing clearly: 'Fight back!' Theirs was a come-back that hit the target after hitting a pole. When the match started, and they gave their first shot, the ball came back hitting a pole. It was a huge let-down for the team. But they did not give up, and fought back with more energy and spirit to win. Not backing down, Gurjit Kaur scored the first goal during the Women's quarter-final match between Australia and India on Day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday.Throughout all the quarters, the Australian team kept up the pressure. Despite looking little in front of the Australian women's team, our little girls did not back down. They stayed committed to their goal and worked patiently towards it. It was a very different match from the other matches. They wanted to prove themselves. They were persistent. The entire country watched the match. The last moments of the match had everyone on their toes praying for a win and... there it was, a victory to remember! Goalkeeper Savita played an essential role in bringing this moment to India. She literally gave it her all and then some more, defending 2/2 field goal attempts by the Australian team to keep her clean sheet intact. It is a new start...A new sun rose for hockey in India. People are talking only about hockey, and that, too, women's hockey, in the country now! If these warriors control their excitement, there is more to come. Excitement is normal, but if they control it and play with focus, they can win over Argentina easily.I have been talking non-stop since morning about this achievement. It is a sign that Chak De is back! Our women's hockey team rocks and is ready to take on the battle. They must just remember to be patient, persistent and grounded.
240 Think Indian women's hockey and the image that would usually flash through most people's minds was the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak De! India'. Usually, that is. After the performance of the women in the Tokyo Olympics, common notions are set to change: this real team of bravehearts might replace make-believe screen icons as the source of inspiration in people's minds. Over the past couple of weeks, the Indian women's hockey team – the real deal – has emerged from the shadows of Bollywood's bright lights. The likes of Rani Rampal and others from the courageous group marshalled by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne are now household names. In only their third appearance on the world's biggest sporting stage, the team went from also-rans to being among the top four. A historic medal was within grasp but sadly not in the bag. A resurgent Great Britain pulled off a great escape with a 4-3 victory in the playoff for the bronze medal on Friday. Britain have commanding credentials. Champions in 2016 and ranked No. 5 in the world, they were ahead in experience, exposure and skill. And yet, for the most part, it didn't count for much against the Indians. Much like the rest of the competition, it was a rollercoaster ride for the Indian team. They were trailing by two goals when six magical minutes sent their hopes and expectations soaring. India scored three times with Gurjit Kaur and Vandana Katariya powering them ahead. They led 3-2 at half-time. The fire was stoked but Britain had enough in their armoury to douse it. Their inspirational skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb ensured her team found parity in the 35th minute. And with 12 minutes to go, Grace Balsdon's powerful drag-flick sealed the deal for Britain. For the better part of the 60-minute contest, though, there was little to choose between the teams. If anything, India's midfield was slightly off-key, failing to execute passes and losing possession. Perhaps big-match composure will come with time. India fired the first salvo when Navneet Kaur forayed into the striking circle after latching on to a pass from Rani in the second minute. But her shot at the goal was cleared by the British defenders. Once Britain settled in, they launched a blitz. It took an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Savita Punia to keep the sheet clean at the end of the first quarter. A solo effort from Elena Rayer on the right flank put Britain ahead in the 16th minute, her goalbound shot going off defender Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Britain then crowded India's defence and doubled the lead in the 24th minute with Sarah Robertson finding the mark after being set up by Shona McCallin. Then followed the Indian fightback. They played to their strengths of forcing penalty corners and Gurjit (25th and 26th minute) struck twice in as many minutes. India's strikers were then guilty of some profligacy with Navneet Kaur missing a rebound off Sushila Chanu but Vandana made amends and found the back of the net. However, Britain piled on the pressure and the Indians picked up cards at crucial junctures, leaving them vulnerable. Britain didn't need a second invitation.
241 Indore: Chak De India! The moment of climax when the Indian women's hockey team beat the Australian hockey team...a dream that many even feared would come true on Monday, thanks to the fighting spirit of the women who did not back down and played demonstrating their 'fight-back' attitude! A new history has been created-a history that will inspire many and create new benchmarks for every sportsperson. The Indian women's hockey team has scripted this history! They booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time in the last 41 years beating Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Rani Rampal and her girls will face Argentina for a place in the final, which beat Germany 3-0 in the previous quarter-finals match. Recounting the match, there were several moments that can inspire anyone to dream and follow those dreams. It was the match of a century, where the Indian women's hockey team made the entire country proud. As we look at the team creating history, we must remember to look back and see these women. Most of these are women who have grown up with a lack of facilities. They have lived in poverty and imbibed a fighting spirit from their nascent years. The Chak De moment is also that both teams are playing the semi-finals after more than four decades. It was a true and wonderful surprise for the entire country. After losing three matches, their attempt portrayed one thing clearly: 'Fight back!' Theirs was a come-back that hit the target after hitting a pole. When the match started, and they gave their first shot, the ball came back hitting a pole. It was a huge let-down for the team. But they did not give up, and fought back with more energy and spirit to win. Not backing down, Gurjit Kaur scored the goal, converting a penalty corner at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Throughout all the quarters, the Australian team kept up the pressure, our girls did not back down. They stayed committed to their goal and worked patiently towards it. They wanted to prove themselves. They were persistent. The entire country watched the match. The last moments of the match had everyone on their toes praying for a win and... there it was, a victory to remember! Goalkeeper Savita Guniya played a crucial role in bringing this moment to India. Savita literally gave it her all, and her saves of two goal-bound attempts kept the Aussie women at bay. It is a new start...A new sun rose for hockey in India. People are talking only about hockey, and that, too, women's hockey, in the country now! If these warriors control their excitement, there is more to come. Excitement is normal, but if they control it and play with focus, they can win over Argentina easily. I have been talking non-stop since morning about this achievement. It is a sign that Chak De is back! Our women's hockey team rocks and is ready to take on the battle. They must just remember to be patient, persistent and grounded. The writer, Mir Ranjan Negi is the former international player
242 Was Manika Batra a little out of line or justified in her demand to get oncourt access to personal coach Sanmay Paranjape? Whatever the real reason, a day ago the table-tennis player's blunt refusal to seek advice from chief national coach Soumyadeep Roy, during her first-round match against Britain's Tin-Tin Ho, generated some controversy. On Sunday, Manika rose above all the chatter and negative talk, scripting a sensational, comefrom-behind victory against World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska in a seven-game thriller. The win brought cheer and served as a timely reminder of Manika's considerable abilities. The 26-year-old Delhi girl, ranked 30 places below Pesotska at World No. 62, came back from two games down to upset the Ukrainian 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 in her women's singles second-round match, which lasted a pulsating, excruciating 56 minutes. Pesotska is coached by her mother Margarita Anatoliina, a former USSR and Ukraine champion. Manika, the country's topranked women's table-tennis player, will next face Austria's Sofia Polcanova, the World No. 16, in the third round on Monday, and the entire country will hold its breath in anticipation of another giant-killing act from the talented paddler. Manika had already created history en route her 4-0 victory against Ho on Saturday, when she became the first Indian woman paddler to win a table-tennis match in 29 years since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. India's last women's singles win in T-T came when Niyati Roy-Shah defeated Cuba's Marisel Ramirez in Barcelona during the preliminary stage. Manika's strong mental resolve and brilliant control stood out. In a way, she also appeared to be seeking validation of sorts. After all, she knew a disciplinary action might be awaiting her back home for stopping official coach Roy from performing his duties. Manika has largely been keeping to herself in the Athletes Village, spending much of her time indoors. She has kept her interactions with team members and coaches to a minimum. Perhaps it has all added to her resolve. On Sunday, she was two games down to Pesotska and stood on the precipice of defeat. Even as she recovered, finding hidden reserves of confidence and resilience, TV cameras inside the Tokyo Gymnasium arena focused on a man constantly cajoling Manika from the spectators' gallery: it was Paranjape, with his mask on. It was as if Manika was waiting for her coach to arrive and show her the way. Midway through, she changed her game plan and focused more on rallies and powerful smashes. At times, she just rolled the ball on to the opponent's side of the table to make the return impossible. She even took to standing a slight distance behind the table. The Ukrainian threatened to derail Manika's Tokyo campaign by taking the fifth, but Manika wasn't in the mood to give up after having come this far. She effected an even greater comeback in the sixth game and her relentless attack, coupled with occasional top spin, sealed the issue in her favour in the decider. For the player, the performance must have been a resounding retort to her detractors.
243 Was Manika Batra a little out of line or justified in her demand to get on-court access to personal coach Sanmay Paranjape? Whatever the real reason, a day ago the table-tennis player's blunt refusal to seek advice from chief national coach Soumyadeep Roy, during her first-round match against Britain's Tin-Tin Ho, generated some controversy. On Sunday, Manika rose above all the chatter and negative talk, scripting a sensational, come-from-behind victory against World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska in a seven-game thriller. The win brought cheer and served as a timely reminder of Manika's considerable abilities. The 26-year-old Delhi girl, ranked 30 places below Pesotska at World No. 62, came back from two games down to upset the Ukrainian 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 in her women's singles second-round match, which lasted a pulsating, excruciating 56 minutes. Pesotska is coached by her mother Margarita Anatoliina, a former USSR and Ukraine champion. Manika, the country's top-ranked women's table-tennis player, will next face Austria's Sofia Polcanova, the World No. 16, in the third round on Monday, and the entire country will hold its breath in anticipation of another giant-killing act from the talented paddler. Manika had already created history en route her 4-0 victory against Ho on Saturday, when she became the first Indian woman paddler to win a table-tennis match in 29 years since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. India's last women's singles win in T-T came when Niyati Roy-Shah defeated Cuba's Marisel Ramirez in Barcelona during the preliminary stage. Manika's strong mental resolve and brilliant control stood out. In a way, she also appeared to be seeking validation of sorts. After all, she knew a disciplinary action might be awaiting her back home for stopping official coach Roy from performing his duties. Manika has largely been keeping to herself in the Athletes Village, spending much of her time indoors. She has kept her interactions with team members and coaches to a minimum. Perhaps it has all added to her resolve. On Sunday, she was two games down to Pesotska and stood on the precipice of defeat. Even as she recovered, finding hidden reserves of confidence and resilience, TV cameras inside the Tokyo Gymnasium arena focused on a man constantly cajoling Manika from the spectators' gallery: it was Paranjape, with his mask on. It was as if Manika was waiting for her coach to arrive and show her the way. Midway through, she changed her game plan and focused more on rallies and powerful smashes. At times, she just rolled the ball on to the opponent's side of the table to make the return impossible. She even took to standing a slight distance behind the table. The Ukrainian threatened to derail Manika's Tokyo campaign by taking the fifth, but Manika wasn't in the mood to give up after having come this far. She effected an even greater comeback in the sixth game and her relentless attack, coupled with occasional top spin, sealed the issue in her favour in the decider. For the player, the performance must have been a resounding retort to her detractors.
244 For nearly four decades, the mother of all sporting upsets belonged to India. It was getting lonely at the top for Lord's 83, somewhat jaded as it waited for genuine company. Along the way, a lot of close hits and wide misses, but nothing perhaps counted. Then, on Monday, in sunny Tokyo, an Indian women's hockey team, low in prominence, but high on belief, did the unthinkable. They shocked the mighty Australian women's team – so good they have a name, Hockeyroos – to move in to the semifinals of the Olympics. A Gurjit Kaur penalty corner conversion and nine saves by goalkeeper Savita Punia meant Rani Rampal's team were handing the Aussie women an upset of epic proportions. Coming a day after the Indian men's entry into the semis, suddenly hockey was storming back into a waiting nation's collective consciousness. But it wasn't just all heave and connect. There's a backstory, starting with the meeting room in the women's hostel at Bengaluru's SAI South Centre, which is adorned with newspaper cuttings that chronicle their journey — as a team and as individuals. An initiative of skipper Rani, the laminated frames at the second home to this hockey team are a reminder of who they are and how far they have come. For a squad comprising eight first-time Olympians, this unique installation lends itself as anchor to forge a closely-knit unit. Scenes after the hooter at Oi Stadium – Indian hockey's Lord's – were testimony when tears, laughter, banter and huddles merged into a happy chaos, even as the Hockeyroos trudged off shellshocked. What a turnaround it was proving. For a better part of their careers, the reach of the women's team was limited. They couldn't have gotten off to a worse start at Tokyo, losing three matches on the trot in the group stage. And then, out of nowhere, came two back-to-back wins that took them into the knockout rounds. Suddenly, these 18 destiny's children were builders of dreams, knowing that everyone was at zero once the group phase was over. The sporting egalitarianism of a knockout stage provided an unlikely impetus. The Indian women's success is an evolving story of skill and speed as much as it is of mental strength. It has been a moving tale of pain, pressure, sacrifice, and breaking barriers. Most of the team hails from economically meagre families and all the attended societal pressures that come with it. In a sense, they were already battle-hardened even before they took up the stick, they only needed to turn a corner. Monday's madness proved that turn. It was the strangest run-up to the Games. Vandana Katariya, hattrick heroine against South Africa, lost her father as recently as May 30 this year. Seven players had to take a Covid-19-induced break, they have lived in near isolation at Bengaluru's SAI centre and conformed to new norms of training – smaller groups and limited interaction. Most of the team building exercises were virtual. Against Australia, the team was all aggressive intent, holding nothing back in both the attack and defence. Australia dominated ball possession but the Sjoerd Marjinecoached team took control of the proceedings. While each one played a part, it came down to goalkeeper Savita Punia to put up the performance of her career and the 29-yearold gave it her all. Covering every inch of her goal with quick reflexes and finesse in stickwork, she swatted away nine goal-bound balls to ensure this was not to end just a pipe dream. After all, Lord's 83 was in dire need of a partner, because after a while, one-man clubs are no fun.
245 Readers write from Calcutta, Patna, Mumbai, and Jamshedpur Right step Sir - It was inspiring to witness the German women's gymnastics team opt for full-body suits in the qualification round at the Tokyo Olympics in a move to promote freedom of choice and to encourage women to play in what makes them feel comfortable. This step was necessary after the Norwegian women's beach handball team was fined for refusing to wear bikini bottoms during a game in the Euro 2021 tournament - they wore thigh-length elastic shorts instead. Why are women athletes not allowed to compete in clothing they find comfortable, especially when it does not affect their performance in the least? The same restrictions, curiously, are never put on men. Ronodeep Ray,Calcutta Trouble ahead Sir - India might be engaging all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including parts of the Taliban, as part of a 'multi-track' strategy, but it cannot be forgotten that the Taliban are allergic to peace. The increased violence and the rapid territorial gains made by the militant group in Afghanistan since the United States of America began withdrawing its troops show that the former have no intention of bringing political stability to the war-ravaged country. For India, this is cause for great concern. First, if the Taliban capture the Afghan government by force then there is a great likelihood of insurgents from the outfit being used by terror groups in Pakistan to target India. Second, even though the Afghan defence forces have largely succeeded in maintaining peace in Kabul and its adjoining regions, it is likely that the Taliban will disrupt development projects and destroy infrastructure in the countryside, which they have already seized. The US and Nato have promised to give Afghanistan $4 billion annually for countering the Taliban. New Delhi must use this as an opportunity to salvage its investment of $3 billion in several infrastructure and trade projects in Afghanistan. Negotiations with the Taliban may be inevitable, but India must be prepared for an unfavourable outcome. Tushar Anand,Patna Sir - As the prospect of the Taliban fighting their way back into Kabul becomes more likely with the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, there is a growing perception in India that the situation holds no glad tidings or even a silver lining for our country. There are several concerns - if the Taliban regain power, not only will India lose its influence, but the battle-hardened militants may also turn their attention to Kashmir. The return of the Taliban will be terrible for the people of Afghanistan; moreover, they will try to pose the same kind of threat to India as they did in the 1990s. Even then, the Taliban's hostility towards India was found to be driven more by the agenda of Pakistan's military-jihadicomplex than anything else. In recent times, its adversarial position towards India has been in response to India's support for the Afghan government. Now, there may be greater threats to India from the Taliban - supported by Pakistan - in Kashmir. Bhagwan Thadani,Mumbai Sir - Evil often prevails in this world because people in positions of power choose to engage with those who perpetuate crime and terror. At this time, Afghanistan is reeling under the brutal activities of the Taliban. Amid such a situation, Russia allowed a visit by a Taliban 'delegation' earlier this month. Then, a 'delegation' led by the Taliban co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, went on a sudden visit to China and held talks with the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi. In what capacity are the members of the terrorist group being allowed to go on such diplomatic missions? Are they representatives of the Afghan government? Have these 'delegations' been sent by the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani? If that is not the case, then why did the Russian and Chinese governments allow the 'delegations' made up of militants to visit their major cities? If political leaders keep affording such legitimacy to extremists in this manner, then it is highly unlikely that terrorism will ever be eradicated. While there may not be any permanent enmities or friendships in politics, extremism must be opposed at all costs. Jang Bahadur Singh,Jamshedpur
246 In an ideal world uncontaminated by overzealous sports officials, their only mandate over what women should wear in sport would extend to choosing colour schemes of the polyester medal ribbons. And in ensuring every athlete with jelly ligaments has proper taping. Like, not leave India's top woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat rudderless without a physio, if she had a strong chance of getting a medal. Sports policing of athlete outfits could focus on ensuring that sneaker soles and spikes or swimsuits don't accord undue advantage on the track or the pool. But exceeding their brief, sport's officialdom decides that it will not only have an opinion but also air it, on what women will wear when they compete. German gymnasts gave it a long, hard thought over this summer, and decided they will not take on additional pressure of discomfort wearing bikini-cut leotards at Tokyo Olympics. Instead, they opted for unitards, which incidentally are not a novelty for those watching. Men have always been wearing them. Smart ankle-lengths and long-sleeved gear in cherry red, with geometric patterns for a yoke, and a snazzy tattoo pattern at the ankle which accentuated the pointed toes - the design that German gymnasts sported merged aesthetics with acrobatic comfort. Beyond Germany, woman gymnasts in Europe have rebelled this Fall against the unspoken tradition of wearing leotards that are highly sexualised and minutely photographed from uncontrollable angles while women are flinging themselves in the air, and chosen to be more concerned about sticking landings and not breaking their necks. German Elisabeth Seitz nailed her uneven bars routine, but not before declaring: "We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear. On competition day, we will decide what to wear." For a sport that has not quite completely resolved yet the traumatised fallout of a sexual abuse scandal in the US, the apprehensions of the Germans were not imaginary. Elsewhere, the European Beach Handball governing body showed some remarkable thickness in imposing fines on the Norwegian team for turning out in shorts instead of the mandated bikinis. The stipulations are so outrageous that, after 15 years of disapproving, the players couldn't bother less, and their home federation didn't think twice about shelling out the ridiculous fines on their behalf. Sample the stupidity as fleshed out by The New York Times: "Women must wear bikini bottoms 'with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg', and those bikini bottoms cannot be longer than 4 inches". The corresponding men players could "wear shorts at least four inches above the knee, provided they are 'not too baggy'". Beach volleyball women's players are split on the topic of whether shorts ought to be allowed, with practical considerations of sand clinging to the pockets. The entire Muslim world with its women athletes bounding out to participate in every sport possible, meanwhile, is grappling with the skittish issue of why women wearing a hijab - or not, as the case may be - is anyone else's concern. Egyptian beach volleyball player Doaa Elghobashy has competed at the Games for a decade wearing ankle-length tights and a head scarf. Smashing an unreturnable spike gives her immeasurable glee. Watchers should try following the sport, she reckons. Serena Williams was wearing a baby literally when she won an Australian Open. The French crinkling their noses at her bodysuit was plain bad form. At the heart of this debate is women's free choice - to compete feeling comfortable, feeling not being ogled at and feeling good about their game. As a corollary, women do not want to be judged for indulging in fashion on their Big Competition Days either. Painted nails, pretty braids of wrestlers, hair parted two-ways for the sprints, dyed a flaming red to streak on the track, an aura of curls and stylised flags on running tights, lipstick and eye shadow - the tyranny of the trudging tracksuit ended a while back. Tokyo's newest contrivance from the broadcasters zoomed in on swimmers - both male and female - as they wrapped up their swims with limber downs in outdoor showers. But the roving gaze of cameras while athletes compete isn't the only problem. Outdated marketeers insecure about selling their sport, and untrusting of every sporting discipline being capable of producing exciting match-ups, has led to years of dress diktats from the suits. Defiance was long due when women knew in their bones that they could compete just as well without this skin-showing compulsion, that in fact dissuaded many budding careers after puberty hit and body image issues cropped up. The talent oozing out of Tokyo's badminton women's singles final between Tai Tzu Ying and Chen Yufei was so mesmerising that you didn't notice that the two had turned up in shorts. Badminton had once contemplated a compulsory skirts rule. The current golden generation emerged right after the dress-code was summarily dumped. Skills, not body-hugging skins, were enough.
247 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe.
248 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe. (Inputs from Kangan Kalita, Sudeshna Ghosh, Amit Sampat, Dwaipayan Datta, Saibal Bose, Satya Narayan & Dhritiman Ray)
249 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe.
250 Even as we bask in Neeraj Chopra's glorious javelin goldshine, we aren't like to forget that all losses hurt. But there is a kind of defeat, the one in which so much effort has been firmly hitched on to proven ability, that one was on the brink of victory. And then it is on this brink — on this 'on the verge of' — that one falls short. In this, India's women's hockey team's missing out on an Olympic medal — and to a less obvious manner since his efforts have not been fruitless, Ravi Dahiya missing out on gold in the 57 kg wrestling category — joins the ranks of Milkha Singh and PT Usha in 'falling an inch short'. More than any other variety of defeat, this kind is also the most valuable. It usually provides the most telling clue as to what separated victory from defeat — or more precisely, more certain victory from an uncertain one. 'Falling short,' of course, can also be determined by chance. That one opening, that one stretch of play when dominance becomes key, that single miss or fumble. But if winning is to become a habit — a quality that makes for 'favourites,' and divides topdogs from underdogs, chance must be made to wield the shortest stick. What one picks up from an unexpected victory can also be educational to understand unexpected defeats. And in the case of India's Friday hockey defeat for Olympic bronze, its 'unexpectedness,' one must remember, comes from great expectations that coalesced after India turned the tide after losing to the Netherlands 0-5 on July 24, to Germany 0-2 on July 26, and to Britain 1-4 on July 28 in the pool games by beating South Africa and Australia subsequently. What India coach Sjoerd Marijne told the squad in terms of strategy, in terms of change of game, in terms of sticking to one's guns is important to know. One doesn't go on a wing and a prayer and then beat Australia to meet Argentina in an Olympic semifinal. In 1911, when Mohun Bagan unexpectedly defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to lift the IFA Shield, the subsequent jubilation focused on the 'Indian' side winning the match 'despite playing barefoot'. The tremendous effort, grit and determination that went before Rani Rampal and her team was literally against all odds, which unlike many other Olympic sides stretch back beyond hockey and into economic and social deprivation, the daily challenges of living in the throwaway term but very real entity of 'Real India'. On top of all this, when one encounters the news that members of the upper caste celebrated India's defeat outside Vandana Katariya's home in Haridwar, going on to blame India's defeat against Britain for bronze on Friday to the forward being a dalit – 'What is a dalit doing in an Indian Olympic team?' was one 'question' raised outside the Katariya door — the mind simply boggles and crumples at the same time. But it won't be by focusing on the Indian women pushing against these 'odds' and making it to where they are – shock and awe-making and inspiring as this is — but by their sheer pushplay and talent against opponents displayed on the literally level-playing field of the hockey turf that needs to be celebrated, honed, tweaked to optimum prime. Making the 'despite playing without boots' aspect the central source of pride would be making the same mistake Indian football made. Our athletes not only deserve the metaphorical 'boots' that they are now finally getting, but all the support — and certainly not just moral, but financial, technical, physical and psychological, infrastructural — that makes for a sporting powerhouse. The lesson from Tokyo — from its hockey fields or wrestling mats or weightlifting arenas or boxing rings or track and field — is winning in sports at the highest level requires the wherewithal to win. Or, as they say in politics these days, winnability is all. And for that, the right lessons that go beyond headlines and 'national pride' — which should be an effect of victory, not a cause — have to be gleaned wisely, effectively. As the athletes themselves and their support system know, it's being in it for the long haul, and making it over that precipitous brink.
251 What were you doing on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 2021? Rubbing sleep from your eyes, putting off walking the dog, looking up a vaccination slot, isolating yourself ? Or were you waking up to the fact that a girl from Manipur, spring in her step, eyes brimming with hope but sitting lightly on her slight frame, was about to hand India the 'What were you doing that day?' moment of these recent bleak times. For a brief while on Saturday, Mirabai Chanu made us forget the past year and half with a historic Olympic silver on a busy opening day for India that had promised much but as is typical, was delivering very little. In a flash, that bright, white metal belonged to all of us, as much as it did to the one who had claimed it in the weightlifting arena at Tokyo, banishing a few dozen ghosts of her own along the way, in particular the ignominy of a “Did Not Finish” tag against her name at Rio five years ago. In Tokyo, Mirabai was lifting against history, and a Chinese rival in Ho Zhihui who handled those weights as if they were shopping bags. Zhihui, world no. 1 in the 49kg class, raced to an Olympic record with Mirabai happy to give chase. The Indian lifted 202kg (87kg Snatch + 115kg Jerk) to Zhihui's 210kg (94 + 116) and the silver was already in the bag. It contrasted well with the gold Olympic ring earrings she sported and which caught a nation's eye. More, it told us of the hoops Mirabai jumped through to get to the podium in Tokyo – mother Tombi Leima had pawned off the family's jewellery to get her youngest daughter those stunners ahead of Rio. On Saturday, she wore them to drive home a point. Mirabai's silver in this sport of fine nuances, and inner and upper body strength, is as much a testimony to her resilience as it is a nod to the pioneers of Indian women's weightlifting in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, when Kunjarani Devi and Karnam Malleswari battled odds to establish a tradition for the rest to follow. More interested in becoming an archer as a kid roaming Imphal's sprawling Khuman Lampak sports complex, Mirabai was, on Saturday, emulating Malleswari — India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist who lifted a bronze in 2000. That it took two decades and one pandemic-affected year for India's second medal in women's lifting, shows that turnaround times in sport take their own, well, time. In the interim, India's women medallists list has expanded to Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Sakshi Malik and P V Sindhu. Mirabai's opening day salvo may fire up the rest of the Indian contingent. Who knows, after decades of wait, there could finally be a hockey podium this time at Tokyo. That then, would be truly personal, for each one for us.
252 Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-yearspell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “The day I had asked Pradhan sir, it was a joke. But deep down, I wanted it,” she told TOI from Gangtok. Women's boxing had a long history of struggle. Britain had lifted its ban on it just three years before her conversation with Pradhan and the US only six years. It'd be another 13 years before it became an Olympic sport. “In1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. But she wasn't done with boxing yet. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semi-final bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought," Sandhya said. "But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
253 OVERCOMING ODDS Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-year-spell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India internationally and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “The day I had asked Pradhan sir, it was a joke. But deep down, I wanted it,” she told TOI from Gangtok. Women's boxing had a long history of struggle. Britain had lifted its ban on it just three years before her conversation with Pradhan and the US only six years. It'd be another 13 years before it became an Olympic sport. “In 1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. But she wasn't done with boxing yet. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semi-final bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought," Sandhya said. "But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
254 Mirabai Chanu halted all of India in its tracks on Saturday morning. In Tokyo, which is three and a half hours ahead, the pocketsized woman from Manipur gave a beleaguered nation a strange sense of relief with an unforgettable, opening-day Olympic silver medal. Mirabai, ever-smiling, confident, with a bold body language, would scream to let the adrenaline flow, gently touch her forehead in her own private ritual of prayer before stepping on to the weightlifting pad and gingerly taking a feel of the gleaming metal barbell. Each time she let out her 'war cry', back home it would shake every Indian out of their lazy weekend reverie and compel them sit up and to watch. In moments, an entire nation would be wide awake, old ghosts would be buried and new banners raised. All this in the 49kg women's weightlifting contest. Each time Mirabai gripped the barbell with clear intent, the weight at either end would have increased by a couple of counts more: 110kg, 115kg, maybe even a record-breaking 117kg! That was not the only weight that Mirabai was lifting. Each time, with every round, as she approached the imposing apparatus before her, the burden of a nation's expectation would increase. Mirabai simply smiled and shrugged it off, her upside-down golden 'Olympic ring' earrings glinting proudly. Mirabai confirmed silver with a total lift of 202 kg (87+ 115kg). Her Chinese opponent, a deadpan Ho Jhihui, lifted 94kg in Snatch and 116kg in clean and jerk, as if she was lifting shopping bags, for gold. It would be a short, fun contest as the Indian would seek to raise the bar after Jhijui managed an Olympic record with her 116kg final lift. It would never show but this was Mirabai's final chance to redeem her past and erase the painful memories of Rio 2016. In doing so, she ended the country's 21-year-old women's weightlifting medal drought in the women's 49kg category. Somewhere, watching, a usually sombre Karnam Malleswari must have herself allowed a satisfied smile. After all, Mirabai was only following what Malleswari had first begun in Sydney 2000, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, that too in women's weightlifting. As our world clamoured for her, all Mirabai did was post a tweet, and remember to particularly thank her mother for all the sacrifices. It would be a dignified nod to all the women in the country and the quiet sacrifices they make. It would also be a shot in the arm for rising woman power in the sporting arena, with Mirabai becoming the sixth individual Indian women's medallist since Malleswari in 2000. Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik all are members of the club that welcomed Mirabai on Saturday. “The entire country was watching me and they had their expectations. I was a little nervous but I was determined to give my best. I worked really hard for this,” Mirabai said. “I like to thank my family, especially my mother for a lot of sacrifices and believing in me. I would like to give special thanks to my coach Vijay Sharma sir and support staff for their continuous hard work, motivation and training.” Mirabai's journey had begun long before she reached Tokyo, having spent much of 2021 training and rehabilitating from her shoulder injury in St. Louis, USA. In between, in April, she scorched the Asian championships in Tashkent with a personal best lift of 205kg, rewriting the world record in the clean and jerk segment with a lift of 119kg. On Saturday, Mirabai would come up short in her last attempts in both snatch and clean and jerk. In snatch, she went for an audacious lift of 89kg but couldn't control the barbell. Had she done so, she would have surpassed her personal best of 88kg. Similarly, in clean and jerk, she willed herself to lift 117 kg in her third and final attempt, but the 26-year-old lost her balance while going for the upright position. As she withdrew from her lift, Mirabai could be seen in discomfort, clutching her back as if she had sprained it. That's when the family came in. She was examined by the coaching staff but was soon seen indulging in a couple of selfies and video calls with her family and friends, who were cheering back in her Imphal village of Nongpok Kakching. Indonesia's Aisah Windy Cantika won bronze with an overall lift of 194kg: 84kg snatch and 110 clean and jerk.
255 The Indian women's hockey team is a stirring tale of overcoming societal pressure, poverty, sacrifices and resilience. Each player in the squad of 18 has overcome odds to realise their Olympic dream. Having made it to the Games and then advancing to the knockouts, they will have to go the extra mile to make their hard work and perseverance count. Rani Rampal & her band of gritty girls will come up against formbook favourites and Pool 'B' toppers Australia in the quarterfinals on Monday. It is an uphill task for India, ranked 10th in the world, to put it across the No.4 team. But impossible is not a word we associate with sport. The two teams had met during the Olympic Test event at the Oi Stadium in Tokyo in 2019 with the match ending in a 2-all draw. Emily Chalker's team, with its attacking hockey, goes into the contest with an all-win record backed by 13 goals scored against one conceded. India, on the other hand, fumbled against Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain before finding their feet in time to get past Ireland and South Africa. They have scored seven goals but have let in 14. To make a match out of the contest, Indian players will have to play out of their skin and also plug the gaps in their game. More importantly, they will have to play not as individuals looking to make a mark but as a tight unit which will fight tooth and nail until the final whistle. On the eve of the match, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne conceded the team has to show marked all-round improvement. “We won our last two matches because we learnt from the mistakes and made improvements accordingly. We have been creating a lot of chances throughout the competition, but our conversion of those chances has not been up to the mark. We need to get better in that department, while also giving away fewer chances to the opposition.” For India to make a match out of it, the role of leader Rani will be crucial. Throughout the competition, much like Sharmila Devi and a young Lalremsiam, the 26-year-old from Shahbad has struggled to put the finishing touches to some goalbound attacks. Rani will have to work with the strike force, which includes the in-form Vandana Katariya, to find the target. The defenders will have to brace for a tough challenge and get rid of their now familiar pattern of slow and sloppy ball clearances and making unforced errors which have allowed the opposition to walk away with penalty corners. The gap between the two teams is apparent, but on Monday more than the result, what will shape the future of Indian women's hockey is how they deliver on their biggest stage yet.
256 The Manipur Cabinet has decided to create 18 new posts in the Sports Department to accommodate Manipuri Olympians. The meeting also approved the direct recruitment of Sushila Pukhrambam, a member of the Indian women's hockey team, as a Sub-Inspector of Police. The meeting held on Saturday evening decided to take these steps to encourage sportspersons from the State who had brought laurels from home and abroad, including from the Olympic games. "We have approved the proposal for the creation of new posts. They are three Joint Directors, five Deputy Directors and 10 Assistant Directors in the Sports Department. Besides, we approved the direct recruitment of Sushila Pukhrambam, a hockey player in the Indian team," Chief Minister N. Biren said. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister. "The government is of the view that all future sportspersons should be accommodated in other departments also," Mr. Biren said. In the past, most players from Manipur had gone to Nagaland to join the Police Department. They said the Nagaland government had offered them higher posts in the Police Department. Most of the Manipuri players in Nagaland had retired as Superintendents of Police (SP). It was learnt that most of the national and international players from Manipur had joined the Indian Railways as Ticket Collectors (TCs). Mr. Biren said, "Our players have no longer to work as Ticket Collectors as there will be jobs suitable to their status." After winning the silver medal in Tokyo, the Railway Minister gave ₹2 crore to Mirabai Chanu, who had been working as a TC, and promised to promote her. However, she declined and accepted the offer from the Manipur government.
257 Social media is tricky terrain where trends are unpredictable. Love can turn into trolling within minutes and trolled people can gather support within seconds. In one such turn of events, the film Chak De India, which was enjoying attention and admiration on Monday morning is now getting trolled on Twitter. Ever since the Indian Women's Hockey team scripted history by defeating Australia to enter the Olympic Games' semi-final in Tokyo, the name of the Shahrukh Khan starter film has been the talk of the town. People said that Monday's hockey win reminded them of the victory in the said film. Some people also compared the women's team coach Sjoerd Marijne to the character of coach Kabir Khan played by Shahrukh Khan. However, the hype has irked some who are saying that the film is wrongly attention as the only ones deserving attention are the players and the coach. When journalists called up the cast of Chak De India after India's win at the hockey event, many deemed it as an insult to the hockey players who have actually brought glory to India. When YouTuber Dhruv Rathee said that the credit for India's win goes to Chak De India, a lot of people got furious. Twitterati are enraged and are expressing their resentment using strongly worded tweets as well as memes. Here's what people are saying.
258 In a tweet on Friday PM Narendra Modi announced that India's highest sporting honour, Khel Ratna Award, will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. He said that he has been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "I thank them for their views. Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he said. The exceptional performance of the men's and women's Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation, the prime minister said, adding that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times, he said. Apart from the Khel Ratna award, the country's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. Know more about Khel Ratna award: India's highest sporting honour formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna has now been renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Dhyan Chand, whose birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day, won three Olympic golds for the country. The award is given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The recipient(s) is/are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and honoured for their "spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at international level. As of 2020, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of 25 lakh (US$35,000). The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who was honoured for the performance in the year 1991-92. In 2001, sport shooter Abhinav Bindra, then aged 18, became the youngest recipient of the award. The award is usually conferred upon only one sportsperson in a year, a few exceptions have been made (1993-1994, 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2016-2020) when multiple recipients were awarded in a year. As of 2019, there have been forty-three recipients from fifteen sport disciplines.
259 With proceedings in both Houses of Parliament remaining stalled for the third week of the monsoon session over the Pegasus spyware snooping controversy and the farm laws, Opposition members on Friday are likely to hold a symbolic protest at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with protesting farmers. Since the start of the Parliament session, a section of farmer leaders have been protesting at Jantar Mantar to demand the repeal of the three controversial farm laws. The modalities are likely to be worked out at the routine floor coordination meeting of Opposition leaders on Friday morning but former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is expected join the protests. "All of us, including Rahul-ji will go to Jantar Mantar and reiterate our stand that the farm laws are 'black laws' and need to be withdrawn," a senior Congress leader from the Lok Sabha said, adding that the Pegasus snooping controversy continues to be the "number one issue". On Thursday too, the Lok Sabha witnessed multiple adjournments over the Pegasus snooping and the farm laws, even as the government introduced two key Bills: the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Bills were being passed in the House without a debate with an average time of seven minutes spent on a Bill, and objected to supplementary list of business being circulated at the last minute. The day's proceedings started at 11 a.m. with Speaker Om Birla congratulating the Indian hockey team for its Olympic bronze medal after 41 years, as well as the women players who won medals in individual events. However, protests and sloganeering started the moment the Question Hour was taken up by the Speaker, with many members trooping into the Well of the House. "This is not appropriate for Parliament traditions," Mr. Birla said as the protests continued. He pointed out that crores of rupees were being spent to run Parliament and people were asking why the House was not functioning. As the protests did not stop, he adjourned the House until noon; three more adjournments took place after this. In between the interruptions, Mr. Chowdhury tried to raise the issue of the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year Dalit girl but was quickly rebutted by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal, who wondered why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi never raised his voice against such incidents in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.
260 Sonam Malik impressed during her brief outing in her debut Olympic Games but the experience and maturity showed by her Mongolian rival Khurelkhuugiin Bolortuyaa trumped the Haryana girl's youthfulness and enthusiasm on Tuesday. The Mongolian won the 62-kg opening round on technical superiority. Sonam, 19, had maintained her slender two-point lead over Bolortuyaa, 25, till the final 30 seconds of the six-minute bout – divided over a period of three-minute each. But the Asian championships silver medallist from Mongolia executed a perfect twopoint takedown seconds before the final whistle to win on the 'highest single scoring' criteria after the two grapplers were locked 2-points each at the end of the contest. According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, “if the score at the end of a bout is tied, the wrestler who has the most higher value scoring actions will be declared the winner on these counts: Most 5-point actions (Greco Roman only); Most 4-point actions and Most 2-point actions (freestyle)”. In this case, Bolortuyaa earned two points through takedown in her single scoring attempt, whereas Sonam's two points came in each of the two halves. The Mongolian breached Sonam's defence and got hold of her right leg in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion before tripping her and pinning her down to the mat backwards. Kuldeep Malik, the women's wrestling chief national coach, was screaming at Sonam just before that move not to leave her leg exposed. Just as the time ticked away, the Mongolian changed tracks from playing a more defensive game to attacking her inexperienced rival through single leg drives. It worked and Sonam was left ruining her missed chances. Earlier, Sonam had scored both her points after pushing her opponent off the mat. Sonam hopes of making the bronze medal round through the repechage route ended when Bolortuyaa lost to Bulgaria's multiple Worlds medallist Taybe Yusein in the quarters. Had the Mongolian reached the final, Sonam would have qualified for the repechage. India would expect a medal confirmation from its wrestling brigade on Wednesday from hopefuls Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Anshu Malik (57kg).
261 Sonam Malik impressed during her brief outing in her debut Olympic Games but the experience and maturity showed by her Mongolian rival Khurelkhuugiin Bolortuyaa trumped the Haryana girl's youthfulness and enthusiasm on Tuesday. The Mongolian won the 62-kg opening round on technical superiority. Sonam, 19, had maintained her slender two-point lead over Bolortuyaa, 25, till the final 30 seconds of the six-minute bout – divided over a period of three-minute each. But the Asian championships silver medallist from Mongolia executed a perfect twopoint takedown seconds before the final whistle to win on the 'highest single scoring' criteria after the two grapplers were locked 2-points each at the end of the contest. According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, “if the score at the end of a bout is tied, the wrestler who has the most higher value scoring actions will be declared the winner on these counts: Most 5-point actions (Greco Roman only); Most 4-point actions and Most 2-point actions (freestyle)”. In this case, Bolortuyaa earned two points through takedown in her single scoring attempt, whereas Sonam's two points came in each of the two halves. The Mongolian breached Sonam's defence and got hold of her right leg in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion before tripping her and pinning her down to the mat backwards. Kuldeep Malik, the women's wrestling chief national coach, was screaming at Sonam just before that move not to leave her leg exposed. Just as the time ticked away, the Mongolian changed tracks from playing a more defensive game to attacking her inexperienced rival through single leg drives. It worked and Sonam was left ruining her missed chances. Earlier, Sonam had scored both her points after pushing her opponent off the mat. Sonam hopes of making the bronze medal round through the repechage route ended when Bolortuyaa lost to Bulgaria's multiple Worlds medallist Taybe Yusein in the quarters. Had the Mongolian reached the final, Sonam would have qualified for the repechage. India would expect a medal confirmation from its wrestling brigade on Wednesday from hopefuls Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Anshu Malik (57kg).
262 Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-year spell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “In 1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semifinal bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought,” Sandhya said. “But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
263 Vidya Malavade doesn't play the sport anymore, but she has been following India's women's hockey in the on-going Olympic Games. And when the girls defeated World No. 2 Australia to reach the semi-finals for the first time to make history, she was as delighted as the rest of us, maybe more. "The phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning and I was just a part of the reel... This... These women are the REAL DEAL... such PRIDE... such GRIT... so much POWER... Team INDIA Onwards and Upwards ladies," posted an overwhelmed and teary-eyed Vidya, who had captained the team in Shimit Amin's sports drama, even as cries of Chak De! India resonated across the country. Rani Rampal and her incredible band of girls have since been edged out of the race to gold, losing narrowly to Argentina 2-1, but Vidya is no less proud. The actress, who had never played any sport before, trained for a year-and-a-half to convincingly play the goalkeeper in the film. "It was tough, starting from wearing the suit and the pads and waddling around like a duck to playing, running and doing a split in it to save a goal. I don't know when the transformation happened, but it took time, effort, discipline, blood and sweat. Every day, for over a year, I was black and blue from being hit by the ball; all my toenails had fallen out," Vidya reminisces. She is quick to add that it's even tougher for the real players, who come from humble backgrounds, have little support and don't have the luxury of a retake, yet have been doing this for all their lives, giving their all to put the country on the world map. She recalls a scene where Shah Rukh Khan - who played their motivational coach Kabir Khan, who's battling his own demons - and she are together and he says, "Pehli baar kissi angrez ko India ka tiranga lehrate hue dekh raha hoon." The words still ring in her ears. Then there was that first scene where she arrives after some of the other players, who have introduced themselves as Balbir Kaur - Punjab, Nethra Reddy - Andhra Pradesh, and says simply, "Vidya Sharma - India." She admits that the line gave her goosebumps even as she was reading it. .Moments & Memories: Asha Parekh's birthday wish for Manoj Kumar as he turns 84 today . This character, a small-town girl who is being coaxed to quit hockey and settle down to domesticity, gave her namesake a lesson in determination, dedication and patriotism. "That's perhaps why deprived of the normal perks of an actor, like a vanity van or a hair and make-up person, I could go on and on for hours, sweltering in that heavy suit, through the rain in Delhi, the unbearable humidity in Mumbai and on the hottest day in 50 years Australia. It was physically taxing, but we pulled through. That's what is called resilience," Vidya asserts. It's been 14 years since the film released, but its memory hasn't lost its golden lustre. For Vidya, her winning Chak De! India moment was when she was holding the cup in her hands as the country's hockey captain. "It was scripted and the emotions only for the reel, but I understood in that moment what a sportsperson must feel bringing glory to the nation," she says emotionally. Prod her on their coach whom we remembered watching Team India's coach, Sjoerd Marijne, pace restlessly, cheer lustily and frolic happily with the girls after their big win, and Vidya is all praise for SRK. "He was always there. The team was a mix of actors and real players and he was always mindful of the latter, telling them where the camera was placed and instructing them on light and angles. Off the field, he once whisked us all to a show of his film, Don, which had just released, followed by a meal and a party. I was sitting beside him, watching the film, and I had to pinch myself to believe it was for real. We called him Coach Sir, and then, because Shah Rukh sir was like a guardian to all of us and just so nice, we also fondly referred to him as 'Papa Bear'," Vidya signs off.
264 This story goes 14 years back in time, when Mirabai Chanu was a 12-year-old living in the village of Nongpok Kakching, about 20 kilometres from the city of Imphal in Manipur. The area Mirabai's family lived was surrounded by hillocks. Born in a poor family, Mirabai was the youngest of six siblings. Her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei was a construction worker in the state public works department in Imphal, while her mother Saikhom Tombi Devi ran a small tea-snack shop in the village. Her father's salary was just about enough for hand-tomouth existence. She often accompanied her brothers to the nearby jungle to collect firewood. On one such trip, Mirabai went deep into the hills with her brother Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, who was 16 at that time. The brother-sister duo collected a bundle of firewood, and Sanatomba tried to lift the bunch on his head. But he wasn't able to. “To my utter surprise, Mira easily lifted the bundle of firewood on her head. She then walked back to our home that was some two kilometres away with the stack,” said Sanatomba. Even when she was just five years old, Mirabai could carry bucket full of water on her head, all while negotiating the steep inclines of the hilly region. “There was a lot of financial crisis and my parents could hardly support her. Whatever she has done, it's on her own,” said Sanatomba. When she was 12, Mirabai visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Imphal at the Khuman Lampak Stadium. She was on the lookout for some archery training but couldn't find any. Incidentally, she saw some clips of a female weightlifter from Manipur, Kunjarani Devi, who was a seven-time silver medallist at the World Champioships and won gold at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Mirabai was inspired. Without any weightlifting infrastructure nearby, Mirabai eventually found herself under the tutelage of coach Anita Chanu. She would travel around 40km over hilly terrain daily for her training. “The biggest problem for us was sending her alone to Imphal for training, but Mira insisted. She was ready to cover 40km daily. At times, she would hitch a ride on a truck or if she got lucky, share a tuk-tuk. Some days she would cycle and some days she would come half the way and then walk back home,” mother Tombi Devi said. At the centre, Mirabai first used bamboo trunks as barbells to hone her technique and after six months switched to conventional tools. Two years later, she made it to the national camp. A tenacious Mirabai went on to win titles at the state level in the sub-junior category and then clinched her first national medal in the junior category in 2011. Soon after, she earned her national team call-up and ultimately came under the guidance of her idol Kunjarani Devi. Then came her first taste of the international stage at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she won a silver and announced herself to the world. There was no looking back.
265 “D.N.F.” At Rio de Janeiro five years ago, alongside Mirabai Chanu's name in the final scoresheet of the women's 48kg weightlifting competition, read the words, “Did Not Finish”. Actually, it wasn't as abrupt as that. Placed sixth in the final after completing her snatch assignment, the diminutive Mirabai simply needed to dig deep and rally. One legitimate lift within her favoured range in the preferred clean and jerk section and she could have finished on the podium. But that's also when it all unravelled. Mirabai failed to record a single lift in her three attempts to crash out of the competition. Five of her six lifts were ruled invalid. Those images – a miserable Mirabai, teary eyes hidden behind her hands, chief national coach Vijay Sharma trying to console her but to no avail -- are still vivid in memory. And perhaps, on Saturday, when the Manipur lifter steps up at the Tokyo International Forum's arena, those images will flash before her eyes. It could make her wilt, or that could also mean that Mirabai gets an opportunity to bury those ghosts set herself free from the painful memories of Rio. So which Mirabai will show up on Saturday? Entering the arena as a World No. 2, a world record to her name, a world championship gold in the interim, Mirabai is expected to open India's medal count in a slightly altered women's 49kg category. In a bold move, signalling her intent, on Friday, Mirabai entered the highest weight in the start list shared by the event officials in Tokyo. She declared to lift a sensational 210kg during her competition, ahead of all her nearest competitors – China's Hou Zhihui, world No 1, in contrast, has opted for a safer, more conservative approach by offering to lift a maximum of 205kg. Whether Mirabai's aggressive tactics will serve her well remains to be seen. She will have to smartly plan her break-ups in both the clean and jerk and snatch. Given that there's an exemption of 20kg than the maximum weight listed, she will have to attempt at least a 190kg lift in her first shot to set the tone for the rest of the competition. But then, there has been a remarkable turnaround to the Mirabai approach since the Rio disappointment. A year after that DNF, there was a historic gold at the World Championships which she followed up with a Commonwealth Games gold in 2018. In clean and jerk, Mirabai now holds the world record with a 119kg lift recorded in Tashkent during the Asian Championships. Last year's Olympic postponement also helped Mirabai work on her recurring lower back and shoulder injury in the US. She is primed to finish on the podium in Tokyo but will have to watch out for her Chinese nemesis Hou Zhihui, USA's Delacruz Jourdan Elizabeth, Indonesian Aisah Windy Cantika and Belgium's Sterckx Nina. Like the China's Zhihui, Cantika (203kg), Elizabeth (200kg) and Nina (199kg) have displayed a cautious approach in their startlist weights on Friday. At the Asian championships in Tashkent in April, Zhihui had lifted a total of 213kg for gold – 96kg in snatch and 117kg in Clean and Jerk. In the same meet, where she won the bronze, Mirabai could manage 86kg in snatch but came up with a world-record lift of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total of 205kg, still eight short of Zhihui's effort. Cantika and Elizabeth, too, are ahead of the Indian. Mirabai's personal best in snatch is 88kg.
266 The three-part series has overturned the template of average sports documentary Whether she's digging into a Ramen bowl or is perched at Championship Point at a Grand Slam final, Naomi Osaka has an almost inscrutable face. And yet, very often, she seems to be a deer caught in the headlights. Which isn't, given the circumstances that have surrounded the 23-year-old tennis champ over the last few months, an implausible way to describe her. Last month, Osaka - ranked No. 2 in the world currently - withdrew from Wimbledon saying that she was "taking some personal time with friends and family". This, right after she controversially backed out of this year's French Open after expressing her decision not to speak with the press during the tournament. In doing so, Osaka has not only brought mental health and the pressures of the tennis circuit into the spotlight, but has also paved the way for others to (sometimes) put themselves before the game. Naomi Osaka, the three-part series commissioned by the champ herself and now streaming on Netflix, couldn't, therefore, be better timed. The series not only traces Osaka's meteoric rise to four Grand Slam titles in the last three years to become the top-earning female athlete of all time, but more interestingly, shows her life between her wins and losses, a life plagued by self-doubt, melancholy, worry and the burden of the success that has come to her at a very early age. "I feel like a vessel," is something that Osaka says more than once in the series. It's an interesting line, which can be interpreted in different ways. While Osaka probably refers to herself as a "vessel" for all the hard work that she and her team puts in, it could also signal an emptiness of sorts, something that the series - often panning on the tennis star's melancholic face, looking into the distance - reinforces time and again. Naomi Osaka isn't the average sports documentary that almost often only casts a look at its subject's grace under pressure or the path the underdog at the centre takes to win over the world. Osaka's successes on court are balanced by some big losses - including the 2020 Australian Open, which was another title defence for Osaka gone awry - and we see her putting her thoughts out there more in her self-taped 'confessional videos' (some of which she shoots inside her bathroom) than in the dime-a-dozen press conferences that we now know how much she despises. But that isn't to say that Osaka, as we get to see in this Garrett Bradley-directed documentary, is impolite. Very often, she's thoughtful in her media interactions, answering the questions thrown at her softly. Even when she's modelling for the biggest names in the business, Osaka is noticeably reserved. In fact, on an episode of The Ellen Show, host Ellen DeGeneres tells her after the young woman mutters a sentence, "Wow, you've really come out of your shell!" What sets Naomi Osaka apart from other sports documentaries is its deeply meditative pace. While that may not find favour with everyone, it's an intriguing approach to take, given how deep a peek it offers into the 'other life' of its subject. Osaka's breakdown after the sudden death of her mentor Kobe Bryant brings a lump to the throat, while you admire her quiet strength when she lends her voice to the Black Lives Matter protests, wearing face masks emblazoned with the names of victims of police shootings to each of her seven matches at the 2020 US Open. A laudable aspect of the documentary is how it illustrates the flipside of stardom, but doesn't make for a bleak watch. You feel for young Osaka when she pines for a life not lived. "I always wanted the high school experience, like going to college," she says. "Honestly, I feel like I'm too far down this path to even wonder about what could have been". But you also cheer her on as she moves from one win to another, her self-criticism clearly giving way to a dogged determination to put her contemplation into action. Case in point: Osaka, in the middle of her 22nd birthday dinner, turns to her mom and asks her hesitantly, "Did you think, by the time I was 22, I would've done more?" Well, late last week, at age 23, Osaka was the the final torchbearer, lighting the Olympic flame in a memorable end to a dazzling ceremony to mark the opening of Tokyo 2020. The game for Osaka has clearly just begun.
267 Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday congratulated P.V. Sindhu for winning the bronze medal in badminton at the Tokyo Olympics and becoming the first Indian woman to win medals at two Olympics. Mr. Purohit hailed Ms. Sindhu as an extraordinary badminton player, and said she had brought pride to the country through this historic achievement. "I am sure her achievement will inspire and motivate many sportspersons from India to perform their best at the Olympics and get many more medals and laurels for our great nation," he said. In a tweet, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated the Indian women's hockey team for defeating Australia and qualifying for the semi-finals. "I am absolutely delighted at the victory of the Indian women's hockey team against Australia. You're scripting history. I wish you all the best to enter the finals and clinch the Olympics gold," the Chief Minister said.
268 Vinesh Phogat's memorable run at Tokyo Olympics 2020 came to an end after defeat in the women's 53kg wrestling quarter-finals. Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, a 2-time world champion, has booked her semi-final berth after prevailing over India's Vinesh Phogat in the women's 53kg wrestling category. It was a win by fall to Vanesa, who was in complete control for large parts of the bout. Vinesh, who had to withdrawn from the Rio Olympics five years ago with a serious injury, overcame Sofia Mattsson, bronze medallist in the Rio Olympics,7-1 on points to make it to the quarterfinals. Vinesh was defeated by her quarter-final opponent with a score of 9(F)-3. She was pinned down by Vanesa to claim the victory by fall. Vanesa was brilliant in her defence and stunned the Commonwealth gold medalist from India out of the competition.
269 23-year-old loses to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 The host country's superstar is out of the Tokyo Olympics. Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of the Tokyo tennis tournament on Tuesday. The second-ranked Osaka struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes. The second-ranked Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States, struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes. The 42nd-ranked Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners and other crafty shots that drew Osaka out of her comfort zone. Daring to dream. Marketa Vondrousova is the first player through to the women's singles quarterfinals, upsetting Naomi Osaka in straight sets. #Olympics #Tennis #Tokyo2020 Osaka won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental-health break. But conditions were different on Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.
270 Hours after India went down to Argentina in the women's hockey semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, two upper caste men began circling Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. They burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled caste abuses at her family, saying that the team had lost because it had “too many dalit players,” Vandana's family told TOI. One of the accused has been detained by police. Vandana's brother Shekhar told TOI: “Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village — we know them and they are upper castes — dancing in front of our house.” When they saw Vandana's family step out, they unleashed a stream of casteist abuses. “They used caste slurs, insulted our family and said the Indian team lost because too many dalits have made it to the team,” the complaint filed by Shekhar said.
271 Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has started her journey in the women's singles in table tennis at Tokyo Olympics in an emphatic fashion. She defeated Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in her first-round encounter without much hassle. Manika will now face Ukranian star player Margaryta Pesotska in her second-round.
272 It seemed impossible to overcome Australia before the match started with pundits praising India for coming so far. And rightly so, India did have nothing to lose but little did the world know that the girls are here to create history. The Indian women's hockey team registered one of its biggest wins in history by starting Monday with a stunning 1-0 win over three-time champions Australia 1-0 to reach their maiden semifinals in women's hockey at the Olympics in Tokyo. Gurjit Kaur converted a penalty corner to score her maiden Olympic goal in the 22nd minute through dragflick, putting India in the lead. India somehow managed to hold on to their lead from there onwards, denying wave after wave of attacks from Australia to book clash against world No. 2 Argentina, who knocked out Germany with a 3-0 win in the first quarterfinal. The semifinal will be played on August 4.
273 It is the first time the Indian women's hockey team have entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. The Indian women's hockey team had created history after defeating mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. India face Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final at Oi Hockey Stadium right now. India have taken a goal lead in the first quarter asGurjit Singh converts the penalty corner to give India an early lead. India are 1-0 up against Argentina at the end of the first quarter. However, the second quarter sawArgentina equalise 1-1. The World No 2 team converted the penalty into goal as Barrionuevo Maria Noel makes it 1-1. At the end of the first half, the scoreline remains 1-1. Earlier, against Australia, Gurjit Kaur had scored the lone goal in the match during the first half through a penalty corner. Soon after the ladies became a household name. With this win, it was the first time the eves entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
274 PV Sidhu, the sixth seed was up against the Denmark shuttler who is seeded 13th. India's star badminton player PV Sindhu won the round of 16 game in straight sets against Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the women's singles event to book a spot in the quarter-finals. Sindhu, the sixth seed took a 1-0 lead after the first game scoring 21-15 in just 22 minutes. She later went on to score 21-13 to win the clash in straight sets against the Denmark shuttler who is seeded 13th. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will next face the winner of the match between Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and Korea's Kim Gaeun. Earlier, Sindhu had defeated Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9, 21-16 to top Group J. The ace shuttler is the lone Indian badminton hope left after B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign came to an end in the men's single's competition. The men's double pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also suffered heartbreak after failing to make it to the quarterfinals despite winning two matches in their group.
275 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday evening announced 'Samman nidhi' of Rs 31 lakh each to women's hockey team members who took part in Tokyo Olympics. "Our women's hockey team's performance in Tokyo was superb. They may have lost the fight for bronze medal but won our hearts. We have decided to give Rs 31 lakh to every member of the team. Our daughters will certainly win in future," he said The CM also congratulated Neeraj Chopra on winning gold medal in the Olympics, which he said, was the first gold medal in Olympics for India after 13 years. He said, "I salute Neeraj's passion and determination. The entire country is proud of his achievement." The Chief Minister also congratulated golfer Aditi for, what he said, exceptional performance in the Olympics. He said, "We couldn't win a medal (in Golf) but I am confident that the future is bright. You are an inspiration. We are proud of you. Keep giving your best."
276 Congratulating Neeraj Chopra for winning gold medal in javelin throw and Bajrang Punia for his bronze medal in wrestling in Tokyo Olympics CM Yogi Adityanath said the two sportspersons displayed great grit and resolve in their exceptional performances and have made the country proud. The CM announced UP would felicitate winners along with members of the women's hockey team. “This is a first Olympic gold medal for India in athletics. In the history of Olympics, this year saw India winning the most medals. PM Modi's 'Khelo India Khelo' policy has provided encouragement and its positive impact can be seen ,” CM said. TNN
277 Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): Former captain of the Indian women's hockey team and Arjuna awardee, Madhu Yadav, celebrated the entry of the women's team entry into the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. She distributed sweets as well as enjoyed the moment along with junior hockey players and youths. The Indian women's hockey team defeated the Australian team 1-0 in the quarter-finals. The performance of the team has forced everyone to cheer them up. She said that the kind of performance that the Indian women's hockey team had shown against Australia, it seemed that the Indian women's hockey team would definitely bring a medal to the country. It is the first time since 1980 that the Indian women's hockey team has made a place to the semi-finals in the Olympics.
278 Police have arrested a man in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district for allegedly mocking and passing casteist remarks against the family of Vandana Katariya who was part of India's women hockey team which lost a semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics. Soon after the Indian team went down to Argentina in the semifinal, two men allegedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area of Haridwar in a gesture of mockery on Wednesday evening, an officer at SIDCUL police station said. When some members of Katariya's family came out of house hearing the noise, the two men also passed casteist remarks against them, the police said.
279 Ace striker Rani Rampal (10th minute goal) and goalkeeper Savita form the fulcrum of the Indian women's hockey team but rarely has individual brilliance helped teams win matches. The duo's gritty efforts were overshadowed by World No.1 Netherlands' attacking brand of hockey which saw India begin their Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 1-5 defeat on Saturday. Felice Albers (6th, 43rd) scored a brace for Netherlands, while Margot van Geffen (33rd minute), Frederique Matla (45th) and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker (52nd) were the otherl scorers for the Dutch. TNN
280 Ace striker Rani Rampal (10th minute goal) and goalkeeper Savita form the fulcrum of the Indian women's hockey team but rarely has individual brilliance helped teams win matches. The duo's gritty efforts were overshadowed by World No.1 Netherlands' attacking brand of hockey which saw India begin their Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 1-5 defeat on Saturday. Felice Albers (6th, 43rd) scored a brace for Netherlands, while Margot van Geffen (33rd minute), Frederique Matla (45th) and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker (52nd) were the otherl scorers for the Dutch. TNN
281 The Haridwar police on Saturday arrested a third accused in connection with the alleged passing of casteist remarks against family members of women's hockey team player Vandana Katariya after India's defeat against Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics. According to a release from the police, Sumit Chauhan (23) was arrested this morning following a tip off from informers. The police on Thursday had arrested two brothers, Ankurpal (21) and Vijaypal (25), in connection with the case. Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar had lodged an FIR at Sidkul police station Wednesday, alleging that when the Indian hockey team lost to Argentina, Sumit Chauhan, Ankurpal and Vijaypal had danced in celebration, burst crackers in front of their house in Roshnabad area, and hurled abuses with casteist remarks against the family. As per his complaint, the accused also said the Indian team lost the game due to players from a particular caste.
282 Hours after India went down to Argentina in the women's hockey semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, two upper caste men began circling Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. They burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled caste abuses at her family, saying that the team had lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” Vandana's family told TOI. One of the accused has been detained by police. “We were upset after the loss. But the team went down fighting. We were proud of that,” Vandana's brother Shekhar told TOI. “Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village — we know them and they are upper castes — dancing in front of our house.” When they saw Vandana's family step out, they unleashed a stream of casteist abuses.
283 The Public Works Department (PWD) has started repairing the road to boxer Lovlina Borgohain's home in eastern Assam's Golaghat district. The work was undertaken soon after she reached the welterweight category semi-finals in women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics, assuring at least a bronze medal for India. The 23-year-old pugilist's home in Baromukhia village under the Sarupathar Assembly constituency has had a partly-metalled road for years. The village is about 3 km from Barpathar, the nearest town. "We are trying to repair the road with sand and gravel before she returns from Tokyo. The road will be metalled after the monsoon season," Sarupathar's Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Biswajit Phukan said, adding that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had wanted the road to be usable for vehicles within a few days. PWD officials said about 600 metres of the road leading to Lovlina's home would be repaired for now.
284 India's highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award, which was named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was on Friday rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics. Making the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. The exceptional performance of the men's and women's Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation, the prime minister said, adding that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times, he said. The prestigious award carries a prize money of ₹ 25 lakh.
285 India's Aditi Ashok put up a swashbuckling performance at the Women's Golf Individual Strokeplay but missed the Olympic Bronze medal by a whisker. Aditi might have missed the opportunity to secure a bronze medal but everyone is proud of her effort and appreciated her for putting up a great fight. Anand Mahindra took to Twitter after the event and thanked the young golfer for making India a force in the game's future. The Mahindra Group Chairman took to Twitter after and wrote, "She stormed the fortress of Golf and put India in the reckoningThank you for making us a force in the game's future, #AditiAshok (sic)." World No 200 Aditi Ashok was battling toe-to-toe with World No 1 Nelly Korda of the USA and former World No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand. She was in the race for a medal till the 72nd hole on Saturday (August 7). Aditi made history at the Rio Olympics 2020 by becoming the youngest golfer (male or female) to feature at the Games. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra thanks golfer Aditi Ashok for making India a force in the game's future
286 It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. Aday after her bronze medal win, a match she dominated after overcoming a demoralising defeat the day before, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra.
287 India's hockey star Vandana Katariya was on Sunday named the brand ambassador of the women and child development department of Uttarakhand as well as the brand ambassador of the Centre's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme for Haridwar district. The announcements were made by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on the same day that she was awarded the Tilu Rauteli award, the state's highest honour for women, and a day after the state government announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for her Olympic feat — she is India's first woman to score an Olympic hat-trick. State sports and education minister Arvind Pandey visited Pandey's home in Haridwar's Roshnabad to hand over the certificates announcing her appointment to Katariya's mother. “It is a proud moment,” Vandana's mother Sauran Katariya said. The announcement comes after three people were arrested for bursting crackers in mock celebration outside Katariya's house after the women's hockey team lost in the play-off for bronze. They alleged the team had lost for having “too many Dalit players”.
288 Diamond baron Savji Dholakia will award Rs 2.5 lakh to each member of the Indian women's Olympic hockey team for their overall performance. Dholakia also invited the team to the Diamond City to accept the award. “Hari Krishna Group is inviting Indian women's hockey team to visit Surat where each player will be honoured with an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh,” Dholakia tweeted on Saturday. TNN
289 Diamond baron Savji Dholakia made yet another announcement declaring that he will award Rs 2.5 lakh to each member of the Indian women's Olympic hockey team for their overall performance. Dholakia, who made the announcement through social media, also invited the team to the Diamond City to accept the award. “Hari Krishna Group is inviting the Indian Women's Hockey Team to visit Surat where each player will be honoured with an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh. It is our humble effort to encourage the players and appreciate their commitment,” Dholakia tweeted on Saturday. Earlier , the diamantaire had announced awarding Rs 11 lakh for house and Rs 5 lakh for car to each member of women's hockey team if they won the final. In the past ,Dholakia, who is known for introducing various welfare schemes in his diamond and jewellery manufacturing units, had awarded cars as a bonus to his best performing employees.
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1 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); CRICKET (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: BUDGETS (66%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (50%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (92%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (58%); CALIFORNIA, USA (58%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); FRANCE (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
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3 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
4 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); GOLF (77%); ARCHERY (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
5 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); NARI SPORTS (94%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); ARGENTINA (95%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
6 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); GOLF (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (62%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (62%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (62%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (62%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (62%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (62%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (62%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (54%); INDIA (94%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (77%); JAPAN (73%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
7 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
8 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (67%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
9 Subject: NARI SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (78%); ATHLETES (77%); CHILDREN (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WINTER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); EMOTIONS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
10 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
11 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (88%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPRAINS & STRAINS (76%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (54%); TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (91%); CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (90%); INDIA (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (72%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
12 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); UNITED STATES (69%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
13 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SOFTBALL (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS (72%); SALES FIGURES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (68%); ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (60%); CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER (60%); NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (53%) Company: NOJIMA CORP (66%) Ticker: 7419 (TSE) (66%) Industry: NAICS443142 ELECTRONICS STORES (66%); TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (90%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (77%); MANUFACTURING (67%); CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER (60%); NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS (60%); NUCLEAR ENERGY (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOHOKU, JAPAN (92%); JAPAN (94%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
14 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%); GERMANY (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
15 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (84%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (65%); CORONAVIRUSES (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (60%); VIRUSES (50%) Person: LYDIA KO (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); INDIA (89%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
16 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TRIATHLONS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
17 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); CROATIA (73%); GERMANY (52%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
19 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MARRIAGE (87%); ATHLETES (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (77%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (53%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (58%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (53%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
20 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (76%); EMOTIONS (69%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
21 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
22 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); ATHLETES (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (73%); HONG KONG (67%); SPAIN (51%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
23 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); DRAMA FILMS (78%); DRAMA LITERATURE (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); FILM (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (72%) Industry: MOVIE INDUSTRY (93%); MOVIE & VIDEO PRODUCTION (91%); DRAMA FILMS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FILM (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
24 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (90%); BELARUS (73%); NIGERIA (52%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
25 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); YOUTH SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); ARGENTINA (94%); AUSTRALIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
26 Subject: EXERCISE & FITNESS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
27 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (75%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (53%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (89%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (67%); POWER FAILURES (67%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (53%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
28 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); INTERVIEWS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); EXECUTIVES (67%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%); HT MEDIA LTD (82%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (55%); JSW GROUP (51%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%); HTMEDIA (NSE) (82%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); NAICS511110 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS (82%); SIC2711 NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING, OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING (82%); NAICS541810 ADVERTISING AGENCIES (51%); SIC7311 ADVERTISING AGENCIES (51%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (91%); RESTAURANTS (90%); SPONSORSHIP (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PUBLISHING (78%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (61%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); MANIPUR, INDIA (88%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
29 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CABINET OFFICES (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (74%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (95%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
30 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (77%); BADMINTON (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); RANKINGS (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
31 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
32 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE (77%); CHILDREN (76%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (73%); INFANTS & TODDLERS (66%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); GERMANY (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
33 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (90%); ART COLLECTING (90%); ATHLETES (90%); COLLECTORS & COLLECTING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (89%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); SPORTS FANS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); CARTOONS & COMICS (75%); CRYPTOCURRENCY (73%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); VISUAL ARTISTS (73%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (94%); ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (90%); CRYPTO ASSETS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (89%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); DIGITAL ASSETS (88%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); CARTOONS & COMICS (75%); CRYPTOCURRENCY (73%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); VISUAL ARTISTS (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (77%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
34 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); WEATHER (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
35 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
36 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
37 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
38 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); CYCLING (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (70%) Company: BIOCON LTD (57%) Ticker: BIOCON (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS325414 BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT (EXCEPT DIAGNOSTIC) MANUFACTURING (57%); NAICS325412 PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION MANUFACTURING (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); VIENNA, AUSTRIA (58%); NETHERLANDS (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
39 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); CYCLING (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (70%) Company: BIOCON LTD (57%) Ticker: BIOCON (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS325414 BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT (EXCEPT DIAGNOSTIC) MANUFACTURING (57%); NAICS325412 PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION MANUFACTURING (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); VIENNA, AUSTRIA (58%); NETHERLANDS (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
40 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BRANDING (89%); COMPANY STRATEGY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); CONSUMERS (78%); SPORTS AGENTS & PROMOTERS (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (76%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (75%); BADMINTON (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); TRENDS (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (69%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (73%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (57%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (73%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (73%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (73%); BRANDING (89%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (78%); FOOD & BEVERAGE (78%); SPORTS AGENTS & PROMOTERS (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING SERVICES (77%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (75%); BEVERAGE PRODUCTS (73%); FOOD INDUSTRY (73%); FOOD PRODUCTS (73%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (69%); SOFT DRINKS (53%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
41 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (92%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
42 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CHILDREN (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: CONSUMER PRODUCTS (89%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); REALITY TELEVISION (73%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
43 Subject: BRAND EQUITY (90%); BRANDING (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); EXECUTIVES (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); BADMINTON (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (58%); BRIDGESTONE CORP (55%); BANK OF BARODA LTD (55%) Ticker: 5108 (TSE) (55%); BANKBARODA (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); NAICS326211 TIRE MANUFACTURING (EXCEPT RETREADING) (55%); SIC3011 TIRES & INNER TUBES (55%); NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (55%); SIC6021 NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS (55%); BRAND EQUITY (90%); BRANDING (90%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); REAL ESTATE (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING SERVICES (77%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
44 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); NARI SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
45 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); TRANSGENDER ATHLETES (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRANSGENDER PERSONS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NONBINARY PERSONS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TORONTO, ON, CANADA (74%); ONTARIO, CANADA (74%); CANADA (90%); UNITED STATES (58%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); SUMO (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (72%); WRESTLING (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (58%); ASSAM, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
47 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); JOURNALISM (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); EMOTIONS (73%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); WRITERS (71%); CABINET OFFICES (68%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (68%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); WRITERS (71%); BUDGETS (50%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (95%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
48 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); DIWALI (79%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (73%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
49 Subject: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FILM (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); FAMILY (76%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (91%); FILM (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); MOVIE FILMING (74%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
50 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); DIWALI (79%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (73%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
51 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); PAKISTAN (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
52 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BASKETBALL (78%); CYCLING (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); TRACK & FIELD (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); CHINA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
53 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
54 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (77%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (77%); TRIATHLONS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
55 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (57%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (78%); GERMANY (71%); BELGIUM (67%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
56 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RUNNING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BASKETBALL (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BASEBALL (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); WRESTLING (73%) Person: KEVIN DURANT (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); ITALY (66%); JAPAN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%); QATAR (52%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
57 Subject: TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (75%); PRIME MINISTERS (75%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (75%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); PARENT COMPANIES (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (72%); VACCINES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (71%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (70%); SPORTS & RECREATION (70%); WRESTLING (70%); MOVIE REVIEWS (69%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (53%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (53%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (53%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); VACCINES (72%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (71%); MOTORCYCLES (70%); MOVIE REVIEWS (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (90%); MEGHALAYA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FAMILY (77%); GRANDCHILDREN (77%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (92%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
59 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); WRESTLING (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
60 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (76%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); NARI SPORTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%); DANCE (70%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); RANKINGS (60%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BASKETBALL (78%); CYCLING (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); TRACK & FIELD (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); CHINA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
62 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (64%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (91%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
63 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FASHION & APPAREL (77%); STYLISTS & IMAGE CONSULTANTS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
64 Subject: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%); INSECTS & ARACHNIDS (73%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); CAMERAS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ARGENTINA (90%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
65 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BOXING (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ARCHERY (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%); COLOMBIA (70%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
66 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (67%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (75%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
67 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (76%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); NARI SPORTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); DANCE (70%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); RANKINGS (60%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
68 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
69 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TENNIS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); RANKINGS (75%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (73%); WEATHER (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); EUROPE (78%); DENMARK (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
70 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (66%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); SALMAN KHAN (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
71 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FAMILY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
72 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
73 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (58%); HONG KONG (51%); SPAIN (50%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
74 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (92%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (91%); EPIDEMICS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); PANDEMICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); PUBLIC HEALTH (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); OLYMPICS (87%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (86%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); DISEASE REPORTING (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (78%); VIRUSES (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (73%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (73%); VACCINES (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Industry: DESTINATIONS & ATTRACTIONS (78%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (73%); VACCINES (73%); TOURISM (70%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
75 Subject: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); NARI SPORTS (72%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); RESTAURANTS (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
76 Subject: ELECTION TECHNOLOGY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (89%); ATHLETES (88%); CELEBRITIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (76%); MEDICAL RESEARCH (75%); POLITICS (75%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (74%); SPORTS AWARDS (74%); SPORTS INJURIES (74%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); NARI SPORTS (74%); EMBASSIES & CONSULATES (72%); VOTERS & VOTING (71%); FAR RIGHT POLITICS (69%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (69%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (69%); SPORTS MEDICINE (69%); ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (66%); INVESTIGATIONS (66%); WEIGHTLIFTING (53%) Industry: ELECTION TECHNOLOGY (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPORTS MEDICINE (69%); ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (66%) Person: JAIR BOLSONARO (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); BRAZIL (92%); ASIA (79%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
77 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); DEPRESSION (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (74%); FACE MASK MANDATES (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (66%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (74%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
78 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); DEPRESSION (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (74%); FACE MASK MANDATES (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (74%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
79 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); FILM (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (71%); VISUAL ARTISTS (68%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (71%); EMERGENCY VEHICLES (69%); VISUAL ARTISTS (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
80 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
81 Subject: LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (90%); LIBEL & SLANDER (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); OLYMPICS (85%); DEMOCRACIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); CORONAVIRUSES (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (75%); GENOMICS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); BADMINTON (72%); LITIGATION (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); VIRUSES (69%); ARRESTS (68%); DEFAMATION (67%); SPORTS AWARDS (67%); NARI SPORTS (67%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%); CRICKET (62%); ATHLETES (61%); PORNOGRAPHY (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (68%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
82 Subject: LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (90%); LIBEL & SLANDER (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); OLYMPICS (85%); DEMOCRACIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); CORONAVIRUSES (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (75%); GENOMICS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); BADMINTON (72%); LITIGATION (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); VIRUSES (69%); ARRESTS (68%); DEFAMATION (67%); SPORTS AWARDS (67%); NARI SPORTS (67%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%); CRICKET (62%); ATHLETES (61%); PORNOGRAPHY (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (68%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); FENCING (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%); ALGERIA (71%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
84 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); ARGENTINA (96%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
85 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); TOURNAMENTS (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); ARGENTINA (96%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
86 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCCER (78%); WOMEN (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
87 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
88 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (77%); SUMO (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); TALKS & MEETINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
89 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (77%); SUMO (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); TALKS & MEETINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
90 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: BELGIUM (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
91 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: BELGIUM (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
92 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); MARRIAGE (88%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (78%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); FAMILY (77%); MEN (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (75%); DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (73%); INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (73%); HANDBALL (72%); FINES & PENALTIES (70%); RELIGION (69%); JUDGES (60%); LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (60%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS (66%); TELEPHONIC EQUIPMENT (66%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (61%) Person: SIMONE BILES (73%) Geographic: KERALA, INDIA (79%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); GUJARAT, INDIA (74%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
93 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
94 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
95 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (78%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
96 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS INJURIES (90%); SPORTS MEDICINE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEDICAL RESEARCH (88%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (72%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: SPORTS MEDICINE (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
97 Subject: TOURNAMENTS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); AUSTRALIA (90%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%); ARGENTINA (77%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
98 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
99 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
100 Subject: PHYSICAL THERAPY (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
101 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
102 Subject: DRUGS IN SPORTS (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ACADEMY AWARDS (78%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CRIME (76%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (76%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); INVESTIGATIONS (73%); WINTER SPORTS (73%); SCANDALS (71%); AUTO RACING (66%); DISCRIMINATION (66%); FIFA WORLD CUP (66%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (65%); TALIBAN (60%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (50%) Company: NETFLIX INC (54%); AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (51%) Ticker: NFLX (NASDAQ) (54%); ALMUDON (KUW) (51%) Industry: NAICS532282 VIDEO TAPE & DISC RENTAL (54%); SIC7841 VIDEO TAPE RENTAL (54%); NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (51%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (51%); ACADEMY AWARDS (78%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (78%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (65%); MOTOR VEHICLES (61%) Geographic: RUSSIAN FEDERATION (93%); AFGHANISTAN (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
103 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); BADMINTON (73%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
104 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (96%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); FILM (88%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); TRIVIA (77%); EXTREME SPORTS (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%); BASKETBALL (72%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (72%); SKATEBOARDING (72%); BOARDSPORTS (70%); ANIMATION (69%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (68%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (93%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (93%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); STREAMING MEDIA (89%); FILM (88%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (72%); ANIMATION (69%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
105 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FAKE NEWS (77%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (57%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (57%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); WEBSITES & PORTALS (78%) Geographic: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (91%); TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); HUNGARY (87%); PAKISTAN (79%); BELARUS (73%); INDONESIA (51%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
106 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%) Company: ABHISHEK CORP LTD (92%) Industry: NAICS313110 FIBER, YARN & THREAD MILLS (92%); SIC2281 YARN SPINNING MILLS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
107 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BADMINTON (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); TENNIS (78%); TRENDS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (89%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%) Geographic: INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
108 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WRESTLING (77%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (74%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (59%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
109 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); RUNNING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOLF (77%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (78%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); UZBEKISTAN (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
111 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
112 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
113 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SELFIES (78%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SELFIES (78%); INTERNET VIDEO (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
114 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS (68%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%) Person: LYDIA KO (79%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KANTO, JAPAN (78%); CALIFORNIA, USA (56%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
116 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); WRESTLING (78%); TOURNAMENTS (71%); GOLF (65%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (79%); AUSTRALIA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
117 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
118 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SECONDARY SCHOOLS (50%) Industry: SECONDARY SCHOOLS (50%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
119 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FAMILY (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); GYMNASTICS (73%); BREASTFEEDING (64%); INFANTS & TODDLERS (62%); SWIMMING (60%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%); SPAIN (65%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
120 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); DIVING (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ADOLESCENTS (77%); EXTREME SPORTS (76%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (74%); BOARDSPORTS (71%); WATER SPORTS (71%); SKATEBOARDING (69%) Company: AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (90%) Ticker: ALMUDON (KUW) (90%) Industry: NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (90%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KUWAIT (90%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
121 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%); PAKISTAN (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
122 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ARCHERY (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); IRELAND (56%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
123 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); BADMINTON (89%); EMOTIONS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MURDER (65%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHINA (90%); TAIWAN (78%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
124 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (53%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
125 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); POP & ROCK (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (76%) Company: LAKSHMI ENERGY & FOODS LTD (85%) Ticker: LAKSHMIEFL (NSE) (85%) Industry: NAICS311212 RICE MILLING (85%); SIC2044 RICE MILLING (85%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (79%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
126 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (92%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
127 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); REGULATORY COMPLIANCE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SELF REGULATING ORGANIZATIONS (79%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (53%) Industry: MARKETING & ADVERTISING (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
128 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (90%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
129 Subject: TENNIS (99%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
130 Subject: GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%) Person: LYDIA KO (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
131 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); REGULATORY COMPLIANCE (89%); SELF REGULATING ORGANIZATIONS (79%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (54%) Industry: MARKETING & ADVERTISING (93%); CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
132 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (72%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); UKRAINE (55%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
133 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); VACCINES (76%) Industry: VACCINES (76%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (90%); FRANCE (79%); EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
134 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS FANS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (77%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (88%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
135 Subject: ANIMATION (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VISUAL ARTISTS (90%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (79%); FILM (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%); SPORTS & RECREATION (54%) Industry: ANIMATION (92%); VISUAL ARTISTS (90%); FILM (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
136 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (91%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (57%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); ARGENTINA (79%); BRAZIL (78%); GERMANY (78%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
137 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%); COLOMBIA (70%); BULGARIA (55%); KAZAKHSTAN (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
138 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (92%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); APPROVALS (75%) Geographic: INDIA (88%); AUSTRIA (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); NARI SPORTS (79%); BADMINTON (78%); RANKINGS (64%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (62%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (62%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (62%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (62%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (94%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
140 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Company: SONY CORP (93%) Ticker: SNE (NYSE) (93%); 6758 (TSE) (93%) Industry: NAICS512250 RECORD PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION (93%); NAICS339930 DOLL, TOY & GAME MANUFACTURING (93%); NAICS334310 AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (93%); SIC3651 HOUSEHOLD AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT (93%); STREAMING MEDIA (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (57%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
141 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (55%); ARGENTINA (95%); INDIA (94%); BRAZIL (79%); BELGIUM (73%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
142 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%); CABINET OFFICES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Industry: EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
143 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RANKINGS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (63%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (94%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
144 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (95%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CHILDREN (86%); ADOLESCENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (71%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
145 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CHILDREN (88%); MUSIC (87%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (71%) Industry: ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (71%) Geographic: JHARKHAND, INDIA (93%); INDIA (97%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
146 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (56%); ARGENTINA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); BRAZIL (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
147 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%) Industry: TELEVISION INDUSTRY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (94%); SOUTH AMERICA (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
148 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (98%); SOUTH AFRICA (92%); IRELAND (87%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
149 Subject: JUDGES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: CHINA (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
150 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
151 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
152 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (67%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
153 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
154 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BASKETBALL (76%); CYCLING (72%); SURFING (72%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (70%); WATER SPORTS (64%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (67%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%); CHINA (93%); UNITED STATES (93%); BURKINA FASO (79%); TURKMENISTAN (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%); JORDAN (55%); KOSOVO (55%); PHILIPPINES (54%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
155 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HIGH SCHOOLS (72%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (70%); SINGLE SEX EDUCATION (65%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOLS (72%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (70%) Geographic: JHARKHAND, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
156 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: UNITED KINGDOM (90%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
157 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (91%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); MUSIC (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%); FILM (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: SINGERS & MUSICIANS (91%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%); FILM (77%); MUSIC INDUSTRY (77%) Geographic: ISRAEL (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
158 Subject: OLYMPICS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BACTERIA (83%); WOMEN (78%); DISEASE IMMUNITY (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (73%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (60%); VIRUSES (60%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (84%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (88%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
159 Subject: MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (73%) Industry: INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
160 Subject: WOMEN (91%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); MISOGYNY (78%); WOMEN WORKERS (78%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); MEN (76%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); FAMILY (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS (72%); LABOR FORCE (70%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (61%); INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS (50%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); GOA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (96%); BANGLADESH (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
161 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); DOGS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
162 Subject: RESIGNATIONS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EXECUTIVE MOVES (77%); TENNIS (77%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); CELEBRITIES (76%); MENTAL HEALTH (76%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (72%); ELECTIONS (72%); POLITICS (69%); SENIOR CITIZENS (68%); ANNIVERSARIES (67%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (67%); NATURAL DISASTERS (63%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (76%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%); NARENDRA MODI (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (88%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (94%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
163 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (73%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
164 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
165 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
166 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WRESTLING (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
167 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FAMILY (89%); WOMEN (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
168 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS FANS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEN (74%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (58%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
169 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (86%); ATHLETES (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); EMOTIONS (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); JAPAN (79%); NEPAL (79%); ASIA (78%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
170 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (74%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (52%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (88%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
171 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
172 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); AFRICA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
173 Subject: ATHLETES (96%); GYMNASTICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (57%); BARCELONA, SPAIN (53%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (90%); UZBEKISTAN (70%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
174 Subject: OLYMPICS (96%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (92%); ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); MISOGYNY (89%); WOMEN (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (87%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET & WWW (87%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (87%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%) Geographic: KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (94%); ASIA (78%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
175 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (76%); ATHLETES (73%); CRICKET (73%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
176 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (69%) Industry: POWER FAILURES (89%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (77%); ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (94%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
177 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TENNIS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SWIMMING (70%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); ZIMBABWE (71%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
178 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BOXING (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (76%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (67%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (61%); SCANDALS (50%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
179 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HISTORY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
180 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (78%); FRANCE (77%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
181 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FILM (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM (90%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
182 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); WOMEN (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DISCRIMINATION (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ETHICS (78%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (78%); POLITICAL & SOCIAL IDEOLOGIES (78%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); EQUAL PAY (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SOCCER (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (73%); WAGE DISCRIMINATION (72%); CONSERVATISM (70%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (69%); NEGATIVE NEWS (67%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (58%) Industry: BUDGET CUTS (61%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (93%); CHINA (88%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
183 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (69%) Industry: ENERGY & UTILITIES (74%); POWER FAILURES (74%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (69%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (59%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
184 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (55%); CALIFORNIA, USA (73%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED STATES (78%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
185 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERVIEWS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); TALKS & MEETINGS (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (64%); DRAMA FILMS (60%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); COMPUTER NETWORKS (66%); INTERNET & WWW (66%); DRAMA FILMS (60%); MOVIE & VIDEO PRODUCTION (60%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
186 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (75%) Geographic: EAST CHINA (74%); INDIA (93%); ASIA (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
187 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SELFIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); MOVIE REVIEWS (68%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SELFIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); MOVIE REVIEWS (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
188 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); ATHLETES (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (73%); SELFIES (66%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SELFIES (66%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
189 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (76%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
190 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (76%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
191 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PANDEMICS (73%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); POLITICS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%) Industry: BUDGETS (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (98%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
192 Subject: CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); ARRESTS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
193 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (67%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (73%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); ODISHA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
194 Subject: ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (89%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (77%); POLICE MISCONDUCT (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); POLICE FORCES (69%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
195 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RUNNING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); LIVING CONDITIONS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); TRENDS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); NUTRITION (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); CELEBRITIES (66%) Industry: FRUITS & VEGETABLES (72%); CELEBRITIES (66%); PORK (66%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); KERALA, INDIA (90%); CALIFORNIA, USA (79%); INDIA (97%); UNITED STATES (90%); ROMANIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
196 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, SCREENING & TESTING (64%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (56%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (56%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%); SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
197 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HEAT STRESS DISORDERS (74%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (73%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (68%); UKRAINE (66%); JAPAN (58%); TAIWAN (52%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
198 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); DISCRIMINATION (79%); ATHLETES (78%); FAMILY (78%); RELIGION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION (73%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (70%); PRESS CONFERENCES (54%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (76%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
199 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, SCREENING & TESTING (64%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (56%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (56%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%); SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
200 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); NARI SPORTS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); STREAMING MEDIA (73%) Geographic: SRI LANKA (92%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
201 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (74%); SELFIES (74%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (74%); SELFIES (74%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
202 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (74%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
203 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); SOUTH AFRICA (91%); IRELAND (87%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
204 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (77%); HEAT STRESS DISORDERS (74%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (73%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (68%); UKRAINE (66%); JAPAN (58%); TAIWAN (52%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
205 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (91%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); POLICE FORCES (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
206 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); RUNNING (89%); WRESTLING (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (75%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
207 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); INTERNET TROLLING (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SEX OFFENSES (89%); SEXUAL ASSAULT (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (77%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (73%); MENTAL HEALTH (73%); CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (68%); SPORTS MEDICINE (68%); SENTENCING (67%); CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (62%) Industry: INTERNET TROLLING (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS MEDICINE (68%) Person: SIMONE BILES (93%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); UNITED STATES (95%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
208 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); POLITICS (87%); PRIME MINISTERS (87%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); INTEREST RATES (67%); MONETARY POLICY (67%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (63%); CENTRAL BANKS (62%); ECONOMIC POLICY (62%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (61%) Company: RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (82%) Industry: NAICS521110 MONETARY AUTHORITIES - CENTRAL BANK (82%); SIC6011 FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS (82%); BANKING & FINANCE (67%); BANKING & FINANCE REGULATION & POLICY (67%); INTEREST RATES (67%); MONETARY POLICY (67%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (63%); CENTRAL BANKS (62%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
209 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); VACCINES (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOTIONS (73%) Industry: VACCINES (89%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); FRANCE (92%); GERMANY (91%); INDIA (90%); EUROPE (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
210 Subject: APPOINTMENTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); JOB CREATION (73%); POLICE FORCES (71%) Industry: TRAVEL TICKETS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
211 Subject: MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
212 Subject: CHILDREN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SCHOOL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); FAMILY (75%); HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); TEACHING & TEACHERS (73%); BOARDING SCHOOLS (72%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (72%); PARAEDUCATORS (72%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (72%); MIDDLE & JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (67%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (55%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); BOARDING SCHOOLS (72%); MIDDLE & JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (94%); BIHAR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
213 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CONSERVATISM (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LIBERALISM (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); RACE & ETHNICITY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); LITIGATION (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); MENTAL ILLNESS (77%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (74%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (71%); SENTENCING (61%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (60%); JAIL SENTENCING (60%); SEX OFFENSES (60%) Company: GRAHAM HOLDINGS CO (56%) Ticker: GHC (NYSE) (56%) Industry: NAICS517311 WIRED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS (56%); NAICS515120 TELEVISION BROADCASTING (56%); NAICS511120 PERIODICAL PUBLISHERS (56%); NAICS511110 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS (56%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET BROADCASTING (74%); NETWORK TELEVISION (60%); PODCASTING (54%) Person: SIMONE BILES (94%); ALY RAISMAN (79%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (94%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
214 Subject: ABUSE & NEGLECT (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BLACK LIVES MATTER (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (78%); RACE & ETHNICITY (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); ARRESTS (77%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (77%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (77%); OLYMPICS (77%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (73%); POLICE FORCES (71%); CRIMINAL LAW (53%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
215 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); OLYMPICS (76%); ATHLETES (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
216 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Person: JUSTIN BIEBER (90%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
217 Subject: NARI SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (65%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (64%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (64%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
218 Subject: DISCRIMINATION (90%); MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
219 Subject: BOXING (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Person: MUHAMMAD ALI (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); ASSAM, INDIA (78%); MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
220 Subject: BOXING (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (75%) Person: MUHAMMAD ALI (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ASSAM, INDIA (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
221 Subject: ATHLETES (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GYMNASTICS (90%); HANDBALL (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); OLYMPICS (77%); FINES & PENALTIES (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (71%); BEACHES (68%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (78%) Geographic: GERMANY (92%); NORWAY (88%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
222 Subject: GRANDCHILDREN (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); GRANDPARENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); FAMILY (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (73%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
223 Subject: MEN (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Industry: INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (69%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
224 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); FILM (73%); OLYMPICS (69%) Industry: FILM (73%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (90%); AUSTRALIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
225 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); PRESS CONFERENCES (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
226 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); ENGLAND (90%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
227 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CRICKET (73%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%); OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
228 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CRICKET (73%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%); OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
229 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (78%); DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%); MIDDLE AGED PERSONS (69%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (74%); LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
230 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (58%); ARGENTINA (98%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
231 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); FILM (72%) Industry: FILM (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (54%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (90%); AUSTRALIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
232 Subject: MARTIAL ARTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); ENERGY DRINKS (79%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BEVERAGE PRODUCTS (61%); SOFT DRINKS (61%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
233 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FAMILY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
234 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Company: ADAMS GOLF INC (59%) Industry: NAICS339920 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS MANUFACTURING (59%); SIC3949 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS, NEC (59%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (77%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
235 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
236 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); WOMEN (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (69%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
237 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); WOMEN (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (69%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
238 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (78%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
239 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); OLYMPICS (75%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); NEGATIVE NEWS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (51%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (67%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
240 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); ATHLETES (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); RANKINGS (66%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (70%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
241 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (51%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
242 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: CAMERAS (60%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (68%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (68%); INDIA (90%); UKRAINE (88%); SPAIN (75%); AUSTRIA (55%); CUBA (53%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
243 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CAMERAS (60%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (68%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (68%); INDIA (90%); UKRAINE (88%); SPAIN (75%); AUSTRIA (55%); CUBA (53%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
244 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); FAMILY (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (71%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (60%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
245 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); TALIBAN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ATHLETES (77%); OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (76%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); REBELLIONS & INSURGENCIES (76%); HANDBALL (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); TERRORISM (72%); WAR & CONFLICT (72%); ARMED FORCES (71%); TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (68%); FINES & PENALTIES (56%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (77%); ARMED FORCES (71%) Geographic: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (92%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (98%); AFGHANISTAN (95%); UNITED STATES (94%); PAKISTAN (92%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
246 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); GYMNASTICS (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); VOLLEYBALL (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (73%); HANDBALL (73%); WRESTLING (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SCANDALS (62%); FINES & PENALTIES (61%); MUSLIMS & ISLAM (50%); SEX SCANDALS (50%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (90%); SWIMWEAR (89%) Geographic: GERMANY (93%); INDIA (79%); NORWAY (78%); EUROPE (55%); UNITED STATES (53%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
247 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
248 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
249 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
250 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
251 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); DOGS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); NARI SPORTS (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
252 Subject: BOXING (94%); NARI SPORTS (92%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (72%); TOURNAMENTS (61%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); SIKKIM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
253 Subject: BOXING (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (72%); TOURNAMENTS (61%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); SIKKIM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
254 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
255 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); RANKINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (70%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
256 Subject: APPROVALS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POLICE FORCES (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); MANIPUR, INDIA (95%); NAGALAND, INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
257 Subject: COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); TRENDS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (79%); WOMEN (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (79%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
258 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
259 Subject: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (78%); SPYWARE (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); TAX LAW (73%); TAXES & TAXATION (72%); SPORTS AWARDS (68%); NARI SPORTS (68%); FIELD HOCKEY (63%); OLYMPICS (63%); SEXUAL ASSAULT (60%) Industry: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); SPYWARE (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
260 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%); BULGARIA (50%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
261 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%); BULGARIA (50%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
262 Subject: BOXING (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); TOURNAMENTS (64%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
263 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
264 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (88%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (76%); ARCHERY (73%); BLUE COLLAR WORKERS (71%); WAGES & SALARIES (71%); ECONOMIC CRISIS (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (76%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
265 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (66%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (50%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (71%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
266 Subject: TENNIS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CELEBRITIES (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); RANKINGS (70%); PRESS CONFERENCES (68%) Company: NETFLIX INC (55%) Ticker: NFLX (NASDAQ) (55%) Industry: NAICS532282 VIDEO TAPE & DISC RENTAL (55%); SIC7841 VIDEO TAPE RENTAL (55%); CELEBRITIES (76%); STREAMING MEDIA (66%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (94%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (66%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
267 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
268 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); BELARUS (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
269 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (93%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); CZECH REPUBLIC (73%); JAPAN (73%); UNITED STATES (70%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
270 Subject: MEN (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
271 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
272 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
273 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (52%); ARGENTINA (93%); BRAZIL (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
274 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (78%); JAPAN (57%); HONG KONG (54%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
275 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
276 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (88%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
277 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
278 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (91%); ARRESTS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); POLICE FORCES (74%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
279 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
280 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
281 Subject: ARRESTS (92%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); POLICE FORCES (73%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
282 Subject: MEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
283 Subject: BOXING (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); NARI SPORTS (72%); MONSOONS (71%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
284 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (77%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
285 Subject: GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Company: ADAMS GOLF INC (58%) Industry: NAICS339920 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3949 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS, NEC (58%) Person: LYDIA KO (73%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); NEW ZEALAND (69%); UNITED STATES (55%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
286 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); WOMEN (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); EXECUTIVES (77%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (52%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (52%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
287 Subject: CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); WOMEN (90%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (71%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (71%); ARRESTS (68%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
288 Subject: NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (88%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
289 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Industry: MANUFACTURING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); JEWELRY & SILVERWARE MFG (53%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021wom1<-woman%>%
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wom1 newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
2 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
3 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
4 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
5 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
6 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
7 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
8 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
9 MINT August 6, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
11 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
12 MINT August 5, 2021
13 Hindustan Times July 22, 2021
14 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
15 MINT August 7, 2021
16 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
18 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
19 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
20 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
21 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
22 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
23 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
24 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
25 MINT August 4, 2021
26 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
27 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
28 MINT July 25, 2021
29 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
30 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
32 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
33 MINT July 29, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
35 MINT August 2, 2021
36 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
37 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
38 MINT August 2, 2021
39 MINT August 2, 2021
40 MINT July 29, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
42 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
43 MINT August 3, 2021
44 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
45 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
46 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
48 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
51 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
52 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
53 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
54 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
55 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
56 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
57 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
58 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
59 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
60 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
61 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
62 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
63 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
64 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
65 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
66 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
67 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
68 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
69 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
70 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
71 MINT August 2, 2021
72 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
73 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
74 MINT July 25, 2021
75 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
76 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
77 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
78 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
79 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
80 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
81 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
82 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
83 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
84 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
85 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
86 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
87 MINT July 31, 2021
88 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
89 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
90 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
91 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
92 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
93 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
94 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
95 MINT July 28, 2021
96 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
97 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
98 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
99 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
100 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
101 MINT July 30, 2021
102 DNA July 27, 2021
103 India Today Online August 4, 2021
104 Indian Express July 23, 2021
105 India Today Online July 25, 2021
106 India Today Online August 2, 2021
107 Indian Express August 2, 2021
108 India Today Online August 5, 2021
109 Indian Express August 1, 2021
110 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
111 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
112 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
113 India Today Online August 2, 2021
114 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
115 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
116 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
117 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
118 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
119 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
120 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
121 The Telegraph (India) August 7, 2021
122 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
123 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
124 Indian Express July 24, 2021
125 Indian Express July 31, 2021
126 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
127 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
128 DNA July 31, 2021
129 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
130 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
131 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
132 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021
133 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
134 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
135 India Today Online July 24, 2021
136 DNA August 5, 2021
137 Free Press Journal (India) August 4, 2021
138 DNA July 27, 2021
139 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
140 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
141 DNA August 3, 2021
142 Indian Express August 6, 2021
143 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
144 Indian Express July 24, 2021
145 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
146 DNA August 6, 2021
147 DNA July 29, 2021
148 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
149 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
150 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
151 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
152 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
153 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021
154 Indian Express August 8, 2021
155 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
156 DNA August 6, 2021
157 DNA August 2, 2021
158 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
159 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
160 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
161 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
162 The Telegraph (India) July 29, 2021
163 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
164 Indian Express August 8, 2021
165 Indian Express August 8, 2021
166 India Today Online August 6, 2021
167 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
168 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
169 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
170 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
171 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
172 DNA August 7, 2021
173 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
174 Indian Express July 30, 2021
175 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
176 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
177 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
178 Indian Express August 8, 2021
179 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
180 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
181 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
182 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
183 Indian Express July 28, 2021
184 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
185 Free Press Journal (India) August 8, 2021
186 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
187 India Today Online August 2, 2021
188 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
189 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
190 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
191 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
192 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
193 The Hindu August 7, 2021
194 Indian Express August 5, 2021
195 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
196 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
197 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
198 The Hindu August 7, 2021
199 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
200 India Today Online July 25, 2021
201 Indian Express August 2, 2021
202 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
203 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
204 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
205 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
206 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
207 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
208 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
209 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
210 The Hindu August 7, 2021
211 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
212 Indian Express August 8, 2021
213 Indian Express July 29, 2021
214 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
215 Indian Express August 6, 2021
216 Indian Express July 29, 2021
217 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
218 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
219 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
220 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
221 Indian Express July 28, 2021
222 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
223 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
224 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
225 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
226 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
227 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
228 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
229 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
230 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
231 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
232 DNA July 28, 2021
233 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
234 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
235 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
236 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
237 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
238 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 1, 2021
239 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
240 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
241 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
242 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
243 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
244 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
245 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
246 Indian Express August 8, 2021
247 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
248 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
249 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021
250 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 8, 2021
251 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
252 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
253 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
254 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
255 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
256 The Hindu August 9, 2021
257 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
258 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
259 The Hindu August 6, 2021
260 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
261 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021
262 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
263 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
264 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
265 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
266 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
267 The Hindu August 3, 2021
268 DNA August 5, 2021
269 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
270 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
271 Free Press Journal (India) July 24, 2021
272 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
273 DNA August 4, 2021
274 DNA July 29, 2021
275 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
276 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
277 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
278 The Hindu August 6, 2021
279 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
280 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
281 Indian Express August 7, 2021
282 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
283 The Hindu August 2, 2021
284 The Hindu August 6, 2021
285 India Today Online August 7, 2021
286 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021
287 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
288 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
289 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
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1 From a solitary two-day fixture between Great Britain and France in the 1900 Olympics, prospects of cricket's inclusion as an 8-team medal sport for men and women in Los Angeles 2028 have brightened. The International Cricket Council (ICC)'s proposal to introduce cricket as an Olympic sport in 2028 has been placed before the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Importantly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s reluctance to join the Olympic movement is now a thing of the past. "Once cricket is added in the Olympics, India will be participating," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said. "The BCCI and the ICC are on the same page as far as participation in the Olympics is concerned." The BCCI in its Apex Council meeting in April had given a conditional nod to send a team for the 2028 edition if its autonomy wasn't disturbed and there was no interference from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The BCCI, IOA and government though are working in sync. The Indian cricket board pledged Rs. 10 crore to assist the Tokyo bound Indian contingent's marketing budget. They also announced a cash prize totalling Rs. 4 crore for the seven medal winners on Saturday. The ICC, which has 92 Associate members but only 12 members play Test cricket, has been slow on the Olympics issue. Many of the top Test nations have in the past have had an insular view of safeguarding their playing window and TV rights revenue and resisting cricket's entry into Olympics. Now, with an agreement amongst most leading cricket boards, it has been in constant talks with IOC and an Olympics committee formed for the purpose. With a nudge from the government to increase India's medal prospects, BCCI administration has also switched its stance. "The BCCI is more than happy to work together with the government and help increase India's medal chances," a BCCI official said. Cricket has been added as a discipline in the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham, July-Aug). There's cricket in the 2022 Asian Games (Hangzhou, September) too. With the cricket calendar congested with ICC events, bilateral cricket and franchise leagues, finding a window for each of these games consistently may become a challenge. That is why, the Commonwealth Games will only have women's cricket. The Olympics, it is learnt, will require the participation of men and women. T20 has emerged as the format of choice despite some Associate nations championing for introducing T10. The English cricket board has explored the prospects of taking the Hundred-ball format to the Olympics, riding on its newly launched league. With neither format having international status, ICC is expected to start with T20Is. While introduction of a new sport at Olympics involves structured presentations and lobbying, those in cricket are confident that India's rapidly growing consumer market and digital engagement base will marry IOC's search for new Olympic markets.
2 Tokyo Olympics Day 10 Full Schedule: Kamalpreet Kaur stunned the nation with a 64m throw in the qualification stage of Women's Discus Throw. She will be aiming for a medal in the final event on Monday. Meanwhile, shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sanjeev Rajput will be in action on Day 10 as well, along with sprinter Dutee Chand. Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage Here is India's schedule on Day 10 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: 07:24 AM IST: Athletics Women's 200m Round 1 Heat 1 - Dutee Chand 08:00 AM IST: Shooting 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Qualification - Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Sanjeev Rajput 08:30 AM IST: Women's Hockey Quarterfinal - India vs Australia 01:20 PM IST: Shooting 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Qualification - Subject to Qualification 01:30 PM IST: Equestrian Eventing Individual Jumping Qualifier - Fouaad Mirza 03:55 PM IST: Athletics Women's 200m Semifinal 1 - Dutee Chand (Subject to Qualification) 04:30 PM IST: Athletics Women's Discus Throw Final - Kamalpreet Kaur 05:15 PM IST: Equestrian Eventing Individual Jumping Final - Fouaad Mirza (Subject to Qualification)
3 Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has announced Rs.50 lakh cash award for every sportsperson in state getting fourth position in the Olympics. Till now, there was no provision in the state's sports policy for such players. The CM said there is a provision to give incentive money to players who are unable to win medals in these games. As per the provision, each player participating in the Olympics is being given an incentive amount of Rs.15 lakh each. He said an amount of Rs.5 lakh is already given to these players prior to the Olympics and now the rest of the amount of Rs.10 lakh will be given to players on their return. Khattar said as per the sports policy, Rs.6 crore is given to a player who wins gold medal in the Olympics, Rs.4 crore for winning silver, and Rs.2.5 crore for bronze. "Now onwards, a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh will be given to each player in state finishing fourth in the Olympics," Khattar said. He said nine players of the women's hockey team who hail from Haryana will be given a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh each. Khattar welcomes move to rename Khel Ratna Award The Haryana CM welcomed the central government's move to rename the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after hockey legend Major Dhyanchand. Khattar said the Union government has taken a good decision by renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after the hockey legend. "Sports awards should be named after players. Congress should not criticise the move," he added.
4 India's quest for another medal will continue on Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics as ace shuttler and reigning world champion PV Sindhu takes on Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semi-final on Saturday. Boxer Amit Panghal will open his account in the men's flyweight category, whereas Pooja Rani is one win away from assuring a second medal in boxing for India at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Shooters Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil will feature in 50m Rifle 3 Positions, while India women's hockey team will return to the field hoping to strengthen their chances of entering the quarterfinals. Here is India's schedule on Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: GOLF Anirban Lahiri - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 2: 4:15 AM Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 3: 6:00 AM ATHLETICS Seema Punia - Women's Discus Throw Qualification in Group A: 6:00 AM Kamalpreet Kaur - Women's Discus Throw Qualification in Group B: 7:25 AM Sreeshankar in Men's Long Jump Qualification - Group B: 3:40 PM ARCHERY Atanu Das - Men's Individual 1/8 Eliminations: 7:18 AM BOXING Amit Panghal vs Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas - Men's Flyweight (48-52kg): 7:30 AM Pooja Rani vs Qian Li in Women's Middleweight - Quarterfinal: 3:36 PM SHOOTING Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil in 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Qualification: 8:30 AM 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Final (Subject to qualification): 12:30 PM SAILING Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar in - Race 10 : 8:35 AM HOCKEY India vs South Africa - Women's Pool A: 8:45 AM BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu-Ying - Women's Singles Semi-final: 3:20 PM
5 India vs Argentina Women's Hockey Semifinal Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: Winning against the Australians have set the momentum up for India women's hockey team to reach the final at the Tokyo Olympics. Up against them will be an in-form Argentina team who will be eager to make it to the final as well. A tough challenge in store for India. All you need to know about India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match live streaming, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 03:30 PM IST on Wednesday (August 4th). Where and how to watch live coverage of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of Where will India vs Argentina women's hockey semifinal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
6 India would fancy their chances of a medal finish as they gear up for Day 7 of the Tokyo Olympics. While all eyes would be on archer Deepika Kumari, shuttler PV Sindhu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain to take a step closer to ensuring medals for India, it's also finally time to Indian athletics to make its presence felt at the Olympic Games. Sprinter Dutee Chand will be in action, and as will the likes of Avinash Sable and MP Jabir. Hockey returns as both men's and women's team face quality opponents. Here is India's schedule on Day 7 of the Tokyo Olympics: Archery Deepika Kumari vs Ksenia Perova (Russian Olympic Committee) in Women's Individual Pre-quarterfinals Match: 6:00am IST. Athletics Avinash Sable in Men's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 Heat 2: 6:17am IST. M P Jabir in Men's 400m Hurdles Round 1 Heat 5: 8:27am IST. Dutee Chand in Women's 100m Round 1 Heats: 8:45am IST Start. Mixed 4x400m Relay Race Round 1 Heat 2: 4:42pm IST. Badminton P V Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) in Women's Singles Quarterfinal Match: 1:15pm IST. Boxing Simranjit Kaur vs Sudaporn Seesondee (Thailand) in Women's 60kg Round of 16 Bout: 8:18am IST. Lovlina Borgohain vs Nien-Chin Chen (Chinese Taipei) in Women's 69kg Quarterfinal Bout: 8:48am IST. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Dressage Day 1 Session 2: Starts at 2pm IST. Golf Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 2: 04:00am IST. Hockey India vs Ireland in Women's Pool A Match: 8:15am IST. India vs Japan in Men's Pool A match: 3:00pm IST. Sailing KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in Men's Skiff 49er Race 7, 8 and 9: 8:35am IST. Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radial Race 9 and 10: 8:35am IST. Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race 9 and 10: 11:05am IST. Shooting Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat in Women's 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid: 5:30am IST.
7 Tokyo 2020, PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Live: India could get its third medal at the Tokyo Olympics when Indian shuttler PV Sindhu takes on China's He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match in women's singles badminton. Sindhu's quest for gold ended on Saturday as she lost her semi-final match to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu, who had won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, will be hoping to become only the second athlete from India to win two individual medal in Olympics. (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1 in Tokyo Olympics Village. At what time does the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? Tokyo 2020 Live Updates Day 9 The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 05:00 PM IST on Saturday (August 1). Where and how to watch live coverage of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao Badminton Bronze Medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
8 Tokyo 2020, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu-Ying semifinal Live: The stage is set for an epic clash between Indian shuttler PV Sindhu and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying as the two badminton greats square off in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Women's Singles Badminton semifinal on Saturday. Sindhu, who had won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, will be hoping to make it to the final so that she can get a chance to change the colour of the medal. (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Tokyo Olympics Day 8 Live Updates Where will the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1 in Tokyo Olympics Village. At what time does the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? The PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 03:20 PM IST on Saturday (July 31st). Where and how to watch live coverage of PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020? The PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of the PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of PV Sindhu Vs Tai Tzu-Ying Semifinal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
9 The Haryana government has announced a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh each for the state's nine women's hockey players on Friday. Post the play-off match of the Indian women's hockey team on Friday, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted, " Haryana government will award Rs.50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympic women's hockey team who are from Haryana". Haryana Government will award Rs. 50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympics women's hockey team who are from Haryana. I congratulate the Indian team for their praiseworthy performance at the Tokyo Olympics. - Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) August 6, 2021 In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the bronze medal slipped out of its grasp but the Indian women's hockey team earned plaudits for its gritty display against Great Britain in the play-off match on Friday. CM Khattar congratulated the Indian women's team for its best-ever performance at the ongoing Olympics, where it finished fourth after losing 3-4 to Great Britain. The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at halftime. But a desperate Great Britain gave their everything in the second half and scored two goals to snatch the match from India's hands. Back in Haryana and Punjab, families of many players remained glued to their television sets to watch in anticipation of an Indian win. At the end of the game, skipper Rani's father Rampal told the media at his Shahabad home in Kurukshetra that the Indian team played well and were unlucky to lose out on its maiden Olympic medal. He said the team's performance at the Olympics will have a positive impact on the game and will encourage youngsters to take up the sport. Goalkeeper Savita Punia's father Mahender Punia said there was no need to feel dejected. "Match result may not be on their side, but they played well," he said. Neha Goyal's mother Savitri turned emotional while watching the game. Notably, most of the women hockey players come from humble backgrounds.
10 India put on a valiant fight in the bronze medal match against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Despite going down 2-0 at one point, the Indian team scored three quick goals to take lead in the match and put the Rio Olympics gold medalists on the backfoot. While Britain bounced back to win the match 4-3, Indian team's superb efforts in Tokyo were applauded by the fans who praised the team for never giving up throughout their campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to show praise on India's brave performance in Tokyo. "We narrowly missed a medal in Women's Hockey but this team reflects the spirit of New India- where we give our best and scale new frontiers. More importantly, their success at #Tokyo2020 will motivate young daughters of India to take up Hockey and excel in it. Proud of this team," he wrote on Twitter. This is India's best-ever showing in Olympics in women's hockey. India have only featured twice before in the Games. While they had finished in fourth position in 1980 as well, they had not qualified for the tournament and competed in a six-team round-robin format. India qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 2016 where they had finished in 12th position out of 12 teams. But this time, they manged to finish in fourth position, showcasing their rise over the years.
11 Hasely Crawford, one of 11 children, was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, in 1950. He began sprinting when he was 17, won a surprise bronze in the Commonwealth Games in 1970, and quite astonishingly, managed to make the 100m final at the 1972 Munich Olympics - the one with the massacre and Mark Spitz. But in the final that evening, the biggest race of his life, Crawford pulled a hamstring 20m from the starting blocks, and hobbled for another 30, watching through pain and disappointment as Russia's Valeriy Borzov dashed past the tape. It isn't so bad, people consoled him, no one from the Caribbean has ever won the 100m anyway. Instead of being mollified or disheartened by those words and that factoid, Crawford decided to use them as inspiration. He chose to fight back. Four years later, at Montreal 1976 - barely a week before his tiny island nation of Trinidad &Tobago became a republic - Hasely Crawford snuck into the 100m final again. This time, he dashed past the 20m mark, started pulling away at 40m, was virtually unstoppable by 80m, and went on to become the first man from any of the Caribbean islands to win an Olympic 100m gold. As if for good measure, Don Quarrie from Jamaica won the 200m later that week. If the Olympics are meant to be more about the struggle than the triumph, then the stories that stand out are not those of dominance, but those of redemption. Redemption of the kind that Mirabai Chanu experienced in Tokyo on an extraordinary Saturday morning for Indian sport. If you don't remember exactly what happened in the 48kg women's weightlifting competition at the Rio Olympics four years ago, Chanu's heartbreak that day cannot be overstated. In her six attempts across the two techniques, she managed only one lift, that too barely, when she snatched 84kg on her second attempt (she failed on her first at that weight, and on her third attempt at 86kg). In the clean and jerk, she could not get the barbell up even once - the 104kg got away from her, and the two attempts at 106kg seemed like desperate stabs at more than she could handle. It was the kind of performance that can break athletes, give them nightmares, scar them for life; put them off the gym, off training sessions, and induce a mortal fear of the spotlight. Chanu's response over the past five years is what separates champions from the rest. The same clean and jerk in which she could not get the barbell up at Rio first became her strength, and then her calling card. She came to be known as the one you had to somehow pull away from in the snatch, because she's going to get you in the second leg of the competition. The clean and jerk world record (119kg) now stands in her name. But despite her training, her medals, and her records, the bogey of Rio was always going to hang over her until the next Olympics. The longer wait for Tokyo 2020, and the possibility that the Games may not happen at all, must have been harder for Chanu than for anyone else in the Indian contingent. On Saturday, she looked centred and confident. The spotlight did not bother her, nor did the pressure. Instead, there was a little bow to the barbell as she approached it, then a smooth lift, a slow but steady raise, a monkish stillness, and a smile of redemption. She repeated that routine four times, until the silver was secure. And the funny thing about redemption is that Chanu might now feel what she went through in Rio was worth it. Just like the legend of Hasely Crawford connects with Chanu's story, her turnaround has a message for another athlete who had an eye on a medal in the 10m air pistol event on Saturday. Shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, 19, and at his first Olympics, must be crestfallen by his implosion in the final after qualifying in first position. But he should take heart - who knows, this may be the first note of another redemption song.
12 Although the Indian Women's Hockey team lost their Tokyo Olympics hockey semi-final to Argentina, Rani Rampal's girls have won respect and plenty of praises across the country. A Gujarat-based businessman has promised to offer houses and brand new cars for the ladies for showing such gritty performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Gujarat's diamond merchant Savji Dholakia has promised that he would provide Rs.11 lakh assistance to each player who wishes to build their dream home. With incredible pride in my heart, I take this opportunity to announce that HK Group has decided to honour our Women hockey team players. For each player who wishes to build her dream home, we will provide assistance of Rs. 11 lakh. - Savji Dholakia (@SavjiDholakia) August 3, 2021 In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Dholakia said, "With incredible pride in my heart, I take this opportunity to announce that HK Group has decided to honour our Women's hockey team players. For each player who wishes to build her dream home, we will assist Rs. 11 lakh." His Hari Krishna (HK) Group has also decided to award others (who have a house) with a brand new car worth Rs.5 lakh if the team brings home a medal. In another announcement, the diamond merchant said that his brother's friend from the US assured Rs.1 lakh price to each Indian women's Tokyo Olympics hockey player. After our announcement to motivate the women's hockey team with monetary help, several other helps are also coming in to support our nation's heroes. Dr. Kamlesh Dave, my Brother's friend from US has assured to praise all winners with One lakh rupees each. - Savji Dholakia (@SavjiDholakia) August 4, 2021 India's women's hockey team on Wednesday lost to their Argentina counterparts by 1-2, crashing out of the Tokyo Olympics' final race. However, India's women's hockey team still has a chance to win the bronze medal as they will take on Great Britain in the third-fourth place play-off match on Friday.
13 It was both a moment of pride and heartbreak for Japan. Their favourite women's softball team opened the action at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday with a victory over Australia, but all that the team's partisan fans could do was watch the action on TV. The stadium in Fukushima was starkly empty. Yoshitsugu Hashimoto, 65, who lives right across the stadium, watched the match on TV at home. "I missed the loud cheers of spectators that I used to hear whenever ball games were held at the stadium. But I believe people in Fukushima are encouraged by the athletes' performance," Hashimoto was quoted by Kyodo News. And that's how the home Olympics will unfold for the Japanese public, switching on a screen to watch the Games happening in their backyard. The Tokyo Organising Committee is holding the Olympics without spectators because of fear of Covid-19 infections. Instead of spending on tickets for events, the Japanese are splurging on new TV sets. Manufacturers are luring customers with cutting edge-models bigger than 50 inches, offering high quality sound systems and high-definition images. The big TV companies in Japan--BIC Camera, Nojima, Yodobashi Camera and Panasonic--are reporting sharp increase in sales. "Sales of TVs are stronger than last year," a spokesperson of Bic Camera said to Japan Times. Sales for BIC Camera started rising in May and there was a surge in June when speculation started that the Olympics could be held behind closed stadiums. By July when the IOC finally declared the Games will be spectator-free, TV sales rose again. Nojima Corp TV sales in the week to last Sunday increased by 20 percent from a year earlier and sales at Yodobashi camera were over two-fold from January to June. "We have no choice but to watch all the action unfolding on TV," said Isao Shigeno, a volunteer. "It is disappointing that we are not able to go to the stadiums but that's how the situation is right now." At the Fukushima stadium, Japan's softball team lived up to the billing, beating Australia 8-1. The four-time Olympic gold winning team became a rage in Japan when they won the 2008 Beijing Olympic title beating USA, only for the sport to be dropped for the next two editions of the Games. Pitcher Yukiko Ueno, a top star from the team that won the 2008 gold, is still playing and Japanese fans were eagerly looking forward to her taking the field again at the Olympics. It was not to be. The moment was more poignant for residents of Fukushima in northeastern Japan. The prefecture was ravaged during the 2011 earthquake which led to the deadliest nuclear reactor accident since Chernobyl in 1986. One theme of the Tokyo Olympics was to show how Fukushima has bounced back from the disaster.
14 India stunned Australia 1-0 to reach the semifinals in women's hockey of the Tokyo Olympics at the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch on Monday. This will be India women's hockey team's first semifinal appearance in the Olympics. They had finished fourth in the 1980 Moscow Olympics but the format was different, as there were no knockout games. India will face Argentina in the semifinals, who defeated Germany 3-0 in the first semifinal. A spot in the semifinals also means that India are guaranteed a medal match for the first-time in Olympics. India, who qualified for the knockout stages after finishing fourth in Pool A, started on a positive note against Pool B toppers Australia and kept the pressure on them throughout all quarters. India were clearly the dominant side with a 59% ball possession in the first quarter but the big moment came in the second quarter when dragflicker Gurjit Kaur converted India's first penalty corner in the 22nd minute to put her side ahead. India's defence also played their part. They did not let Australia score despite conceding seven penalty corners in the match. (more to follow...)
15 23-year- old golfer, Aditi Ashok today put on a brilliant display and finished fourth. She finishes fourth at Olympic Games after carding 3-under 68 in final round. It was a heartbreaking end to Aditi's campaign considering she started the day at 2nd. But it was nonetheless a major improvement as she had finished tied 41st in the 2016 edition where golf made a comeback to the Olympics. In the final round, she fired five birdies -- on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 13th and 14th holes -- against two bogeys on the 9th and 11th. Overnight leader and world number one Nelly Korda clinched the gold medal with a 2-under 69 that left her 17-under overall and a shot ahead of Japan's Mone Inami (65) and New Zealand's Lydia Ko (65). Aditi was in medal contention for a major part of the day but the two bogeys pulled her back while Ko surged ahead with a sensational nine birdies against just three dropped shots in her final round. This is Aditi's second Olympic appearance. She had finished tied 41st in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition. The final round of the women's Tokyo Olympics golf tournament resumed Saturday with the leaders having two holes to complete after a 49-minute interruption because of a passing thunderstorm. Play restarted at 1:15 pm (0415 GMT), with American world number one Nelly Korda leading on 17-under par, one shot ahead of Japan's Mone Inami, with India's Aditi Ashok and Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for third a stroke further back. The final group of Korda, Ashok and Ko had all just played their tee shots at the driveable par-four 17th when play was suspended at 12:26 pm. Aditi said since she played only a few tournaments in May-June and also got infected by the coronavirus, has probably lost distance off the tee. Yet her short game has helped her. "I didn't really have my best, especially on the long holes with the long approaches where I wasn't as consistent. So, yeah, definitely it was a good day and I did not make as many bogeys as I could have," she said. "My putting wasn't as good today as the first two days. So those couple par putts that were like the one on 12 and the one on 18, helped because I knew my putting wasn't that good today compared to the first two." Aditi said she recoeverd from COVID-19 but it did affect her health "It took a little bit of strength out of me. I was never this short. I was always short but not like 50 behind Nelly and 50 behind Nanna. But apart from the distance this year has been kind of the best I've had with my short game." Aditi was also candid about the following golf back home. "Nobody really follows golf as much. It's not that they know about it and don't follow it, it's just they don't know much about the sport to know that a major is more prestigious than the Olympics. "And whenever the Olympics comes around it's always because we had a lot of sports where we were actually really good, like hockey, where we had, we used to win gold medals all the time. "With golf being in (at Olympics) the second time I think people are a lot more aware and trying to follow it a lot more."
16 Mirabai Chanu. Lovlina Borgohain. PV Sindhu. Ariarne Titmus. Katie Ledecky. Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Yui Ohashi. Tatjana Schoenmaker. Vivianne Meidema. Think of the names that grabbed your attention or left you mesmerised during the first week of the Olympics, and chances are these will be high on your list. Woman power is on full display in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics have been billed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the first gender-balanced Games in history, with nearly 49 % of the participating athletes women. Apart from the volume, women are also shifting the balance of the spotlight towards them. The Games, for long largely about the legends of Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, are now as much about Titmus and Biles, as they are about Djokovic. The trend is the same closer home. Of the 127 athletes wearing India colours at these Games, 56 are women. Two of them are already medal winners, India's only ones so far. Beyond Tokyo, women athletes have provided India cheer going back to the 2012 London Olympics. Six of India's last eight medal winners have been women - Saina Nehwal (bronze, 2012), Mary Kom (bronze, 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze, 2016), Sindhu (silver, 2016), Chanu (silver, 2021) and Borgohain, who is guaranteed a bronze, but could well change the colour. Rewind to the first medal day of these Games, when most Indians woke up early on a Saturday to an alarm of optimism that Chanu would open India's account. The 26-year-old lifter, cool as ice while lifting, delivered just what was expected - a silver; becoming the second Indian female weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic medal. "You have taken the legacy forward of the weightlifting sport and inspired future champions, which has always been my endeavour," Malleswari, the 2000 Sydney bronze winner tweeted. Days after the feat, a video went viral on social media of the young daughter of international lifter Satish Sivalingam, dusting powder off her hands, lifting a set of weights against the backdrop of Chanu's Tokyo highlights running on TV. Champions inspire. And children aspire. That also goes for Borgohain, who locked in India's second medal. Or Sindhu, who is looking good for a second Olympic medal. Or CA Bhavani Devi, who won a match as the first Indian fencer ever at the Olympics. Across the board Even across countries, women are at the forefront of many a first in Tokyo. Triathlete Flora Duffy gift-wrapped a maiden gold medal for Bermuda, the tiny Atlantic island with a population of around 63,000 now having the distinction of being the smallest country with a gold medal in the history of the Games. "I really just hope it inspires the youth of Bermuda that we're from a small country, but that doesn't mean we can't do great things on the world stage," Duffy told CNN. Also doing great things: Schoenmaker, the South African who smashed the long-standing women's 200m breaststroke world record with an "unreal" time of 2:18.95; Polina Guryeva, the weightlifter who pulled off the first-ever Olympic medal for Turkmenistan; Yui Ohashi, the two-time gold medallist swimmer who overcame the gloom of depression to shine, becoming the first Japanese woman to win multiple gold medals in a single edition. Also winning multiple gold medals: Ariarne Titmus, the 20-year-old who is walking the talk of a riveting rivalry with Ledecky, the American giant whom the Aussie has beaten in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Missing Usain Bolt vs Justin Gatlin on the track? Titmus and Ledecky have taken care of that in the pool in Tokyo. Vivianne Meidema, the Dutch women's football team striker who plays for Arsenal Women in England's WSL, had pumped in 10 goals by Friday. Also creating history in the waters: Jessica Fox, who won gold in the women's canoe slalom, an event where women competed for the first time after the Australian paddling icon led the campaign for its inclusion in the Olympics. "(I'm) grateful to all the women, all the coaches, all the people who lobbied for gender equality in our sport," Fox said after her win. Getting real The stories go beyond history, triumph and jubilation. They are as much about imperfections, which Biles - considered the closest to perfection in gymnastics - hasn't shied away from bringing to the centre stage. The 24-year-old, battling sexual misconduct in the US gymnastics set-up and racism in her country for years, is battling mental health in Tokyo. The four-time gold medallist at Rio pulled out of the team and all-around events at a Games that were supposed to stamp her legacy as the GOAT of the sport; even for those who swear purely by medals and numbers. Biles has taken a stand few have felt comfortable taking before - that it is OK to put mental well-being above records even in the middle of the biggest sporting spectacle; to look inward even when the whole world is looking at you; to take a step back even while eternal greatness is beckoning. Osaka, another global sporting icon, too, didn't hesitate to take a step back when, at the French Open in May, she opted for a brief sabbatical from tennis to attend to her issues with mental anxiety. Yet, there she was a couple of months later in Tokyo - given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony at home, flashing a smile and playing some tennis again. At these Games, women have taught us every facet of sport: you can win, you can lose, you can inspire, you can pause, and you can return stronger.
17 India's star discus throw athlete Kamalpreet Kaur impressed one and all at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics by finishing 6th in the final of the women's event on Monday. Soon after her maiden Olympic campaign came to an end, India's legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to send in his good wishes and congratulate her for an inspired performance on the biggest stage of them all. "Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn. Hard luck Kamalpreet! We are proud of you for giving your best & representing India at such a big stage.This experience will only make you a stronger athlete in the future," Tendulkar tweeted. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) The 25-year-old Kaur, who has qualified for the final as second-best on Saturday, was never in the running for a medal in the eight rounds of competition which was interrupted by rain for more than an hour. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 10 BLOG She had a third-round throw of 63.70m to end at sixth and equal 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia's performance in the 2012 London Olympics. Kaur, who was without her personal coach, looked nervous and short of confidence throughout the competition as she lacked international exposure. She has taken part in World University Games in 2017, her lone international competition. A farmer's daughter at Punjab's Kabarwala village, Kaur had raised hopes of India's elusive athletics medal after finishing second in the qualification round on Saturday with a best throw of 64m. American Valarie Allman took the gold with a first-round throw of 68.98m while Kristin Pudenz (66.86m) of Germany and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (65.72m) of Cuba won the silver and bronze respectively. Two-time defending champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia was fourth with a best throw of 65.01m.
18 PV Sindhu created history on Sunday by winning the bronze medal match against China's He Bing Jiao at the Tokyo Olympics. She won the match 21-13, 21-15 to become the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympics medals. She had lost the final of the women's singles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics to settle for a silver medal. Sindhu needed to start strong in the match to get her self-confidence up, which must have been rattled by the one-sided semi-final loss on Saturday to Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu was off the blocks immediately with a clutch of winners and took a 4-0 lead in the first game, thanks to her attacking display. An unforced error from Sindhu gave the Chinese her first point and she made it 2-4 with a well played point at the net. An unforced error put Sindhu 5-2 ahead, but Bing Jiao played a great cross court shot to end a long rally and then won a couple points on the bounce to tie the first game at 5-5. PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Highlights - Women's singles bronze medal match - Tokyo Olympics Bing Jiao continued to force Sindhu to play at the net but the Indian was up to the challenge and went ahead 8-6. The two players played out a great rally with Sindhu leading 9-8 as Bing Jiao produced some great defensive play, but the Indian closed out the point with a powerful smash to go ahead 10-8. Sindhu took her advantage to 11-8 with another smash as the two players went into the mid-game break. Sindhu came out all guns blazing after the break as she dictated the pace of the rallies really well to break away to a 14-8 lead. Bing Jiao started a mini revival as she went up to 11 points but Sindhu kept a sizeable lead over her opponent with some great display of attack and defence, as she went up 18-11. Sindhu eventually closed out the first game 21-13 to take the lead in the match. Sindhu was off early again in the second game as she made two good line calls and then played a great cross court smash to go up 4-1. Bing Jiao won a couple of points to bring the deficit down to just a point but Sindhu produced another solid smash to end a rally and go up 6-4. She employed the same weapon again, hitting a down the line smash to end another longish rally to go up 7-5. The narrative continued as Sindhu hit another solid smash to make it 8-5. Bing Jiao won a couple of points on the drop to close the gap but then committed two unforced errors to go up 10-7. Sindhu eventually went into the mid-game break leading 11-8. The Chinese though started well after the break, showing good court speed to win three points on the trot to level the game at 11 points apiece. But Sindhu stemmed the rot by playing two brilliant drop shots as she sped away to a 14-11 lead again. An unforced error gave Sindhu a 15-11 lead but Bing Jiao won two points on the trot again to bring the deficit down to just two points. Another rally ensued thereafter as both players badly wanted the next point and it was another Sindhu cross court smash that gave her a 16-13 lead. Sindhu kept the pressure on her Chinese opponent, never letting her in with a chance as she took an 18-14 lead. Bing Jiao won a point but Sindhu made her commit an unforced error to go up 19-15. Sindhu raced to match point with another scintillating smash and then won the bronze medal by closing the second game 21-15
19 Tennis star Sania Mirza is all set to compete at the Olympic Games for the fourth time, becoming the second Indian woman to do so. And for her, the greater accomplishment comes with greater responsibility. Mirza, who left on Monday for the much-delayed tournament in Japan, will be representing India with Ankita Raina at the Women's Doubles Tennis at the Tokyo Olympics, which kicks off today. "Ankita will be playing for the first time against some of the best players in the world and on a big stage. She's a fighter and understands that we'll need to punch way beyond our weight to make a mark against odds in Tokyo," says Mirza, 34. Her stint at the Olympics this year is more special, as she's joining the games for the first time after becoming a mother. "I've always wanted to carry on with my professional dream even after my marriage and the birth of my son (Izhaan). I'm happy and proud I'm able to live my dream," gushes Mirza, who delivered her first child in October 2018. Last year, with Covid-19 outbreak bringing the world to a halt, the Tokyo Olympics were also postponed, much to the disappointment of many. That has been the case for Mirza as well, but she spent her time working on her and getting better. "I've been working on my game and fitness in Dubai for the last few months. I also got to play a few tournaments including Wimbledon although admittedly, I would've liked to have played a few more matches. But one has to accept the situation and try to do one's best under the given circumstances which are far from ideal." Mirza, who got married to Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik in 2010, concludes with a message for all. "If you want to achieve, then you have to be ready to sacrifice. But you also need the support of your husband and family in order to pursue your dreams," she signs off.
20 The India women's hockey team narrowly missed out on winning a bronze medal at the ongoing Olympics in Tokyo. Despite putting up a lionhearted fight against the 2016 Olympic Champions, Great Britain on Friday, the Indian team came up short 3-4 in a pulsating encounter. Later on the day, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi rang up the Indian team to speak to them and congratulate them on a stellar effort. The players of the team stood circled the phone as the captain spoke to the PM on speaker mode. Numerous players, including goalkeeper Savita, could not hold back their tears after hearing the words of encouragement from the PM. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) "Your sweat has become the inspiration for crores of women in the country. I congratulate all the players and the coach," PM Modi said. Soon after the PM asked for an update on Navneet Kaur's injury, who received four stitches near her eye, skipper Rani Rampal thanked the PM. Hearing the players cry, PM Modi said: "Stop crying, I can hear you cry. The country is proud of you, don't be disheartened. After so many decades, hockey, which is India's identity, is again getting prominence for your hardwork." Moreover, PM Modi also lauded the effort of coach Sjoerd Marijne. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 14 BLOG "You have tried your level best. You have encouraged the girls. Wish you all the best for the future," he said. Coach Marijne thanked the Prime Minister and added that the girls were very emotional after the loss. "I also told the girls that the they inspire the nation and that is very important and they must cherish that. Thank you, sir. Namaste," quipped Modi. India had lost a close semifinal 1-2 against Argentina earlier in the week. The side went down despite leading 1-0.
21 India women's hockey team missed out on a medal as they went down to the Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. But the coach Sjoerd Marijne's team can take pride in the fact that they finished fourth in Tokyo Games, their best-ever finish in Olympics history (while India had also finished fourth in 1980, only six teams were competing at the Moscow Games, and there were no medal matches). Great Britain started the match with their typical attacking style of play, forcing Indian defenders to push deep inside their own circle. There were two penalty corners for Britain in the first 15 minutes, one of them was saved by Savita, while the second one was a lucky escape for India, as Britain players were unable to trap the ball. India vs Great Britain women's hockey - highlights Savita also made two crucial saves from open play attempts in the first quarter as Leah Wilkinson sent the ball inside the circle, and Elena Rayer struck it to the Indian goalkeeper, who pushed it out with her leg. The rebound landed on Sarah Jones' stick, who took a shot on goal, only to be deflected back again by Savita. Jones attempted another shot on target minutes later, but the Indian goalkeeper denied her again. But the constant attacks reaped fruits for Britain in the second quarter as Rayer made a run from the right, and sent the ball inside the circle in front of goal, only to be deflected into the back of the nets by Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Minutes later, Sarah Robertson's tomahawk shot went into the nets as she doubled Britain's lead, putting pressure on India. But Gurjit Kaur came to the party to bring India back to the level pegging, scoring two back-to-back goals from the penalty corners, with powerful dragflicks past Britain goalkeeper Madeliene Hinch. A third goal was added before the end of the second quarter by Vandana Katariya, when Sushila Chanu pushed a ball inside the scoring circle from the left. Navneet Kaur attempted a shot, missed, but Vandana was standing right behind her and struck it in from the near post to give India the lead. India started the third quarter on the backfoot, trying to defend the feeble lead, which allowed Great Britain to get back to the level terms with a well-stitched attacking move. Isabelle Petter's first attempt was saved by Savita, but the ball deflected towards Hollie Pearne-Webb, who struck it past Savita to equalise. A late flourish from India in the third quarter troubled Britain's defence, but it was not enough for Sjoerd Marijne's side to get back their lead. A flurry of penalty corners at the start of the fourth quarter for Great Britain allowed them to regain their lead as Grace Balsdon finally scored from a set-piece. India played almost seven minutes with 10 players with Neha getting a yellow card, followed by a green card to Nikki Pradhan. But they still managed to keep possession for most of the quarter, and even received a penalty corner. Gurjit Kaur's dragflick, this time, was saved by Hinch. Despite repeated attempts, India were unable to get back a goal to equalise in the final few minutes and bowed down to the Rio gold medalists. It was a dream run for the Indian team who defied all expectations playing only in their third Olympics. While coach Sjoerd Marijne's team got off to a poor start to the tournament, losing their first three games, they found their rhythm and form just at the right team. With wins over Ireland and South Africa in the group stage, India women's team booked a ride to the quarterfinals, where they shocked Australia to earn their first-ever semifinals berth, but could not reach the final as they went down to Argentina 1-2.
22 India shuttler PV Sindhu lost to top seed Tai Tzu-Ying in straight games - 18-21, 12-21 - in the semi-final of the women's singles badminton event on Saturday. However, Sindhu, the reigning world champion, is still in contention for a podium finish as she'll feature in the bronze medal match on Sunday. Heading into the semifinal, Sindhu had a mediocre 5-13 record against the World No. 1 Tai, and the Rio Olympics silver medallist came up just a little short against her biggest nemesis. Sindhu downed Tai at the Rio Olympics in 2016, World Tour Finals in 2018 and the World Championships in 2019. Unfortunately, Tokyo 2020 wasn't going to be one of them. Winning the toss, Sindhu opted for the near end of the court and immediately got involved in the first long rally of the match to slightly nose ahead by 4-3. A couple of error is judgments from the World No. 1 games Sindhu the opportunity to extend the lead to 8-5. A few flat exchanges near the net and a brilliant forehand smash allowed Tai to come back strong and make it 11. The next few points would be earned over either brilliantly-placed drop shots or cross-court smashes. Tai, known for her bag of trickery, dug deep into her bag and foxed Sindhu time and again, who was expecting a smash but received drop shots which Sindhu couldn't pick. And still, Sindhu was vigilant enough to keep stretching her opponent, but eventually having bagged four straight points, Tai built on it and sealed the first game 21-18. Sindhu had stormed into the women's singles semifinals after a thrilling win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. The Indian shuttler defeated Yamaguchi 21-13, 22-20 to set up a date with Tai Tzu-Ying in the semis. She had earlier beaten Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games in the Round of 16 match. Sindhu remained unbeaten in the Group Stage, defeating world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu had won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 after she went down to Spain's Carolina Marin in the final in a thrilling encounter. Since then, the Indian shuttler has won the World Championships gold in 2019, and also won silver medals at the World Championships in 2017 and 2018. Sindhu also won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
23 A Manipur-based film production company has announced plans to make a biopic on the life of Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won the country's first silver medal in women's 49 kg weightlifting event with a total lift of 202 kg at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Seuti Films Production company's chairman Manaobi MM said, "We'll be making a feature film based on Mirabai Chanu's life and various other incidents of her life." Seuti Films has signed an agreement with the star weightlifter and her family at their Nongpok Kakching village residence in Manipur's Imphal East district for making the film. The screenplay and dialogue of the film will be written by Manaobi MM and it will be directed by OC Meira and produced by RK Nalini Devi. The proposed film will showcase Mirabai's childhood and her life in the village; her introduction and training in weightlifting; participation at national and international events and lastly; her win at the Tokyo Olympics. It will also highlight her experiences in the city and other incidents, in a realistic manner. The film will also be subtitled in English and other Indian languages, according to a press release issued by Seuti Films Production. Mirabai became the first Indian to win a medal in Tokyo Olympics and also country's first silver medallist in women's Weightlifting after lifting 84 and 87 kg weights successfully behind China's Zhihu, who lifted 94 kg to create an Olympic record and win the gold. Chanu also became the second Indian woman to win a weightlifting medal at Olympics after Karnam Malleswari, who was the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
24 It's going to be another eventful day at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 12th day of the Tokyo Games will witness javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in action while boxer Lovlina Borgohain will compete in the semi-finals on Wednesday. All eyes will be on the women's hockey team as Rani Rampal & Co will take on Argentina in the all-important semi-final encounter. Golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will compete in women's round 1. Anshu Malik, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak Punia will headline wrestling action for India. If the trio qualifies for the next round, Anshu Malik, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak Punia would play the semi-final matches on the same day. Athletics: Neeraj Chopra in men's javelin throw Qualification Group A: 5:35 am IST Shivpal Singh in men's javelin throw Qualification Group B: 7:05 am IST Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain vs Busenaz Surmeneli (Turkey) in women's 69kg semifinal 1: 11 am IST. Golf: Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in women's individual stroke play round: 5:55 am and 7:39 am IST, respectively. Hockey: India vs Argentina in women's semifinal: 3:30 pm IST. Wrestling: Ravi Kumar vs Oscar Eduardo Tigreros (Colombia) in men's freestyle 57kg; fourth bout after 8:00 am IST start. Anshu Malik vs Iryna Kurachkina (Belarus) in women's freestyle 57kg; fifth bout after 8:00 am IST start. Deepak Punia vs Ekerekeme Agiomor (Nigeria) in men's freestyle 86kg; eighth bout after 8:00 am IST start.
25 The Indian women's hockey team put up a fantastic display of skill and tenacity during their semifinal encounter against World No. 5 Argentina at the Tokyo Games on Wednesday. However, in the end, Indian women emerge second best. India goes down fighting 1-2 to Argentina. Noel Barrionuevo, the Argentina skipper, scored her second goal today to put them ahead against India in the women's hockey semi-final match. Indian women's team took an early lead in the first quarter thanks to a penalty corner. Earlier on Monday, the Indian women's hockey team created history at Oi Hockey Stadium -- North Pitch -- as they qualified for the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time after defeating Australia 1-0. Argentina defeated Germany 3-0 in their quarter-final earlier on Monday. India played seven matches there the first two against the Argentine youth team which the visitors drew 2-2 and 1-1. India then played two matches against Argentina's B team and lost both 1-2 and 2-3 respectively. Against Argentina senior side, India played three games, managing a 1-1 draw and losing 0-2 and 2-3 respectively. India captain Rani had on Tuesday said that the win over Australia is a thing of the past and their focus is on the remaining two games in the competition. "We made history by just reaching the semifinals and now we are looking forward to the semifinals, because we don't want to just finish here," Rani had said. "In this tournament there's two more games left for winning medals," she said.
26 An adorable video of a little girl has surfaced on the Internet that has left netizens gushing. Shared on Reddit, the video shows the toddler watching a weightlifting match in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The girl's expressions while watching the event have stolen many hearts and may just do the same to you too. The video starts with the little one watching the event of women's weightlifting. The clip shows how the strength and power showcased by the athletes leave her mesmerised. We won't give away the whole clip, so take a look at the recording: Shared some 20 hours ago, the video has garnered over 36,000 upvotes and the numbers are still increasing. People loved how the little girl was awestruck by the athletes. While many expressed that she may be an athlete in making, others simply showered the video with love and good wishes. "We'll be watching her career with great interest. See you in 20 years," said a Reddit user. "Some are strong because they lift weights, while others are strong because they lift spirits. Keep lifting little girl!" wrote another. "Personal highlight for me was the looking at her hands and saying with some sadness 'I wish I had strong hands'. If it was a sitcom, it would cut to a workout montage," commented a third. "That was adorable. We need to add 'dropping' as an Olympic sport," expressed a fourth. What are your thoughts on this video?
27 Rani Rampal, Indian women's hockey team captain, became the youngest player in the national women's hockey team when she participated at the 2010 World Cup at the tender age of 15. Now 26, Rani has reached the Olympics, and even participating in Tokyo this year. Talking about her long and arduous journey from not having a proper hockey stick and eating barely two meals a day to now representing India and participating in the Olympics, the young sportswoman, who originally hails from Shahabad Markanda in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, recently opened up about the trials and tribulations she faced during the course. Rani Rampal shared her amazing and inspiring story with Humans of Bombay's Instagram page recently and said how she started playing hockey simply to escape her difficult life and would play with a broken one to begin with. She shared with the page, "I wanted an escape from my life; from the electricity shortages to the mosquitoes buzzing in our ear, from barely having two meals to seeing our home getting flooded. There was only so much my parents could do - Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid." She went on how she'd spend hours watching people play hockey at a nearby academy, "There was a hockey academy nearby, so I'd spend hours watching the players-I really wanted to play. Papa would earn Rs.80 a day and couldn't afford to buy me a stick. Everyday, I'd ask the coach to teach me. He'd reject me saying, 'You aren't strong enough to pull through a practice session.' She revealed how she would play with broken sticks and usual clothes rather than proper hockey gear, "So, I began practicing with a broken hockey stick-I used to run around in a salwar kameez. But I was determined; maine bahut mushkil se convince kiya coach ko! " Her family was also not completely comfortable with her wearing hockey gear, she shares, "But my family said, 'Hum tumhe skirt pehen kar khelne nahi denge.' I'd plead, 'Please mujhe jaane do. If I fail, I'll do whatever you want.' My family gave in." Opening up about the difficult training she went through, "Training would start early; we didn't have a clock, so mom would look at the sky to check if it was time to wake me. At the academy, it was mandatory for each player to bring 500 ml of milk. My family could only afford milk worth 200 ml; so I'd mix the milk with water and drink it." However, with the support of her coach, Rani started to make improvements, "My coach supported me; he'd buy me hockey kits and shoes. He even took care of my dietary needs. I wouldn't miss a single day of practice. I remember I won Rs.500 at a tournament and gave the money to Papa. He hadn't ever held so much money in his hands. I promised my family, 'One day, we'll have our own home'; I did everything in my power to work towards that." Rani recalls the fateful day when she received a lifechanging call at 15 years of age, "After representing my state, I finally got a national call up at 15! Still, my relatives would only ask me when I was getting married. But Papa said, 'Play until your heart's content.' With my family's support, I eventually became captain of the Indian hockey team! Soon after, papa's friend visited us. He brought along his granddaughter and told me, 'She's inspired by you and wants to become a hockey player!' I was so happy!" Rani concluded by sharing how she has not only bought a home for her family but also about her dream for Tokyo Olympics, saying, "And then in 2017, I fulfilled the promise I made to my family and bought a home. We cried and held each other tightly! And I'm not done yet; this year, I'm determined to repay them and Coach with something they've always dreamed of-a gold medal from Tokyo." Follow for more stories on Facebook and Twitter
28 Pizza chain Domino's has promised weightlifter Mirabai Chanu free pizzas for life after the Olympic athlete helped India win its first silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu had said she craved pizza in an interview with a TV channel. "Congratulations on bringing the medal home! You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to FREE Domino's pizza for life. Congratulations again!!" Domino's India posted on its Twitter handle on Saturday evening. The pizza chain's team in Imphal made way to Chanu's family home to congratulate the parents as well. "Even as we prepare to give #MirabaiChanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family with what else but Domino's Pizza. Congratulations @mirabai_chanu you have done India proud," Pratik Pota, chief executive officer and whole-time director, Jubilant Foodworks, that operates the pizza chain in India, said on a social media post. On Saturday, 26-year-old Chanu won a silver in the 49-kg women's weightlifting category marking an end to India's nearly two decade long wait to win a medal win in the category. The win also marked India's first medal in the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In an interview with news channel NDTV after her win, Chanu expressed her desire to eat pizza after being on a strict diet in preparation for the Games. "First of all, I will go and have a pizza. It has been a long time since I ate it. I will eat a lot today," Chanu said. India has sent its largest-ever continent to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that commenced on 23 July. Mint had reported earlier that brands across categories were backing the India contingent set to represent the country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), for instance, has signed brands such as Edelweiss, INOX Group and Nippon Paint as national sponsors. While dairy brand Amul, Raymond and JSW Group have come on board as partners. Raymond is the official styling partner. MPL Sports Foundation has come on board as principal sponsor in a deal worth Rs.80 million that covers the Tokyo Olympics as well as the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year. The promoters of HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint, and Jubilant Foodworks are closely related. There are, however, no promoter cross-holdings.
29 Manipur accorded a hero's welcome to welcome to India's first silver medal winner in Olympics Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from the state when she arrived in Imphal on Tuesday afternoon. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh led well wishers including the family of Mirabai received the star weightlifter who won India's first Olympic medal in 49kg women's weightlifting with a total lift of 202 kg at the Tokyo Olympics on July 24. Without delay the state Chief Minister Biren Singh along with the Olympic medallist drove straight to the City Convention centre to attend the felicitation programme which was attended by ministers, MLAs, officials, family of Mirabai, friends, relatives and other well-wishers. Speaking at the felicitation programme, the Chief Minister Biren said that her silver Medal at Tokyo Olympics should be the stepping stone for more such milestones. Biren also asked her to work harder till she secures Olympic Gold Medal. He also announced that the State Government would begin a scheme to provide annual financial grants to the associations of the Olympic sports disciplines. During the day's felicitation, Chief Minister Biren Singh handed over a cheque of Rs.1 crore as cash reward and also handed over the appointment order of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Mirabai Chanu. The Sports and Education departments have also extended a sum of Rs.10 lakh and Rs.3 lakh respectively to Mirabai during the felicitation event. An overjoyed Mirabai Chanu speaking at the felicitation said, "With all those love, faith and blessing given by the people, I manage to get this medal. So I wanted to dedicate this medal to the people." She said she was not as happy as she could not make it in Rio (Olympics) last time. "Since then I tried my best, completely focussing on training for five years in spite of facing difficulties including the injuries," she said. Mirabai thanked her parents, coaches at the state training centre for their blessing, guide and continuous support over the years. She also thanked the government for extending timely support over the years and particularly the trips to the USA for the training. Later, the Chief Minister along with the Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs took Mirabai to her office and ushered her to the seat of Additional SP (Sports). In a tweet, Chief Minister Biren wrote, "I'm extremely delighted to handover the newly furnished office of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu in presence of her proud parents today. I was joined by my cabinet colleagues, Hon'ble MLAs and officials during the handing over ceremony."
30 PV Sindhu on Sunday ensured that her name will be written in bold letters in the annals of Indian sporting history. The shuttler-par-excellence became the first Indian woman athlete to win two individual Olympic medals, as she beat China's He Bing Jiao to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She had earlier won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sindhu won the match 21-13, 21-15 and completely dominated her opponent. Sindhu, who had lost the women's singles semi-final to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying 18-21, 12-21, controlled the match from the beginning and used her powerful smashes to subdue the Chinese opponent. She thus became the fourth woman to win a singles medal in consecutive Olympic Games. PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Highlights - Women's singles bronze medal match - Tokyo Olympics Since losing the Rio Olympics final, Sindhu has risen to become one of the most consistent female players in badminton. She might not have been at the top of the BWF rankings ever but has made her presence felt in almost all the top tournaments, in the last five years. She is the reigning world champion, having won the title in 2019, after failing at the final hurdle in 2017 and 2018. Here is a full list of major honours won by PV Sindhu in women's singles: Olympic Games 2016 - Silver 2020 - Bronze World Championships 2013 - Bronze 2014 - Bronze 2017 - Silver 2018 - Silver 2019 - Gold Commonwealth Games 2014 - Bronze 2018 - Silver Asian Games 2018 - Silver BWF World Tour 1 Gold and 4 Silver BWF Superseries 3 Gold and 4 Silver BWF Grand Prix 6 Gold and 3 Silver
31 India women's hockey team missed out on a medal as they went down to the Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. But the coach Sjoerd Marijne's team can take pride in the fact that they finished fourth in Tokyo Games, their highest-ever Olympic finish in history, and competed for a medal at the Games for the first time. (while India had also finished fourth in 1980, only six teams were competing at the Moscow Games, and there were no medal matches). Great Britain started the match with their typical attacking style of play, forcing Indian defenders to push deep inside their own circles. There were two penalty corners for Britain in the first 15 minutes, one of them was saved by Savita, while the second one was a lucky escape for India, as Britain players were unable to trap the ball. Savita also made two saves from open play attempts as Leah Wilkinson sent the ball inside the circle, and Elena Rayer struck it to the Indian goalkeeper, who pushed it out with her leg. The rebound landed on Sarah Jones' stick, who took her shot, only to be deflected back again by Savita. Jones attempted another shot on target minutes later, but the Indian goalkeeper denied her again. But the constant attacks reaped fruits for Britain in the second quarter as Rayer made a run from the right, and sent the ball inside the circle in front of goal, only to be deflected into the back of the nets by Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Minutes later, Sarah Robertson's tomahawk shot into the nets doubled Britain's lead, putting pressure on India. But Gurjit Kaur came to the party to bring India back to the level pegging, scoring two back-to-back goals from the penalty corners, with powerful dragflicks past Britain goalkeeper Madeliene Hinch. A third goal was added before the end of the second quarter by Vandana Katariya, when Sushila Chanu pushed a ball inside the scoring circle from the left. Navneet Kaur attempted a shot, missed, but Vandana was standing right behind her and struck it in from the near post to give India the lead. India started third quarter on the backfoot, trying to defend the feeble lead, which allowed Great Britain to get back to the level terms with a well-stitced attacking move. Isabelle Petter's first attempt was saved by Savita, but the ball deflected to Hollie Pearne-Webb, who struck it past Savita to equalise. A late flourish from India in the third quarter troubled Britain's defence, but it was not enough for Sjoerd Marijne's side to get back their lead. A flurry of penalty corners at the start of the fourth quarter for Great Britain allowed them to regain their lead as Grace Balsdon finally scored from a set-piece. India played almost seven minutes with 10 players with Neha getting a yellow card, followed by a green card to Nikki Pradhan. India received a penalty corner, but Gurjit Kaur's dragflick was saved by Hinch. While coach Sjoerd Marijne's team got off to a poor start to the tournament, losing their first three games, they found their rhythm and form just at the right team. With wins over Ireland and South Africa in the group stage, India women's team booked a ride to the quarterfinals, where they shocked Australia to earn their first-ever semifinals berth, but could not reach the final as they went down to Argentina 1-2.
32 "I dared to dream big inspite of my humble beginnings." MC Mary Kom says this towards the end of her slim autobiography "Unbreakable". When the book was published in 2013, Mary was a mother of three and the only Indian woman boxer with an Olympic medal. She was also a five-time world champion. All her goals--farmland for her father, an SUV for her parents, a boxing academy, a job through the sports quota, a house--had been achieved. Soon after, a biopic would be released which would inspire Iranian Sadaf Khadem to make boxing her calling even if it meant living in exile. But if you thought all that was reason enough for Mary to stop taking punches, to stop punishing her body, check out the video in the Olympic channel after she got her ticket to Tokyo. Sweat shining, Mary shrills in delight, takes a step back, presses the ticket against her forehead before kissing it. And then, with eyes growing wider, she points her still-taped hands to the ticket and exclaims: "For this only, so long, so long, long, long, I was working so hard. Thank you so much. I deserve, I deserve, I think." It would be difficult to disagree with that. Because five years after a split decision against Germany's Azize Nimani robbed her of a chance to play in Rio 2016, Mary didn't stop dreaming. She didn't when Nikhat Zareen became the national champion in the 51kg category and demanded a fair trial ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in 2020. Mary beat her 9-1 showing that Zareen may well be the future but she isn't yet the past. She has battled dengue, hard lockdowns and long stretches of no training last year, trained through mastitis after her twins were born in 2007, stayed away from her newborns for months--as they got older, they would ask Mary when she would come home, "one night or two nights," she said--and yo-yoed between weight categories (48kg in 2001; 45kg from 2002-08; 48kg in 2010 and 51kg since 2012) because she wanted to be the best. And without undermining her record six world titles--in addition to a silver and a bronze--five Asian Championship gold and two silver, an Asian Games gold and a bronze, and a Commonwealth Games gold, being the best for Mary means an Olympic gold. It has been that way since August 13, 2009 when the International Olympic Committee announced that women's boxing would be an Olympic sport from the 2012 Games. Citing Mary's success was part of the pitch by AIBA, boxing's apex body. "Being a world champion, if I am not able to fight in the Olympics, there is no value for me. What keeps me hungry is the Olympic gold. Once I win that, I think I will be satisfied," Mary, now a mother of four who will be 39 in November, has said. She is among five Indian women with Olympic medals--Saina Nehwal, Karnam Malleswari, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik being the others-- and no one has struck gold. Hence the whoop in Amman in March, 2020, after beating Irish Magno of the Philippines 5-0 to seal a semi-final berth in the Asian qualifiers--one that helped Mary qualify for her second Olympics. Maybe things would have been different if India gave equal value to her world titles as it did to the Olympic bronze. The first medal fetched Mary a job as a constable in the Manipur police department. She refused. It wasn't till her second world title, in 2005, that Mary was offered a sub-inspector's post. But after she made the podium in London, Mary became Superintendent of Police, a Rajya Sabha member and got land for her academy. So, like Muhammad Ali, Mary has gone to Tokyo aiming to "whup'em all." At Friday's opening ceremony, she and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh were India's flag-bearers. Mary's story began in Kangathei village near Imphal. Her father, a wrestler who abandoned the idea of taking the sport seriously because life was hard, had moved from their ancestral place Sagang Khapui "because it was one less mouth to feed". With school some distance away, most days in childhood were long but ploughing fields with buffalos, lifting sacks of rice and heavy farming tools, carrying water across long distances, going up the hill to collect firewood prepared her for a life as a ring warrior, she has said. "I am tough because of my background. My strength and stamina continue to be my strong points when I fight bigger opponents in the ring," she says in her book. If Nicola Adams, the two-time Olympic champion from Britain who beat Mary in the 2012, took up the sport because she got curious after her mother went a gymnasium that also held boxing classes, Mary got hooked because of a combination of early exposure to martial arts films, the late Dingko Singh winning the 54kg gold in the 1998 Asian Games, a women's boxing exhibition in Imphal and a chance meeting with boxer Rebika Chiru who took her to famous coach Ibomcha Singh. "I want you to coach me," said Mary, adding that Ibomcha was possibly taken aback by the bold approach. Through the journey, husband Onler has more than held her hand. Mary calls him a friend, partner, soulmate and "extraordinarily graceful night-time parent" in the book. "He is the reason my medal hauls continued after marriage, putting an end to doomsday predictions about the end of my career," she says. If Mary is a lesson in juggling motherhood, promotional commitments and boxing, it is because Onler has put his life on hold to manage everything else. The opponents World champion Liliya Aetbaeva of Russia hasn't qualified for Tokyo but silver medallist Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey has. Cakiroglu has lost only five times since the 2016 Games and beat Mary in the semi-final of the 2019 world championship. Virginia Fuchs of USA, who has defeated Mary twice, will also be there as will Ingrit Valencia of Colombia who lost to Mary in the 2019 world championship quarter-final. They could be among her top contenders. Cakiroglu is 25, Fuchs is 33 and Valencia 32. But referring to Floyd Mayweather beating Canelo Alvarez in September 2013, Adams, in an interview to The Guardian, spoke about how the "older" and "more skillful" won because "he just had the smarts to outmanoeuvre the younger guy." Among Mary's favourite lines from the Bible is this: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (Corinthinas 9:24)." So discount Mary, the world No. 3, at your peril. But even if she doesn't fulfill her expectations, even if she returns without a medal she will remain the standard-bearer of women's boxing in India. One who in the absence of history and reference forged her path. If there are more girls in boxing, in sport now, it is also because Mary continues to inspire, almost two decades after becoming a world champion for the first time.
33 WazirX NFT, India's first marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFT), has launched art collections dedicated to the silver medal won by Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in the 2020 Summer Olympic, being held in Tokyo, Japan. Chanu, on Saturday became the sixth Indian female athlete to win an Olympic medal in this century. Creators on WazirX NFT Marketplace have minted NFTs featuring GIFs, artworks, etc. capturing the win of Mirabai Chanu. 'A Billion Dreams' by cartoonist Satish Acharya was sold for 300 WRX or $338.7. Another NFT based on Chanu's win, which was minted by doodle artist Monika Paul, was sold for 58 WRX or $65.48. WRX is the utility token of cryptocurrency exchange WazirX and was trading 9.3% higher at $1.13 at around 4.30 pm IST, as per CoinGecko. "The pandemic brought sports to a standstill for most part of 2020. However, the Olympics this year have brought joy not just to the sports enthusiasts but also to our country as a whole. Not just a week into the event and women athletes are already making headlines with their wins. To salute and honor these athletes, artists have been creating NFTs which are now available on our platform," said Vishakha Singh, vice-president, WazirX NFT Marketplace. This year India witnessed its highest female contingent at Tokyo Olympics, featuring 56 athletes. NFTs are digital collectibles, which can be obtained via an official marketplace and artists around the world have gone digital this year by minting different NFTs to cheer the players and to keep the fans engaged. NFT is a one-of-its-kind digital asset that is not interchangeable in nature. Owning an NFT is like owning a one-of-a-kind work of art or a collectable antique. NFTs are unique tokens or digital assets that generate value because of their uniqueness.
34 Long after the heat of battle had ebbed, the tears continued to flow for the Indian women's hockey team. If they were still crying as they trooped out of the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo to take the bus for the Games village, they were simply inconsolable on the turf. In soaring temperatures (43 degrees pitch side), the plucky Indian women's team had pushed the 2016 Olympics gold medallists Great Britain so hard that even the rival camp were left to admire their determined effort.As the women sobbed and were consoled by both the coaching staff as well as their opponents, the scoreboard flashed the final result-4-3-which told both sides of the story: a valiant fight and an opportunity missed narrowly. If ever there was victory in defeat, this was it. In a match where both teams ran themselves ragged, battling for every ball, the more skillful team won, but India proved that they more than belonged to this stage. This is a result that is bigger than the match itself, because it holds the promise of transforming the dynamics of Indian women's hockey. But for now, the pain of coming so close but missing out on the medal hurt to the bones. Captain Rani Rampal stood transfixed on the turf, crying. Coach Sjoerd Marijne gave Rani a little shake, before running over to goalkeeper Savita Punia, who was sobbing uncontrollably in the arms of the team's analytical coach Janneke Schopman. The British women stopped their celebrations midway to offer a shoulder for their crestfallen opponents. Finally, Marijne, for whom it was the last match with the team, got them together and quietly said, "I can't take away your tears, but what I can tell you is that India is proud of each one of you." The Indian women's team played this match with the same qualities of intensity and resilience that allowed them to repeatedly claw back from nearly hopeless situations throughout the tournament-be it from the three losses from their first three matches in the group stage, or today, when they were down 0-2 in the second quarter. Launching one attack after another, India slotted in three goals in four minutes to stun Britain and end the quarter on top. The first two goals from India came off Gurjit Kaur- who is fast becoming the goalscoring talisman of this team-both powerful drag-flicks that thundered through the British defence. Then the experienced Vandana Kataria, so good at latching on to loose balls in the D, did exactly that for the third goal. The British equalized five minutes into the third quarter and then scored again in the fourth, the winner coming from Grace Balsdon. "We were very close to winning a medal. We showed the character of the team," said captain Rampal, her voice choking up. "We fought till the end but unfortunately, we could not finish it, but I am proud of the team. "When I came to the team I never thought that we could come to this level because we had never qualified for the Olympics. We finished 12th in Rio and it was a turning point for women's hockey." The start was anything but a sign of things to come. Great Britain controlled the pace of the game and the action was mostly in the Indian half where Savita Punia was pulling off one one save after another. Britain got three penalty corners in quick succession but Punia the 'wall' was doing what PR Sreejesh did for the men's team. With quick reflexes and good anticipation, she stood boldly between Britain and an opening goal. The next 15 minutes were explosive-five goals between the two teams, with pacy attacks down the flanks, desperate defending, quick passing and some fine solo runs, including one by Salima Tete that set up the penalty corner for Gurjit's first goal. But for India, it was not enough. Great Britain controlled just as much of the game as needed, scored two goals in the last two quarters and no matter how much India tried, they could not score another one. "We had the confidence that we can win this match," said Gurjit. "We put all our effort. We were so close to winning a medal. We will come back stronger."
35 Shattered after going down in the Olympics women's singles final, world number one badminton player Tai Tzu Ying has revealed that Indian ace P V Sindhu's words of encouragement after the medal ceremony left her in tears. Competing in her third Olympics, Tai Tzu finally stood atop the podium, finishing with a silver medal after going down to Chen Yu Fei of China 18-21 21-19 18-21 in the final here on Sunday. Five years ago at the Rio Olympics, Sindhu had emerged second best as she went down to Carolina Marin of Spain in a hard-fought three-game loss and the Indian knew exactly how the world no.1 shuttler was feeling. "After the match, I was satisfied with my performance. Later Sindhu ran over and hugged me, held my face, and told me: I know you're uncomfortable and you've been very good, but today isn't your day. Then she held me in her arms and said she knows all about it," Tai Tzu wrote on her Instagram account. "That sincere encouragement, made me cry. I was really sad because I tried really hard. Thank you again for your support and encouragement. Thank you all for walking with me till now," she added. On Saturday, Tai Tzu had defeated Sindhu, the Rio Olympic silver-medallist and the reigning world champion, 21-18 21-12 in the semifinals, ending the Indian's hopes of securing the country's first-ever gold medal in badminton. Sindhu later won the bronze medal play off against world no.9 He Bing Jiao of China to become the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Games. The 27-year-old Tai Tzu penned down an emotional note, thanking everyone who has supported her. "The third time I stepped on the stage of this dream, I finally made it to the finals, but I couldn't stand on the highest podium. There is always a little regret, but imperfection always exist, only to be motivated to pursue better results." "Maybe I won't have another chance to participate in the Olympics, but I've achieved this goal, just not so perfect. "I just want to tell myself: Dai Ji-hing, you're great! Thank you to all of you who have supported me, the results are always brutal and only acceptable but I try my best."
36 Gurjit Kaur's goal in the second quarter earned the Indian women's hockey team a place in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final - their first-ever in Olympic Games - with a historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarter-final on Monday. After applying consistent pressure in the first quarter, India made a circle penetration and earned a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Gurjit Kaur carried out the drag-flick and found the back of the net to help India take a 1-0 lead. "I'm really happy. This is the result of all our hard work. Every player has worked day and night for this day, can't tell you how happy I am," Gurjit said after India beat the World No.2 side against all odds. VIDEO: Gurjit Kaur's goal that helped India achieve historic win over Australia After conceding, Australia put some pressure on the Indian goal, however, the Indian defence stood tall and fought against everything the Australians threw at them. In the 11th minute of the second quarter, Salima Tete made a circle penetration and took a shot, but she looped the ball over the crossbar. Indian continued to put pressure on the Australians as the two teams went into the break with India leading at 1-0. Australia started the third quarter aggressively and made a circle penetration straight away, however, the Indian team directed the ball away brilliantly. Australia continued to put pressure on their opponents and earned a penalty corner in the third minute of the third quarter, however, they couldn't convert their opportunity. The Australians earned another penalty corner in the next minute, but the Indian defence unit pushed the ball away fantastically. Australia kept trying to put pressure on their opponents, however, the Indians kept intercepting the ball. The World Number 2 team kept trying to find a breakthrough, but the Indian defence stood tall and ensured that they stayed in the lead. In the 13th minute, Neha made a brilliant pass to Navneet in the circle, but the latter took a shot, but couldn't find the back of the net. Sharmila Devi drove the ball from the right in the final minutes of the third quarter, however, the Indians couldn't deflect the ball into the goal. Australia continued to put pressure on the Indians in the fourth quarter, however, the Indian defence unit kept directing the ball away from the goal. In the 7th minute of the fourth quarter, Australia earned two Penalty Corners, but the Indian defence made two brilliant saves and ensured that they stayed in the lead. The Australians kept pressing forward, kept making circle penetrations, but they just couldn't find a way to breach the Indian defence. With just three minutes left on the clock, the Australians earned a Penalty Corner. The Australians took a shot, but Monika calmly tapped the ball away from the goal. Australia earned another Penalty Corner soon after and got very close to the goal, but the Indians held their nerve and directed the ball away. The Indians kept most of the ball possession in the final minutes of the match and ensured that they booked a place in the Semi-finals. The Indian women's hockey team will take on Argentina in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics on 4 August 2021.
37 Gurjit Kaur's goal in the second quarter earned the Indian women's hockey team a place in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final - their first-ever in Olympic Games - with a historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarter-final on Monday. After applying consistent pressure in the first quarter, India made a circle penetration and earned a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Gurjit Kaur carried out the drag-flick and found the back of the net to help India take a 1-0 lead. "I'm really happy. This is the result of all our hard work. Every player has worked day and night for this day, can't tell you how happy I am," Gurjit said after India beat the World No.2 side against all odds. VIDEO: Gurjit Kaur's goal that helped India achieve historic win over Australia After conceding, Australia put some pressure on the Indian goal, however, the Indian defence stood tall and fought against everything the Australians threw at them. In the 11th minute of the second quarter, Salima Tete made a circle penetration and took a shot, but she looped the ball over the crossbar. Indian continued to put pressure on the Australians as the two teams went into the break with India leading at 1-0. Australia started the third quarter aggressively and made a circle penetration straight away, however, the Indian team directed the ball away brilliantly. Australia continued to put pressure on their opponents and earned a penalty corner in the third minute of the third quarter, however, they couldn't convert their opportunity. The Australians earned another penalty corner in the next minute, but the Indian defence unit pushed the ball away fantastically. Australia kept trying to put pressure on their opponents, however, the Indians kept intercepting the ball. The World Number 2 team kept trying to find a breakthrough, but the Indian defence stood tall and ensured that they stayed in the lead. In the 13th minute, Neha made a brilliant pass to Navneet in the circle, but the latter took a shot, but couldn't find the back of the net. Sharmila Devi drove the ball from the right in the final minutes of the third quarter, however, the Indians couldn't deflect the ball into the goal. Australia continued to put pressure on the Indians in the fourth quarter, however, the Indian defence unit kept directing the ball away from the goal. In the 7th minute of the fourth quarter, Australia earned two Penalty Corners, but the Indian defence made two brilliant saves and ensured that they stayed in the lead. The Australians kept pressing forward, kept making circle penetrations, but they just couldn't find a way to breach the Indian defence. With just three minutes left on the clock, the Australians earned a Penalty Corner. The Australians took a shot, but Monika calmly tapped the ball away from the goal. Australia earned another Penalty Corner soon after and got very close to the goal, but the Indians held their nerve and directed the ball away. The Indians kept most of the ball possession in the final minutes of the match and ensured that they booked a place in the Semi-finals. The Indian women's hockey team will take on Argentina in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics on 4 August 2021.
38 Nobody was speaking about Anna Kiesenhofer ahead of the Tokyo 2020 women's road race on 25 July, but now certainly everyone knows all about her. Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria rode to the gold medal in the women's Olympic road race on Sunday. Annemiek Van Vleuten of the Netherlands claimed the silver medal with Elisa Longho Borghini of Italy third. Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also joined in as people around the world congratulated Anna, who is a math genius, as she won a gold medal in the women's Olympic road race. "What a woman! Superwoman." Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted. What a woman! Superwoman' ������ pic.twitter.com/5N8ij5RlAk - Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 31, 2021 Anna Kiesenhofer took to Instagram to express her gratitude and wrote, "Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have been there for me over the last months and years. You know who you are. And you know that the very essence of this achievement is not so different from any other major goal I set myself in the past. The last days have been such a crazy." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anna Kiesenhofer (@annakiesenhofer) Kiesenhofer's curriculum vitae features more academic accomplishments than cycling ones: a degree from the Technical University of Vienna studied at Cambridge and a doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In fact, she does not even have a professional contract this season, and she was entered in the Olympic road race without a teammate. -With agency inputs
39 Nobody was speaking about Anna Kiesenhofer ahead of the Tokyo 2020 women's road race on 25 July, but now certainly everyone knows all about her. Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria rode to the gold medal in the women's Olympic road race on Sunday. Annemiek Van Vleuten of the Netherlands claimed the silver medal with Elisa Longho Borghini of Italy third. Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also joined in as people around the world congratulated Anna, who is a math genius, as she won a gold medal in the women's Olympic road race. "What a woman! Superwoman." Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted. What a woman! Superwoman' ������ pic.twitter.com/5N8ij5RlAk - Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 31, 2021 Anna Kiesenhofer took to Instagram to express her gratitude and wrote, "Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have been there for me over the last months and years. You know who you are. And you know that the very essence of this achievement is not so different from any other major goal I set myself in the past. The last days have been such a crazy." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anna Kiesenhofer (@annakiesenhofer) Kiesenhofer's curriculum vitae features more academic accomplishments than cycling ones: a degree from the Technical University of Vienna studied at Cambridge and a doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In fact, she does not even have a professional contract this season, and she was entered in the Olympic road race without a teammate. -With agency inputs
40 A variety of brands cashed in on athlete Mirabai Chanu's thumping win in the women's weightlifting 49 kg category at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, launching campaigns to congratulate her and even offering freebies. Homegrown cloud kitchen food brand platform Yumlane offered its pizza to the athlete, while Jubilant FoodWorks owned Domino's Pizza went a step ahead and delivered it at Chanu's home in Manipur besides promising a lifetime of free treats for her. "Domino's is now doing a short-term digital activation deal with Mirabai Chanu," said Neerav Tomar, CEO & managing director, IOS Sports and Entertainment, a sports management company that handles Chanu's brand endorsement portfolio. While Tomar told Mint that there is interest from brands across categories such as steel, energy drinks, muscle supplement, women's personal care to sign Chanu, branding and marketing experts felt that most brands have used her win to attract attention to themselves and push their products. "Such marketing tactics get quick media eyeballs, and that is sadly what brands are chasing. It's all about moment marketing and being on the trending list. Most brands don't bother about what they stand for and the right fit," said Naresh Gupta, co-founder, and chief strategy officer, Bang In The Middle. Gupta added that if brands were serious about fueling an athlete's Olympic dreams, they have to work with them for a long period of time. "Companies such as JSW and Tatas spend a lifetime nurturing athletes and looking after them," he added. JSW Group, for instance, has been supporting its athletes through the last five years at every stage in the build-up to the Tokyo Games. The firm also opened the doors of the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) training centre in Bellary, Karnataka to all Tokyo-bound athletes, irrespective of whether they are supported by the JSW Group or not. Sports brand Puma has signed 18 Indian athletes who will represent the country in national and international events across sporting disciplines like shooting, hockey, track and field, boxing, table tennis, discus throw, and badminton. The brand will provide gear and support to these athletes. Harish Bijoor, brand strategy expert and founder, Harish BijoorConsults Inc. calls it 'Olympic moment vulturism'. "Many brands have hijacked the winning moment of the athletes to gain attention towards themselves which has not created a negative reaction in the minds of many. Consumers are savvy though and they know when it happens," he noted. The Lovely Professional University (LPU) ad showing 11 athletes in the India Olympic squad that belonged to the university stirred a debate when Virat Kohli mentioned the fact in his post. Netizens trolled Kohli for using Olympics as a ploy to promote the educational institution. A senior sports marketing executive, on the condition of anonymity, said there are legal implications to such marketing tactics. Unless a brand has signed a legal contract with an athlete, they cannot use his/her picture even for congratulatory posts. "Often, brands don't take such liberties with the cricketers because they have got strong management and legal teams. However, unfortunately, brands do tend to take advantage of young upcoming athletes in non-traditional sports who will likely come in the limelight once in their lifetime," the executive added. The biggest drawback with non-traditional sports athletes is also low visibility. Unlike sports such as cricket, badminton, tennis, and football, which have year-round engagement, non-traditional sports athletes are only seen twice in four years for Asian Games and Olympics. "That is the unfortunate reason that their access to fame is only once every four years and hence brands don't sign them for long-term partnerships," the executive noted. (The promoters of HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint, and Jubilant FoodWorks are closely related. There are, however, no promoter cross-holdings.)
41 There's definitely a sense of disappointment with Indian Women's Hockey team failing to enter the race for the gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, but Chak De! India actor Vidya Malavade is proud that the team went down fighting against one of the best teams in the world. Millions were glued to their screens watching the match against Argentina, held on Wednesday, with a hope to witness the reel moment of the women's hockey team clinching the gold at a world cup from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer film, turn into a reality on a bigger platform. It didn't come true, but there's nothing to lose hope, says Malavade. "We've already created history by going to the semi-finals for the first time. The girls are looking so fit. It's the training that has got them to where they are today. The defence and aggression is good. But, Argentina played better," says Malavade, who was seen in the role of captain of India's women's hockey team in the 2007 film. She adds, "I'm already proud of what we've achieved and we only look onwards and upwards from here." After all, these are the moments which distinguish reel life from real life, feels the actor. "If not this time, we'll have our Chak De! India moment agli baar. You can't give up. I'll never give up hope. Just look, from where these girls have come, the humble backgrounds, and went on to create history. They beat the top team in the world," she notes. Now, the actor is rooting for the team to bring home the bronze medal and is hopeful that next time, it would be gold. "It's one step at a time. This time, we reached the semis. Next time, maybe we'll reach the finals and at some point we'll lift the gold. Hockey has been our national sport and our pride for a very long time. In the coming years, we'll see the golden era of hockey all over again," the actor expresses. Till then, Malavade is happy other sports like hockey are also gaining recognition, all thanks to the players. "Until a few days ago, nobody ever spoke about these players, and now everybody is interested. I'm just glad that women are shining in sports. I think the time has come where the athletes in this country are doing really well and athletics is being considered as a viable profession. And it can bring glory to the country, which is the most important thing," she concludes.
42 The Olympic fever has gripped the nation and actor Payal Ghosh is not immune to it. The actor has been watching every game where Indian athletes are participating at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The self-confessed sports fanatic says, "I am so inspired by the way our athletes and especially women are fighting it out at the Tokyo Olympics. Be it Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom or our Indian Women's Hockey team, they are leaving no stones unturned to bring glory to the nation." Ghosh feels that we need many more such athletes in our country and as the joy that's sports brings to us is so paramount. "That's what sports can do to us. It inspires us," she continues, "Every kid should have the right to play the sport she or he loves and we must encourage and empower our kids with those facilities. And when that happens, we can go a long way as a sport-loving nation and not just a sportsperson-loving nation. Not just for the medals and the championships, we need to play like never before because of the joy, intensity and the lessons sports give and every kid has that right." Citing the example of the US and how they have been able to weave Olympic success stories over the years, the actor says, "The US has been the epitome of Olympic success and the entire sports fraternity is run by private players, backed by their government." Not one to merely preach, Ghosh is set on doing her bit to help kids inculcate a love for sports. So, she has decided to give sporting goods to an NGO for a year for underprivileged children. "Sports is the best reality show and it has the power to shake up the world. Our sportsmen and women embody that. This is the change we have to bring and let each kid play from the youngest of their ages. I can't wait to be associated with this and I am really looking forward to being a part of this change," she ends.
43 P.V. Sindhu may have won the bronze in Tokyo, but she's certainly struck gold back home. The ace shuttler, the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, is likely to see a surge in her brand endorsement fee and value, said sports marketing executives. Sindhu, who had won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, could see her annual brand fee go up by more than 60% from Rs.1.5-1.8 crore to Rs.2-3 crore, they said. "A few active discussions are going on," said Tuhin Mishra, managing director and co-founder of Baseline Ventures, which manages her portfolio. Mishra said Sindhu, 26, has clearly shown that she is a GOAT (Greatest of all time) of Indian sports. "Her medal-winning performance will surely help further add to the market value she commands. However, that's secondary; most importantly, she helps inspire youngsters to dream and break the glass ceiling," he added. Sindhu currently has 10 deals with a variety of brands, including Bank of Baroda, Bridgestone Tyres, Visa India, Google, real estate firm Pooja Developers, Chinese sports brand Li Ning, Stayfree, PNB Metlife, Sharechat and Vizag Steel. In 2016, after her Rio success, Sindhu emerged as an overnight favourite for many brands and has managed to maintain and expand her brand portfolio because of the popularity she enjoys. According to consultant Duff & Phelps' estimates, Sindhu had about 10 endorsements at the end of 2020, and her brand value was about $12 million. "We expect her brand value to increase significantly post her phenomenal success at the Tokyo Olympics. It may be difficult to quantify the increase at this stage. Brands would be looking at this fantastic opportunity to rope her in as a brand ambassador by leveraging her fame with the brand image," said Aviral Jain, managing director, Duff & Phelps-a Kroll business. Backed by impressive performances across the globe and a strong endorsement portfolio over the years, Sindhu today is the most successful female athlete in India in terms of brand endorsements and presence, Jain said. "She has been signed on as a brand ambassador for many brands since badminton has a mass appeal, and fans follow her for her expertise, excellence and consistent performance. She has been a persistent, dependable and winning athlete throughout her career, and this attribute is what brands leverage since it's in sync with their product image," he noted. Ritesh Nath, an independent sports consultant, agreed: "Sindhu already has an extremely rich bag of endorsements in any case, and that is a testimony that she does work for marketers. She has learnt to position and groom herself better in the market." But although Sindhu is one of India's most successful female athletes, her brand value is only a fraction of cricketer Virat Kohli's $237 million. Experts said marketing opportunities have opened up for female athletes only recently due to the growth of social media platforms. With almost 8 million followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Sindhu strikes a deep connection with fans, an accomplishment that homegrown social media platform Sharechat and video sharing app Moj are leveraging. "We believe that she will inspire and encourage our communities to create and engage with the sports content," said Shashank Shekhar, director -content strategy, Moj and ShareChat.
44 India vs Great Britain women's hockey Live Streaming: History may be on the cards on Friday as India face off against Great Britain in women's hockey bronze medal match in Tokyo. A victory for the Indian women's team against the defending Olympic champions will be doubly sweeter as it would mean India's first-ever Olympic medal in women's hockey. But the odds are against the Rani Rampal-led team in their first-ever medal match in history. Where will India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Friday (August 6th). Tokyo 2020 Day 14 Live Where and how to watch live coverage of the India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Great Britain women's hockey bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
45 A Canadian football player is assured of becoming the first-ever transgender sportsperson to win a medal at the Olympic Games after the country's women's team defeated the United States in the semi-finals on Monday. Quinn, who goes by a single name, played on the team as a midfielder. While Quinn was also a member of the squad that claimed the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, they only came out as transgender in September last year. Quinn self-describes as a non-binary and does not use either male or female pronouns and instead prefers they/them. Canada will face off against Sweden in the women's final on Friday but is assured of winning either a gold or silver. In an Instagram post last year, Quinn wrote: "Coming out is HARD", adding, "I know for me it's something I'll be doing over again for the rest of my life. As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly." Much attention has been placed during the Tokyo Games on New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, also a transgender athlete, who was eliminated early in the women's 87-plus kg category. Her participation has ignited a debate over whether transgender athletes participating in women's category have an unfair advantage. The International Olympic Committee is expected to frame fresh guidelines in this regard in the future. Unlike Hubbard, Quinn was born female and is participating in a women's event. Quinn told the outlet CBC Sports that athletics was "the most exciting part of my life and it brings me the most joy," adding, "If I can allow kids to play the sports they love, that's my legacy and that's what I'm here for." Regardless of the result on Friday, Quinn ascending the podium will mark a historic day for transgenders in sport.
46 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud that it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just beaten NC Chen of Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the women's boxing quarterfinals to assure a second Tokyo Olympic medal for India. After Vijender Singh in 2008 and Mary Kom in 2012, both bronzes, Borgohain is now the third boxer ever from India to win an Olympic medal. In Olympic boxing, both losing semifinalists get the bronze. If Borgohain wins her semi, she will become the first Indian boxer in an Olympic final. The lanky boxer was scrappy to start with. The first round was cagey and neither Borgohain nor Chen managed to control the bout, though the ruled narrowly in favour of the boxer from Assam. From the second round, Borgohain was transformed. She took control, her footwork and defensive play was assured and her counters efficient. The more desperately Chen threw her punches, the more Borgohain dictated the ring. The round went to her 5-0. "You can make history for India," the Indian women's boxing coach Raffaello Bergamesco said to her between the rounds and yet again Borgohain took control of the third to romp home to a win. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, a two-time world championships medallist. Her success also attested to the talent of athletes from the North-eastern states, coming on the heels of the silver medal exploits of Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting. Borgohain came out to meet the press with a traditional gamosa around her neck. Borgohain had lost against Chen in their previous four meetings before the Olympics, but today she was not to be denied. "I thought I will play it easy, whatever the situation I will handle. I have lost four times. I used to think too much about her. Today I went with the strategy of attacking and not staying on the back foot," she said. Borgohain said she will be even more free in the semifinals, now that a medal is sure for the country. "I can play freely now. I did not take any tress. If you take stress, it is not good. I just wanted to prove myself. I wanted to prove that I can beat her."
47 There were prayers and lighting of lamps before the match and though she lost to her Turkish opponent, all of Assam erupted in celebrations and congratulatory messages at the glory Lovlina Borgohain brought to the state. Her home at Baromukhia village in Golaghat district was filled with neighbours, relatives and journalists to watch the 23-year-old take on Busenaz Surmeneli in semi-final of women's welterweight boxing category of Tokyo Olympics. But her parents, father Tiken Borgohain and mother Mamoni, didn't watch the bout; they were in another room of the house. But this was not the first time they skipped Lovlina's bout. They had not watched her previous bouts in Tokyo as well. "It's too much of excitement and emotion to handle while watching her matches live. We prefer hearing about their outcome from others and watch them later, if possible," Borgohain, a small-time businessman, told HT over phone from Baromukhia. They could, however, make out how Wednesday's match was progressing from the from the cheers and sighs from the other room. "I am told that she put up a valiant fight and didn't go down meekly. Winning and losing are part of every sport. We are proud of her achievement and for bringing glory to Assam and India. We are confident she will learn from this experience and improve as a boxer," he said. Borgohain, who hasn't yet spoken to his daughter after today's match, expects her to reach home next week. Lovlina's bronze medal was cheered by President Ram Nath Kovind, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lauded her efforts and expressed hope that it will inspire more young people, especially women, to pursue their dreams. "Congratulations to Assam's daughter Lovlina Borgohain for bringing home the bronze medal in Olympic boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement," Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Sarma led a cycle rally in Guwahati to cheer for Lovlina as she left for Tokyo and on Tuesday, the state Cabinet lighted earthen lamps to pray for her success in the semi-final bout. On Wednesday, the ongoing budget session of the state assembly was halted for 30 minutes so all legislators could watch the match. Lovlina's village does not have a metalled road. After her quarter final win, the state government is busy preparing a motorable road. When she returns from Tokyo, a new road will await the bronze medallist.
48 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gave a heartwarming reply to India women's team hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne on Twitter after the historic win over Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The Indian women's hockey team led by Rani Rampal defeated Australia in the quarterfinal in Tokyo 2020 to book a spot in the semifinals for the first time in history. A fantastic dragflick from Gurjit Kaur from a penalty corner gave India the lead in the second quarter of the match, and despite earning seven penalty corners, the World No. 2 team Australia were unable to get a goal in the match, losing by 1-0. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - Live Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who was seen celebrating with his team after the match, posted an image on Twitter in which his staff was seen enjoying the win in the team bus. "Sorry family , I coming again later," Marijne wrote on Twitter. Shah Rukh Khan, who famously portrayed the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the 2007 Blockbuster hit 'Chak De India', replied to Marijne and requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. India will face off against Argentina in the semifinal. This will be India's first-ever semifinal at the Olympics, and even if they lose, they will compete in the Bronze medal match.
49 Shah Rukh Khan has reacted to the Indian women's hockey team's historic win against Australia at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. On Monday morning, coach Sjoerd Marijne tweeted a picture with the Indian team after it had advanced to the semi finals of the Tokyo Olympics. "Sorry family , I coming again later," he wrote in the tweet. Retweeting the picture, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," referring to his role in the Bollywood film Chak De! India. Reacting to Shah Rukh's tweet, Sjoerd said, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." Shah Rukh tweeted his reaction after several Twitter users, including Randeep Hooda, compared the real-life visuals from the Olympics with the climax of Chak De! India. The actor shared a picture of the Indian team celebrating their victory and wrote, "What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020." Fans tweeted pictures and videos comparing scenes from the final moments of the film, showing Australian team members in dejection while Indian players celebrated their victory. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh has been busy with his upcoming project Pathan. Although Yash Raj Films has yet to officially announce the project, Shah Rukh has been spotted making his way to the YRF studio in Mumbai to shoot the film. Pathan also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, and marks Shah Rukh's comeback to acting after 2018's Zero.
50 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gave a heartwarming reply to India women's team hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne on Twitter after the historic win over Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The Indian women's hockey team led by Rani Rampal defeated Australia in the quarterfinal in Tokyo 2020 to book a spot in the semifinals for the first time in history. A fantastic dragflick from Gurjit Kaur from a penalty corner gave India the lead in the second quarter of the match, and despite earning seven penalty corners, the World No. 2 team Australia were unable to get a goal in the match, losing by 1-0. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - Live Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who was seen celebrating with his team after the match, posted an image on Twitter in which his staff was seen enjoying the win in the team bus. "Sorry family , I coming again later," Marijne wrote on Twitter. Shah Rukh Khan, who famously portrayed the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the 2007 Blockbuster hit 'Chak De India', replied to Marijne and requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. "Marijne came up with a brilliant response to Shah Rukh's tweet. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," tweeted Marijne. India will face off against Argentina in the semifinal. This will be India's first-ever semifinal at the Olympics, and even if they lose, they will compete in the Bronze medal match.
51 Amritsar To honour Indian Olympic women hockey team player, Gurjit Kaur, of Miadi Kalan, 10km from the India-Pakistan International border, the foundation stone of a stadium was laid in her village on Friday. Gurjit scored two goals in the bronze medal against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Amritsar zila parishad chairman Dilraj Singh Sarkaria, sarpanch Dilbag Singh, the player's father Satnam Singh and other prominent persons were present at the stone-laying ceremony. Gurjit and her sister Pardeep Kaur, a hockey coach at Sansarpur, negotiated several hardships in pursuit of their goal of sporting glory, villagers mention. Gurjit's father, Satnam, said, "There is no stadium or playground or any other sports facility in this border area. A stadium here will be a huge blessing for all." "Irrespective of the match result, Gurjit gave a remarkable performance. She had to sit out for a few minutes, this made the difference," he added. Her cousin Gurcharan Singh, "We accept the defeat in the match. My sister, however, has helped India finish 4th at the Olympics, a creditable feat. We will accord her a warm welcome on her return."
52 It needed the women's basketball team to deliver a seventh straight Olympic gold, track cyclist Jennifer Valente to overcome a dramatic crash and cross the finish line in front and the women's volleyball team to win a maiden title on the final day for USA to get to where it usually belongs-at the top. It was that close. Heading into the last day of Tokyo 2020, the Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory of second spot in the medals tally. They were still dominating in the volume of overall medals, but China had two more gold-the decisive column in arranging the order. Of the 13 pieces of the priceless yellow on offer on Sunday, USA earned three, China nil. It gave USA its 39th gold medal, edging past China by a solitary gold. It was that close. (FULL TOKYO 2020 COVERAGE) USA finished with 39 gold and a total of 113 medals; China won 38 gold and 88 overall. It is the American contingent's third straight finish at the top of the standings, and the seventh consecutive Olympics from where it has won the most medals. Save 2008 Beijing where China's gold shone brighter, USA has topped the gold count at every Olympics from 1996 Atlanta. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony- Highlights Previously, it was never that close. The dominance was dented in these unprecedented Games. In 2016 Rio, USA ended with 46 gold and 121 medals overall while China had 26 gold and 70 overall. In 2012 London, the Americans won 46 gold (104 overall); China had 38 gold in a total of 91. Ironically, USA's most productive disciplines at these Games-11 and seven gold to top the swimming and track and field charts, respectively-is also where its stranglehold on the tally eased. Of course, Simone Biles-the great gymnast looking to add to her stature in Tokyo-could have single-handedly tightened it again before she pulled out of four individual events to deal with the "twisties" (stress and loss of confidence while doing routines). In Rio, USA won 32 athletics medals, including 13 gold. The overall tally in Tokyo was still a good 26, but the gold count dipped to seven. The men's track squad didn't have a single individual gold to flaunt for the first time in modern Olympic history (USA boycotted 1980 Moscow). The drought stretched till the final events when the 4x400m relay team quenched the thirst. The USA had splashes of individual brilliance in the pool from the likes of Caeleb Dressel (five gold) and Katie Ledecky, who won the 800m and 1500m but had her iron grip loosened in the 400m and 200m by young Ariarne Titmus of Australia, which ended behind USA with nine gold and 20 medals in swimming; more than double from Rio. The sink came in the relays. Forget gold, American swimmers failed to win a medal for the first time while entering a relay event when Great Britain stunned all with the men's 4x200m freestyle victory. In the mixed races of swimming and track and field, USA finished fifth in the 4x100m medley relay and won bronze in the 4x400m relay, behind Poland and Dominican Republic. China had the upper hand in mixed events across sport, winning three gold to USA's none. China, in contrast, continued to boss where it usually does. Diving alone gave the country seven gold, and so did weightlifting, both disciplines in which the next best nation was at a distant one gold. Chinese shooters clinched four gold, and so did their paddlers. Such is the nation's might and expectation on the table that the only title it didn't win in table tennis resulted in a tearful apology for failure by the mixed doubles team. Who beat them? Japan. The home contingent delivered a historic Games in more ways than one. Battling a year's delay and uncertainty, ever-growing costs and the pressure to perform at home without local fans cheering on, Japan had its best Olympics ever with 27 gold and 58 total medals to finish third. The country had won 12 gold in Rio. Its previous highest haul was 16, at 1964 Tokyo and 2004 Athens. Host nations generally tend to punch above the weight at every Olympics and Japan benefitted from the five sports that were added in Tokyo: skateboarding (three gold; five total), sport climbing (one silver and bronze), karate (one gold; three total), surfing (one silver and bronze) and baseball/softball (two gold). It wasn't just about the newbies. Japan won nine gold in judo and five in wrestling (four by women), took on powerhouse USA in the women's basketball final for its first-ever medal and overcame China in table tennis. That belied the situation in a country that saw considerable opposition to staging the Games amid the pandemic from its own people. "We believe our athletes' earnest spirit and all-out performance moved people," Tsuyoshi Fukui, chef de mission for the Japanese team, said.
53 At the start of the virtual press conference with Lovlina Borgohain, after she won her quarterfinal bout at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, it was pointed out that the Indian boxer is always a little hesitant when it comes to speaking to the media. It hardly comes as a surprise, though, knowing her shy nature. But despite being a quiet person, Lovlina made a huge mark in Indian boxing history on Sunday as she confirmed a medal for India at the Olympics. The Indian pugilist reigned victorious in the Women's 69kg against Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-Chin in the quarterfinal to confirm the medal - an opponent Lovlina had lost to three times in the past. She first met Chen at the 2018 World Championships semi-finals, where she lost 4-0. Their next meeting in 2019 at the Strandja Memorial boxing tournament in Sofia ended in a similar result, this time by a unanimous decision. The 2018 Welterweight champion registered her third win over Lovlina in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championships later in the same year. "I had been planning how to beat her. I was not competing against anyone, but myself. I enjoyed the bout, it was a fun fight, I played with freedom without any fear," Lovlina tells media at the press call. But to reach a point where the Assamese boxer can play without fear, Lovlina had a helping hand. In an exclusive telephonic conversation with Hindustan Times, Indian Elite Boxing Team Women Coach Sandhya Gurung, who has played a crucial role in Lovlina's career, gave a few insights into her journey. Gurung, who has trained Lovlina for several years now, was at the women's boxing camp in Italy where the Olympics contingent had trained before traveling to Tokyo. When asked if she believed at that point that Lovlina could win a medal, Gurung said: "Yes. I had a feeling that she could win a medal." The former boxer, now a coach under the Sports & Youth Affairs Department, went on to detail the discussion she had with Lovlina on the possibilities of facing Chen before she flew to Tokyo. "When I saw the qualifying list, I had told her that she might have to face the Chinese Taipei boxer in the quarterfinals. She had lost to her three times. So it was always going to be a tough challenge for her," she said. "But I told her to play her game, concentrate on what she can do best rather than worrying about the opponent. If she plays her best, she can definitely beat her. "I was pretty confident that she can come back with a medal. We even had a chat just before she left for the Olympics and I again told her the same thing," Gurung further said. Gurung further went on to explain that Lovlina's biggest challenge since she started boxing was overcoming her fears. "She (Lovlina) came to us in 2012. She was a kid at the time. She was a very, shy, fragile girl, not at all like she is now," Gurung said. "By 2016, I started training with her. At that time as well, she did not play well. There was a fear inside her." In 2017, the welterweight division was included as a category for the 2020 Olympics, which opened up doors for Lovlina to start preparing for the road to Tokyo. "I told her 'we have four years and in these four years, we will train to keep Olympics as our target," Gurung said. "I also told her 'you have to focus 100 percent on training. After training, you can talk about anything - your friends, your mother, your family - but during training, you have to focus only on that'. She agreed to it. Then we started training with her, we maintained her fitness. She started doing what we told her to do," Gurung further recalled. As the hard work began, the results started coming in. Gurung said that by the 2017 Asian Championships, she noticed a decrease in fear in Lovlina. "She played well at the Asian Championships. At that time, I noticed that 40 percent of her fear was gone. Then I told her that 'there is no reason to fear. Why to fear, you can play even better'. I kept telling her that we have the journey to the Olympics, and we do not have to stray from that target. We do not have to lose our focus," Gurung said. At the start of 2021, there was another big challenge in front of Lovlina. She tested positive for Covid-19 in October 2020, leading to a long recovery period to get back to her best levels of fitness. Replying to an exclusive question asked by Hindustan Times from Tokyo, Indian women boxers' High-Performance Director Raffaele Bergamasco gave an insight into her long road to recovery. "Lovlina, like the others, did a conditioned and job on her recovery period. We made different plans for her and she worked more on her physical strength and this also allowed her to increase her confidence," Bergamasco said. A calmer, more relaxed Lovlina showcased her mental strength defeating an adversary on Friday she knows too well. She admitted she even has not focused on her meditation routines in the last few months, as she believed she needed to not be dependent on anything to keep herself calm. "Meditation helped me a lot. I have been doing this since 2017. I helped it me during fights. But in the past four months, I have not really focused on it. Because I realised that with so much going on, I cannot be depended on any particular thing to keep me calm. I have to keep faith in myself no matter what happens, even if my hands break, I have to play, and I have to win," Lovlina said at the media call. The first round of the fight was a close 3-2 split decision in Lovlina's favour. It meant that she only had a slight advantage. Raffaele revealed how the strategy was devised for the rest of the out after a close first round. "I advised her not to work at short distances, so as not to give her opponent an advantage, but to box from long distance and focus on counter-attacks. The strategy worked very well and she was good at executing it," he said. Now, the Indian boxer will face off against the reigning women's welterweight world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, there are hopes that she can overcome this challenge, and go on to win the gold. "The job is still not done, there is more to do," Gurung signed off.
54 Mirabai Chanu. Lovlina Borgohain. PV Sindhu. Ariarne Titmus. Katie Ledecky. Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Yui Ohashi. Tatjana Schoenmaker. Vivianne Meidema. Think of the names that grabbed your attention or left you mesmerised during the first week of the Olympics, and chances are these will be high on your list. Woman power is on full display in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics have been billed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the first gender-balanced Games in history, with nearly 49% of the participating athletes women. Apart from the volume, women are also shifting the balance of the spotlight towards them. The Games, for long largely about the legends of Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, are now as much about Titmus and Biles, as they are about Djokovic. The trend is the same closer home. Of the 127 athletes wearing India colours at these Games, 56 are women. Two of them are already medal winners, India's only ones so far. Beyond Tokyo, women athletes have provided India cheer going back to the 2012 London Olympics. Six of India's last eight medal winners have been women - Saina Nehwal (bronze, 2012), Mary Kom (bronze, 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze, 2016), Sindhu (silver, 2016), Chanu (silver, 2021) and Borgohain, who is guaranteed a bronze, but could well change the colour. Rewind to the first medal day of these Games, when most Indians woke up early on a Saturday to an alarm of optimism that Chanu would open India's account. The 26-year-old lifter, cool as ice while lifting, delivered just what was expected - a silver; becoming the second Indian female weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic medal. "You have taken the legacy forward of the weightlifting sport and inspired future champions, which has always been my endeavour," Malleswari, the 2000 Sydney bronze winner tweeted. Days after the feat, a video went viral on social media of the young girl, dusting powder off her hands, lifting a set of weights against the backdrop of Chanu's Tokyo highlights running on TV. Champions inspire. And children aspire. That also goes for Borgohain, who locked in India's second medal. Or Sindhu, who is looking good for a second Olympic medal. Or CA Bhavani Devi, who won a match as the first Indian fencer ever at the Olympics. Even across countries, women are at the forefront of many a first in Tokyo. Triathlete Flora Duffy gift-wrapped a maiden gold medal for Bermuda, the tiny Atlantic island with a population of around 63,000 having the distinction of being the smallest country with a gold medal in the history of the Games. That was until shooter Alessandra Perilli gave San Marino the crown with a bronze in trap on Friday. "I really just hope it inspires the youth of Bermuda that we're from a small country, but that doesn't mean we can't do great things on the world stage," Duffy told CNN after her win. Also doing great things: Schoenmaker, the South African who smashed the long-standing women's 200m breaststroke world record with an "unreal" time of 2:18.95; Polina Guryeva, the weightlifter who pulled off the first-ever Olympic medal for Turkmenistan; Yui Ohashi, the two-time gold medallist swimmer who overcame the gloom of depression to shine, becoming the first Japanese woman to win multiple gold medals in a single edition. Also winning multiple gold medals: Ariarne Titmus, the 20-year-old who is walking the talk of a riveting rivalry with Ledecky, the American giant whom the Aussie has beaten in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Missing Usain Bolt vs Justin Gatlin on the track? Titmus and Ledecky have taken care of that in the pool in Tokyo. Also creating history in the waters: Jessica Fox, who won gold in the women's canoe slalom, an event where women competed for the first time after the Australian paddling icon led the campaign for its inclusion in the Olympics. "(I'm) grateful to all the women, all the coaches, all the people who lobbied for gender equality in our sport," Fox said after her win. Vivianne Meidema, the Dutch women's football team striker who plays for Arsenal Women in England's WSL, had pumped in 10 goals by Friday. The stories go beyond history, triumph and jubilation. They are as much about imperfections, which Biles - considered the closest to perfection in gymnastics - hasn't shied away from bringing to the centre stage. The 24-year-old, battling sexual misconduct in the US gymnastics set-up and racism in her country for years, is battling mental health in Tokyo. The four-time gold medallist at the Rio Olympics pulled out of the team and all-around events at a Games that were supposed to stamp her legacy as the greatest of all time of the sport; even for those who swear purely by medals and numbers. Biles has taken a stand few have felt comfortable taking before - that it is OK to put mental well-being above records even in the middle of the biggest sporting spectacle; to look inward even when the whole world is looking at you; to take a step back even while eternal greatness is beckoning. Osaka, another global sporting icon, too, didn't hesitate to take a step back when, at the French Open in May, she opted for a brief sabbatical from tennis to attend to her issues with mental anxiety. Yet, there she was a couple of months later in Tokyo - given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony at home, flashing a smile and playing some tennis again. At these Games, women have taught us every facet of sport: you can win, you can lose, you can inspire, you can pause, and you can return stronger.
55 They say that in hockey, the tournament starts in the quarter-finals. If that is the case, let's get the news out of the way-India will play Great Britain on Sunday for a last four spot, something that has not been achieved since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which they eventually won for their eighth and last gold. Now to Friday's match. Already through to the last eight by cementing the second spot in Group A, India beat hosts and 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 5-3. The game was inconsequential but gave India the opportunity to build on their winning momentum, especially after the 1-7 humiliation-their worst loss in the Olympics-against Australia. India have regrouped to win three back-to-back matches, even dominating defending champions Argentina. "It's been a phenomenal recovery," said former goalkeeper Ashish Ballal, a key member of India's victorious 1998 Asian Games squad. Skipper Manpreet Singh and the players have quickly regained the winning spirit. Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India. With 61% possession, Graham Reid's boys made 32 penetrations to Japan's 10, though they converted only five of their 17 shots, a familiar story in the tournament. Despite Japan scoring through Kenta Tanaka (19th min), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th), India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has been a sensation in the goal. Sreejesh, playing in his third Olympics, has been an outstanding motivator, constantly sending out instructions to the players, screaming to communicate during the game. Next up are Great Britain, who finished third in Group B but significantly, drew 2-2 against world champions Belgium on Friday. India will have to make sure they don't concede penalty corners, stay sharp and make systematic attacks to up the conversion rate. It will be vital for India to play a percentage game against the 1988 Seoul champions. For the first time since 1980 Moscow, India women's team won a match at the Games, a stunning 1-0 verdict against Ireland, the 2018 World Cup runners-up. After losing their first three matches to Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, Navneet Kaur's 57th minute deflection of skipper Rani Rampal's reverse shot clinched their first win, keeping hopes alive for the quarter-finals. India will first need to beat South Africa on Saturday.
56 The second Tokyo Olympics could well come to be known as the Silent Games in the future. With no spectators, who make the quadrennial event feel like no other sporting event in the world, some of the great performances across a fortnight had to make do with shrieks of delight or tears of joy or dismay from the athletes themselves. How do you play an Olympic basketball game without a crowd countdown? It was the case at Tokyo 2020, the Games the hosts neither wanted to stage nor could let go of. The US dream team with its NBA stalwarts, led by Kevin Durant, sealed a thrilling victory in a closely fought game, supported only by its own athletes. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) The silence was no less disheartening for India in the nation's greatest moment of sporting pride on Saturday night. Their first medal from track and field had taken a century to come, and Neeraj Chopra had delivered not just a medal, but gold, no less. But his glittering moment was shrouded in silence as he took a victory lap around the track at the Olympic Stadium--which can seat 68,000 people with only a handful of fellow competitors and Indian coaches in the stands to cheer him on. TOKYO OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY - HIGHLIGHTS Having the finest wrestlers, table tennis and baseball players and judokas perform to empty stands in a land where all these sports have a huge tradition and enjoy massive popularity added to the silent, subdued theme. There was gratitude that Japan eventually-commercial compulsions apart-hosted the Games, which the athletes acknowledged everywhere. With no crowd to sway to their cause, teammates and coaches sometimes provided competing athletes with that extra energy of something primal and deeply felt. For proof, you can't do better but to watch (or rewatch) the wild celebrations of Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus's coach after she upstaged the great Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. With no crowd to play the role of arbiters for their performances and ignite rivalries, the athletes reached out to each other, in triumph and despair. Or in shared success, like what Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and the effervescent Italian Gianmarco Tamberi did to share the gold in the high jump instead of deciding it on a jump-off after they were tied at the end of their normal series of jumps. Tamberi, in fact, spent the entire evening of his competition passionately cheering other athletes (including Barshim), from whatever nationality, in a range of different sports. When Italy's Lamont Jacob won an improbable 100m sprint, Tamberi was there on the track to hug him. The Indian women's hockey team, gutted after their loss in the bronze medal playoff felt the warmth of their victors as Great Britain players came over to console them. This was also the Olympics where athletes had to put their medals around their own necks; but here too, the athletes stepped up. In team or relay events, they put the medals on each other to bring some semblance of normality to the ceremonies. At other times, Tokyo 2020 had the feel and warmth of a local meet. India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, awash with exhilaration after sealing a bronze that ended a 41-year wait for the country, could well have been sitting on a wall after a game in the alley, the way he sat on the goal after beating Germany. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time I'm alone in the goal and he is my best buddy. Whenever I'm frustrated, I talk to my goal first. When we concede, I say buddy that's not the way. When the ball hits the goalpost, I tell it that's the way, please save it," Sreejesh said after the win that got India their first hockey medal in 41 years. The roar of the crowd was missing, the victorious screams of the athletes was not. There was the scream of relief, joy and letting off pent-up emotions. Mirabai Chanu started it, after winning silver in weightlifting on Day 1 of medal events. PV Sindhu let off an almighty scream after shaking off the dejection of the semi-final loss the previous day to win bronze. Lovlina Borgohain too shrieked in triumph and relief in the near-empty boxing arena after her quarterfinal victory assured bronze. But the scream that defines Tokyo 2020 came from Norway's Karsten Warholm, after he won the men's 400m Hurdles in what is, arguably, the greatest race run in the Olympics, and after he became the first man to run the race in under 46 seconds. It was the scream of being on top of the world, echoing through a massive, empty stadium.
57 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Assam, Meghalaya CMs meet to discuss border row, panels to submit reports soon CMs Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma held a joint press conference after the talks. Health minister meets Biological E MD; briefed on progress of its Covid-19 vaccine Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted that he assured Biological E of support from the Central government for its vaccine. Tokyo Olympics: India's foreign wrestling coach Murad expelled from Games for referee assault The Russian coach was punished for his behaviour following Deepak Punia's defeat in his bronze medal playoff on Thursday. The Suicide Squad movie review: James Gunn's DC film is a bonkers bloodbath of brilliance James Gunn's DC film is both a creative departure from his Marvel movies, and also a return to his gonzo roots. WhatsApp introduces "View Once" feature to users: Here's how to use it WhatsApp's parent company Facebook is going to introduce the feature of being able to send self-destructing photos and videos within the app. Ola receives bookings from over 1000 cities for its electric scooter Ola electric scooter is set to launch on August 15 and it is now available for bookings at Rs.499. Women's hockey team cries during PM Modi phone call after Olympics loss Indian Women's hockey team broke down during A telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Watch
58 When Gurmail Singh came home with hockey gold from the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the game still evoked a happy narrative in India. The eight-year wait for medal though must have felt odd for the most successful team in Olympic history. Gurmail couldn't have ever sensed that hockey's global equations would alter so much that India's fresh medal quest would last another 41 years. On Thursday, Gurmail, whose wife is Rajbir Kaur, captain of the victorious 1982 New Delhi Asian Games women's team, was emotional. As India upstaged Germany in the bronze medal playoff in Tokyo, Gurmail took out his Olympic gold from cabinet and wore it in celebration at his residence in Khusropur, near Jalandhar. That team member Hardik Singh was his late brother's grandson filled him with pride. "The boys did well. A new era has begun in Indian hockey. The team work they showed throughout paved the way for this finish. It reminded me of our 1980 feat. We too worked well as a team, backed each other. And my boy Hardik stood out. Puttar mera chaa gaya te naam roshan kitta saada (my boy was outstanding, he made the family proud)." Hardik, 22, scored a vital goal in the win over Germany. He comes from a hockey family. His grandfather Pritam Singh played in the Indian Navy team and later became a coach. Hardik's father Varinderjeet Singh, superintendent with Punjab Police, was also a hockey player and wanted Hardik to sustain the family tradition. "I and my father could not play for India. So, we worked on Hardik's skills and prepared him for the India team. He learnt the sport in the village and then moved to Mohali and Jalandhar. My father died four years ago. He would have been thrilled to see Hardik get a medal in Olympics," said Varinderjeet, who along with wife Kamaljeet Kaur was receiving a stream of guests. Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh is Hardik's uncle and he helped motivate the player at a low point in his career. "I represented India in the sub-juniors, but opportunities at the top level never came. In 2017, I was on the verge of giving up my dream of playing for India and moving to Netherlands to play club hockey. My uncle made me rethink my decision. He has been a huge influence in my life," the midfielder had said in an interview before the Olympics. Hardik finally made his India debut at the Asian Champions Trophy and featured in the 2018 World Cup. It was in 2012 that Hardik joined the Punjab Institute of Sports Academy at Mohali, where seasoned coach Sukhvir Singh Grewal, who has an eye for talent, trained Hardik for nearly five years before asking him to join Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. "He was a sharp kid. He had hockey in his blood and had a passion to learn. He is light on his feet which makes him a dangerous player. He will have a very bright future," said Grewal, a former India player.
59 On match point, PV Sindhu's coach Park Tae-Sang pumped both his fists and let out a sharp cry behind his white mask. Sindhu joined him with a scream, wagging her index finger to indicate that she was one point away from winning yet another Olympic medal. A few seconds later, it happened. Sindhu had beaten China's He Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15 and created history in becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals and only the second Indian to win two individual medals at the Olympics after wrestler Sushil Kumar. Sindhu's love for the big stage is well known and Sunday's bronze medal match was yet another testimony to the insatiable hunger and fighting spirit that underlines her career. For India, it was the third medal here after the silver medal heroics of Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting, and boxer Lovlina Borgohain's incredible run to the semifinals, that has assured her at least a bronze. This is also the first time that three Indian women have won medals in an Olympic Games and the list can still grow - with Vinesh Phogat and her fellow wrestlers yet to take the stage - to make it an Olympics to remember for Indian women athletes. Soon after the win, Sindhu raised her racquet to the vociferous Indian media at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza that was cheering for her from the stands. All through the competition Sindhu has spoken about how she was only focused on the next match - PV that was crucial today, coming a day after she was blanked out by Tai Tzu Ying, the eventual silver medallist (China's Chen Yufei won gold), in the semis. It was clear from the start that the loss had not rattled Sindhu. She brought her A game against He Bingjiao, attacking boldly with cross court shots and smashes. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me... should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," a breathless and beaming Sindhu said after the match. "I'm really happy and I think I've done really well. It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country. I'm going to enjoy this moment." The 26-year-old reigning world champion was one of the strongest contenders to win a gold medal here. Her defeat on Saturday against a superior Ying had crushed her ambition to better the silver she had won in the Rio Olympics. After that loss, what stared at her was an even tougher proposition. To recover both mentally and physically and win against the crafty He Bingjiao in less than 24 hours. With the added pressure that for Sindhu, who played exceptional badminton throughout the tournament, returning empty handed would have been anti-climactic. Before her defeat to Tai Tzu, she had not dropped a single game in her five matches. That emotion was there in the open in the bronze medal match, where Sindhu celebrated every point with a scream. She was fierce on court. "It was a fresh game altogether, we both had losses yesterday and came back. For us, it was very important in getting a medal for the country and at the Olympics. It's not easy. It's a big thing. There were really long rallies, but I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax," Sindhu said. Her performance was a heady cocktail of power and pace. Sindhu sprinted through the opening game and returned for the second even more attacking and fluent. Bingjiao, with her net-play, tried to keep up with her till the interval of the second game, but Sindhu was all over her after that, trapping her to the back of the court with steeply angled cross court shots and a barrage of smashes. As she neared match point, Park had to repeatedly exhort a fired-up Sindhu to calm down. In the end, with a powerful, wristy cross court shot, Sindhu closed the game, raised both arms above her and screamed with joy.
60 First day, first medal. That's the piece of history Mirabai Chanu wrote for India as she thrust a 115kg barbell up above her with the practiced ease of a world beater. At the Tokyo International Forum, early in the morning of the first day after Olympics was declared open, Chanu won the silver in 49kg women's weightlifting with a combined total of 202kg. It marked the first time that India has won a medal on the opening day of an Olympics, signaling what may turn out to be a landmark Games for the Indian contingent. Chanu lifted 87kg in snatch and 115kg - just four kilos less than her own world record-in the clean & jerk, behind only China's Hou Zhihui's total of 210kg. Zhihui is the world record holder in the category. Chanu's coach Vijay Sharma's booming voice resonated through the hall, as the diminutive lifter from Manipur ran to the backroom after her lifts to wrap herself around her 6ft2 father figure. Chanu is now only the second weightlifter from India to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. Someone from the coaching staff handed her a phone-on the other end was Jeremy Lalrinnunga and other teammates at their training base in Patiala, screaming and dancing with joy. Chanu broke into a jig herself. "Balle balle kiya!" she said, laughing. After the medal ceremony, Chanu came out to the media area, the silver around her neck. She held it and kissed it. "Medal bahut bhari hai, (the medal's quite heavy)," she said, beaming throughout. "I wanted to win the gold, I tried, but I will accept the silver. "I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. The first thing I will do is party!" "Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance... Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. "Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. If not for Chanu, this day could have gone very differently for India. Or rather, it would have gone along more familiar lines. Indian athletes were involved in four medal events on the opening day, including Chanu's event. In each of these events, the Indians were strong contenders- Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, both ranked in the top three in the world, in 10m air pistol; Elavenil Valarivan (seeded No 1 for Tokyo 2020) and world record holder Apurvi Chandela in 10m air rifle; and women's world No 1 archer Deepika Kumari and Praveen Jadhav in mixed team archery. Yet, despite their billing, it was not their day and none of them could make it to the medal rounds, sparking fears that this could be yet another Olympics where India would have to wait anxiously for a medal. Five long years At the 2016 Rio Games, where Chanu had made her Olympics debut, everything had gone wrong for her. Of the six attempts given to lifters - three in snatch, three in clean & jerk - she had managed to complete just one lift in snatch. Three months ago at the Asian Championships, she had almost relived that horror, with two no-lifts in snatch. It's the kind of thing that ends careers. Not for Chanu. "We have spoken so many times about that day in the Rio Olympics in these five years," said coach Sharma. "Every time I would tell her that she is now a different athlete. It is that incident that has brought us where we are today." In Tokyo, if she was still haunted by those memories of Rio, she did not show it. From the moment her event started, Chanu's body language was confident and relaxed. On her ears she wore gold earrings in the shape of the Olympic logo, gifted to her by her mother after her Rio experience. For her first attempt - 84kg in snatch - she stepped to the stage and bowed to the bar. Then, in one clean motion, Chanu had cleared the lift. She flashed her big smile. She was in control. She was ready to script her extraordinary tale of redemption. For her next lift, she cleared 87kg with comfort. She beamed. Only Zhihui, who also holds the world record for snatch, was lifting more. Chanu could not finish her last snatch, where she attempted 89, more than she had ever done. It didn't matter much, because next up was clean & jerk, which Chanu has made her own. She cleared 110kg on her first attempt with such consummate ease that it looked like she was in training. By the time she was going for her second lift, set at 115kg, the entire field except Zhihui had already fallen away. In the end, the 7kg difference between Chanu's best snatch (87kg) and Zhihui's best (94kg) decided the medal. "The amount of discipline and commitment she has shown is extraordinary. You see how mentally strong she was today. That comes only with great hard work," Sharma said. "During these rough times of the pandemic, when lives have come to an abrupt halt and mere survival has become an isolating task, victories such as yours will serve as a small reminder of the joy that hope and perseverance can bring," read a letter addressed to Chanu by Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic gold medallist, who posted it on Twitter. From Rio to the silver in Tokyo was a journey that involved meticulous training, a psychologist, fixing a bad back and realigning her posture with the help of Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter who is now a renowned physical therapist and strength coach in the US, winning the world championship in 2017, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games a bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships and becoming the world No 1. In a way, a medal in Tokyo was always within her strong grasp. But when it came-on a day when India were contenders in three other medal events but did not win in any of them-Chanu's joy was infectious and may just be what the young Indian contingent needs as inspiration.
61 It needed the women's basketball team to deliver a seventh straight Olympic gold, track cyclist Jennifer Valente to overcome a dramatic crash and cross the finish line in front, and the women's volleyball team to win a maiden title on the final day for USA to get to where it is - at the top. It was that close. Heading into the last day of Tokyo 2020, the Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory of second spot in the medals tally. They were still dominating in the volume of overall medals, but China had two more golds - the decisive column in arranging the order. Of the 13 pieces of the priceless yellow on offer on Sunday, USA earned three, China nil. It gave USA its 39th gold medal, edging past China by a solitary gold. It was that close. USA finished with 39 gold and a total of 113 medals; China won 38 gold and 88 overall. It is the American contingent's third straight finish at the top of the standings, and the seventh consecutive Olympics from where it has won the most medals. Save 2008 Beijing, where China's gold shone brighter, USA has topped the gold count at every Olympics from 1996 Atlanta. Previously, it was never that close. The dominance was dented in these unprecedented Games. In 2016 Rio, USA ended with 46 gold and 121 medals overall while China had 26 gold and 70 overall. In 2012 London, the Americans won 46 gold (104 overall); China had 38 gold in a total of 91. Ironically, USA's most productive disciplines at these Games - 11 and seven gold to top the swimming and track and field charts, respectively - is also where its stranglehold on the tally eased. Of course, Simone Biles - the great gymnast looking to add to her stature in Tokyo - could have single-handedly tightened it again before she pulled out of four individual events to deal with the "twisties" (stress and loss of confidence while doing routines). In Rio, USA won 32 athletics medals, including 13 gold. The overall tally in Tokyo was still a good 26, but the gold count dipped to seven. The men's track squad didn't have a single individual gold to flaunt for the first time in modern Olympic history (USA boycotted 1980 Moscow). The drought stretched till the final events when the 4x400m relay team quenched the thirst. Team USA had splashes of individual brilliance in the pool from the likes of Caeleb Dressel (five gold) and Katie Ledecky, who won the 800m and 1500m but had her iron grip loosened in the 400m and 200m by young Ariarne Titmus of Australia, which ended behind USA with nine gold and 20 medals in swimming; more than double from Rio. The sink came in the relays. Forget gold, American swimmers failed to win a medal for the first time while entering a relay event when Great Britain stunned all with the men's 4x200m freestyle victory. In the mixed races of swimming and track and field, USA finished fifth in the 4x100m medley relay and won bronze in the 4x400m relay, behind Poland and Dominican Republic. China had the upper hand in mixed events across sport, winning three gold to USA's none. China, in contrast, continued to boss the disciplines it usually does. Diving alone gave the country seven golds, and so did weightlifting, both disciplines in which the next best nation was at a distant one gold. Chinese shooters clinched four gold, and so did their paddlers. Such is the nation's might and expectation on the table that the only title it didn't win in table tennis resulted in a tearful apology for failure by the mixed doubles team. Who beat them? Japan. The home contingent delivered a historic Games in more ways than one. Battling a year's delay and uncertainty, ever-growing costs and the pressure to perform at home without local fans cheering on, Japan had its best Olympics ever with 27 gold and 58 total medals to finish third. Its previous highest haul was 16, at 1964 Tokyo and 2004 Athens. Host nations generally tend to punch above the weight at every Olympics, and Japan benefitted from the five sports that were added in Tokyo: skateboarding (three gold; five total), sport climbing (one silver and bronze), karate (one gold; three total), surfing (one silver and bronze) and baseball/softball (two golds). It wasn't just about the newbies. Japan won nine golds in judo and five in wrestling (four by women), took on powerhouse USA in the women's basketball final for its first-ever medal, and overcame China in table tennis. That belied the situation in a country that saw considerable opposition to staging the Games amid the pandemic from its own people. "We believe our athletes' earnest spirit and all-out performance moved people," Tsuyoshi Fukui, chef de mission for the Japanese team, said.
62 India's Olympic Silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai broke down in tears and honoured the truck drivers who provided free lifts from her home to the training centre in Imphal during her early training days at an event in her village home on Thursday. Since her arrival at home after winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the 49 kg women's weightlifting category on July 27, she has been attending many felicitation events. In most of the events, she as well as her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi mentioned how the truckers had been helping her in reaching her training centre at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal from her home at Nongpok Kakching village which is about 25 km north east of the capital. She had wanted to meet them once and seek blessing for her success. At that point of time during her early training, local transport was very limited in her village. So the sand/stone carrying trucks which passed through her village in the early hours of the day on their way to Imphal from Etham Moirangpurel area often provided free lifts to Mirabai. "Those were the days when I faced a lot of hardship. So I feel like crying when I see the uncles and others here today. What I am today and can stand here before you is due to their help and support," said Mirabai while thanking the truck drivers. "I've been requesting to arrange such a meeting so that I can seek blessings again for my achievement. I am so happy to meet you all again," she said. During Thursday's event, Mirabai honoured the truck drivers by presenting gifts as a token of appreciation. The members of the truck association of the area who were present during Thursday's event also expressed their gratitude to Mirabai for remembering them after winning a medal in the world's biggest sporting event. Mirabai, who won the country's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, became India's first silver medallist in women's weightlifting, and second only to Katnam Malleswari to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
63 As women's sports viewership and the influence of female athletes rises, Olympics bronze medallist - PV Sindhu got even the fashion police hooked to her off-court style and her latest pictures in a pantsuit are enough to back our claim. While her stellar performance at the badminton court in Tokyo Olympics 2020 is currently the talk of the town, her ultimate boss lady vibes and minimal chic fashion in a well-fitted and contrasting pantsuit at a recent press conference in India makes us raise a toast to the sports-style queen. A couple of pictures recently flooding the Internet give a sneak-peek of Sindhu's uber cool look as she put her sartorial foot forward ahead of the press conference. The pictures feature the sports diva donning a sultry beige tank top, layered with a white-base blazer that sported broad checks in blue. The well-fitted blazer came with full sleeves and two front pockets and was teamed with a pair of wide-legged beige trousers that laid fashion inspiration for those wanting to look cool with minimal efforts. It is no secret that the minimalist fashion of neutrals is wardrobe mainstays despite their subdued palette and Sindhu's fuss-free approach only makes us fall in love with the trendy colour tone this season. Accessorising her look with a wristwatch and a gold finger ring, Sindhu completed her attire with a pair of white heels from Melissa that gave a touch of style to the basic look. Leaving her luscious tresses open down her back in side-parted hairstyle, Sindhu opted for a dewy makeup look with a dab of pink lipstick, rosy blushed cheeks and filled-in eyebrows. Striking elegant poses for the camera, Sindhu established that being inspirational in sports as well as the fashion world is a cakewalk for her, her confidence and beauty. PV Sindhu was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Bornali Caldeira.
64 A video from a hockey match in Tokyo Olympics 2020 is going viral and not for the reasons you would imagine. The clip has now prompted laughter as it shows the cameraman covering a waddling cockroach during an ongoing match. The incident took place during the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina. Many are now sharing the video that shows a cockroach walking along a part of the field. It was showed as a replay of a shot was being played. Many are now sharing the clip online, just like this Twitter user. The post, since being shared, has gathered more than five million views and the numbers are only increasing. It has also accumulated tons of comments from people. "Is my sense of humor just really dumb or is this genuinely the funniest," wrote a Twitter user while re-sharing the post. "I'm obsessed with this," shared another. "This is the most random thing I've seen," expressed a third along with a laughing out loud emoticon. "This video has set the bar so high for me, I don't think anything will ever make me feel as amused as an Olympics cameraman focusing on a roach just vibing instead of focusing on literally anything else," commented a fourth. The camera after hovering on the insects for a few seconds got back to the action to show the Spain vs Argentina match, reports LadBible. What are your thoughts on the video?
65 It had the promise of being one of India's finest days at the Olympics. Instead, one by one, each of India's top guns faltered and then faded, followed by that all-too-familiar sinking feeling that tells the story of India at the Games. There was gloom under the bright sun at Yumenoshima Archery Park. Atanu Das's win over 2012 London gold medallist South Korean Oh Jin Hyek on Thursday had raised immense expectations, but that doused as he succumbed to Japan's Takaharu Furukawa on Saturday without much of a fight. It was immediately followed by a disastrous and inexplicable exit of the world's No 1 flyweight boxer, Amit Panghal, in his very first fight in Tokyo. A few hours later, Pooja Rani, one win away from a medal in the middleweight category, was denied that triumph, outclassed by China's Li Qian in the quarterfinals. Even as an inconsolable Rani left the ring, PV Sindhu, the 2016 Rio silver medallist, was going down to a masterclass from Tai Tzu Ying in the women's singles semi-finals. The 26-year-old, unlike the others, will love to fight another day when she plays for bronze against China's He Bingjiao on Sunday. Somewhere in between, Anjum Moudgil fell out of contention in the 50m rifle 3-position qualification, slipping below the top eight in the standing stage to finish 15th. Tejaswini Sawant, India's second entry, ended 33rd to be eliminated. There were two bright spots. The women's hockey team somehow kept their hopes afloat in the morning with a scrappy 4-3 win over South Africa. Later, after Ireland lost to Great Britain, India found themselves in the quarterfinals for the first time at the Olympics. Over at Tokyo's national stadium, discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur threw 64m in the qualifiers, the second best throw of the day, to enter the final in style. For Panghal and Sindhu, it was not just the losses but the manner in which they came that was difficult to explain. Sindhu, so attacking and skillful in her straight games victory over Akane Yamaguchi in the quarters on Thursday, did not push the pace against Tai Tzu, squandered a big lead in the first game and then got outplayed in the second. Was it a meltdown? That question hung even larger over Panghal. The world championship finalist and Asian Games champion was his normal self in the first round against Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas at the Kokugikan Arena in their round of 16 match. He ducked and weaved out of Rivas's range and landed fast, accurate, punches of his own. He was moving fast, controlling the ring. The judges were 4-1 in Panghal's favour at the end of the round. In the next two rounds, everything fell apart for the 25-year-old from Haryana. He ducked and weaved but got caught by some solid punches to the head and the body. In return, Panghal did not have much to offer. His movement had become sluggish. His attacks became more and more intermittent. By the third round it was as if a different boxer was in the ring, one who had run a half-marathon just before a fight. Panghal's arms were frozen, his body slouched, and all he could do was try and pedal away from the barrage of punches coming his way from Rivas, who had immediately sensed the difference and was in full explosive mode. When Panghal found the will to throw a punch, it was slow and wayward. Rivas rained upper cuts, hooks and body punches, dominating a boxer who had beaten the best in the world in the last three years to such an extent that one of the five judges even counted the third round 10-8 in Rivas's favour. The Colombian is a Rio Olympics silver medallist in light flyweight but Panghal and Rivas's paths have never crossed in competition. Panghal left the arena in a hurry, his face grim, without speaking to the press. But Panghal sparred with Rivas in Italy this year during India's build-up to the Olympics. Panghal also fought in a series of tournaments leading up to the Olympics, trained abroad and looked in good shape. Panghal's typical game of counter - hitting overhead shots and quickly slipping out of the zone--worked in the first round. He is generally slow to start with, so the first round going in Panghal's favour was an advantage. The strategy was to not stay close to Rivas, score and move away. Panghal was caught in the firing line of Rivas for far too long in the second and third rounds. The Colombian ripped him apart with his combinations and brutal upper cuts. Did Panghal's pre-bout preparation go wrong? "It's not necessary to put too much power and too much energy," said India's boxing high performance director Santiago Nieva. "He (Panghal) did that. In some moments, he couldn't move and stayed inside and he didn't have the energy to respond." The coaching staff said that Panghal told them he felt his energy levels suddenly dip during the fight and that he was unable to handle the intensity. Nieva said that in their extended training sessions in Italy before coming in to Tokyo, Panghal and Rivas had sparred multiple times. "The first time Amit sparred with him was similar to this," Nieva said. "Then he improved in the next sparring. In the last sparring he did with the Colombian, he won two rounds. I've never seen him tire like this. The truth is Amit had a difficult time today."
66 Actor Shah Rukh Khan on Friday was offered a 'part 2' of his 2007 film Chak De! India. It came from none other than Sjoerd Marijne, the coach of the India women's hockey team. Sjoerd also thanked Shah Rukh for 'all the love and support'. Taking to Twitter, Sjoerd wrote, "Thank you @srk for all the love ! It's great to have support from the best in Bollywood. It's time for Chak De part 2, what say?" Though Sjoerd shared the tweet for Shak Rukh, he tagged a different handle. His tweet came a few hours after Shah Rukh said, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory." The women's hockey team couldn't win the bronze medal as they lost the match to Great Britain at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The conversation between Shah Rukh and Sjoerd on Twitter started a few days ago after the women's hockey team created history by entering the semifinals of the Olympics, for the first time. Earlier, Sjoerd had tweeted a picture with the team and wrote, "Sorry family, I coming again later," followed by emojis. Reacting to the tweet, Shah Rukh, who had essayed the role of hockey coach Kabir Khan in the sports drama Chak De! India, had encouraged the team to bring home a gold medal. He had tweeted, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." In the film, his character lead the Indian women's hockey team to a win against Australia in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh is now shooting for Pathan, which also features Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. He was last seen in the 2018 film Zero, directed by Anand L Rai.
67 First day, first medal. That's the piece of history Mirabai Chanu wrote for India as she thrust a 115kg barbell up above her with the practiced ease of a world beater. At the Tokyo International Forum, early in the morning of the first day after Olympics was declared open, Chanu won the silver in 49kg women's weightlifting with a combined total of 202kg. It marked the first time that India has won a medal on the opening day of an Olympics, signalling what may turn out to be a landmark Games for the Indian contingent. Chanu lifted 87kg in snatch and 115kg - just four kilos less than her own world record - in the clean & jerk, behind only China's Hou Zhihui's total of 210kg. Zhihui is the world record holder in the category. Chanu's coach Vijay Sharma's booming voice resonated through the hall, as the diminutive lifter from Manipur ran to the backroom after her lifts to wrap herself around her 6ft2 father figure. Chanu is now only the second weightlifter from India to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. Someone from the coaching staff handed her a phone - on the other end was Jeremy Lalrinnunga and other teammates at their training base in Patiala, screaming and dancing with joy. Chanu broke into a jig herself. "Balle balle kiya!" she said, laughing. After the medal ceremony, Chanu came out to the media area, the silver around her neck. She held it and kissed it. "Medal bahut bhari hai, (the medal's quite heavy)," she said, beaming throughout. "I wanted to win the gold, I tried, but I will accept the silver. "I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. The first thing I will do is party!" she said. "Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance... Congratulations to her for winning the silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. "Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu for our country's first medal on the very first day. India is proud of her daughter," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. If not for Chanu, this day could have gone very differently. Or rather, along more familiar lines. Indian athletes were involved in three other medal events on the opening day. In each of these, the Indians were strong contenders - Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, both ranked in the top three in the world, in 10m air pistol; Elavenil Valarivan (seeded No. 1 for Tokyo 2020) and world record holder Apurvi Chandela in 10m air rifle; and women's world No. 1 archer Deepika Kumari and Praveen Jadhav in mixed team archery. Yet, it was not their day, sparking fears that this could be yet another Olympics where India would have to wait anxiously for a medal. Five long years At the 2016 Rio Games, where Chanu had made her Olympics debut, everything had gone wrong for her. Of the six attempts given to lifters - three in snatch, three in clean & jerk - she had managed to complete just one lift in snatch. Three months ago at the Asian Championships, she had almost relived that horror, with two no-lifts in snatch. It's the kind of thing that ends careers. Not for Chanu. "We have spoken so many times about that day in the Rio Olympics in these five years," said coach Sharma. "Every time I would tell her that she is now a different athlete. It is that incident that has brought us where we are today," he added. In Tokyo, if she was still haunted by those memories of Rio, she did not show it. From the moment her event started, Chanu's body language was confident and relaxed. On her ears she wore gold earrings in the shape of the Olympic logo, gifted to her by her mother after her Rio experience. For her first attempt - 84kg in snatch - she stepped to the stage and bowed to the bar. Then, in one clean motion, Chanu had cleared the lift. She flashed her big smile. She was in control. She was ready to script her extraordinary tale of redemption. For her next lift, she cleared 87kg with comfort. She beamed. Only Zhihui, who also holds the world record for snatch, was lifting more. Chanu could not finish her last snatch, where she attempted 89, more than she had ever done. It didn't matter much, because next up was clean & jerk, which Chanu has made her own. She cleared 110kg on her first attempt with such consummate ease that it looked like she was in training. By the time she was going for her second lift, set at 115kg, the entire field except Zhihui had already fallen away. In the end, the 7kg difference between Chanu's best snatch (87kg) and Zhihui's best (94kg) decided the medal. "The amount of discipline and commitment she has shown is extraordinary. You see how mentally strong she was today. That comes only with great hard work," Sharma said. "During these rough times of the pandemic, when lives have come to an abrupt halt and mere survival has become an isolating task, victories such as yours will serve as a small reminder of the joy that hope and perseverance can bring," read a letter addressed to Chanu by Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic gold medallist. From Rio to the silver in Tokyo was a journey that involved meticulous training, a psychologist, fixing a bad back and realigning her posture with the help of Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter who is now a renowned physical therapist and strength coach in the US, winning the world championship in 2017, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships and becoming the world No 1. In a way, a medal in Tokyo was always within her strong grasp. But when it came - on a day when India were contenders in three other medal events but did not win in any of them - Chanu's joy was infectious and may just be what the young Indian contingent needs as inspiration.
68 "The whole world is praising the performance of Indian women's hockey team and they deserve a warm welcome back home," said team captain Rani Rampal's father. Reacting to their 3-4 defeat at the hands of Great Britain in the bronze medal match in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the skipper's father, at his residence in Kurukshetra, said, "We don't have any regrets. Their game was wonderful and tough till the last moment. It is not a defeat but a victory of their efforts." He said these girls have laid the foundation by reaching the semi-finals after a long gap and their defeat for a bronze medal cannot become a hurdle in their way ahead. "They still deserve a warm welcome. We will make all arrangements to welcome them like heroes," he added. Hockey player Navjot Kaur's father Satnam Singh also praised their team spirit and fight. "The way our daughters fought in this match is commendable," he said. He said the team's journey to the semi-finals in the Olympics is the story of struggle of the daughters of India. It will inspire new players to take their legacy forward, he added. Sharing similar sentiments, another player Navneet Kaur's father Buta Singh said the girls should be considered winners of hearts. "They made all efforts to bring a medal for the country. These daughters of India will be treated in Shahabad the same way as it is done after winning a medal," he said. The families said their daughters will return on August 10 and not just Shahbad or Kurukshetra but the entire Haryana is ready to welcome them. Family members of the players said it was a tough day for them. They remained glued to the television sets soon after the match started. Rampal said he got up at 5am to watch the match on Friday and prayed for the team's good performance along with his family at a home-built temple. Navjot's mother Manjeet Kaur left the room in tears in the final moments of the match and later spoke to her daughter over the phone, praising them.
69 India, edging towards what could be their best ever performance at the Olympics, is in the hunt for a surprise medal from where they were not looking. Young woman golfer Aditi Ashok has produced two brilliant rounds to be in a three-way tie for second at the halfway mark of the four-day strokeplay event at the Kasumigaseki Country Club course. The 23-year-old shot a bogey-free five-under 66 on Thursday morning at Kawagoe to maintain stay in a tie for second place she her four-under 67 in the first round. Aditi, along with Denmark's Nanna Madsen Koerstz and Kristine Emily Pedersen were all nine-under-par 133. American world No.1 Nelly Korda, daughter of former Australian Open tennis champion Petr, shot a sensational 62 to enjoy a four-shot lead at 13-under par. Another solid round will keep the Bengaluru golfer in medal contention while a tropical storm forecast to hit on Saturday could lead to the event being cut to 54 holes. "We continue to track the tropical storm which is expected to affect our area beginning Saturday through Sunday," the International Golf Federation said in a statement. "If we are unable to start or complete 72 holes, the Women's Olympic Golf Competition will revert to a 54-hole event," it said. Aditi, ranked 200 in the world, has proved a surprise in a field featuring the world's best players. As a teenager, she was the youngest at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where golf made its debut. She finished 41st in five years ago. The best woman player India has produced - she became the first Indian to win on the Ladies European Tour with two titles in 2016 - took up golf as a five-year-old, after she heard cheers from a nearby course while in a restaurant with her family. The Kasumigseki course had no fans, with Games volunteers asked to cheer the players, and Aditi was as calm as the surroundings with consistently brilliant putting. In the first round she was five-under until bogeying the final hole. On Thursday, Aditi's green play was equally good, be it for birdies or saving pars with medium-range putts after an early start. Diksha Dagar, India's second entry, was six-over for the tournament to be tied 51st in the 60-player field. She carded one-over 72 after a 76 in the first round.
70 Actor Salman Khan called her 'Nation's superstar and 'Asli Dabang'. And she very much is as the now Olympics silver-medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's medal count at Tokyo Olympics in a resounding victory, clinching a silver medal in 49 kg category in women's weightlifting event. Her silver is only the second Indian weightlifting medal since Karnam Malleswari's at Sydney 2000. "Sab sapna jaisa hai.Bahut bada moment hain mere liye (This feels like a dream)," shares Chanu who always dreamed ahead and has showed the world that dreams do come true. "Jab main game shuru kiya mera sapna tha. Pehle toh samajh nahin aata tha ki kya karna hain..games mein kaise karna hai. But game mein jaake kuch bada achievement lena hai. Isliye main dheere dheer mehnat kiya. Maine sapna rakha tha ki Olympic mein jaake kaisa hoga. Olympic medal lene se kya hoga. Jab se main games shuru kiya tha tabse sapna tha. Bahut mehnat kiya maine." Chanu, who is from Manipur, is thrilled that more and more girls will be inspired to take up weightlifting now. " Bolte hain 'Ladki kuch nahin kar sakti'. Woh bhi karke dikhana tha pura India ko ki ladki kar sakti hai (I wanted to show everyone that girls have the strength and they can do it)," says Chanu, adding, "Humne karke dikhaya hai. Sabhi ladkiyo ko bhi pata chalega ki ladki kar sakti hai. Ladke se koi kami nahin hai. Koi bhi ladki sports mein jaana chahti hain toh family ki bahut support zaroori hain bahut zyada. Ladki sirf padai hi nahin sports mein bahut kuch kar sakti hai. Jo uske pasand hai. Main chahti hoon ladkiyan weighlifting mein aake, weightlifting aur India ke naam ko upar le jaaye," she says. The athlete is overwhelmed with a congratulatory call from PM Narendra Modi, to messages on social media from actors such as Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, and Anushka Sharma, who even applauded her for her Olympic ring-shaped earring, which her mother gifted by selling off her own jewellery. "Rio ke baad maine man mein aaya tha ki Olympic ka ring main rakha chahti thi (After Rio's failure, I wanted to keep the ring of Olympics close to me)," she says, adding, "Maine mummy ko bola mujhe aisa chahiye. Woh bole chain ke liye, par chain toh mujhe nahin chahiye thi kyunki Olympic medal chahiye tha. Isliye maine earring mein banwake rakha tha." Chanu is loving all the adulation coming her way, and her increase in social media followers count as well. "Main social media itna follow nahin karti thi, sirf training mein focus karti thi. Phone itna use nahin karti thi. Abhi dekha toh itna friends ho gaya hain mera," she smiles, adding, " Main khud ko proud feel karti hai. Sabhi ne pehchana hain ki weighlifting kya hai. Aur main kaha se aayi hoon. Sachi bolon toh kisi ko pata nahin chalte thi ki Manipur kaha rehte hai. Manipur chota sa state hai, use hum nikal ke kar sakte hai," she says. Her family hadn't eaten on Saturday till her game had finished, and later celebrated with fish, but she plans to have Eromba, a popular Manipuri delicacy when she goes back home. "Yeh spicy dish main kaafi saalo se nahin khayi hoon. Aur ab khana chahti hoon mummy ke haath hai. Unhone mere liye itna sacrifice kiya tha. Aaj un logo ki wajah se pura duniya pehchani mujhe," she says. Her Rio failure had left her disheartened and so much so that she had vowed to win an Olympic medal one day. She credits her coach Vijay Sharma who she says keeps her motivated. "Sabhi players ki alag alag cheez hoti hain. Kuch down bhi chale jaate hai kharab hone se. Mera andar aisa hain ki aaj agar acha nahin hua toh main kal kar sakti hoon. Isliye main taiyari mein rehti hoon. Mere Vijay sir ne bahut motivation diya hain ki kuch fail hote hain toh woh mujhe samjhate hain ki aaj hi khatam nahin hua hain, aage door tak jaa sakte hai. Isliye jo aaya hain use face karna chahiye. Mind ko strong karna chahiye," she shares. Ask her if she ever wants a biopic on her, and she laughs and says: "Haan. Jo bhi mere liye movie banayigi woh mere liye bahut bada baat hain. Koi bhi bane toh acha hain. Dekhte hain kya hoga." Author Tweets @Nainaarora8 Follow more on Facebook and Twitter
71 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan had a heartwarming response to India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne after the historic win against Australia and qualification for the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. Khan, who famously played the role of the women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in the film 'Chak de India', replied to a tweet by coach Marijne to give his best wishes to the Indian team. Seen celebrating with his team after the match, Marijne posted a photo on Twitter and wrote: "Sorry family , I coming again later." Responding to it, Khan requested him to win the gold medal for billions of Indian fans. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," the actor wrote. Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Marijne had a witty and sweet reply to this. "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," tweeted Marijne. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach. �� - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) August 2, 2021 Actors who played the role of hockey players in 'Chak De! India' also congratulated the real-life Indian women's hockey team on their win. Taking to Instagram, Sagarika Ghatge Khan wrote: "The Indian women's hockey team created a history today by entering the Olympics semi finals for the first time. Congratulations to the whole team and more power to pyr women." Actor Vidya Malavade, who essayed the role of the team captain, took to Instagram and shared a picture of the reel vs real team. "My phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning and I was just a part of the reel ..This .. These women are the real deal ..such pride .. such grit .. so much power.. Team INDIA Onwards and Upwards ladies ..#JAIHIND Here's wishing Rani and her team all the very very best .. Go conquer girls." she wrote. Indian women's hockey team match The Indian women's hockey team created history on Monday here at Oi Hockey Stadium -- North Pitch -- as they defeated Australia 1-0. The Indians started slow off the blocks but grew in confidence as the match progressed. Australia had the first shot at the goal but India goalkeeper Savita did just enough to deny Amrosia Malone, whose slap shot from inside the circle hit the post. The Indians thereafter adopted an aggressive approach and caught the Australian defence off guard quite a few times. A day after the Indian men's team entered the Olympic semifinals following a 49-year gap, the world no. 9 women's side also produced a phenomenally gritty performance to make it way into the last four.
72 Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won two of their three badminton doubles Group A matches in the Olympics. So did Indonesia's Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo and Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. Despite the same number of wins (2), losses (1) and points (2), the Indian pair was ousted while the other two progressed to the quarter-finals. Reason: Group stage qualification. Since the format was introduced in 2012 London, changing from a straight knockout, it has worked for some, but not for others like the world No.10 Indian pair, eliminated in Tokyo via game difference-like goal difference in football. They finished third in the group of four. The world No.1 Indonesian pair topped the group with a +3 game difference (games won minus games lost) and the world No.3 Chinese Taipei combine, stunned by Shetty and Rankireddy in the opener, advanced with a +2 difference. The Indians were only +1. On Tuesday, Shetty and Rankireddy earned a 21-17, 21-19 win in 42 minutes over Great Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, their first victory in two meetings against the world No.18s. By then the qualifiers from the group was clear. It was a tough group with three top-10 pairs but it was the straight games loss against Gideon and Sukamuljo on Monday that cost Shetty and Rankireddy. A lot depended on the match between Gideon/Sukamuljo and Lee/Wang as the Taipei pair losing would have led to Shetty and Rankireddy's qualification. But minutes before the Indian pair stepped on to the court, Lee and Wang had won in three games over the Indonesians, rendering the match against the Great Britain pair inconsequential. "We knew the moment Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin won, we didn't stand a chance," Shetty said. "They won in two games and we won in three. We feel sad. Unfortunately, even after winning two matches in the group, we don't go through. That is badminton and we have to live with it." The result was akin to 2012 London where Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were eliminated in women's doubles as they finished third despite winning two matches with the top two going through. "Because of that (Indonesians losing), we came into it (the match) thinking it was going to be our last game in the Olympics," said Rankireddy. "So, we weren't under pressure. We kept it simple. But it was disappointing to see the Indonesians lose. We have learnt so much from this badminton experience; there are a lot of positives to take home."
73 PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she roared her way into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. Sindhu required only 23 minutes to take the first game, with the India shuttler showing her supremacy with some top-notch smashes making Yamaguchi sweat. However, the match ended up being a 56-minute-long affair, with Yamaguchi staging a terrific comeback in the second game. With Sindhu leading 14-8, the Japanese shuttler narrowed the lead to 15-14 after the second game interval. However, a late revival saw Sindhu regroup and seal the game despite Yamaguchi's spirited fightback. The Japanese shuttler, quick on her feet with amazing court coverage, raced to an early lead with her deft shots. But Sindhu soon made a fine recovery, making her opponent toil hard for every point. Sindhu combined attack and defense and made some great calls on the line to race to a 10-7 led. Yamaguchi kept relying on the drop shots but Sindhu made great use of her reach to nullify the challenge. Sindhu raced to a 14-9 lead and looked ominous but a missed smash provided Yamaguchi to make a comeback. Sindhu though didn't let her guard down and kept her lead intact/ Yamaguchi showed great defensive skills in front of a relentless attack from Sindhu, but the India raced to an 18-11 lead. Yamaguchi showed great reflexes to get a point from a difficult situation in a rally but Sindhu came back strong again to take the first game 21-13. The second game started on an even keel with both players tied on 3-3. But a service error from Yamaguchi handed Sindhu the advantage, who then hit a great cross court smash to move ahead 5-3. The tall Indian shuttler employed the aggressive smashes and was aided by some unforced errors from Yamaguchi to move ahead 10-5. Sindhu had stormed into the women's singles quarterfinals after beating Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games in the Round of 16 match. She remained unbeaten in the Group Stage, defeating world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu had won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics after she went down to Spain's Carolina Marin in the final in a thrilling encounter. Since then, the Indian shuttler has won the World Championships gold in 2019, and also won silver medals at the World Championships in 2018 and 2019. Sindhu also won the silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games and also a silver in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
74 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned about the threat of coronavirus pandemic in view of the upcoming festivals. During his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, PM Modi said, "My very best wishes to all of you for the forthcoming festivals. At the time of festivals and celebrations, you must remember that Corona has not yet gone from amongst us. You must not forget the protocols related to Corona." With the second wave subsiding there has been a laxity in following covid protocols with an increase in tourist influx at tourist destinations. PM Modi recently interacted with the chief ministers of states where the number of covid-19 cases have been rising. The government has also been trying to expedite the vaccination programme. A total of 39,742 new cases have been reported over the last 24 hours with the country's active case load at 408,212. Also, the daily positivity raise is at 2.31%. With India not seeing any significant reduction in its covid-19 cases for last one months, public health experts have cautioned that cases remaining constant for this much time sends a warning signal of a third wave as reported by Mint earlier. PM Modi also requested the citizens to cheer for athletes representing India at the Tokyo Olympics currently underway. "These sportspersons have reached where they are after overcoming numerous hurdles in life. Today, they possess the strength of your love and support - that's why, come.let us together extend our good wishes to all of them; encourage them. On social media, our Victory Punch Campaign for the support of Olympics sportspersons has begun. Do share your Victory Punch with your team.Cheer for India," PM Modi said. India has sent its largest ever contingent of 127 athletes in 18 disciplines to Tokyo Olympics currently underway. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu from Manipur got India its first medal by winning silver in the 49-kg women's weightlifting category on Saturday. PM Modi also spoke about the Kargil war that India fought and won with Pakistan. "Tomorrow, that is the 26th of July is Kargil Vijay Diwas as well. The Kargil war is one symbol of the bravery and patience on part of India's Armed Forces which the whole world has watched. This time this pride filled day will be celebrated amid Amrit Mahotsav. That is why this day becomes all the more special. I wish you read the enthralling saga of Kargil," he said. The country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of Indian independence. Freedom struggle, and ideas, achievements, actions and resolve at 75, are the five pillars of the 75 week-long celebrations. "Amrit Mahotsav is not a programme of any government; neither a programme of any political party.it is a programme of crores and crores of Indians.a bow to our freedom fighters by every independent and grateful Indian. And the extension of the basic sentiment behind this festival is immense.the spirit entails treading the path of our freedom fighters.building a country of their dreams. Just the way champion proponents of Freedom had joined hands for the cause, we have to come together for the development of the country. We have to live for the country, work for the country.and in that, even the smallest of efforts too produce big results," PM Modi said. There are dedicated weekly themes for each of the 75 weeks to celebrate the country's achievements and development across various sectors since Independence. These programmes are focussing on social, cultural, scientific and technological high points in the country's post-independence trajectory. They will also cover policy initiatives that have helped India grow not only domestically but also on the international stage. He also spoke about water conservation. "Saving every drop of water, preventing any kind of wastage of water. it should become a natural part of our lifestyle. Such a tradition should be made in our families, which would make every member proud," PM Modi said. This comes in the backdrop of water supply getting a leg-up in the Union budget presented in February, wherein an outlay of Rs2.87 trillion was announced for the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission Urban. The aim is to supply water to 4,378 urban local bodies with 2.68 crore tap connections. "Indeed, the monsoon and rainy season is not only beautiful and pleasant, but it is also nurturing, life-giving. The rain water that we are getting is for our future generations, we should never forget that," he said. In July 2019, the government had formed a new ministry, Jal Shakti, to address all water issues in the country. The Jal Shakti ministry was formed by integrating it with other existing ministries, such as water resources and the ministry of drinking water and sanitation.
75 Actor R Madhavan said he was at a 'complete loss of words' on seeing Olympian Mirabai Chanu enjoying a meal at her home in Manipur. She returned to India recently after her silver medal win at the women's weightlifting 49 kgs category. In the photo, Mirabai is seen rice with some curry while sitting on the kitchen floor with two others. She looked at the camera for the picture while still eating her food. Retweeting the photo, Madhavan wrote, "Hey this cannot be true. I am at a complete loss of words." Mirabai also shared a fresh picture from her home, sharing a better look at the large spread that was prepared for her. "That smile when you finally eat ghar ka khana after 2 years," she wrote with her photo. After her big win, Mirabai had told reporters that the first thing she wants to do is eat some pizza. Since then, pizza chain Domino's has promised the 26-year-old free pizza for life, while multiplex chain INOX said on Wednesday that she would never have to pay for another movie ticket. She returned to her hometown of Imphal on Tuesday and is now spending time with her family. Earlier, actor Anushka Sharma has also expressed her admiration for Mirabai, sharing a picture of her golden earrings that she wore to the match. The earrings were a gift from her mother and were shaped after the Olympic rings. Other Bollywood stars, too, shared their congratulations for Mirabai after her win. Anil Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu !! This is incredible!! #TeamIndia #Cheer4India." Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu on bringing India a silver medal in weightlifting and giving us a strong start!" Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "Congratulations #mirabai & thank you for making India proud. #Olympics #silver - Jai Hind #MirabaiChanu." Dia Mirza wrote, "This is precious #MirabaiChanu @mirabai_chanu Creates history by winning Olympic silver for #Weightlifting #Cheer4India #TeamIndia."
76 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Ex-US envoy says India may lead the world by 2030, lists areas Former US ambassador to India Richard Verma has said India may lead the world in every category and with the youngest workforce in the region, the South Asian country will hold that advantage until 2050. Leaders from Cong, 14 other parties meet as Oppn launches offensive The Congress and 14 other Opposition parties decided there would be no change in their stand on the Pegasus snooping issue and resolved to continue protesting during the remaining Monsoon Session of Parliament, two leaders told HT. Olympic medalist Mirabai inaugurates sports medicine machine at RIMS Manipur Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won India's first silver medal in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, inaugurated a new arthroscopy machine at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a premier medical institute in Imphal, Manipur, on Monday. Brazil's electoral court to probe Prez Bolsonaro for attacking voting system Brazil's Superior Electoral Court announced Monday it will investigate far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for his constant and baseless attacks on the country's electronic voting system. R Madhavan imagined Saif Ali Khan 'socking' his face for kissing Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti R Madhavan has revealed that during his romantic scene with Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti, the actor couldn't help but think of her brother, actor Saif Ali Khan. Kiara Advani looks like a goddess in white backless gown for Shershaah promotions Shershaah actor Kiara Advani knows how to pull together the perfect red carpet look no matter what the occasion. In the past, we've seen her in bold tangerine pantsuits and charming embroidered sarees. 'You'd never see Ganguly do that': Anderson on India batsman's 'fearlessness' Commenting on how IPL has given rise to a new generation of 'fearless' cricketers, England legend James Anderson cited the example of India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
77 The medals can really wait. Even if those medals are intimately tied up with history-Simone Biles, already heralded as the greatest gymnast of all time, came to Tokyo as the first person to defend an Olympic all-around title in more than 50 years. These were supposed to be her Olympics. Her success was a given, and the only question seemed to be how much higher she can push her own lofty levels. Instead, Biles withdrew first from the women's team event, and then, on Wednesday, from Thursday's individual all-around event citing mental health issues. Her decision was yet another example of a radical shift in the sporting world, one which challenges the notion that elite athletes are forged of steel in mind and body, and must not show vulnerability or frailty. "We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do," Biles told reporters. Perhaps there is no better stage than Tokyo 2020 to move the conversation on mental health in sport forward. Deferred by a year because of the pandemic, and now being held under strict Covid-19 restrictions-empty stadiums, daily testing for every athlete, face masks to be worn at all times in the venues (except when the athlete is competing)-the need to speak openly about anxiety, stress or depression has never been higher. Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron, was the face of this discourse heading into the Games when she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, speaking of "long bouts of depression" and the difficulties of handling the pressure of being a top tennis player. A home favourite, Osaka again pointed to the oppressive pressure of expectations after her third round upset in Tokyo. "There must be so many athletes that deal with depression, that deal with some kind of mental health struggle at the Game," Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, had told HT in an earlier interview. "It's something I've personally dealt with multiple times. Ever since 2014 I've talked openly about it because it's important to me, because a lot of people are struggling with the same exact thing. It was hard for me to ask for help, it was hard for me to become vulnerable and show that side of me." Remember Sally Robbins? At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Australian stopped rowing in the women's eight event in the final stretch as she was too exhausted. Unable to put oar to water, she lay on her team mate's lap. It dashed Australia's medal hopes, and Robbins became an object of ridicule. She was accused of mental weakness with the Australian media dubbing her "Lay-down Sally". With some of the most iconic athletes in the world speaking openly about their mental struggles, the sporting world has come a long way since. Phelps recalled the usual way athletes have been taught to deal with emotions, in pursuit of a single-minded goal of winning. "I was really good at compartmentalising things, just stuffing things down and not dealing with it," he said. "Now I've been able to see where it leads me and it's a dark place, a scary place, and I don't want to go back there, and I hope nobody else goes back there." Katie Ledecky, one of the world's great swimmers, won her fifth Olympic gold on Wednesday in the newly introduced 1,500m freestyle for women. But the American is aware that her defeats to younger Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in other events is being seen as a major failure. "I'm kind of at peace with it, I kind of laugh when I see things like 'settles for silver'," Ledecky told reporters. "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or feel like silver or any other medals besides gold is a disappointment. I would much rather people be concerned about people who are really, truly struggling in life." Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi, who completed a double of individual medley wins by claiming the 200m event on Wednesday, had also struggled with depression in 2019 and had wanted to give up swimming. Asked about it, she said: "I had times when I wanted to give up swimming, but I learned to accept it and turned it into a strength." The social isolation necessitated by the pandemic has also been hard for athletes, as it has for most people. Biles felt the absence of social interaction in Tokyo. "Usually you hang out in the village.all that stuff. It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do," she said. The health situation has prompted the US women's gymnastics team to stay in a hotel. "Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be Covid safe, the protocols and everything," Biles said. But the face of the Games, ahead of tennis stars Osaka and Novak Djokovic, would have preferred to feel the warmth of fellow athletes from around the world. PV Sindhu knows only too well the kind of pressure top athletes feel. A medal-starved nation is eagerly hoping the badminton world champion would hopefully deliver gold, after her silver in Rio 2016. That in itself can be a scary thought - add to that months spent in isolation without training or competition last year and the challenges of getting back on track for the Games. "Definitely the mental aspect plays an important part, especially during this pandemic," she said on Wednesday. "Athletes have been really going through tough times, on and off court."
78 The medals can really wait. Even if those medals are intimately tied up with history - Simone Biles, already heralded as the greatest gymnast of all time, came to Tokyo as the first person to defend an Olympic all-around title in more than 50 years. These were supposed to be her Olympics. Her success was a given, and the only question seemed to be how much higher she can push her own lofty levels. Instead, Biles withdrew first from the women's team event, and then, on Wednesday, from Thursday's individual all-around event citing mental health issues. Her decision was yet another example of a radical shift in the sporting world, one which challenges the notion that elite athletes are forged of steel in mind and body, and must not show vulnerability or frailty. "We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do," Biles told reporters. Perhaps there is no better stage than Tokyo 2020 to move the conversation on mental health in sport forward. Deferred by a year because of the pandemic, and now being held under strict Covid-19 restrictions - empty stadiums, daily testing for every athlete, face masks to be worn at all times in the venues (except when the athlete is competing) - the need to speak openly about anxiety, stress or depression has never been higher. Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron, was the face of this discourse heading into the Games when she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, speaking of "long bouts of depression" and the difficulties of handling the pressure of being a top tennis player. A home favourite, Osaka again pointed to the oppressive pressure of expectations after her third round upset in Tokyo. "There must be so many athletes that deal with depression, that deal with some kind of mental health struggle at the Game," Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, had told HT in an earlier interview. "It's something I've personally dealt with multiple times. Ever since 2014 I've talked openly about it because it's important to me, because a lot of people are struggling with the same exact thing. It was hard for me to ask for help, it was hard for me to become vulnerable and show that side of me." SALLY'S SORROW Remember Sally Robbins? At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Australian stopped rowing in the women's eight event in the final stretch as she was too exhausted. Unable to put oar to water, she lay on her team mate's lap. It dashed Australia's medal hopes, and Robbins became an object of ridicule. She was accused of mental weakness with the Australian media dubbing her "Lay-down Sally". With some of the most iconic athletes in the world speaking openly about their mental struggles, the sporting world has come a long way since. Phelps recalled the usual way athletes have been taught to deal with emotions, in pursuit of a single-minded goal of winning. "I was really good at compartmentalising things, just stuffing things down and not dealing with it," he said. "Now I've been able to see where it leads me and it's a dark place, a scary place, and I don't want to go back there, and I hope nobody else goes back there." Katie Ledecky, one of the world's great swimmers, won her fifth Olympic gold on Wednesday in the newly introduced 1500m freestyle for women. But the American is aware that her defeats to younger Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in other events is being seen as a major failure. "I'm kind of at peace with it, I kind of laugh when I see things like 'settles for silver'," Ledecky told reporters. "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or feel like silver or any other medals besides gold is a disappointment. I would much rather people be concerned about people who are really, truly struggling in life." Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi, who completed a double of individual medley wins by claiming the 200m event on Wednesday, had also struggled with depression in 2019 and had wanted to give up swimming. Asked about it, she said: "I had times when I wanted to give up swimming, but I learned to accept it and turned it into a strength." PANDEMIC BLUES The social isolation necessitated by the pandemic has also been hard for athletes, as it has for most people. Biles felt the absence of social interaction in Tokyo. "Usually you hang out in the village.all that stuff. It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do," she said. The health situation has prompted the US women's gymnastics team to stay in a hotel. "Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be Covid safe, the protocols and everything," Biles said. But the face of the Games, ahead of tennis stars Osaka and Novak Djokovic, would have preferred to feel the warmth of fellow athletes from around the world. PV Sindhu knows only too well the kind of pressure top athletes feel. A medal-starved nation is eagerly hoping the badminton world champion would hopefully deliver gold, after her silver in Rio 2016. That in itself can be a scary thought - add to that months spent in isolation without training or competition last year and the challenges of getting back on track for the Games. "Definitely the mental aspect plays an important part, especially during this pandemic," she said on Wednesday. "Athletes have been really going through tough times, on and off court."
79 Shah Rukh Khan left hearts skipping beats with his latest picture for Dabboo Ratnani's 2021 calendar shoot. The actor posed shirtless while he stared right into the camera. Shah Rukh featured a wet hair look while sporting a trimmed beard. Dabboo Ratnani shared the black-and-white picture on Instagram and wrote, "Once You Become Fearless, Life Becomes Limitless Invincible & Charismatic Shah Rukh Khan For #dabbooratnanicalendar." The picture drew all sorts of reactions from fans. "Kaha chhupa ke rakhe the ye picture (Where were you hiding this picture?)" asked a fan. "Why are you doing this to us, Dabboo?" said another. "Someone calling the ambulance," a third fan commented. A few also felt that the picture was oozing the Pathan vibe, referring to his upcoming movie. Several fans dropped comments such as 'hotness', 'hawt,' 'amazing', 'charming', along with a few heart and fire emojis. Some fans also requested Dabboo to share more pictures and the behind-the-scenes shots of the shoot. Over the past few weeks, the celebrity photographer has been sharing pictures of numerous stars who have featured in his calendar shoot this year. This includes Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Leone, Hrithik Roshan, Parineeti Chopra, and Saif Ali Khan. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh recently made the headlines for his reaction to the Indian women's hockey team's victory against Australia at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The Indian team beat Australia with a score of 1-0 and it led to numerous Twitter users comparing the moment with the film Chak De India. Shah Rukh too channelled his inner Kabir Khan when he retweeted the viral picture of coach Sjoerd Marijne and the Indian team and said, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." The coach responded, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." Shah Rukh is set to make his acting comeback with Pathan. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The actor has been on a hiatus since the release of Zero, in 2018.
80 New DelhiChirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won two of their three badminton doubles Group A matches in the Olympics. So did Indonesia's Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo, and Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. Despite the same number of wins (2), losses (1) and points (2), the Indian pair was ousted while the other two progressed to the quarter-finals. The reason: Group stage qualification. Since the format was introduced in London 2012, changing from a straight knockout, it has worked for some, but not for others such as the world No.10 Indian pair, eliminated in Tokyo via game difference-like goal difference in football. They finished third in the group of four. The world No.1 Indonesian pair topped the group with a +3 game difference (games won minus games lost) and the world No.3 Chinese Taipei combine, stunned by Shetty and Rankireddy in the opener, advanced with a +2 difference. The Indians were at +1. On Tuesday, Shetty and Rankireddy earned a 21-17, 21-19 win in 42 minutes over Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, their first victory in two meetings against the world No.18. By then, the qualifiers from the group was clear. It was a tough group with three top 10 pairs but it was the straight games loss against Gideon and Sukamuljo on Monday that cost Shetty and Rankireddy. A lot depended on the match between Gideon/Sukamuljo and Lee/Wang as the Taipei pair losing would have led to Shetty and Rankireddy's qualification. But minutes before the Indian pair stepped on to the court, Lee and Wang won in three games over the Indonesians, rendering the match inconsequential. "We knew the moment Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin won, we didn't stand a chance," Shetty said. "They won in two games and we won in three. We feel sad. Unfortunately, even after winning two matches in the group, we don't go through. That is badminton and we have to live with it." The result was akin to London 2012, where Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were eliminated in women's doubles as they finished third despite winning two matches with the top two going through.
81 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 5pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Absence of officials from parliamentary panel meet sets dangerous precedent: Tharoor Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the absence of three officials from a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) on the Pegasus spyware issue sets a dangerous precedent for Parliamentary accountability and democracy. "This is unprecedented and extremely dangerous," Tharoor, who heads the panel, told HT. 70 Delta Plus variant cases found across 16 states, UT: Govt tells Lok Sabha As many as 70 cases of Delta sub-lineage AY.1, also known as Delta Plus variant, of coronavirus were found in genome sequencing, Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Bombay HC on Shilpa Shetty case: 'Reporting what police said never defamatory' The Bombay high court on Friday made some significant observations regarding the right to privacy and press freedom as it was hearing the Rs.25 crore defamation suit filed by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty in connection with husband, businessman Raj Kundra's arrest in the pornography case. Delhi high court issues notice to Ramdev on allopathy comment row The Delhi high court which on Friday heard the case against Ramdev's disparaging remarks on allopathy gave the Yoga guru a week's time to let the court know what his stand regarding the case is. Ramdev has been asked to reply within next Friday and the case is likely to be heard against on August 10. Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu triumphs over Akane Yamaguchi to enter semi-final PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she stormed into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. MS Dhoni's new haircut sparks mixed reactions. Pictures go viral MS Dhoni has sparked a chatter online after pictures of his new hairstyle were posted online. Aalim Hakim, a celebrated stylist, shared the pictures on his official Twitter handle that show the former India cricket team captain sporting a new look which includes a funky hairstyle and a beard. When Lata Mangeshkar 'flew into a rage' because Raj Kapoor implied she was 'ugly' Lata Mangeshkar was the inspiration behind Raj Kapoor's 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, but for reasons that she didn't appreciate. His daughter Ritu Nanda revealed the story in her 2002 book, Raj Kapoor Speaks.
82 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 5pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Absence of officials from parliamentary panel meet sets dangerous precedent: Tharoor Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the absence of three officials from a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) on the Pegasus spyware issue sets a dangerous precedent for Parliamentary accountability and democracy. "This is unprecedented and extremely dangerous," Tharoor, who heads the panel, told HT. 70 Delta Plus variant cases found across 16 states, UT: Govt tells Lok Sabha As many as 70 cases of Delta sub-lineage AY.1, also known as Delta Plus variant, of coronavirus were found in genome sequencing, Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Bombay HC on Shilpa Shetty case: 'Reporting what police said never defamatory' The Bombay high court on Friday made some significant observations regarding the right to privacy and press freedom as it was hearing the Rs.25 crore defamation suit filed by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty in connection with husband, businessman Raj Kundra's arrest in the pornography case. Delhi high court issues notice to Ramdev on allopathy comment row The Delhi high court which on Friday heard the case against Ramdev's disparaging remarks on allopathy gave the Yoga guru a week's time to let the court know what his stand regarding the case is. Ramdev has been asked to reply within next Friday and the case is likely to be heard against on August 10. Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu triumphs over Akane Yamaguchi to enter semi-final PV Sindhu looks like a player on a mission as she stormed into the semi-final of the women's singles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 21-13, 22-20 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu is now just one more win away from ensuring a second consecutive Olympic medal, to add to the silver she had won at the 2016 Rio Games. MS Dhoni's new haircut sparks mixed reactions. Pictures go viral MS Dhoni has sparked a chatter online after pictures of his new hairstyle were posted online. Aalim Hakim, a celebrated stylist, shared the pictures on his official Twitter handle that show the former India cricket team captain sporting a new look which includes a funky hairstyle and a beard. When Lata Mangeshkar 'flew into a rage' because Raj Kapoor implied she was 'ugly' Lata Mangeshkar was the inspiration behind Raj Kapoor's 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, but for reasons that she didn't appreciate. His daughter Ritu Nanda revealed the story in her 2002 book, Raj Kapoor Speaks.
83 An Olympics debut can be a tricky affair. It can energize an athlete to the top of their game, like it did with sabre fencer Bhavani Devi on Tuesday. It can also bring an athlete down with doubts and anxieties. Pooja Rani's mind was playing games with her since the morning of her debut. She could not shake off the negative thoughts. "What if I lose? How bad will it be to exit in the first round?" The 30-year-old boxer from Haryana, a two-time Asian champion, wanted to rush to the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, put on her boxing gloves and be done with the bout. "It was so stressful," Rani said, after what turned out to be an easy win where she connected with just about every punch she threw at Algeria's Ichrak Chaib. "Ring mein jane ke bad relax ho gayi (I felt relaxed when I entered the ring)." With this win, Rani moved into the quarterfinals, one win away from a guaranteed bronze, joining Lovlina Borgohain, who won her round of 16 match on July 27. They will be hoping for Mary Kom's company too; Kom has her Round of 16 bout on July 29. Rani walked to the ring sporting her usual black bandana and immediately got down to working Chaib, who was also making her Olympic debut. Chaib's spirited aggression was met with smart and precise counters from Rani. The difference in experience and skill was marked. Rani feinted with her right, saw Chaib's eyes follow her hand and landed a solid left. Then Rani connected with a left hook that made Chaib wobble and lose her balance. The intent was clear from the opening minute. Rani had found her range and she was going to dictate. It didn't bother her that Chaib was a southpaw. In the second round, Rani began to connect hard with her jabs too, easily moving out of Chaib's lunging attacks and hitting her flush in the face. The precision and speed from Rani must have been a joy for the Indian women's boxing coaches Raffaele Bergamasco and Ali Qamar. Chaib looked rattled but the Algerian wanted to make a match of it. She continued to attack the whole time, and Rani continued evading and countering, landing her favourite left hook multiple times. Rani sailed through 5-0. "I was connecting very well from the start," she said. "My left hook and right-left combination was going well and it made me feel good. I was asking the coaches how it was going after the first round and they told me to continue the way I am fighting." As a teenager, Rani had started boxing without telling her parents, who did not want her to be in a fighting sport. At that time, her coach in Bhiwani, Sanjay Sheoran, had worked tirelessly to convince her parent to allow her to continue. "It's my coach's birthday and I want to dedicate this win to him," Rani said. Bergamasco was satisfied with her performance, but his mind was already on the next challenge. Rani will face China's Li Qian, the 2016 Rio bronze medallist and 2018 world champion in the quarters. Rani has fought Qian thrice and lost thrice, the last time at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Jordan in March last year. "Rani was strong today. She was smart and had better control of her bout. We have to make a strategy for the Chinese girl," said Bergamasco. It would not be easy but riding on the thrill of making her Olympic debut, Rani is hoping to pull off an upset.
84 The India women's hockey team bowed out of the race for an Olympic gold on Wednesday, but only after a spirited fight of the kind that has defined their Olympic campaign. Against four-time medallists Argentina, they started brightly before running out of time, but not out of steam, at the Oi hockey stadium. The final few minutes were nerve-wracking, as India, in search of an equaliser, pushed world No. 2 Argentina deep into defence. At the hooter, the scoreline read 2-1. "Vamos, vamos," the Argentina contingent erupted after coming through the tense final moments. Coach Carlos Jose Retegui, who had been pacing up and down the sideline barking instructions, ran to the pitch to celebrate with his team. The Indian players were dejected, but the shoulders didn't drop. They face 2016 Rio champions Britain in the bronze play-off on Friday. "We are disappointed because we were very close to the gold and silver medal," said India captain Rani Rampal. "We put up a strong fight. the two chances they got, they converted. We also had opportunities, but today was not our day. Argentina deserved it because in the first two quarters, we could have done a few things better. In the third and the fourth quarters we played energetically, which we did not in the first two quarters. We still have a bronze medal match, we'll reflect on the things we can improve." India took the lead in the second minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurjit Kaur, who had scored with a drag-flick from a penalty corner to give India their gritty quarter-final win against Australia too. First attack of the day, first goal. But if India managed an upset against Australia, preserving their 1-0 lead for 38 minutes of frenetic defensive play, that was not to be against Argentina. Argentine skipper Maria Noel Barrionuevo converted penalty corners in the 18th and 36th minutes to take her team to the final. The Indian women's hockey team, playing in their first Olympic semi final, overcame a nervous period after their bright opening and battled to create their own chances against the four-time Olympic medallists (Argentina last won a medal in London 2012, a silver). A fighting India were twice denied by experienced goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi, who first saved Gurjit Kaur's penalty corner and then kicked away Navneet Kaur's deflection from close range. India sought a penalty corner referral for dangerous ball but it was not awarded. A furious Rampal asked for a long corner but that was also denied. For large parts of the match though, Argentina were in control of the midfield, mounting a series of attacks from the left flank. For India, the seasoned Deep Grace Ekka was once again a rock in defense, making several crucial clearances and interceptions. But minutes into the second quarter, Augustina Albertarrio earned a penalty corner and Maria Noel scored. It began a period of Argentinine domination. India failed to convert two penalty corners and Argentina kept up the pressure. Another goal looked imminent and it also came via Maria Noel. It shook India out of their defensive mindset. They now put the largely untested Argentine defence under pressure. Chances did come, but the scoreline did not budge. "We tried to take away our nerves, to deal with it," said India coach Sjoerd Marijne. "This is the first time they are playing semi-finals in the Olympics. It can give you nerves. Injections a little bit to the left, not trapping the ball...if you have three PCs, this can't happen. But that is about playing at the highest level. Today that was the difference". The Dutch coach also pointed to the fact that India had less recovery time between matches. "These are not excuses, this is reality," he said. "The main thing for us was keeping up the energy and I think that was really good." Marijne immediately got the team into a huddle after the loss and reminded the players that a bronze medal was still there to be won.
85 The India women's hockey team bowed out of the race for an Olympic gold on Wednesday, but only after a spirited fight of the kind that has defined their Olympic campaign. Against four-time medallists Argentina, they started brightly before running out of time, but not out of steam, at the Oi hockey stadium. The final few minutes were nerve-wracking, as India, in search of an equaliser, pushed world No. 2 Argentina deep into defence. At the hooter, the scoreline read 2-1. "Vamos, vamos," the Argentina contingent erupted after coming through the tense final moments. Coach Carlos Jose Retegui, who had been pacing up and down the sideline barking instructions, ran to the pitch to celebrate with his team. The Indian players were dejected, but the shoulders didn't drop. They face 2016 Rio champions Britain in the bronze play-off on Friday. "We are disappointed because we were very close to the gold and silver medal," said India captain Rani Rampal. "We put up a strong fight. the two chances they got, they converted. We also had opportunities, but today was not our day. Argentina deserved it because in the first two quarters, we could have done a few things better. In the third and the fourth quarters we played energetically, which we did not in the first two quarters. We still have a bronze medal match, we'll reflect on the things we can improve." Another gritty fight India took the lead in the second minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurjit Kaur, who had scored with a drag-flick from a penalty corner to give India their gritty quarter-final win against Australia too. First attack of the day, first goal. But if India managed an upset against Australia, preserving their 1-0 lead for 38 minutes of frenetic defensive play, that was not to be against Argentina. Argentine skipper Maria Noel Barrionuevo converted penalty corners in the 18th and 36th minutes to take her team to the final. The Indian women's hockey team, playing in their first Olympic semi final, overcame a nervous period after their bright opening and battled to create their own chances against the four-time Olympic medallists (Argentina last won a medal in London 2012, a silver). A fighting India were twice denied by experienced goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi, who first saved Gurjit Kaur's penalty corner and then kicked away Navneet Kaur's deflection from close range. India sought a penalty corner referral for dangerous ball but it was not awarded. A furious Rampal asked for a long corner but that was also denied. A late charge For large parts of the match though, Argentina were in control of the midfield, mounting a series of attacks from the left flank. For India, the seasoned Deep Grace Ekka was once again a rock in defense, making several crucial clearances and interceptions. But minutes into the second quarter, Augustina Albertarrio earned a penalty corner and Maria Noel scored. It began a period of Argentinine domination. India failed to convert two penalty corners and Argentina kept up the pressure. Another goal looked imminent and it also came via Maria Noel. It shook India out of their defensive mindset. They now put the largely untested Argentine defence under pressure. Chances did come, but the scoreline did not budge. "We tried to take away our nerves, to deal with it," said India coach Sjoerd Marijne. "This is the first time they are playing semi-finals in the Olympics. It can give you nerves. Injections a little bit to the left, not trapping the ball...if you have three PCs, this can't happen. But that is about playing at the highest level. Today that was the difference". The Dutch coach also pointed to the fact that India had less recovery time between matches. "These are not excuses, this is reality," he said. "The main thing for us was keeping up the energy and I think that was really good." Marijne immediately got the team into a huddle after the loss and reminded the players that a bronze medal was still there to be won.
86 India Women's hockey team created history after beating Australia in the Olympic quarter final match on Monday. This is the first ever Olympic semi-final spot secured by the women's team and as anticipated, the news left netizens flooding Twitter with heartfelt wishes and good luck messages for the upcoming matches. The hashtag #GoForGold is currently trending on the micro-blogging site after the flurry of tweets from people. The winning goal of the quarter final match was scored from a penalty kick by Gurjit Kaur. The team was congratulated by several eminent personalities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a message of congratulations for the team. Netizens shared all kinds of tweets to wish the team all the best with the trending hashtag. From actor Preity Zinta to sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik who tweeted one of his creations inspired from the win, the wishes kept on pouring in. Check out the tweets: This individual took a route of nostalgia and shared a scene from the Shah Rukh Khan starrer movie Chak De India. It is bound to give you goosebumps. India is set to face Argentina in the semifinals.
87 As reigning world champion P V Sindhu's hopes of securing India's first-ever Olympic gold in badminton came crashing down after slumping to a straight-game defeat against world no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's singles semifinals earlier today, Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises shared a rather encouraging message for the ace badminton player. Praising Sindhu for her guts which led her so far in the international game, Harsh Goenka tweeted, "Well played@Pvsindhu1!Medals are not made of gold, silver or bronze but really made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And all of these you have plenty..." He also added, "Tomorrow sure will be a better day and 1.3 billion hearts are expectantly awaiting for the bronze!" thus encouraging the champion player and setting another example of inspiring tweets on his social media platform. Well played @Pvsindhu1 !Medals are not made of gold, silver or bronze but really made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And all of these you have plenty. Tomorrow sure will be a better day and 1.3 billion hearts are expectantly awaiting for the bronze! pic.twitter.com/iJBAZBkDt8 - Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) July 31, 2021 Within an hour of posting, the industrialist's tweet garnered over 500 likes and several comments as people came in support of the sportsperson. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games, however, remained in the hunt for a bronze and will be competing against China's He Bing Jiao in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 in 40-minute clash here. "I'm a bit sad because it's the semifinals, but I tried my best, it's just not my day. I fought until the end," said Sindhu after the match. "In the second game I gave away a huge lead but still I was fighting back because you never know, it can change at any moment. It's the Olympics, you have to fight until the last point and I have done that. "I was prepared for her skills, so I don't think that troubled me a lot. At the end of the day the level of the semifinals is going to be really high - you can't expect easy points. I just couldn't be on the winning side." This is Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs. On her bronze medal match, Sindhu said: "It's going to be a bit sad. I need to go back and relax and prepare for tomorrow because it is not over yet. I still have a chance. "...I hope I can give my best. It just wasn't my day (today), but I'm going to try it again tomorrow." In the bronze medal play-off, Sindhu will next take on world no 9 He Bing Jiao, an opponent who has beaten the Indian nine times so far in 15 meetings. Sindhu, however, had won the last time they crossed swords at the 2019 BWF World Tour Finals. The Chinese hasn't played any international tournament since participating at the 2020 All England Championship.
88 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena, and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high-domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just assured India of a second medal at the Olympics -- after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver on the first day -- beating an opponent she had lost to three times in three matches before this one, to move into the semi-finals of the 69kg (welterweight) in women's boxing. Both losing semi-finalists get bronze medals in Olympic boxing, but Borgohain has the chance to do something no other Indian boxer has done in an Olympic ring - fight in the final. And she said after the bout that she was gunning for history. "I would talk about my journey, but not today. I have the gold to win," Borgohain said. "There is only one medal and that is gold, that is what we compete for." There was more to cheer on Friday as PV Sindhu pulled off a clinical straight-games quarter-final win over her long-time rival Akane Yamaguchi of Japan to take a step closer to a medal. The success of these women fits with an important gender shift in the country's sporting culture. Sakshi Malik (bronze) and Sindhu (silver) were India's only medallists at Rio 2016, and Dipa Karmakar's brave finish just off the podium in gymnastics was the other major highlight. Borgohain, 23, did just enough in her Olympic debut bout on Tuesday for a split decision, but in the quarter-final against Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei, the 2018 world champion was in control for the full three rounds. The lanky boxer from Assam controlled the range with her stiff jab and some nimble footwork. When Chen did find a way in, she was met with a solid left hook to the head. But Borgohain's best was yet to come. In Round 2, Chen, having lost the first, grew more and more desperate with Borgohain's control of the ring. Her attacks became more reckless and Borgohain, unfazed and perfectly poised, took full advantage. The round went unanimously in Borgohain's favour. Between the rounds, coach Raffaele Bergamasco, furiously fanning her with a towel, said: "The whole of India and Assam are watching. You have the opportunity to create history." In Round 3, still dictating the movement in the ring, still using her quick jab and hook combination, Borgohain did just that. After Vijender Singh's in 2008 and Mary Kom's in 2012, India will have another Olympic boxing medal. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, sporting a traditional gamosa around her neck after the fight. Borgohain's path to Tokyo has been hard. Last year, after almost seven months without training or competition because of the pandemic, she tested positive for Covid-19 on the day the Indian boxing squad flew out to Italy for a prolonged training and competition trip in October. Left behind in New Delhi, Borgohain had to be hospitalised for a few days. "She has been very strong mentally. We had to work on her strength and conditioning after Covid and it took a couple of months. She was very dedicated," said Bergamasco. In December and January, while the rest of the elite women boxers trained as a team, Borgohain worked on her fitness at the Inspire Institute of Sports in Ballari, Karnataka. By the end of January she felt ready to get back into the ring, but there was bad news from home-both her mother's kidneys were failing. In February, Borgohain made a two-day trip to Kolkata to be with her mother, who was undergoing a kidney transplant there. In her first tournament after this period of chaos, the Boxam International invitational in Spain, she lost in the very first round. By May, the two-time world championship bronze medallist was back in the flow, winning a bronze in the Asian Championships in Doha. Borgohain comes from Baromukhia, a village near Assam's border with Nagaland. Her father owns a small tea plantation and she has two older sisters, Lima and Licha, (one is in the CISF the other with the BSF). Growing up, Borgohain was fascinated by Lima and Licha training in Muay Thai. When she was old enough, Borgohain started training in the martial art too. In 2012, Sports Authority of India boxing coach Padum Boro was scouting for new recruits because he did not have enough boxers to represent Assam in the upcoming sub-junior nationals. He saw Borgohain in action in her school. Impressed by her height and her skills, Boro convinced her to join the SAI boxing programme in Guwahati. "I was told by the coach, just don't use the kick, and throw as many punches as possible," Borgohain had told HT in an earlier interview. She went on to win gold in the nationals with just a few months of training. In her Olympic semi-final on August 4, Borgohain will run into world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, who she has never fought before.
89 Lovlina Borgohain let out a scream so loud it cut through the empty Kokugikan Arena, and hung there for a while, ricocheting off the high-domed ceiling of the revered home of Sumo wrestling. She had just assured India of a second medal at the Olympics -- after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver on the first day -- beating an opponent she had lost to three times in three matches before this one, to move into the semi-finals of the 69kg (welterweight) in women's boxing. Both losing semi-finalists get bronze medals in Olympic boxing, but Borgohain has the chance to do something no other Indian boxer has done in an Olympic ring - fight in the final. And she said after the bout that she was gunning for history. "I would talk about my journey, but not today. I have the gold to win," Borgohain said. "There is only one medal and that is gold, that is what we compete for." There was more to cheer on Friday as PV Sindhu pulled off a clinical straight-games quarter-final win over her long-time rival Akane Yamaguchi of Japan to take a step closer to a medal. The success of these women fits with an important gender shift in the country's sporting culture. Sakshi Malik (bronze) and Sindhu (silver) were India's only medallists at Rio 2016, and Dipa Karmakar's brave finish just off the podium in gymnastics was the other major highlight. Borgohain, 23, did just enough in her Olympic debut bout on Tuesday for a split decision, but in the quarter-final against Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei, the 2018 world champion she was in control for the full three rounds. The lanky boxer from Assam controlled the range with her stiff jab and some nimble footwork. When Chen did find a way in, she was met with a solid left hook to the head. But Borgohain's best was yet to come. In Round 2, Chen, having lost the first, grew more and more desperate with Borgohain's control of the ring. Her attacks became more reckless and Borgohain, unfazed and perfectly poised, took full advantage. The round went unanimously in Borgohain's favour. Between the rounds, coach Raffaele Bergamasco, furiously fanning her with a towel, said: "The whole of India and Assam are watching. You have the opportunity to create history." In Round 3, still dictating the movement in the ring, still using her quick jab and hook combination, Borgohain did just that. After Vijender Singh's in 2008 and Mary Kom's in 2012, India will have another Olympic boxing medal. "I have been working hard for eight years, so I thought I will have to show that hard work. I just wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Borgohain, sporting a traditional gamosa around her neck after the fight. Borgohain's path to Tokyo has been hard. Last year, after almost seven months without training or competition because of the pandemic, she tested positive for Covid-19 on the day the Indian boxing squad flew out to Italy for a prolonged training and competition trip in October. Left behind in New Delhi, Borgohain had to be hospitalised for a few days. "She has been very strong mentally. We had to work on her strength and conditioning after Covid and it took a couple of months. She was very dedicated," said Bergamasco. In December and January, while the rest of the elite women boxers trained as a team, Borgohain worked on her fitness at the Inspire Institute of Sports in Ballari, Karnataka. By the end of January she felt ready to get back into the ring, but there was bad news from home-both her mother's kidneys were failing. In February, Borgohain made a two-day trip to Kolkata to be with her mother, who was undergoing a kidney transplant there. In her first tournament after this period of chaos, the Boxam International invitational in Spain, she lost in the very first round. By May, the two-time world championship bronze medallist was back in the flow, winning a bronze in the Asian Championships in Doha. Borgohain comes from a village called Baromukhia, near Assam's border with Nagaland. Her father owns a small tea plantation and she has two older sisters, Lima and Licha, (one is in the CISF the other with the BSF). Growing up, Borgohain was fascinated by Lima and Licha training in Muay Thai. When she was old enough, Borgohain started training in the martial art too. In 2012, Sports Authority of India boxing coach Padum Boro was scouting for new recruits because he did not have enough boxers to represent Assam in the upcoming sub-junior nationals. He saw Borgohain in action in her school. Impressed by her height and her skills, Boro convinced her to join the SAI boxing programme in Guwahati. "I was told by the coach, just don't use the kick, and throw as many punches as possible," Borgohain had told HT in an earlier interview. She went on to win gold in the nationals with just a few months of training. In her Olympic semi-final on August 4, Borgohain will run into world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, who she has never fought before. "I thought I will play it easy, whatever the situation I will handle," Borgohain said about her quarterfinal fight. "I used to think too much about it."
90 Sprawled on the blue turf of the Oi hockey stadium, exhausted and exasperated, they breathed hard as they lay on their backs under the hot sun. Manpreet Singh and his men had pushed themselves - and had been pushed - to the limit against world champions Belgium. They had gone into the last quarter level at 2-2, and had then endured a harrowing barrage of attacks and penalty corners to lose 5-2. When the dust settled, Belgium were through to their second straight Olympics final, and India, to their first medal match - a play-off for the bronze against Germany - since 1980. The Tokyo heat made little difference to the teams in a thrilling semi-final that was played at a breathless pace. India, playing their first Olympic semi-final in 49 years, made a fierce start. Cheered on not just by their support staff in an otherwise empty stadium, but also by the Indian women's team, India matched Belgium attack for attack. Though it was Belgium who drew first blood, early in the second minute when Loick Fanny Luypaert converted a penalty corner, India responded with rapid forays. They were rewarded with back-to-back penalty corners, and Harmanpreet Singh slotted home with a low drive in the 7th minute. Belgium were yet to settle down after the equaliser when India went 2-1 up. This time, it was a brilliant field goal set up by Amit Rohidas from the right. Receiving a ball from the midfield, Rohidas split open the defence with a cross that went straight to Mandeep Singh in front of goal. Singh, surrounded by defenders, stopped the ball, turned his back to the goal, and slapped a reverse tomahawk to send the ball past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch. Belgium, though, had an ace up their sleeve - their prolific and explosive drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, arguably the most accomplished player and prolific scorer in the world right now. The team centred their game around him, with fast, frequent forays into the striking circle to try and win penalty corners (PC), and it worked. Five PCs went Belgium's way in the second quarter and Hendrickx scored off one to equalize. Yet, things were going alright for India. They were creating chances, fighting for and getting plenty of possession, and looking strong in defence as they thwarted one PC after another. What they didn't do, pointed out coach Graham Reid, was take the chances they got. "Belgians are the best in the world with Australia," Reid said. "You've got to keep building on that score but we didn't do that. We had the opportunities but we didn't take them and paid the price for not getting that scoreboard pressure on." Then came the big blow, something Reid and feared and warned the team to avoid - Manpreet got a green card three minutes into the 4th quarter, reducing India to 10 men for two minutes. It was enough. Belgium attacked in waves, won three PCs, and Hendrickx scored with a angled shot off the last to give Belgium the lead. A few minutes later, Hendrickx completed his hat-trick off a penalty stroke. It was four minutes of mayhem. India were left chasing and gasping for breath. Rohidas made some good stops, rushing in and putting his body in the line and Sreejesh backed him up, but India were overwhelmed. "These days teams are more switched on when the opposition has 10 players on the pitch and they took advantage of that," Reid said. "Hockey is about gaining momentum and keeping it." The outcome was nearly sealed, but India chose to go for broke. They replaced Sreejesh with an attacker in the final few minutes, and ended up conceding a fifth with the goal unprotected. When it was all over, the loss was hard to swallow because there was a period when India were ahead 2-1. "They were better than us in the third and fourth quarters," said Manpreet. "We were going to the D and it was getting a bit mixed. We were getting the penalty corners but we were not able to execute them. On the other hand, when they got an opportunity they scored." Manpreet said the team would be looking to put the defeat behind them and refocus for the bronze medal match. "We still have an opportunity to return home with a medal, a bronze," he said. "We'll be doing our best to boost the team." And the men will be on hand, screaming encouragement, when the women's team play their historic semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday.
91 Sprawled on the blue turf of the Oi hockey stadium, exhausted and exasperated, they breathed hard as they lay on their backs under the hot sun. Manpreet Singh and his men had pushed themselves - and had been pushed - to the limit against world champions Belgium. They had gone into the last quarter level at 2-2, and had then endured a harrowing barrage of attacks and penalty corners to lose 5-2. When the dust settled, Belgium were through to their second straight Olympics final, and India, to their first medal match - a play-off for the bronze against Germany - since 1980. The Tokyo heat made little difference to the teams in a thrilling semi-final contest that was played at a breathless pace. India, playing their first Olympic semi-final in 49 years, made a fierce start. Cheered on not just by their own support staff in an otherwise empty stadium, but also by the Indian women's team and their coaching staff, India matched Belgium attack for attack. Though it was Belgium who drew first blood, early in the second minute when Loick Fanny Luypaert converted a penalty corner, India responded with rapid forays into the opponent's half. They were rewarded with back-to-back penalty corners, and Harmanpreet Singh slotted home with a powerful low drive in the 7th minute. Belgium were yet to settle down after the equaliser when India went 2-1 up. This time, it was a brilliant field goal set up by Amit Rohidas from the right flank. Receiving a ball from the midfield, Rohidas split open the defence with a cross that went straight to Mandeep Singh in front of goal. Singh, surrounded by defenders, stopped the ball, turned his back to the goal, and slapped a reverse tomahawk to send the ball past seasoned Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch for a fine finish. Belgium, though, had an ace up their sleeve - their prolific and explosive drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, arguably the most accomplished player and prolific scorer in the world right now. The team centred their game around him, with fast, frequent forays into the striking circle to try and win penalty corners (PC), and it worked. Five PCs went Belgium's way in the second quarter and Hendrickx scored off one to equalize. Yet, things were going alright for India. They were creating chances, fighting for and getting plenty of possession, and looking strong in defence as they spiritedly thwarted one PC after another. What they didn't do, pointed out coach Graham Reid, was take the chances they got. "Belgians are the best team in the world with Australia," Reid said. "You've got to keep building on that score but we didn't do that. We had the opportunities but we didn't take them and paid the price for not getting that scoreboard pressure on." Then came the big blow, something Reid and feared and warned the team to avoid - Manpreet got a green card three minutes into the 4th quarter, reducing India to 10 men for two minutes. It was enough. Belgium attacked in waves, won three PCs, and Hendrickx scored with a powerfully angled shot off the last to give Belgium the lead. A few minutes later, Hendrickx completed his hat-trick by slotting home a penalty. It was four minutes of mayhem. India were left chasing and gasping for breath. Rohidas made some good stops, rushing in and putting his body in the line and Sreejesh backed him up, but India were overwhelmed. "These days teams are more switched on when the opposition has 10 players on the pitch and they took advantage of that," Reid said. "Hockey is about gaining momentum and keeping it." The outcome was nearly sealed, but India chose to go for broke. They replaced Sreejesh with an attacker in the final few minutes, and ended up conceding a fifth with the goal unprotected. When it was all over, the loss was hard to swallow because there was a period when India were ahead 2-1. "They were better than us in the third and fourth quarters," said Manpreet. "We were going to the D and it was getting a bit mixed. We were getting the penalty corners but we were not able to execute them. On the other hand, when they got an opportunity they scored." Manpreet said the team would be looking to put the defeat behind them and refocus for the bronze medal match. "We still have an opportunity to return home with a medal, a bronze," he said. "We'll be doing our best to boost the team." And the men will be on hand, screaming encouragement, when the women's team play their historic semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday.
92 In Simone Biles's decision to quit, lies a crucial lesson for young women everywhere. It comprises a single, two-letter word: No. Biles's decision to pull out of the Olympics does more than shine a welcome spotlight on mental health. By prioritising her own well-being over every tribal call for team and nation, she has reclaimed the power of saying "no". In a month when the Norwegian women's handball team has been fined for refusing to play in bikini bottoms and choosing shorts, like male players, the word stands out like a flashing beacon particularly in cultures and societies like ours where good girls don't say no; where they are brought up to never complain, never ask for anything for themselves; where they put family first and eat last and the least. From their birth, girls are indoctrinated into submitting to the unquestionable authority of patriarchs: Fathers, brothers, husbands, and fathers-in-law. Please "adjust" is what they are told when they are pulled out of school, made to do housework unlike their privileged brothers, or, find themselves in abusive marriages. Even the slightest deviation cannot be tolerated. And, so, this past week, in Savreji Kharg, Uttar Pradesh, 17-year-old Neha Paswan was beaten to death and then strung from a bridge, allegedly, by her grandfather and uncles, for saying no to changing out of the pair of jeans that she had chosen to wear for a religious ritual. Earlier in July, a 19-year-old woman in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, was beaten up and hung from a tree for refusing to return to a violent marriage. The main accused are her father and two cousins. In Dhahod, Gujarat, in June, two girls, 13 and 16, were thrashed by a group of 15 men in an incident that was videotaped. Their crime? Talking on a mobile phone. These incidents are part of the every day normal for young girls who cannot be allowed to cross male-ordained Lakshman rekhas. This is a world where mobile phones are out of reach for women of a certain impressionable age, lest they do the unthinkable: Strike friendships with boys, break caste and gotra endogamy, fall in love, perhaps, run away and elope. This view of the hapless young woman, incapable of making her own decisions, who must be protected by her father and brothers, her husband and father-in-law, her village elders, and even the laws of the land and the courts is pervasive. It's what leads to a 23-year-old woman's father convincing a judge of the Kerala High Court that his daughter could not have possibly converted and become Hadiya of her own free will. It's what has led to the enactment of so-called "love jihad" laws in four Bharatiya Janata Party-run states despite the National Investigation Agency telling the Supreme Court that there is zero evidence of a "conspiracy" to lure and entrap innocent Hindu girls into marriage, and conversion, by Muslim men. In this normal world, a 19-year-old adult Hindu woman and a Muslim man arrive at the Ballia district magistrate's office to marry under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The marriage is thwarted on the basis of a complaint by the woman's father. For good measure, members of the Karni Sena group are on standby to physically prevent the marriage. Like old Hindi movies, the police turn up in the last scene, find no evidence of love jihad, but arrest the man anyway, on charges of kidnapping. The woman is handed over to her father and, a day later, issues a statement saying she was being tricked by the man. What kind of law subverts the agency of women who are guaranteed the status of equal citizens by the Constitution of India? Worse, perhaps, is the silence of Opposition parties and, even, the higher judiciary. It is a silence borne of the certainty of majoritarian public support in favour of "controlling" daughters. It's a silence validated by the data that tells us that even in urban India, 93% of all marriages that take place continue to be arranged marriages. But Simone Biles also tells us that saying no carries a price. For putting herself above her team, there has been applause for sure, most critically from her own team, but there has been no shortage of critics, including the odious Piers Morgan and a troll lynch mob that hides bravely behind anonymous handles. Women should not have to pay such a high price for asserting themselves. But they do. It is absurd that a woman who speaks up about workplace sexual harassment should be dragged to court by a boss whose entitled predatory behaviour was an "open secret" for over two decades. It is shameful that a woman in a rape trial should have not just her identity revealed in the court judgment, but also details of her private life. Women who protest in public are shamed in public, as students at Banaras Hindu University were when they marched against a molestation incident on campus and were ticked off by their vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi that they had "sold a woman's modesty and brought dishonour to the university". Launched to protest against discriminatory curfew hours in college hostels, Pinjra Tod founders Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were arrested in May 2020 under anti-terrorism laws and released 13 months later on court orders. Simone Biles might have just made it that much easier for young women everywhere. Her decision tells girls that they matter, their voices are important, and that it's okay to put themselves first. It reclaims the first word that every girl must learn because it is raw and powerful and has the capacity to bring about change. Namita Bhandare writes on gender The views expressed are personal
93 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday encouraged the Indian women's hockey team, after the girls lost following a valiant fight in the bronze medal match against Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite going down 2-0 at one point, the Indian team scored three quick goals to take lead in the match and put the Rio Olympics gold medalists on the backfoot. But Britain bounced back in the fourth quarter and won the match 4-3. Prime Minister Modi, taking to his official handle on Twitter, said: "We narrowly missed a medal in Women's Hockey but this team reflects the spirit of New India- where we give our best and scale new frontiers. More importantly, their success at #Tokyo2020 will motivate young daughters of India to take up Hockey and excel in it. Proud of this team.
94 Mirabai Chanu on Saturday won a silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition to open India's counter at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Manipur athlete lifted total weight of 202 kgs to win the medal. The gold in the event was won by China's Hou Zhihui with combined weight total of 210 kgs. She picked a total of 87 kgs in the snatch part of the event and ended with a lift of 115 kgs in clean and jerk. She is the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Day 2 Live Blog Chanu has been a world champion in the past, when she won the gold medal in the 48 kg category in Anaheim. She is the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 48kg category. (More to follow...)
95 The Indian women's hockey team lost 1-4 to defending champions Great Britain, its third consecutive defeat at the Olympics here on Wednesday. The Indians wasted chances galore as Hannah Martin (2nd and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute), Grace Balsdon (57th minute) scored for Great Britain to hand the reigning champions their second consecutive win in Pool A. For India, Sharmila Devi scored the lone goal in the 23rd minute. The Indians need at least a point from this game to be safe but they now will have to win their remaining two matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. India had earlier lost 1-5 to world no.1 the Netherlands before slumping to a 0-2 defeat against Germany. India will next play Ireland on Friday.
96 Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won India's first silver medal in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, inaugurated a new arthroscopy machine at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a premier medical institute in Imphal, Manipur, on Monday. "RIMS is one of first few institutes in the country with a Medical Council of India/ National Medical Commission-recognised MD course in sports medicine," said director professor A Santa Singh of RIMS, "We are grateful to the ministry for supporting us." Manipur introduced the MD course in sports medicine at RIMS during the last academic session.
97 India women's hockey team scripted a historic win over Australia in the quarterfinal match on Monday, beating the tournament favourites 1-0 to book their first-ever Olympic semifinal spot. It took a Gurjit Singh dragflick from a penalty corner to give India the lead in the first quarter. Australia tried to get a goal back, getting several penalty corner opportunities throughout the match, two of them coming in the final quarter. But defender Monika was up to the task, along with goalkeeper Savita, who ensured that India do not give away their hard-earned lead. After the historic win, the Twitterati applauded the historic achievement of the team. Here is a look at some of the reactions: India will face off against Argentina in the semifinals, who defeated Germany 3-0 to book a spot in the semis. With a semis spot booked, India women's hockey team are guaranteed a chance to play in a medal match in Tokyo 2020.
98 Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh to Vandana Katariya, a member of the India women's hockey team that participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this year. "We are proud that Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya made an unforgettable contribution to India's great performance in women's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics," the chief minister said. "In recognition of this, she would be given a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh."
99 The Indian women's hockey team has grabbed a spot in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympic Games and the credit majorly goes to the final goal by Gurjit Kaur. India's last best performance in the Olympics was back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. In that edition of the Games, women's hockey made its debut in the Olympics and the sport was played in a round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the finals. Let us know more about the Indian hockey player who brought about the historic 1-0 win over Australia in the quarterfinals. Thank you, Gurjit, for taking us one step closer to a dream Olympic outing. Let's hockey for the Gold now. This story was first published on Life Beyond Numbers.
100 Vinesh Phogat, one of India's strongest medal contenders at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reacted sharply to a media report on Thursday as she tweeted about her request for a physiotherapist to accompany India's women wrestlers. Vinesh, who will represent India in the women's freestyle wrestling's 53kg category, posted a photo of the news report on Twitter and wrote,"Is it a crime to ask for one Physiotherapist for four women wrestlers when there are instances of one athlete having multiple coaches/ Staff? Where is the balance?We have asked for a Physio long back and not at the last moment as reported." Vinesh has been in great form in the run up to the Games. She has won gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Asian Games. She also won the yellow metal at the Asian Championships in Almaty in the run up to the Olympics.
101 Reigning badminton world champion PV Sindhu sailed into the women's singles semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics with a straight-game triumph over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. The Indian shuttler sealed a 2-0 win against Yamaguchi, winning the first game 21-13, followed by 22-20. Yamaguchi of Japan had earlier defeated Korea's Kim Gaeun 21-17 21-18 in another pre-quarterfinals.
102 If you're wondering who are these ROC athletes winning so many medals at the Tokyo Olympics, here's everything you need to know. ROC athletes are currently joint-third on the Olympics leader board with a tally of 16 medals. But ROC is not a country. It's a way for the Olympics to ensure that innocent athletes do not suffer because of doping bans on their countries. 335 athletes are contesting under the ROC banner. They can neither wear their country's flag nor does their national anthem play when they step up on the podium. ROC is the acronym for Russian Olympic Committee. That's because Russia has been banned from competing in the premium sporting event. Why was Russia banned? In 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency imposed a four-year ban on Russia from competing in all major global sporting events. An investigation from WADA had found a country-wide doping operation that involved over thousand athletes who benefited from state-sponsored doping programs between 2011 and 2015. Apart from the Tokyo Olympics, the ban had barred Russia from competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2022 and Women's World Cup in 2023 as well as the 2024 version of Summer Olympics. The doping scandal is also the subject of an Academy Award-winning 2017 Netflix documentary called Icarus. Russia appealed against the ban which was then reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to two years. How are Russian athletes allowed? Athletes from Russia who were found not involved in the doping investigations by WADA are allowed to compete but they can do so only as neutrals and not under the Russian flag. As per the guidelines, athletes competing under the ROC banner can wear uniforms of Russian colours but the name, flag or anthem of Russia is not permitted. Outside Olympics, Russian race car driver Nikita Mazepin is a good example. Mazepin competes in Formula 1 with the Haas F1 team under the Russian Automobile Federation flag. Similar Olympic bans This is not the first of its kind ban. Afghanistan was banned from competing in Sydney Olympics in 2000 when it was under Taliban rule. That ban was due to the regime's discrimination against women. Even before the Tokyo Olympics, Russian athletes were banned from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics because of doping. Kuwait had also faced a similar ban in 2016 due to a law in the country that did not abide by the Olympic Movement's principles. Kuwaiti Olympians took part under the name "Athletes from Kuwait."
103 Lovlina Borgohain created history by winning a bronze medal in her debut Olympic Games. The 23-year-old from Assam lost the 69kg women's boxing semifinal bout against world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey at the Tokyo Olympics on August 4. Bollywood celebrities took to social media to congratulate Lovlina. BOLLYWOOD CONGRATULATES LOVLINA BORGOHAIN FOR OLYMPICS WIN after Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom. Celebrities lauded her historic win on social media. Kareena Kapoor took to Instagram to congratulate Lovlina. Ali Bhatt also congratulated the boxer for 'bringing home the bronze'. Sharing a photo of Lovlina, Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai on bringing home bronze at your debut Olympics! We're all so proud of you #TokyoOlympics @WeAreTeamIndia (sic)." Varun Dhawan lauded Lovlina too. He wrote, "You packed quite a punch! Many congratulations to Lovlina Borgohain for winning the bronze (sic)!" Mira Rajput hailed Lovlina and wrote that it's time to teach the boys how to fight like girls. Check out how other celebrities congratulated Lovlina Borgohain for her historic bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics: Super achievement .. the whole country is proud of you for bringing in the bronze - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) Lovlina Borgohain is the third Indian to win a medal at the Tokyo Games after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and badminton player PV Sindhu. Lovlina has won two bronze medals each at the World championships and the Asian Championships earlier. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Kareena Kapoor to Alia Bhatt, celebs laud Lovlina Borgohain for bronze win at Olympics
104 Check out six ways in which Google is bringing all the details and the fun from the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to the comfort of your home. Tokyo Olympics 2020: The Tokyo Olympics kick off today and Google has shared a new blog post highlighting features that will help users enjoy the Olympics from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Here are six ways Google will help out followers of the 2020 Olympic games. Google Search adds country rankings, other trivia Searching for anything around the Olympics will show you the latest information around your favourite events, sports and players and also country rankings. Even if you can't catch the games live, users can watch a daily recap video or check out the any other major news related to the Olympics. Enjoy the new Google Doodle Google has also launched a new Doodle ahead of the games, its largest interactive Doodle yet. The new 'Champion Island Games' Doodle was created in collaboration with Japanese animation studio 4C. It allows users to enter the tournament and select a team, following which they can compete across multiple retro 16-bit sports like skateboarding, rugby and climbing and try to beat the reigning champions. There are multiple side-quests too. YouTube, Google TV to feature official broadcaster highlights Starting today, live events as well as clips and highlights from official Olympic broadcasters, including Marca Claro and Eurosport will be available to watch on the respective YouTube channels. "Earlier this month, we added Olympic-related content on YouTube with new YouTube Originals series 'Strive,' 'How To Olympics,' 'Break the Record' and a feature-length documentary 'World Debut' ahead of opening ceremonies," Google said in a post. Google TV users can head to the 'For You' tab and open the Olympics page to find apps from official broadcasters and tune into live streams and missed events, or be inspired by popular sports movies, sports shows and videos on Japan and more. Ask Google Assistant who won Google Assistant will be able to answer questions around the competitions through the tournament. Users will be able to ask Assistant questions like "Hey Google, who won women's basketball in the Olympics?" or "Hey Google, how many medals does France have in the Olympics?". Users can also ask the voice assistant for fun facts around the tournament. These features will work from any Assistant-enabled device, including your phone, speaker and TV. Find apps around the Olympics on the Play Store The Google Play Store will also feature a number of apps around the Olympics including the official Olympics app and other apps related to broadcasters, news organisations, social media, sports and games, plus fitness. Explore Japan with Street View, Google Arts & Culture and Translate Google will be bringing Japan to those enjoying the Olympic Games from home. Users can now enjoy Google Street View in Maps and check out the streets of Tokyo, the snow-capped mountains and cave formations. Google Arts and Culture will also allow users to check out Japan's traditional crafts and mouth-watering food. Google Translate will also help you learn Japanese if you desire.
105 After Mirabai Chanu won India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics in women's weightlifting category, a message has gone viral on social media with the claim that wrestler Priya Malik has won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Multiple and users have congratulated Priya Malik with captions like, "remember the name congratulations for winning gold in wrestling " India Today Anti-Fake News War Room ( AFWA) has found that wrestler Priya Malik has won the gold medal in 73 kg world title at the Cadet World Championships in Budapest on Thursday, July 22. Till now India has won only one silver medal in Tokyo Olympics in weightlifting. The archived versions of the posts are saved and . At the recently held Cadet World Championships in Budapest, , out of the five golds, India won two at 43kg and 73kg as Tannu Malik and Priya Malik respectively dominated the finals. Priya Malik defeated Belarus wrestler to win the gold medal at 73kg. This news appeared in several news on July 23. Priya Malik is from Mokhra village in Haryana that has given India the likes of India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist in wrestling, Sakshi Malik. India has so far won only one silver medal in weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics. Hence, the viral post claiming wrestler Priya Malik won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics is misleading. ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic Fact Check: Wrestler Priya Malik has won gold medal but not at Tokyo Olympics
106 Badminton player PV Sindhu has created history and Indians all over the world are ecstatic. Sindhu scripted history after she defeated He Bingjiao of China 21-13, 21-15 in the women's singles bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. She became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She had earlier won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Dia Mirza and more have taken to social media to celebrate the historical win. BOLLYWOOD LAUDS PV SINDHU Bollywood celebs celebrated While Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on winning the bronze...Third place medal and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud (sic)," Kareena Kapoor shared PV Sindhu's picture with a heart emoji. Congratulations on winning the bronze and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud - Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) Calling Sindhu "one of a kind" sportsperson, Taapsee Pannu said her win must be celebrated across the country. She wrote, "Our girl is getting home the bronze !!!!!She did it!!! One colour at a time I say!Come on champ @Pvsindhu1...This calls for a celebration !!!!!!...You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU!(sic)." Our girl is getting home the bronze !!!!! She did it!!! One colour at a time I say! Come on champ This calls for a celebration !!!!!! You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU! - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) Actor and BJP MP Sunny Deol tweeted that he was proud of Sindhu's win. "Proud of you @Pvsindhu1. First Indian woman to win #Olympics Medal Twice! Making India and Indians proud. #PVSindhu #Bronze #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 (sic)," Deol wrote. Proud of you First Indian woman to win Medal Twice...!! Making India and Indians proud. - Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) See more celeb wishes here: Dia Mirza wrote, "You are Gold Girl @Pvsindhu1 Congratulations!!! India is proud of you. #Olympics #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India #TeamIndia (sic)." You are Gold Girl Congratulations!!! India is proud of you. - Dia Mirza (@deespeak) Congrats !!! Always making India proud ! - dulquer salmaan (@dulQuer) Sindhu became only the 2nd Indian after Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Kareena to Abhishek, Bollywood lauds PV Sindhu's historic bronze win at Tokyo Olympics
107 The top five Indian athletes on Twitter with the most mentions include P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain and Mary Kom, among others. Read more here. Tokyo Olympics: As we head into the second week of the 2020 Olympics, a number of women athletes are currently leading the trends in social media. New statistics shared by Twitter reveal that in India, athletes including Mirabai Chanu and P.V. Sindhu are attracting a lot of attention on the micro-blogging platform. A tweet by Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been the most retweeted tweet of the Olympic Games by Indian audience so far. Meanwhile, badminton player P.V. Sindhu is the athlete with the most India mentions during the games. Check out all the interesting statistics from the Tokyo Olympics below. Note that these findings are based on Twitter data collected between July 23 and July 30. P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain lead 'most mentioned' list The top five Indian athletes on Twitter with the most mentions include P.V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, Mary Kom, Deepika Kumari, and Atanu Das. Meanwhile the sports Indians are talking about the most on Twitter include Boxing, Olympic Weightlifting, Badminton, Olympic Field Hockey, and Tennis. These are the most liked tweets around the Olympic games in India. I am really happy on winning silver medal in #Tokyo2020 for my country - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 24, 2021 Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021 Finally its a dream come true for me. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/e6ewz3cNXO - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 24, 2021 Heading back to home , Thank you #Tokyo2020 for memorable moments of my life. - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 26, 2021 Big Day It was Excitement & Emotional. I won the First Match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi and become the First INDIAN Fencing Player to win a Match at Olympic but 2nd Match I lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet. I did my level best but couldn't win. I am sorry - C A Bhavani Devi (@IamBhavaniDevi) July 26, 2021 Top hashtags and emojis Twitter has also revealed that #Tokyo2020, #Olympics, #Cheer4India, #TokyoOlympics and #TeamIndia are the most used hashtags in tweets related to the game. The most used emojis include the (clapping hands emoji), (second place medal emoji), (first place medal emoji), (Thumbs up emoji) and the (sports medal emoji). Women athletes are topping the Twitter charts not just in India, but globally too. The three athletes with the most global mentions on Olympics conversations are Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal, American gymnast Simone Biles and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade.
108 Dairy brand Amul congratulated boxer Lovlina Borgohain with an animated doodle published in a post on social media as she won a medal for India after she clinched the bronze in the women's boxing welterweight category (64-69kg) at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The doodle shared by Amul features an after her win with the Amul girl encouraging the boxer as well. "Borgohain Sabse Behtar! Amul, We Love It," reads the text on the graphic. "#Amul Topical: Indian boxer wins bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics," Amul said in the caption of their post. See Amul's post here: As the post went viral with thousands of likes, in the comments section. The 23-year-old boxer from Assam lost the women's boxing semifinal bout against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey on Wednesday. Lovlina failed to change the colour of her medal but became only the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish at the showpiece after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic Amul congratulates Lovlina Borgohain with animated doodle for bronze win at Tokyo Olympics
109 Following is India's schedule on the day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. After a disappointing loss in the semi-final to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying, India's star shuttler and reigning World Champion PV Sindhu will have her eyes on the bronze medal when she takes on her Chinese opponent, He Bingjiao. If Sindhu emerges victorious, this will be her second Olympic medal after the silver medal in Rio Olympics where she lost to Carolina Marin in the final. There will be two quarter-final events as well. Boxer Satish Kumar will lock horns with Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov in men's super heavy category. Also, Manpreet Singh-led India will look to continue their winning run in the tournament with a win over Great Britain in the quarter-final. India faced only one defeat in the group stage against Australia. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza will be seen in action again in the Eventing Cross Country team and individual event. Following is India's schedule on the ninth day of the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. Golf: Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4: 04:00 AM. Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Cross Country Team and Individual: 04:15 AM. Boxing: Satish Kumar vs Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan) in men's super heavy (+91kg) quarterfinals: 9:36 AM. Badminton: PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao (China) in women's singles bronze medal play-off match: 5 PM. Hockey: India vs Great Britain in Men's quarterfinal: 5:30 PM.
110 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
111 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
112 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
113 On Sunday (August 1), badminton player PV Sindhu created history after defeating He Bing Jiao of China 21-13, 21-15 to win the women's singles bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu has become the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Celebs like Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde, Kajal Aggarwal and Samantha Akkineni took to social media to congratulate PV Sindhu for inspiring girls across the country to dream big. MAHESH BABU AND CHIRANJEEVI LAUD PV SINDHU'S HISTORIC BRONZE WIN Celebs took to social media to congratulate in the women's singles bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Mahesh Babu took to Twitter and wrote, "Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze @Pvsindhu1! Immensely happy and proud!! #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze ! Immensely happy and proud!! - Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) Chiranjeevi took to Twitter to share a picture of himself with PV Sindhu and congratulated her for becoming the first Indian woman to bring home an Olympics medal twice in a row. He wrote, "Congrats @Pvsindhu1 on winning the medal & creating history for being the first Indian woman to bring an Olympic medal twice in a row. Delighted that both medals won so far are by Indian women! No stopping our Women Power!! You make India proud!#MirabaiChanu @Pvsindhu1 #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Congrats on winning the medal & creating history for being the first Indian woman to bring an Olympic medal twice in a row.Delighted that both medals won so far are by Indian women! No stopping our Women Power!! You make India proud! - Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) OTHER CELEBS CONGRATULATE PV SINDHU ON HER HISTORIC WIN Samantha Akkineni took to her Instagram stories and wrote, "And she does it againI can't imagine what this takes @pvsindhu1. We absolutely love you and respect your hardwork and dedication. You are so special (sic)." Pooja Hegde also congratulated PV Sindhu for inspiring girls to always dream big. She wrote, "It takes a lot of grit, focus and sacrifice to achieve what you've done. Such a big reminder to dream big and put the work that goes in to it. First Indian female athlete to win consecutive Olympic medals. Take a bow. Thank you for the inspiration @pvsindhu1 (sic)." Kajal Aggarwal shared a video on her Instagram stories and wrote, "@pvsindhu historic indeed! #Somuchrespect #Andpride (sic)." Namrata Shirodkar wrote, "You have done India proud once again @pvsindhu1. Many congratulations on your incredible win at the #Tokyo2020Olympics!! #GirlPower (sic). also lauded PV Sindhu's historic win at the Tokyo Olympics. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Mahesh Babu to Chiranjeevi, celebs congratulate PV Sindhu for historic bronze win at Olympics
114 A decade ago, when Aditi Ashok was only 13, she had impressed the city's veteran golfers with her temperament. It is the same temperament the world got to view as Aditi competed with the world's top golfers for three days before missing an Olympic medal by a whisker. “Aditi was mature beyond her years even when she was a teenager. A bad shot is all it takes to ruffle a golfer. But nothing appeared to unsettle her and she went about her game with calm and poise. For the past three days, too, it is her fantastic temperament that was on display. Even when she lost, she did not flinch and went about the formalities just as she would have had she won,” said former twotime national champion Vandana Agarwal. Ashok had won the Eastern India Tolly Ladies & Girls' Amateur Golf Championship championship in 2011. In 2014, she overcame a bizarre day which saw her score as many as four double-bogeys to win the event again. Agarwal won her first national title in 1997, a year before Ashok was born. Indrajit Bhalotia, who was India no.1 in 2000 when Ashok was only two and has seen her development as a golfer over the years, said unlike the other Indian athletes who may have lost their nerve or choked at the finish, Ashok lost out simply because she missed a vital putt in 72 holes. “Driving off the tee is not Ashok's biggest strength. But in the Olympics, her drives were even weaker because she is just recovering from Covid. She was, therefore, always 40 yards behind the leaders. It was her consistently excellent putting that ensured she was in second position for almost the entire duration of the tournament. It is the missed putt on the 17th hole that edged her out of the top-three spots,” said Bhalotia. Gaurav Pundir, the golf course superintendent at The Tollygunge Club, said Ashok's remarkable play throughout the tournament would inspire many young golfers to aim high. “She may have lost a medal but she has won many hearts. She was superb all through. In fact, she had done very well on the opening day in the Rio Olympics as well,” he recalled.
115 Aditi Ashok's wry smile after her tap-in to complete her fourth round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Japan's Saitama said it all. The smile couldn't hide the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal. Overnight second on the leaderboard, Aditi carded three-under 68 for a total of 15-under 269 but that was not enough. Both Mone Inami of Japan and Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot six-under on the last day to pip Aditi at the post. Inami won the silver in the play-off. The Indian football team in Melbourne (1956), Milkha Singh in Rome (1960), PT Usha in Los Angeles (1984), Joydeep Karmakar in London (2012), Dipa Karmakar in Rio (2016), the women's hockey team on Friday, Aditi a day later. The gnawing pain of finishing fourth on the biggest stage just refuses to ebb. Aditi, a Bangalore girl, said finishing fourth "kind of sucks". "I didn't know that I have joined the list of Indian athletes who missed out on an Olympic medal. Obviously you don't want to join that club. But yeah, I guess I've joined it. I think I gave it my 100 per cent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give just three medals, kind of sucks. In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it's hard to be happy with a fourth place in Olympics. I played well and gave it my 100 per cent," Aditi, who fell short by a stroke, was quoted as saying by the International Golf Federation. Joydeep Karmakar, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish, said he understands what Aditi is going through. "Obviously it sucks. The difference between an Olympian and an Olympic medal winner. I could feel for Aditi when she smiled after the tap-in. I have been through this and I know what was going on in her mind," Karmakar told The Telegraph on Saturday. Nine years ago at the London Olympics, he missed the bronze by a whisker in the 50m rifle prone. "When I saw Vijay Kumar on the podium wearing the silver medal I just broke down. Just couldn't control myself as realisation dawned upon me on what I had missed," Karmakar said. "It's a devastating feeling. It's stark and dark. And when you see the financial benefits an Olympic medal winner gets in our country it becomes more depressing." Aditi was unlucky as her putts missed the cup on the 17th and 18th holes. A birdie in one of the two holes would have taken her to the play-off round with Japanese and the Kiwi. "Maybe I made too many through the four rounds, golfing gods were like, okay, we're not going to give her this one," the 23-year-old said. "I just tried my best, even the last hole, although it was really out of range, it was almost a long putt, but I still tried. So yeah, I think I gave it my best shot." Never mind, Aditi. Paris is just three years away.
116 In terms of medals, the 2012 London Olympics has been India's best show at Olympics so far with 6 medals (2 silver and 4 bronze). A total of 83 athletes, 60 men, and 23 women competed across 13 sports at the edition. But with Neeraj Chopra and Bajrang Punia still in contention, India, who so far have 5 medals to their name, are in with a chance to better their best Olympics so far with 7 medals. However, with many close shaves where Indian athletes missed out by a whisker, the tally of India's medal list could have been much more impressive. Here are five instances from this edition of the Olympics where India missed out on a possible medal: Kamalpreet Kaur Kamalpreet Kaur finished a commendable sixth in the women's discus throw final with best attempt of 63.70m. However, in qualification, Kamalpreet Kaur produced one of the strongest performances by an Indian, finishing second. Inexperience of playing at the Olympics and the pressure of the situation most likely came to her undoing. Saurabh Chaudhary Nineteen-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary from India topped the 10m air pistol shooting qualifier at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He scored 586 out of 600 to raise hope for a gold medal. However, in the main round, Saurabh Chaudhary finished seventh in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Tokyo Olympics, disappointing one and all who pinned their hopes on the sharp shooter. Deepak Punia (Wrestling) Deepak Punia stormed into the semi-finals with two wins and was just two wins away from clinching a gold medal. However, in the semis, the Olympic debutant at just 22, ran into eventual gold medal winner David Taylor of USA. Deepak lost the bout by technical superiority but still had a shot at a bronze medal. He led the bout against San Marino's Myles Amine but lost the lead in the final ten seconds, giving away a takedown to lose the bronze medal match with barely any time left. Women's hockey team The women's hockey team's story was straight out of a Bollywood flick. Captained by Rani Rampal, India delivered their best-ever performance at the Olympic Games by making it into their first-ever semi-finals. India was ranked ninth coming into the tournament and punched above their weight to reach semi-finals. They stunned higher-ranked Australia in the quarter-finals and suffered a close 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-final. Still in contention for a bronze, India had to endure another narrow loss against Great Britain, this time by 5-4. It was an inspirational campaign as Sjoerd Marijne coached team repeatedly punched above their collective weight. Aditi Ashok (Golf) Indian golfer Aditi Ashok ranked 200th in the world went to Tokyo Olympics without any expectations. However, Aditi's turned out to be a surprise package as she came agonisingly close to clinching historic Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2020 in women's individual strokeplay. Aditi finished 15 under and had to hit a birdie in the 72nd hole to force a bronze medal playoff with Lydia Ko. However, she failed to do so after rain interrupted her momentum.
117 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympics Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games but put many athletes' mental health at risk. Athletes from Netherlands quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19 went on strike protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. Backing its athletes, the Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC. It's particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates are staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso said. Some teams have tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simon Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there are no spectators in the stands and it means athletes have nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this is causing anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes need “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes have complained that the rules in place makes it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”.
118 23-year old placed second ahead of big names after first round one Indian golfer Aditi Ashok got off to a brilliant start at the Tokyo Olympics Golf competition, carding a four-under 67 in the opening round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club here on Wednesday. Aditi, who caught the golfing world's attention five years ago at the Rio Olympics, shared the second place with World No. 1 Nelly Korda. She was one shot behind the leader, Madalene Sagstrom of Sweden, who shot 66. Aditi may well have had a share of the lead but for a bogey on the 18th hole. While Sagstrom shot a bogey free five-under 66, Aditi had five birdies against one bogey and that on the closing hole. She was placed well ahead of some big names in women's golf, including the formidable defending champion, Inbee Park (69). India's other entrant in the field, Diksha Dagar (76) had a rough start in her maiden Olympics as she had five bogeys and no birdies to lie at the tied 56th spot. The 60-player field will play 18 holes each day and there will be no cut, so all players get to play 72 holes. Aditi birdied fifth and ninth from 15 feet and seven feet respectively. On the back nine, she added birdies on the 13th from 15 feet and another from almost 18 feet on 17th. In between, she had another birdie on 14th from under three feet after a superb approach. Placed at 5-under she bogeyed the last after missing a par from under seven feet. "I think I played better than I expected today because I had a lot of hybrids into the greens, so I didn't really expect to be like 5-under through 17," Aditi said. "But, I kind of holed some (good) putts and holed important par putts as well which kept the momentum. So, yeah, it was a good day." Five years ago when Aditi got into the Olympics, her father, Ashok, was on the bag and this time around it is was her mother, Maheshwari, who has been a big influence on her. "Yeah, my mom, she's caddying for me. Last time I had my dad on the bag, so the experience was just so incredible. I was like I want to have my mom next time and I made good on that promise," Aditi said. Aditi said she was a rookie last time but now has the wealth of experience. "...I just finished my high school exams and then I was at the Olympics in two months. But this time I think definitely a lot more experience, just playing on the LPGA the last five years makes you way better as a player than I was at Rio. "And I think the Olympic experience was, I didn't finish as well as I wanted to last time, but just seeing the effect that it had on golf in India was inspiring and that's kind of what motivated me for this one as well." The 23-year-old from Bengaluru, who has 18 Major appearances, had attracted global attention with a start of 68-68 in the first two rounds at Rio, but then faded to T-41st. Among others, South Korea's world number two Ko Jin-young , Finland's Matilda Castren and Spaniard Carlota Ciganda were tied fourth after all three carded 3-under 68 each. The South Korean team also boasts of the reigning Olympic champion Park Inbee (69) and World No. 4 Kim Sei-young (69) who are Tied-7th and sixth-ranked Kim Hyo-joo (70) who is T-16th. New Zealand's former World number one Lydia Ko (70) was four behind the leader, while Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, a double major winner, stumbled to 77 with six bogeys and is tied for 58th in the 60-player field. Major winners Feng Shanshan of China and Canadian Brooke Henderson shot 74 each.
119 'Difficult and draining' Even before the Tokyo Olympics began, there were lots of speculations on how the athletes would fare inside the Games Village this time, with all the restrictions and rules in place as per the COVID protocols. Apart from giving athletes a chance to achieve the pinnacle of sporting achievement, the Olympics have also been known for being a social melting pot. Sportspersons from around the world stay in the Olympic Village, socialising and intermingling. In the past, many have attributed the fun atmosphere in Games Villages to alleviating the stress around the competitions. There were fears that the social distancing and no-contact rules wouldn't just suck the fun out of the Games, which concluded yesterday, but put many athletes' mental health at risk. It was particularly tougher for athletes who play team sports and are used to staying together as a group. But at the Village, even teammates were staying in separate rooms with minimal contact outside the playing arenas. “It's difficult because I play field hockey. It's on a team, together with my friends, and now I'm alone in the hotel…I am doing what's best for my team in my position.” Argentine hockey player Emiliano Bosso had said. Some teams tried to avoid the strict rules by putting up their athletes in hotels close to the Games Village. But for many, being away from where all the action was felt more isolating. The US women's gymnastics team had been staying at a hotel instead of the Games Village and Simone Biles addressed how that affected her ability to replenish amidst multiple competitions. “Usually, you hang out in the village, all that stuff,” she had said, adding, “It does suck when you feel the weight of the world. There are no outlets with the amount of training that we do. Not saying that we don't have a great set up. We chose that to be COVID safe, the protocols.” The COVID protocols in place meant that athletes could not travel to Tokyo with family members this time around. Add to it the fact that there were no spectators in the stands and it meant athletes had nobody cheering for them. Swimming legend Michael Phelps said that this caused anxiety and stress among athletes. Phelps said that Olympic athletes needed “someone who we can trust” with them in the Games. Even as the IOC allowed mothers to bring along their babies, athletes had complained that the rules in place made it pointless and impossible. Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell said she had to leave her 11-month-old son back in Spain. She said that as per the rules, nursing mothers would have to leave the bubble to breastfeed their children, a move she felt “increased their risk of infection and put teammates at risk”. Athletes from Netherlands, who quarantined in a hotel after testing positive for COVID-19, went on strike, protesting their stay in what they called an “Olympic jail”. “We need outside air, anything...because nothing opens. The windows are closed, the doors don't open, ever. That's not okay. Not having any outside air is so inhuman, and it is mentally super-draining,” said Dutch street skateboarder Candy Jacobs. The Dutch Olympics federation called the quarantine conditions “unacceptable” and said it would raise the issue with the IOC.
120 Abdullah Al-Rashidi, 58, a seven-time Olympian, won his second straight skeet-shooting bronze on Monday If it's the Olympics, nothing is impossible. And no age too old or too young for Olympic glory. Ask Abdullah Al-Rashidi, a seven-time Olympian, who, at 58 years, won his second straight skeet-shooting bronze on Monday. The only difference: At Rio in 2016, he was considered an independent athlete, not a Kuwaiti. Kuwait's national Olympic committee had been suspended by the IOC for government interference so Al-Rashidi and his compatriots at the Rio Games had to compete as part of an independent team. That meant no team uniform - he wore an Arsenal football jersey - no Kuwaiti flag or national anthem should anyone win gold. This time, he made sure he had the Kuwaiti flag out first, draping it over his shoulders even before the medal had been presented. "I am happy to see my Kuwaiti flag and second Olympic medal," Al-Rashidi said, promising to return at the 2024 Paris Games, when he would be a sprightly 61. Hours before Al-Rashidi's feat, Japan's Momiji Nishiya became the second youngest champion in summer Olympic history, aged 13 years and 330 days, by winning the inaugural women's skateboarding street competition. Only Marjorie Gestring, who was 13 years and 268 days when winning the women's 3m springboard diving at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, has secured gold in a summer Games at a younger age. Nishiya came out on top of an unusually young field of competitors, with all three medallists in their teens. Brazilian silver medallist Rayssa Leal is also 13, while bronze medallist Funa Nakayama, also from Japan, is 16. If it's the Olympics, anything is possible.
121 Expectations sky-high from men's & women's teams As the final whistle blew after the India versus Great Britain bronze medal playoff match of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Friday, the likes of Rani Rampal and Savita Punia slumped to the ground in tears. They lost the match 4-3 and with that ended their dream of winning a medal for the first time in women's hockey. They should not feel disheartened by the defeat, though. Because when nerves calm down, they will realise that what they have achieved in Tokyo is beyond anybody's imagination. A team of rank outsiders stunned the world by playing the bronze playoff. They fought valiantly and sent a message to the rival teams. Henceforth, ignore us at your own peril. On Friday, even when down 0-2, they came back strongly to score three goals (Gurjit Kaur in the 25th and 26th minutes) and Vandana Katariya (29th). After Grace Baldson scored the fourth goal off a penalty corner, Indian women gave their all to restore parity. Unfortunately, it was not their day. Salima Tete, Savita, Rani, Gurjit and Vandana have all made us proud with their brilliant display. There is no shame in this heartbreaking defeat. One of the reasons for the success of the men's and the women's teams was the fact that there was no superstar or a prima donna. In the past, we have seen one or two players thinking they were bigger than the team, and they let the team down. But in Tokyo, what we saw was completely different. Both the teams believed in teamwork and for that much credit goes to the two coaches, Australian Graham Reid and Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne. They inculcated team bonding and there was no place for ego. That's their USP in Tokyo. Now that the teams have caught the imagination of the country, the players will get a lot of attention wherever they go. The accolades and constant media attention may make you believe you are larger than life. It will be interesting to see how Reid or Marijne's successor (he announced Friday's match was his last) deal with the situation. Tokyo has been a happy hunting ground for Indian hockey. In 1964, we got back the gold we lost in the Rome Olympics, by beating Pakistan. In 2021, 41 years since the Moscow triumph, the men won an Olympic medal in the same city and the women finished fourth. In women's hockey, India's best performance in the Olympics before this was a fourth-place finish in Moscow, but there were no semi-finals in that edition. Only six teams competed in a round-robin format and the top two featured in the final. The future looks bright for the sport in India. The Commonwealth Games (in Birmingham) and Asian Games (Hangzhou in China) are lined up for next year. Expectations will be sky-high after the resurrection in Tokyo.
122 Indian Women's hockey team reach quarter-finals after nail-biting win against South Africa; Pooja Rani knocked out It was a mixed day for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as shuttlerPV Sindhu, boxerAmit Pangal, archer Atanu Das all bid goodbye to the Games while discus throwerKamalpreet Kaur produced one of her best performances to advance to the finals of the Olympics. Indian Women's hockey team also overcame a stiff South African challenge to prevail 4-3 in a closely fought encounter riding on Vandana Katariya's historic hat-trick. However, the team's quarter-finals hope still hinged on Ireland vs Great Britain's match. Great Britain's victory over the Irish ensured India finished as the fourth place team in Pool A and qualified for the knock-outs. India's archery campaign at the Olympics ended without a medal after Atanu Das lost to home favourite Takaharu Furukawa 6-4 in an intense five-setter in the men's individual pre-quarterfinals here on Saturday. Das failed to find a 10 in the fifth set and slipped to the red-circle for an 8 that proved costly as Furukawa sealed the issue by one point margin in the decider. Das was the lone archer in the fray after his world number one wife Deepika Kumari succumbed to a 0-6 rout by eventual gold medallist An San of Korea on Friday. Indian boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the Olympics with a stunning 1-4 loss to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez, beaten by the Colombian's relentless attacks and pace in the pre-quarterfinals. Despite this loss, the 25-year-old Panghal remains one of best-performing Indian boxers in recent times, having secured a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games, followed by an unparalleled silver medal at the world championships in 2019. Women boxer Pooja Rani was also beaten by China's Li Qian 5-0. The day that started on such a negative note soon turned positive as Indian Women's hockey team took the field. Rani Rampal-led side put up a dazzling attacking display but some slacky defending allowed theSouth African side to levelthrice in the game beforeNeha Goyal's goal ensured the win for the Indians. In Athletics, discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur produced one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics, though in a qualifying round, as she made it to the finals of the ongoing Games after finishing second here on Saturday. The 25-year-old Kaur, competing in qualification B, sent the discus to a distance of 64m in her third and final attempt to be one of the only two automatic qualifiers for the final round, the other being American Valarie Allman (66.42m). The Indian ended ahead of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba. Perkovic qualified at third and Perez at seventh. The final will held on August 2. Seema Punia, another discus thrower, failed to qualify for the finals. ShootersTejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil also fell short of reaching the finals, as didSreeshankar in Men's Long Jump. GolferAnirban Lahiri scored an eagle but will need a miracle to win a medal. The Calcutta boy is tied-30 at the end of Round 2. However, the biggest upset of the day for the Indians came when PV Sindhu was knocked out of the Women's singles Badminton semi-finals byworld no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games, however, remained in the hunt for a bronze and will be competing against China's He Bing Jiao in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 in Tokyo. This is Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs.
123 She broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in consecutive Olympics The scoreline read 19-15 and China's He Bing Jao had no answer to PV Sindhu's crosscourt smash. At 20-15, Sindhu murmured to herself: "One more point". One more point would give her the badminton bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games. And that point came after a brief rally, Sindhu unleashing another winner. The final score: 21-13, 21-15. Emotions took over the moment as the 26-year-old let out a scream of joy. Her Korean coach Park Tae-Sang, seated on the sidelines, was euphoric. Sindhu went to her coach, embraced him. A pat from the coach and Sindhu walked to the other side of the court and swept off beads of sweat. She smiled. India cheered. China's world No. 2 Chen Yu Fei took the gold, beating Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying 21-18, 19-21, 21-18 in the final. Sindhu broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in consecutive Olympics. Her overflowing trophy cabinet already has a silver medal from the Rio Olympic Games five years back. Before her, only wrestler Sushil Kumar, now languishing in jail on a murder charge, had won two medals back-to-back in the Beijing (bronze) and London (silver) Games. She is also only the fourth player to win two consecutive medals in women's badminton singles in the Games' history. "I'm on cloud nine. I'm going to enjoy this moment. It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me - should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best, my all. I'm really happy and I think I've done really well. It's a proud moment, getting a medal for my country," Sindhu was quoted as saying by the world body BWF's website. It was indeed a great moment for every Indian. After her demoralising loss to Tai Tzu-ying on Saturday, it was Sindhu of yore on Sunday. Those smashes, deft net-plays, Sindhu was a treat to watch. She stuck to the game plan and did not give Bing Jao much of a chance. "It's not easy. It's a big thing. There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax," she said. Under Park, Sindhu's overall game has improved a lot. She is now more confident in front of the net and defensively also very compact. This was India's third medal this Olympics and, interestingly, all have been earned by women. Besides Sindhu, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver on July 24, while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is assured of at least a bronze. A big shout-out to woman power.
124 She was seen wearing beautiful and dainty Olympic-ring themed earrings, a gift from her mother Mirabai Chanu opened India's medal counter on Day 1 of the Tokyo Olympics, as she clinched the country's first silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition. The Manipuri athlete showed immense grit and determination as she ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. Mirabai was seen breaking down in tears after achieving this historic feat. She later danced to celebrate her medal at the Olympics. Besides the euphoria, what caught our attention, were her earrings. She was seen wearing beautiful and dainty Olympic-ring themed earrings. The gold-toned Olympic rings are believed to be a gift from her mother that she carried on her, along with an ever-cheerful face. It depicted her dedication and passion for the game. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chanu for her "stupendous performance" through his tweet. Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021 Rahul Gandhi, too, tweeted his wishes for the athlete. Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu for our country's first medal on the very first day. India is proud of her daughter. - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 24, 2021 What do you have to say?
125 In a thrilling 56-minute women's singles badminton quarter-final clash, PV Sindhu defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, making way for her entry into the semi-final. Several Indian film stars on Friday congratulated badminton player PV Sindhu on her latest win at the Tokyo Olympics. Farhan Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu, Suriya, Nithiin and Lakshmi Manchu among others took to social media and expressed pride in Sindhu. "What a great game @Pvsindhu1!! You had us all on the edge of our seats. Wow!!! All the best for the semi's #Tokyo2020 #Badminton #TeamIndia," Farhan Akhtar tweeted. The actor played athletes in the films Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toofan. Taapsee Pannu, who is set to play a cricketer in Shabaash Mithu, also congratulated PV Sindhu. The actor posted on Twitter, "Through to the semis @Pvsindhu1 bring it home !!!!!!!" Lakshmi Manchu wrote on Twitter, "What a thrilling match! Our girl @Pvsindhu1 was on Semi-Finals here we come.." Here are all the celebs who expressed excitement for PV Sindhu on social media. What a great game @Pvsindhu1!! You had us all on the edge of our seats. Wow!!! All the best for the semi's #Tokyo2020 #Badminton #TeamIndia - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 30, 2021 Through to the semis @Pvsindhu1 bring it home !!!!!!! - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) July 30, 2021 Woooow! Rockstar brilliant!!! - Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) July 30, 2021 It's such a proud moment for India to see @Pvsindhu1 entering into the semi finals..congratulations and All the very best! - nithiin (@actor_nithiin) July 30, 2021 Indian pride @Pvsindhu1 storms into semi finals Congratulations and All the best #PVSindu #OlympicGames #GoForGold #Tokyo2020 #TokyoOlympics2020 - Manoj Manchu (@HeroManoj1) July 30, 2021 Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on reaching the semi finals of #Tokyo2020 Now just 2 more matches to win! Go Girl!Our best wishes are with you!#Olympics #IndiaTodayAtOlympics - Anil Ravipudi (@AnilRavipudi) July 30, 2021 What a thrilling match! Our girl @Pvsindhu1 was on Semi-Finals here we come.. #Olympics2020 - Lakshmi Manchu (@LakshmiManchu) July 30, 2021 Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on reaching into semifinals of #Tokyo2020 . Go For Gold..Wishing you the best!! #Olympics - Bobby (@dirbobby) July 30, 2021 Well done @Pvsindhu1 way to go #Tokyo2020 - Gopichandh Malineni (@megopichand) July 30, 2021 In a thrilling 56-minute women's singles badminton quarter-final clash, PV Sindhu defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, making way for her entry into the semi-final. The 26-year-old shuttler previously won a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
126 Bhopal: India's women's hockey team has scripted history after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time with a stunning 1-0 victory. They beat Australia, who had been looking for their first medal since securing a podium finish in Sydney in 2000, in the quarter-finals. Although, Gurjeet Kaur scored the only goal in the match, the entire team showed a great mix of aggression and strategy and did not allow Australia to dominate. Three of the players who made India root for its national sports once again, were trained at the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy based in Gwalior during their early years. Vandana Katariya, Sushila Chanu and Monika Malik were trained in the state. They have represented Madhya Pradesh at least once at national tournaments. Two players, who have been kept as reserve in the national team at Olympics, E Rajani and Reena Khokhar, also have represented the state early in their career. The women's team began slowly at the Olympics. They lost their first three league matches against the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain. The women's team finally got their well-deserved first win at the league against Ireland by 1-0. They booked their seat in the quarter finals after winning their fifth league match against South Korea by 4-3. Vandana, who has trained at SAI Bhopal chapter for several years, scored three goals in the deciding league match. Vandana has represented MP in Jharkhand National Games and senior national hockey tournament in the past. When the team was put against Australia, who were the top-scorers of the other pool, Vandana, Monika and Sushila, all amazed the opponents with their display. The chief coach of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in Gwalior, Paramjeet Kaur, said the Indian team has turned impossible into possible. MP academies have become the training centres for the players of both MP and other states, she said. It is a big day to celebrate as all these players were connected with either the academies or they had represented MP in national tournaments, added Kaur. * Sushila Chanu... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2006-2012 * Monika Malik.... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2010-2011 * Vandana Kataria....SAI Bhopal * Reena Khokhar.... Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy...2010-2011 * E Rajani....SAI Bhopal
127 Self-regulatory ad industry entity Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor, adding that such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. Indian athletes including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya have won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOn-Wheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but their violations are treated as a violation of government's rules.
128 Tai Tzu Ying beat PV Sindhu in two straight sets to reach the final of the Women's singles in Badminton in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian star player PV Sindhu lost to the second seed and the World No 1 Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying in two straight sets in the semi-final of the women's singles of Badminton in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Tzu Ying was just too good for Sindhu on the day, defeating her 21-18, 21-12. Thereby she was out of the gold medal contention and will now play in the Bronze medal match on Sunday. Sindhu was her athletic self, but Tzu Ying attacked Sindhu on her strength, ie., power game and dumbed it down and ran her around the court and Sindhu just had no answer to Taipei star's game. The first game was pretty close as Sindhu matcher her shot for shot and was proving to be a mouthwatering and well-fought set as she would score one point and her opponent would score another, it was going well till 16-16 but Tzu Ying ended up taking the first game. The second set was all Tzu Ying despite Sindhu's strong start. There was a point her or two there, but Tzu Ying was just relentless in her pursuit and despite Sindhu's best efforts, she lost the game 12-21 and was out of the gold medal contention. The match lasted 40 minutes and now Sindhu will face China's He Bing Jio for the bronze medal.
129 The Indian contingent's first day at the Tokyo Olympics brought out a range of emotions. While Mirabai Chanu led India to it's first ever podium finish on Day One of Olympics with a silver medal in 49kg weightlifting event, Sourav Chaudhury made hopes soar with a fine display in the qualifying round only to crash out of the finals with a 7th place finish. India strikes first medal at Olympic #Tokyo2020 Mirabai Chanu wins silver Medal in 49 kg Women's Weightlifting and made India proud Congratulations @mirabai_chanu ! #Cheer4India - Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 24, 2021 Archers disappoint India's campaign in mixed team archery event at the Tokyo Olympics came to an end on Saturday as Deepika Kumari and Pravin Jadhav lost 2-6 to Korea's An San and Kim Je Deok. Deepika and Jadhav had gone 0-4 down in the first two sets but fought back to make it 2-4. However, the Koreans, who were the heavy favourites going into the match prevailed over the Indian pair and progressed to the semi-final. Badminton: India lose in Mixed Doubles In the Badminton Mixed Doubles event,India's Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra lost toChinese Taipei'sYun Ju & I Ching in straight sets to crash out of the tournament. The Chinese Taipei side looked sharper, hungrier as the Indian duo was left reeling for a single set. In the end, it was a well-earned victory forChinese Taipei. However, Manika Batra made amends in the Singles event, oustingGreat Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in Round 1.In just 30 minutes, Batra demolished her opponent 11-7,11-6,12-10,11-9. - MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) July 24, 2021 Fired up by Manika Batra's win, Sutirtha Mukherjee carved out a winagainst Sweden's Linda Bergstrm in her Women's Singles first-round match. Sutirtha was trailing 3-1 at one point of time, and the comeback will surely add to her confidence going into the second round. Table Tennis: Amazing comeback by our girl Sutirtha Mukherjee (WR 98) to come back from 1-3 down to beat higher ranked Linda Bergstrom (WR 78) 4-3 of Sweden in opening round. Next Sutritha will take on WR 55 Fu Yu of Portugal. #Tokyo2020withIndia_AllSports - India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 24, 2021 Vikas Krishnan loses Boxing prelims Indianboxer Vikas Krishanlost out to Quincy Mensah Okazawa of Japan in Preliminaries - Round of 32 bout. Vikas Krishan was dominated through and through by the 25-year-old Japanese. 10-9 to the home boxer in the first round, 10-8 in the second and the third round confirmed the result. Krishan was left with a bloodied eye, failingto win a medal. Shooting: Chandela, Valarivan out The day began with Indian duo of Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan kickstartingIndia's Olympic campaign, participating in thewomen's 10m air rifleshooting qualification round. Elavenil finishedwith a qualification score of 626.5, whileChandela finishedwith a qualification score of 621.5. The scores were not good enough to qualify and both the shooters bowed out of the finals. Hockey: Men qualify, women lose In another tale ofgritin the Tokyo Olympics, Indian men's hockey team came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-2 in their opening match.Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace and goalieSreejesh produced some brilliant saves to ensure India finished with three points in their opening match. India will face favourites Australiaon Sunday. However,The Indian women's hockey team could not match the intensity of the world no. 1Dutch team. Rani and Cofought valiantly in the first two quarters before losing the steam to go down 1-5 against Netherlands in their opening pool match at the Tokyo Olympics here on Saturday. Felice Albers gave Netherlands the lead in the sixth minute before the advantage was evened out by India skipper Rani Rampal in the 10th minute. The Indians defended bravely in the first two quarters to go into the half time locked at 1-1 but the break seemed to have broken their momentum as the Dutch came out all guns blazing after the change of ends and pumped in three goals to nip any chance of an upset in the bud. Rowers finish at No. 5 In men's Rowing,India pair Arvind Singh and Arjun Jat finished fifth place in Lightweight Men's Sculls with a time of 6:40:33, qualifyingfor Repechage. India out in Judo In Judo,Sushila Devi lostin the first round. Air pistol: Saurabh Chaudhary out in final round In Men's 10m air pistol event,Saurabh Chaudhary produced one of the best displays of the Indian contingentsso far, topping the qualifying round of the event with a score of586. However, the 19-year-old could not replicate the same form in the finals. He finished 7th in the finals, having ignited hopes of a podium finish with a flawless display in the qualifying round. - #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 24, 2021 Although, not all hopes are lost asSaurabh Chaudhury still has another chance, in the mixed team event with Manu Bhaker. In the Men's singles Group D match,B Sai Praneeth lost his opening men's singles Group D match, going down to Israel's Misha Zilberman 17-21, 15-21. Tennis: Sumit Nagal moves ahead In Tennis,Sumit Nagal, India's last entrant into the Olympics, beatthe 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in the first men's singles encounter. The last time India won a match in tennis singles was 25 years ago, when Leander Paes won the historic bronze at the 1996 Atlanta.
130 The 23-year-old missed it by a whisker but she has done more than that, it's a very big step forward for Indian golf Saturday was a day to remember for Indian golf. Especially women's golf. Aditi Ashok made all of us proud. She may not have won a medal. The 23-year-old missed it by a whisker but she has done more than that. It's a very big step forward for Indian golf. Obviously a medal would have given us a little bit more joy but that is immaterial now. Since Friday morning the whole nation was talking about Aditi. I have been very closely associated with the sport for long but I have not seen this kind of euphoria before. World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the US won the gold medal. Our own Aditi was just two strokes behind her. Nelly took gold with a four-round total of 17-under 267. Japan's Mone Inami and New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who won silver and bronze, respectively, after a play-off for second place, finished only a stroke ahead of Aditi. The Indian finished at fourth place with 15-under 269. What an incredible performance! She was not outplayed, she fought till the very end. And I strongly believe this fighting spirit would help women's golf in India in the coming days. Playing golf in almost the same rhythm for four days itself is tough. Many factors are involved in it. The level of concentration, how your muscles behave, the weather and, of course, the course. She was very determined throughout the rounds. Through the four days, Aditi was in contention to bag an Olympic medal. It was not an easy job. We all have to cherish the moment. In our country nobody talks about golf. I do not blame them. Because we, the golfers, have not won anything remarkable. But Aditi has won the hearts of millions. That is why people are talking. We didn't expect anything from her. So it is giving us more joy. We have to encash the opportunity. Today the President of the country, the Prime Minister, other important political persons, sports lovers and others are all talking about golf. It is good for Indian golf. This was Aditi's second Olympics. In Rio 2016, she made her Olympics debut and finished a distant 41st. She didn't get enough opportunities to prepare for the Tokyo Games owing to the pandemic. But still she has managed this kind of a performance, which is a very strong statement. Not only Aditi, Diksha Dagar, the other woman golfer who represented the country, also did a decent job. Aditi's performance in Tokyo gave me more satisfaction because it is like completing the full cycle for me. When I started playing golf, people had no idea about what I did. Very few people used to discuss the game. I used to think - one day people will know about the game and that time has arrived. Courtesy Aditi Ashok. Smriti Mehra is a pioneer of women's golf in India. She was the first woman from the country tobecome a member ofthe world's leading golftour for women, theUS-based LPGA Tour
131 Self-regulatory ad industry entity Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor, adding that such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. Indian athletes including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya have won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOnWheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. “Advertisers shall not, without permission from the person, firm or institution under reference, contain any reference to such person, firm or institution which confers an unjustified advantage on the product advertised or tends to bring that person, firm or institution into ridicule or disrepute,” ASCI code states. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but their violations are treated as a violation of government's rules. The code adds that if and when required to do so, then the advertiser and the ad agency shall need explicit permission from the person, firm or institution to which reference is made in the advertisement.
132 Deepika Kumari crashes out in the quarter-finals; Shooters continue tragic run; Avinash Sable breaks his own national record This can go down as one of the most memorable days in India's Tokyo Olympics journey. Primarily because today's outing gives hope for more medals, courtesy Lovlina Borgohain and PV Sindhu. Well, there's more good news. The Indian women's hockey team found their mojo back with a win over Ireland, and the men clinched their third straight game before starting their quarter-finals journey. On a sad note, archer Deepika Kumari ended her stint with anexit in the quarter-finals. Here's a round-up of all that has happened for India today in Tokyo: Boxing: Lovlina shines, Simranjit knocked out This is the highlight of the day. Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) assured India of their first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games when she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei to enter the semifinals. The 23-year-old Assam boxer prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four where she will square off against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, who hammered Ukraine's Anna Lysenko in her quarterfinal bout. Borgohain, a two-time world championship bronze-medallist and teh first female boxer from Assam to qualify for the Games, displayed tremendous calm in the face of a plucky opponent, who had beaten her in the past. Earlier, Simranjit Kaur (60kg) lost to Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee in the pre-quarterfinals to make an early exit from the Games. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded fourth, went down 0-5 despite a gritty performance. Badminton: Sindhu storms into semis Reigning world champion PV Sindhu kept alive India's hopes of a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton by reaching the semifinals of the women's singles with a straight-game win over world No.5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attacking all-round game to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza. "The first game was mostly under my control. I was gaining the lead but I didn't take it easy because in her previous matches she came back. But I maintained the lead and finished it off," Sindhu, seeded sixth, said. "In the second game I was leading but then she came back. But I still fought back, I never lost hope and I continued with the same tempo. I am very much happy with the way I controlled the shuttle, not many errors," she added. Archery: Deepika Kumari crashes out Kumari's quest for an Olympic medal ended in heartbreak for the third time as she surrendered tamely to Korean top seed An San in straight sets in the quarters. It was all over in six minutes. The fancied Indian misfired three 7s in a row after drilling in as many 10s in succession to snuff out any chance of a comeback after being 0-2 down in the opening set. An, who had a perfect opening set of 30, closed it out despite shooting in the red-circle thrice in succession (7-8-9) in second and third sets. "I am not sure what happened. I tried hard but I could not perform to my own expectations," Deepika, who shot a pathetic four 7s from seven arrows, said after her loss at the Yumenoshima Park. Athletics: Sable's record, rest collapse Avinash Sable shattered his own 3000m steeplechase national record but failed to qualify for the final while sprinter Dutee Chand produced a below-par performance to make an exit from the Tokyo Olympics. MP Jabir also brought up the rear in men's 400m hurdles while the mixed 4x400m relay team finished eighth and last in the second heat race as the Indians made a disappointing start to their athletics campaign. The 26-year-old Sable failed to qualify for the final despite clocking a better time than the top three in another heat race. He clocked 8 minutes 18.12 seconds in heat number 2 to finish seventh and better his earlier national record of 8:20.20 that he had set during the Federation Cup in March. In the evening session, the Indian quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Ravathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan and Rajiv Arokia clocked season's best timing of 3:19.93 but it was good enough for a bottom-place finish in heat number 2. Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza made an impressive debut in Equestrian, achieving 28 penalty points and ranking 6th. He will again be back on Day 2. Golf: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri endured an erratic day at the course and was even-par after 16 holes in the second round which was suspended due to persistent thunderstorms over the east course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Friday. Lahiri, 4-under on first day, was one of the 16 golfers who were yet to finish their rounds and was tied 20th at the time of suspension of play. They will return on Saturday morning at 7.45 am and the third round will start after that. Lahiri bogeyed the second, but made up with a birdie on the sixth to turn in in even par. On the back nine, he birdied the 10th but dropped a shot on the 13th. Hockey: Men continue winning run Striker Gurjant Singh was twice on target as India comfortably outclassed hosts Japan 5-3 to complete their pool proceedings with four victories after having already sealed a quarter-final berth. Apart from Gurjant (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India to hand the eight-time Olympic champions their third consecutive win in Pool A at the Oi Hockey Stadium. Kenta Tanaka (19th), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th) were the goal getters for Japan, who were already knocked out of the last-eight race ahead of Friday's tie. Welcome win for eves Navneet Kaur scored a late winner as the Indian women's hockey team kept its quarterfinals hopes alive in the Olympics with a 1-0 win over Ireland in a must-win penultimate pool match on Friday. After goal-less three quarters, which India completely dominated but failed to breach the Irish defence led by goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, Navneet finally found the back of the net in the 57th minute to bring smiles on the Indian faces. Needing a win to keep their hopes alive after three consecutive losses, India had to wait anxiously for 57 minutes despite being the dominant team on display and creating innumerable scoring chances. Sailing: Saravanan third, Kumanan dissapoints Already out of the medal contention, Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan finished a commendable third in one of the two laser event races on Friday that saw him move up three places to 20th position overall. After finishing third in the race number nine, Saravanan, however, ended at 15th in the next to remain at 20th overall out of 35 sailors in the laser event with 156 net points. Only the medal race remains in the competition at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. In the men's skiff 49er, the Indian pair of KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar finished 17th, 11th and 16th in three races to still occupy overall 17th spot out of 19 competitors with 116 net points. Three races and medal round still remain in the competition. Nethra Kumanan continued her disappointing form as she dropped four places to 35th with 251 net points out of 44 sailors in the women's laser radial after finishing 37th and 38th in the ninth and tenth races. Only the medal race remains in the competition. Each event consists of a series of races. Points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two and so on. Shooting: Bhaker, Sarnobat out Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat crashed out of the 25m pistol qualifications (rapid fire stage) as both finished outside the top-8 at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. It means the pistol shooters will return home empty-handed for the second straight time at the Olympics. Bhaker shot 290 in the rapid fire stage of the qualifications for a total of 582, a day after scoring 290 in precision at the Akasa Shooting Range, while the more experienced Sarnobat managed 573 (287+286). The field comprised 44 shooters in the qualifications. Placed an impressive fifth after the first stage of qualifications, the 19-year-old Bhaker faltered after a promising start, slipping with two 8s and many 9s, numbers that led to her downfall in what has turned out to be a forgettable maiden appearance at the Games.
133 Table tennis champ Harmeet Desai, who now trains in Germany and represents the Loire Nord Table Tennis Club in the French League, is back to his hometown Surat for a short break. He tells us, “After spending four months in France and Germany, I was keen to have a short break and meet my family. Some of the players from my training centre have gone to participate in the Olympics and so, I flew down to India for a break.” Harmeet's parents had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year and his father had to be hospitalised. Recalling that phase, he shares, “I was really worried for my parents and even though I wanted to come back to be with them, it wasn't possible due to the prevailing circumstances back then. So, it was a pretty emotional reunion for us.” Harmeet's fianc é e Krittwika Sinha Roy, a member of the Indian women's TT team, has also come down from her hometown Kolkata to spend a few days with Harmeet's family. He shares, “Krittwika and my mom are busy preparing delicacies that I love the most and I am relishing maa ke haath ka khaana. Before coming here, my coach had asked me to ensure that I don't put on more than two kilos during this break. I am making sure to work out so that I don't gain weight. Once I go back to Germany, I plan to be on a very strict diet again for the next few months. Krittwika and I have also been practising together at home.” Recently, Harmeet celebrated his birthday at home and he says that it turned out to be a memorable experience. He shares, “We had a small get-together. Krittwika gifted me bedsheets and pillow covers which had my family photos as well as memorable moments from my professional journey, like winning the Arjuna Award.” While there has been a fresh surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, Harmeet says that he isn't too stressed about flying back to Germany. He shares, “I have taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine, so I am feeling a little relaxed. Also, since I am fully vaccinated now, I don't need to quarantine there.” Talking about bio-bubbles, the table tennis champ says, “Every sportsperson has to accept it and get used to it. I feel that it's a small sacrifice that we need to make to get to do what we love — play our sport.” While he missed out on qualifying for the Olympics this time, Harmeet says that it has only made him more determined. He shares, “I will be giving it my all in the next three years to ensure that I can qualify for the next Olympics. Overall, I am very optimistic about India's medal prospects this time. I believe that we will win more than 10 Olympic medals.” Krittwika and Harmeet will be getting married in December. He says, “It will happen in Kolkata. However, right now, we haven't decided how big the ceremony will be because it will depend on the COVID-19 situation.”
134 At 7.40am on Friday, 13-yearold Soumili Guha was screaming sitting before the TV at her Behala home when India women's specialist drag flicker Gurjit Kaur powered the equaliser in the hockey bronze medal match against Great Britain at the Olympics. The difference between Guha and millions of other new fans who were doing the same thing around that time in Kolkata lies in the fact that while the rest of the city were pinning their hopes for an Olympic medal, Guha actually wanted to be in Gurjit's shoes and hoped to flick it same way, one Olympic down the line. While both the Indian men and women's team left a mark world Olympics this year, 5,000km away in Kolkata, TOI visited neighbourhoods in the city that remain principal catchment areas for hockey players where kids and teenagers still prefer to dribble and scoop the ball with a stick rather than with legs as in football and bats as in cricket. “When she flicked the ball in the nets, it seemed I had an adrenaline rush. I couldn't help but grab my stick and shadow practice it over the next few minutes. This team has made us dream big and I wish I will be there at that stage one day and make my nation proud,” said Guha, who has been training for four years now at Behala Jagrihi club. From a sport that was played across the state and had representation in independent India's first team, hockey has over the years lost its glamour and have reduced to pockets. In Kolkata, Behala Chowrasta, Bhowanipore and Entally are three such pockets apart from Howrah, Baruipur, Rishra and Chandernagore on the city fringes. With hockey regaining its lost place over the last couple of weeks and real hockey stars like Rani Rampal, Vandana Katariya, Simranjeet Singh and P R Sreejesh emerging out of the shadows of Bollywood's bright lights of 'Chak De India', young trainees, trainers and sports lovers opine this is the perfect opportunity to bring the focus back to the game. “My friends used to taunt me for wasting time in hockey while they practised other popular sports. But after the recent heroics of our hockey team, these friends were the first to congratulate me,” said 12-year-old Ankit Shaw, who plays at the Entally Hockey Academy. However, pointing at a worn out 6ftx10ft office and the hockey pitch under ankle-deep water, Subir Pan, the joint secretary of the academy, said unless the basic facilities get better, such short boosts won't have any long-term effect on the game. Veteran hockey coach and official Gopal Ghosh said the recent feat at Tokyo will be a confidence booster for the current as well as upcoming generation of hockey players as well as sports lovers in general. “I am an ardent cricket fan. But perhaps for the first time, I was watching India's hockey matches over India's feisty show on the first day of the test match in England. The glamour and glitz associated with cricket has drifted us a long way from other games. We needed this jolt to be shaken into reality,” said Soumya Mukherjee, a techie. The spirited show is even inspiring some of the players like Puja Shaw (25) on the verge of retirement to take a last dash at the game. “I started the game at the age of 14 and have represented Bengal at the national stage. But I didn't get much from the game and have taken up a job at a private firm. But after the gutsy show by some of my national team mates, I feel like giving one last go at professional hockey again,” said Shaw.
135 Puri-based internationally acclaimed sand animator Manas Kumar Sahoo congratulated in his own unique way. Sahoo made an enthralling sand animation to honour Mirabai Chanu who became the first Indian to score a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sahoo's artwork featured a portrait of Mirabai Chanu. The message on his creation read, "Congratulations to Mirabai Chanu." In the sand animation, Sahoo beautifully crafted Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's face. In fact, he spent two hours creating the extensive sand art. See his masterpiece: Talking to India Today, Manas Kumar Sahoo said, "We have created a sand animation and congratulate her for by winning a silver medal in the world's biggest international sports arena. We are all incredibly proud of her." Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on Saturday in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics, bringing pride to billions of Indians. Earlier, Manas Kumar Sahoo released 2.50 minutes animated sand art film based on the grand bathing ritual on the eve of Snana Purnima, bringing the holy trinity closer to his devotees. In the film, Sahoo depicted Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath bathing rituals on the Snana Mandap, the Pahandi Bije, and Chhera Pahanra (ritualistic sweeping of the floor) by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deo. Following the legendary Milkha Singh's death, of him with the words "Salute to you superhero flying Sikh." My heartfelt homage to the through my - Manas sahoo (@SandArtistManas) Read | Read | Graphic Odisha sand artist sculpts fitting tribute to Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu
136 The Indian women's hockey team had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. While they lost against Argentina, they will now play for the bronze in their maiden Olympic podium clash at Oi Hockey Stadium. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medalmatch start? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Friday, August 6. Where will Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match be played? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match? Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of Great Britain vs India women's hockey bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
137 Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain was not satisfied after taking the bronze medal in the women's welterweight (64-69kg) category as she stated she had prepared for gold at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She still made India proud with a hard-earned bronze. However, India still has three big chances to secure more medals today. Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) enjoyed fruitful outings at the Tokyo Olympic Games as they secured semifinal berths in their respective weight categories at the Makuhari Messe. On the opening day of the wrestling competition, Ravi Dahiya defeated Bulgaria's Georgi Vangelov 14-4 on technical superiority to reach the last-four in the men's 57kg category, while compatriot Deepak Punia overcame China's Zushen Lin 6-3 on points to advance to the semifinals. Dahiya will take on Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan in the last-four, while Punia will be up against David Morris Taylor of the USA. Earlier, Dahiya had won his opening-round bout by technical superiority against Colombia's Oscar Tigreros to secure a quarterfinal spot. Competing in the Round-of-16 bout against the Colombian wrestler, the 23-year-old Dahiya, who is making his Olympic debut, showed no nerves as he dominated the bout to win by technical superiority (13-2). Dahiya landed attack after attack and went 13-2 up, winning the bout by technical superiority with minutes to spare. In wrestling, building up a 10-point lead over the opponent results in a victory by technical superiority. At 3.30 pm later in the day, The Indian women will take on Argentina in the second semi-final of the women's field hockey competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Sjoerd Marijne's charges created history by becoming the first Indian team to make it to an Olympic quarter-final and then went a step further by getting the better of three-time gold medallists Australia to book a place in the semifinals.
138 Table Tennis Federation termed Manika Batra's behaviour 'unprofessional' after she refused to have the national coach by her side. The Table Tennis Federation of India has threatened action against the star player, Manika Batra, after she refused to have the national coach Soumyadeep Roy by her side during one of the games in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The Secretary General of the federation, Arun Kumar Banerjee has said that the matter will be taken up for discussion once the whole contingent is back in India. Banerjee stated that Manika Batra's behaviour was 'unprofessional', calling Soumyadeep Roy, the personal coach of fellow Indian player Sutrtha Mukherjee, who was knocked out in the second round of Women's singles. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Banerjee said, "Personal coach is a wrong statement. Sutirtha plays in Soumyadeep's academy, but he is the national coach. To say her coach was not allowed with her is wrong on Manika's part." Banerjee further said that Manika Batra had applied for a personal coach and they had recommended as well but demanding that her personal coach be in place of Soumyadeep and calling him Mukherjee's personal coach was wrong on her part. Manika had earlier requested the grant of the field of play (FOP) access for her personal coach Sanmay Paranjape but the access wasn't granted even though his last-minute approval for travel to Tokyo was given. Manika's campaign came to end on Monday after she lost to Austria's Sofia Polcanova in the third round of women's singles. She and Sharath Kamal were already eliminated from the mixed doubles competition after losing in the Round of 16.
139 Hockey team left high and dry by mighty Australia; Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina crash out; Pranati Nayak fails to make the all-round final; Shooters fail to fire Expectations soared after Mirabai Chanu won India its first medal in the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. But things didn't really go according to plan for the Indian contingent in Japan. Among the women, Manika Batra, MC Mary Kom and PV Sindhu stood out but there was disappointment from Sania Mirza and Pranati Nayak's quarters. The women's tennis doubles team -- Mirza and Ankita Raina -- crashed out after a first round defeat while Nayak failed to qualify for the all round finals. After managing a win versus New Zealand in the opener, the Indian hockey team succumbed to Australia 7-1 in their second group stage clash. Let's take a look at all that happened for India today: Hockey: Australia leave India high and dry The Indian hockey contingent doesn't look like they'll end their 41-year-old medal drought at the Games. The hero of the previous game versus New Zealand, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, was a bundle of nerves against Australia, and conceded as many as seven goals in India's 7-1 rout. To add to that, India's defence was not at its best as India This morale-shattering loss has probably exposed every possible chink in India's armour. The world no. 1 side simply toyed with the Indian defence after the first quarter and scored goals at will to comfortably secure their second consecutive win in the competition. For India, it is their biggest loss since Australian Graham Reid took charge of the team as coach in April 2019. India's lone goal came from the stick of Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute, and that was the only thing to relish for Reid's men. Artistic Gymnastics: Pranati Nayak does not qualify India's lone gymnast at Tokyo Olympics, Pranati Nayak failed to qualify for the All Round finals of Artistic Gymnastics competition. The 26-year-old from West Bengal recorded a total score of 42.565 over the four categories -- floor exercise, vault, uneven bars and balance beam -- at the Ariake Gymnastic centre. She is now ranked at 29th overall at the end of subdivision 2. There are a total of five subdivisions, from which top 24 gymnasts (best score across all four apparatus) qualify to the all-round final, which will be held on July 29. The top eight gymnasts in each event qualify for the respective individual event finals to be held from August 1 to 3. However, Nayak finished at the bottom half in all the events. Badminton: PV Sindhu eases past Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova It was a good start for India's prime medal hope. Sindhu thrashed Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova in straight games in the women's singles group J match. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded sixth, beat the 58th ranked Polikarpova 21-7 21-10 in a lop-sided opening match. "Even though it was an easy first match I didn't take it in an easy way. It wasn't like I wasn't prepared. Every time, it is very important to be focused and be prepared for every single point in every single match," Sindhu said after the match. The world number seven Indian will next play Hong Kong's world number 34 Cheung Ngan Yi in the group stage. Boxing: MC Mary Kom wins opener, Manish Kaushik disappoints on debut Kom is 38 years old, but does not want to stop. The six-time world champion Mary Kom (51kg) powered into the pre-quarterfinals with a superb tactical victory over Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez Garcia but Kaushik's (63kg) Games debut ended in disappointment following a hard-fought opening-round loss. The 38-year-old Mary Kom, who is a 2012 Olympic bronze-medallist and a multiple-time Asian champion, prevailed 4-1 against a rival who is 15 years her junior and a Pan American Games bronze-medallist. But Manish, a Commonwealth Games silver-medallist and a world championship bronze-winner, went down 1-4 to Britain's Luke McCormack in an edge-of-the-seat clash. Rowing: Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh in semi-finals Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh qualified for the semifinals of the men's lightweight double sculls repechage. The Indian duo clocked 6:51.36 to finish in third place at the Sea Forest Waterway. Poland's Jerzy Kowalski and Artur Mikolajczewski finished at the top with a timing of 6:43.44, followed by Spain's Caetano Horta Pombo and Manel Balastegui, who clocked 6:45.71 in the repechage 2. The semifinals will be on July 27. Sailing: Kumanan 27th, Saravanan 14th Nethra Kumanan was placed 27th after two races while Vishnu Saravanan was at 14th after his first race as the Indian sailors opened their Games campaign. Kumanan finished 33rd in the first race of the women's laser radial before recovering a bit by taking the 16th spot in the second for an overall 27th place with 49 net points. Saravanan then finished 14th in the men's laser event before the second race was postponed due to bad weather conditions at the Enoshima Yacht Harbour. Each event consists of a series of races. Points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two and so on. Shooting: Shooters dissapoint, unfortunate day for Bhaker The fancied Indian shooting team drew a blank for the second day running, with a major weapon malfunction leading to a heartbreaking exit for the young Manu Bhaker in the women's 10 air pistol event. Appearing in her maiden Olympics, the 19-year-old finished a creditable 12th, despite losing nearly 20 minutes during the qualifications after the cocking lever in her pistol broke down, forcing her to go to a designated area for getting it fixed. Manu shot 575, while the cut-off was 577. Yashaswini Singh Deswal, the other first-timer at the Games, recovered from a subdued start to end 13th, with a total score of 574. In the men's 10 air rifle event, both the experienced Deepak Kumar and the teenaged Divyansh Singh Panwar finished a lowly 26th and 32nd, respectively. Deepak aggregated 624.7 while Divyansh shot 622.8 over the six series, scores which were never going to be enough to make the final. India's Angad Vir Singh Bajwa missed two targets out of 75 to be placed 11th on count back at the end of the third round in men's skeet qualifications. He looks to be in search of a top-six finals spot. Angad had scores of 25, 24, 24 in the first three series and will come back on Monday to shoot the final two series. Compatriot Mairaj Ahmad Khan shot 71 and was placed 25th out of the 30 shooters in fray. Swimming: Patel, Nataraj fall short Indian swimmers Srihari Nataraj and Maana Patel's Olympic campaign came to an end as the two youngsters failed to qualify for the semifinals of their respective events. Competing in their maiden Olympics, both swimmers were unable to match their personal best performances in the 100m backstroke events. Srihari managed a time of 54.31s to finish his men's 100m backstroke heat in a creditable sixth place. The 20-year-old has a personal best of 53.77s that he had clocked at the Sette Colli Trophy in Italy to qualify for the Tokyo Games in June. Overall, Srihari was ranked 27 among the 40 swimmers. The top 16 swimmers qualify for the semifinals. Table Tennis: Batra impresses, Sathiyan flops India's table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women's singles third round but G Sathiyan succumbed to the pressure on his Olympic debut to exit the men's singles competition. While the 26th seed Sathian was expected to beat world number 94 Hong Kong's Siu Hang Lam in his second round match after getting a first round bye, the same cannot be said about Manika, whose gritty approach under pressure proved decisive against her higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine. Manika, ranked 62, made a remarkable comeback after losing the first two games to prevail 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 in a second round match that lasted 57 minutes. Tennis: Sania-Ankita crash out Sania Mirza and debutant Ankita Raina were knocked out of the Games despite dominating a large part of their women's doubles opener against Ukrainian twin sisters Nadiia and Liudmyla Kichenok. Sania and Raina were running away with the contest after bageling their opponents but in a dramatic turnround, the Kichenok sisters came back from the dead to pull off a 0-6 7-6(0) 10-8 win at court 11 of Ariake Tennis Centre. Sania was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set but perhaps nerves got the better of her and ended up dropping her serve. From there on, it was not the same match, in which the Ukrainians looked out of sort, struggling with their serves and returns. The Indians became the prey and Ukrainians pounced on them.
140 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu kept alive India's hopes of a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton by reaching the semifinals of the women's singles with a straight-game win over world No.5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. Today, PV Sindhu will be crossing swords with Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying in the all-important and crucial semi-final of women's badminton singles in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. So far in the tournament, PV Sindhu has been brimming with confidence and has displayed a dominant brand of badminton. She has breathed fire in all her matches and has not dropped a single set so far. Head-to-head Sindhu, who has lost to Tai Tzu in last three occasions, however, has managed to outwit the Taiwanese shuttler in important events such as the 2016 Rio Games, 2019 World Championships and 2018 World Tour Finals. Time and location The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will begin at 3:20 PM (IST) on Saturday, July 31st at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza Court 1. On which channel? The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will be telecasted on Doordarshan, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD, Sony Ten 4, Sony Ten 4 HD, Sony Six, Sony Six HD in India. OTT Platform The match between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu-ying will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv App and Jio TV in India.
141 Soon after the men had entered the semi-final clash against Belgium, it was time for the women to make history. The Indian women's hockey team had defeated the mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. Soon after the men had entered the semi-final clash against Belgium, it was time for the women to make history. The Indian women's hockey team had defeated the mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. Gurjit Kaur had scored the lone goal in the match during the first half through a penalty corner. Soon after the ladies became a household name. With this win, it was the first time the eves entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. They will face Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final. The last time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. When will Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match start? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match will begin at 3:30 PM IST on Wednesday, August 4. Where will Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match be played? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match? Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Argentina vs India women's hockey semi-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
142 PWD minister Vijay Inder Singla said that Captain Amarinder Singh has given his nod for the renaming of roads and schools. Punjab School Education and Public Works Department (PWD) minister Vijay Inder Singla Friday said that the government has decided to name roads and schools of the state after Olympic medal winners. While congratulating the team for clinching the historic Olympics bronze medal in hockey after 41 years, the Cabinet minister said that the players have made India proud, and naming roads and schools would be a small token of gratitude to honour their achievement. Singla said that Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, has given his nod for the renaming of roads and schools and the respective department officials have been directed to initiate the process in this regard at the earliest. Giving further details, Singla added that the road connecting the residence and school in the area of the respective medal-winning players will be named after him/her. He added that the move will inspire youngsters to achieve their desired goals in their life. Singla said that in the hockey squad, 11 players were from Punjab - (Captain) Manpreet Singh, (Vice Captain) Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh, Samsher Singh, Varun Kumar, and Krishan Pathak. He said that in the women's hockey team - that played extremely well and missed out on a bronze by inches at the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Britain 3-4 - two members, Gurjit Kaur and Reena Khokhar, were from Punjab.
143 The 1-0 victory will go down in the history of women's hockey in India as one of the great and gutsy wins A Monday morning has never been so memorable for me. The Indian women's hockey team has made us all proud by entering the semi-finals of the Olympic Games for the first time in history. Nobody gave them a chance against Australia, three-time Olympic champions and No. 2 in the FIH rankings, but Rani Rampal and her fiery friends showed the world what they are capable of. I had thought if they make the last-eight stage that would be more than enough. But they had other plans. A team, which finished last in the Rio Olympics five years back, is now in the semis! The 1-0 victory will go down in the history of women's hockey in India as one of the great and gutsy wins. What a mind-blowing performance it was! Pardon me if I am going overboard but days like these make you feel over the moon. I am confident this win will see a resurgence of women's hockey in India. It's a great opportunity now for both men and women to bag medals. They just need to win one of the two matches and India will be on the podium in hockey. For the women, the build-up to Tokyo was not satisfactory. They lost matches during their exposure tours to Germany and Argentina early this year. They also had to deal with the dreaded virus when captain Rani and six other players and two members of the support staff tested positive for Covid-19 in late April. These women though refused to get bogged down by the adversity. The best part of the quarter final match was that India did not get cowed down by Australia's reputation. The Aussies topped Pool B while India were fourth in their pool. I have always said group matches count for little. You can win all your matches in the group yet book an early flight by losing the first knockout game. In Tokyo, the Indian women started badly but recovered well to record back-to-back victories which took them to the quarters. In the knock-outs, the funniest part is whoever plays well on the particular day will be on top. India did just that against Australia. They defended doggedly and not for a second did they lose focus. Goalkeeper Savita Punia was in a different zone. She had answers to everything the mighty Australians threw at her, saving as many as nine penalty corners. Deep Grace Ekka also was like a rock in the defence. Rani, Monika Malik, Gurjit Kaur were also brilliant. Gurjit did not have a good tournament but she delivered when it mattered the most by converting the only penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Rani was unlucky not to find her name on the scoresheet when her push hit the post early in the match. Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne and other members of the support staff also deserve credit for this show. To keep a whole bunch of players motivated during the pandemic is no joke. Marijne has done a wonderful job till now. We now face Argentina on Wednesday and the momentum is with India. The men have a tough match against Belgium on Tuesday. They have to ensure they do not concede penalty corners against a team which has been outstanding in that department. Alexander Hendrickx, the Belgian drag-flicker, has already scored 11 goals, including two against Spain on Sunday. He can punish us badly if we lose focus.
144 Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in weightlifting: Rice, sports club culture, and killer instinct help Manipur produce a world-class lifter like silver-medalist Chanu. Mirabai Chanu wins India's first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020: When one of India's greatest moments in weightlifting was being hoisted into reality by the legendary Karnam Malleswari, at the Sydney Games in 2000, the state of Manipur was laying the ground for their own moment in the sun, albeit 21 years later. Barring the Beijing Games, the state has sent four different women weightlifters over five Olympics - a generational effort that culminated in Mirabai Saikom Chanu's monstrous 202-kg combined lift for the Tokyo Olympics silver medal in the 49-kg weightlifting category. Two decades of consistently churning out weightlifters that are among the best in the world is Manipur's reminder that the Olympics are not a once-in-four-years event. But a way of life. Silver Medal for for #TeamIndia Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Wins India's First Medal, Settles For Silver In #Weightlifting #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #MirabaiChanu - Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 24, 2021 A way of life that begins at a young age because of the state's unique way of organised sport for young children through clubs. Former Commissioner of Youth Affairs and Sports for Manipur R K Nimai Singh tries to put into words this lay of the land when he says, "The sport club culture has been a part of Manipur for centuries now. These clubs might not necessarily be dedicated to a single sport. These clubs aren't associated with any state or national associations. They are only present because of the love of sport and an outlet of activity for young kids. For a Manipuri child, there is an option other than studying and that is to play." Early exposure In Manipur, children are afforded the opportunity to decide what sport to play and what sport to pick. By the time they reach their teens, they may not be specialists in a particular sport, but a consistent level of physical activity leads to a far easier transition than most young athletes when moving professionally into a discipline. As has been the case from the start of this century, a steady stream of women in weightlifting, heading to the farthest corners of globe to compete in the best tournaments on offer, continues to fuel the desire for what is a casual aspect of life, to become the centre-point of their existence. But what happens when these kids start to grow up? "In the beginning of the 90's, people started to realise that sport could be an earning profession," says Singh. The opening of a Sports Authority of India centre in Imphal suddenly gave weightlifters in the state the opportunity to go from spare parts of automobiles as weights, to real imported equipment. Former weightlifters were also part of the change as their careers transitioned from athletes to coaches. Mirabai Chanu's story trudges along the same lines - a young 12-year-old child lifting heavy logs in her hometown of Nongpok Kakching, 44 kilometres away from Imphal, who one day got noticed by Anita Chanu, a former international weightlifter and coach. Killer instinct What one Chanu saw in the younger Chanu was something most Manipuri experts in sport say is an intrinsic part of their cultural identity. "When I saw her lift for the first time, she had a killer instinct," says Chanu over the phone to The Indian Express. And how is that killer instinct quantifiable? "Explosive strength," stresses Chanu, who further explains by saying that people from the northeastern states of India are smaller in height but make up for it with a Maradona and Messi-esque low centre of gravity, a crucial aspect of why Manipur does so well in sport, be it weightlifting or football or boxing. That low centre of gravity saw Mirabai pick almost four times her body weight across five successful lifts in snatch and clean and jerk categories. But it isn't just height or body type or region, that defines their abilities. The secret also lies in what is put into their bodies. Or rather, what has been put into their bodies for generations. Something in the land A few days ago, on the eve of Indian sportspeople leaving for the Tokyo Games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked an athlete's uncle, 'Kaunsi chakki ka atta khilate ho'. That same question must now be asked of Manipur's athletes, except instead of wheat, it's their consumption of rice that dictates success in a sport like weightlifting. "Most athletes in lower weight categories come from Asian countries like China and South Korea. These countries are famous for sticky rice being a part of their diet. In Manipur, most people eat rice as a primary source of energy," says Sunil Elangbam, the secretary of Manipur weightlifting. This simplistic way of nutrition, one that has been a generational staple for them, is considered a prime source of fuel by experts for essential carbohydrates that end up aiding in physical training. These carbohydrates do the twin job of being easy to digest while pushing the body to recover faster after intense workouts. It is this combination of the right kind of food, the lay of the land, and generations of women to look up to in weightlifting, that brewed itself into the perfect storm. A silver in Tokyo, borne out of a killer instinct that now adorns the state, just as its glory in the Olympics do.
145 They would continue bringing out small processions in support of the team that has two members from the state - Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete The defeat of the Indian women's hockey team in their opening match in Tokeyo Olympics on Saturday failed to daunt the spirited enthusiasts of Jharkhand's Simdega. They would continue bringing out small processions in villages in support of the team that has two members from Jharkhand - Nikki Pradhan from Khunti and the Simdega girl Salima Tete. "Taking on the world number one, Netherlands, was like playing the final match and our team played rather well," Hockey Jharkhand president Manoj Konbegi defended the national women's team despite its 1-5 defeat in the inaugural match. Small children keep the enthusiasm alive in Simdega by going around their respective villages, carrying a banner saying Cheer for India and shouting slogans supporting the team. Nikki didi ko goal bachana hai, Salima didi ko goal marna hai and Bharat ko gold jitna hai are some of the slogans, besides Cheers for India and Chak de India, they shout while roaming around in their villages that produced many hockey stars. Besides shouting slogans, these children also dance to the tune of two songs that have been composed by local artistes recently and also uploaded on YouTube. "One of this was released on Wednesday," Konbegi informed about a Hindi song lyrics of which runs like Khelenge hockey dilojaan se (will play hockey wholeheartedly), adding it was sung by local artistes Kashinath Nayak and Jagannath Ram. But the other one, a Nagpuri song urging Khelo khelo khelo hockey pura dam lagake khelo (play hockey with all your energy)... that was presented by Laldhan Nayak and launched during the sub-junior national hockey championship held in Simdega last year was more popular. The song became a hit because it is in local Nagpuri dialect and also narrates the achievements of hockey legends from Jaipal Singh, Sylvanus Dungdung and Michael Kindo to Sumrai Tete and Kanti Baa. "This song is played whenever there is a hockey match and even at other gatherings," Konbegi said about its popularity, adding he also found it playing at social functions. "Even we were inspired by Laldhanji's song but made it in Hindi as that would be understood by people from outside the state," Kashillal Nayak replied when asked why they chose to render their song in Hindi instead of Nagpuri. The people of the region, including Simdega, that produced many hockey greats have hockey in their blood, Konbegi reminded, adding they were trying to keep their enthusiasm intact by launching songs and organising small gatherings in villages. "I will speak to Salima and also send her these video clips so that she and her teammates know how seriously these young children support them," he further informed. "Such things may not impact their game on Tokeyo but will surely motivate these children who are the future of hockey in this part of the country," Konbegi added to justify their activities.
146 India had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament and while they lost against Argentina. The women's team gave their all, but it was not enough as Great Britain win the bronze medal match clash at Oi Hockey Stadium. India lost 4-3 against GBR and they fall short by a goal. India had created history after they had entered the semi-finals of the big tournament and while they lost against Argentina, they still have a chance on a podium finish. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Here are the details of the game: The end of the first quarter saw Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia on her toes. She made all the saves that Great Britain were trying to convert into gaols.The Indian defence will need to tighten Soon into the second quarter saw them getting a goal to their name.Elena Rayer does superbly down the right as she juggled the ball over her marker but sadly the ball deflected off Deep Grace and into the goal. Great Britain got another goal to their name after India was a man down.Great Britain stormed forward, before working it into Sarah Robertson in the D. She took a reverse tomahawk past a stunned Savita. Almost the end of the second quarter sawGurjit Kaur converted both her penalties into gaols helping India equalise. Indian women have changed the momentum. India'sVandana Katariya does nothing wrong in the D as she makes sure to get the goal India needed. Her goal got India into the leading position. Great Britain made sure to continuously put pressure on India.Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb smashed a superb flick into the goal after excellent work from Rayer down the right. From a yellow card to a flurry of penalty corners, GBR did what they are good at. They scored and took a lead. It was too much power for Savita as Grace Balsdon powers it right into the net. And that's the end.Indian girls are seen in tears. Savita Punia looks inconsolable even as a coach has an arm around her. So close yet so far for the women, but fans are surely very proud of their effort.
147 The clip captured by an Argentinian TV cameraman covering the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina was shared by Twitter user @s6ntispam. Olympics is all about glitz, glamour, and the game of course - both off and on the field. Though this time around the Olympic games are happening amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and there are no viewers in the stands but Tokyo 2020 Olympics has already produced many viral moments for viewers to watch and share. In a recent Olympic game, a cameraman decided to go rogue and film a cockroach in the middle of an ongoing women's hockey match. The clip captured by the cameraman of an Argentinian TV channel covering the women's hockey match between Spain and Argentina played on July26,was shared on social media by Twitter user @s6ntispam. The viral post garnered over 4.9 million views and 64,900 retweets. In the clip the cameraman filmed a cockroach walking along a part of the field.The segment was shot when a replay was being played. The shot was shown live by an Argentinian TV channel broadcasting the Tokyo Games. The sports commentator was commenting about the match when he stopped and said, "Look at what we have here. A cockroach." Netizens were amused by the video and didn't mind that the cockroach took attention away from the game. The segment has now gone viral and garnered some funny reactions. The shot lasted for only a few seconds as the cameraman got back to the action between Spain and Argentina. The South American nation won the match 3-0.
148 Striker Vandana Katariya scored a historic hat-trick to keep alive the Indian women's hockey team's quarterfinals hopes in the Olympics with a fighting 4-3 victory over lower-ranked South Africa in its must-win final group match here on Saturday. Vandana (4th, 17th, 49th minutes) achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Indian woman hockey player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Olympics. Young Neha Goyal (32nd) was the other goal getter as the Rani Rampal-led side registered its second consecutive win at the Games. South Africa's goals came from the sticks of Tarryn Glasby (15th), skipper Erin Hunter (30th) and Marizen Marais (39th). With two wins from their final two pool matches, India have finished the group stages with six points from five games. By virtue of this win, India have jumped to the fourth position in Pool A, but Ireland still have a chance to leapfrog the Indians. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the last Pool A match between Great Britain and Ireland. The Indians will have to wait till the evening to know their fate. A Ireland loss or a draw will be enough for India to seal their place in the quarterfinals. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout round. Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Indians meant business and pressed hard on the South African defence from the start. In doing so, India secured two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the match but dragflicker Gurjit Kaur's poor execution continued in the tournament. Still it didn't take India long to open their account and in the fourth minute, Vandana gave her side the lead, tapping in from close range after being set up by Navneet Kaur's great run from the right flank. India kept up the pressure and penetrated the South African circle many times without much success. But seconds from the end of first quarter, a lapse in concentration from the defence cost India dearly as South Africa drew level through Tarryn Glasby, who deflected in a long shot from Taryn Mallett. India had enough time to regain their lead through a penalty corner but wasted the opportunity. Two minutes into the second quarter, Vandana restored India's lead when he deflected in Deep Grace Ekka's flick from their fourth penalty corner. The Indians had three more chances to extend their lead in the second quarter but they couldn't do so. The Rani Rampal-led side got two more penalty corners which they wasted, and then, Neha Goyal's effort from open play was saved by the South Africa goalkeeper. Just like in the first quarter, India gave away their lead seconds away from half time when Hunter found the net from her team's first penalty corner. Two minutes after the change of ends, Neha restored the lead again, deflecting in a Rani hit from a penalty corner as the Indians executed a fine variation. The fragile Indian defence wilted under pressure once again, when South Africa drew level for the third time in the match, through a Marais strike. South Africa enjoyed a good run of play in the initial minutes of final quarter and, in the process, secured three penalty corners quickly, but this time the Indian defence did enough to thwart the dangers. In the 49th minute, a brilliant Vandana saved the day for India when she deflected in Gurjit Kaur's flick from another penalty corner. Thereafter, the Indians fell back and looked contend to keep the possession as South Africa pressed hard. Two minutes from the final hooter, the Indians successfully referred a penalty corner decision given against them.
149 From the moment the announcer at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena called out her name and she walked out slamming her gloves against each other, Pooja Rani meant business. She entered the ring sans histrionics and walked away the winner with minimum fuss. In a word, she was dominating in her 75kg pre-quarterfinal bout. Pooja's 20-year-old opponent – Ichrak Chaib of Algeria – was jumpy and declared herself the winner even before the judges had taken a call. In a unanimous decision, the judges gave a 5-0 verdict in Pooja's favour. In her debut Olympic Games bout, Pooja was calm and self-assured. Next up is a somewhat familiar foe in China's Li Qian, a gold medallist at the 2018 World Championships and bronze winner at the Rio Olympics. She is the current world No. 3 and has defeated Pooja twice in as many meetings. “Pooja was extremely focused and she fought intelligently,” women's boxing high performance director Raffaele Bergamasco said. “Her opponent made the mistakes and she capitalised on those.” But Team Pooja knows it won't be the same against the Chinese. “Li Qian is very agile and difficult to attack. We will be working together on some counter-attacking strategies for her,” said Bergamasco said. Pooja came into the Olympics having won her second Asian Championships gold medal in May earlier this year. The confidence shone through in her opening fight. Right from the outset, the bout between Pooja and Ichrak showed the difference between the two boxers in experience and class. Ichrak was wildly throwing her punches, as most of them were either going wide or up. The Algerian found it difficult to get a measure of Pooja, and in between entangles, Pooja managed some scoring points with the jabhook combination. Pooja steadily got into her rhythm but was never required to put in her 100 percent in the opening round. The second round went more or less on similar lines. Ichrak kept charging towards Pooja with her full body weight, and the Indian would then smartly sidestep and start her flurry of counter punches. Pooja's combination punches as well as her dodging and blocking impressed the judges, with all of them voting in favour of the Indian once again. In the third, even as Ichrak was getting exhausted, the Indian chose to go on the defensive. There was some inelegant jostling, but it didn't impact the scoreline one bit. All the five judges once more were on Pooja's side.
150 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
151 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
152 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this isa notablyone-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
153 In Fiercely Female, Sundeep Mishra's new book on Dutee Chand, hunger is a recurring theme. It is inescapable when you are the fourth of seven children in a family with a monthly income of less than Rs3000. Getting a daily meal of dal-rice was a challenge, leave alone the high-quality diet that athletes from developed countries have enjoyed all their lives. Yet Chand still competed at the highest international level – until she was diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, the natural production of high levels of testosterone which could give her body an extra boost of strength. With little thought of how it would devastate her life, she was dropped by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) whose leaders, like Adille Sumariwalla, seemed more concerned with maintaining their status with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), than supporting their own athletes. But Chand fought back, managing to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She argued she was being treated worse than athletes who took performance enhancing drugs, who were punished but then allowed back to compete. Mishra writes: “For the athletes producing testosterone naturally without taking supplements, it was like telling them, 'You are a different species; it's wonderful. But sorry, you are not allowed to compete…” Chand won, and hopes to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But the issue is not going away. Allegations of unfairness are being made against many women athletes accused of having unfair advantages because of their natural condition. A particular focus is New Zealand's weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is competing after completing her gender transition. Such athletes are said to violate the Olympics vision of fairness, with sports an arena of pure ability. But this is a notably one-sided vision, usually only invoked when an athlete from the developed world is faced competitors from the developing world whose abilities can somehow be labelled unfair. Such as with East African runners whose natural physique combined with high-altitude homes that develop greater lung power helps them with endurance events. There have been grumblings about the unfairness of competing with them, and the immense attention that any white athlete who appears able to challenge them immediately gets is an indication of how these feelings have never quite gone away. In the early years of the Modern Olympics, fairness fuelled the debate over amateurs and professionals. The former were said to embody the Olympic spirit, while the latter were only in it for the money. These neatly reserved the Games for rich athletes who could afford the time to train, while excluding those like the poor, but immensely versatile Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his two gold medals in the 1912 Games after it emerged that he had played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe, not coincidentally, was Native American. Allegations of unfairness against athletes like Chand follow the same tactic. At her hearing she was supported by Madeleine Pape, an Australian Olympic athlete who had become an academic researching gender in sports. Pape pointed to how athletes from countries that gave them access to every advantage, including good childhood diets, and then access to good training and facilities, were already at a huge advantage. “So when the IAAF focused on a single biological trait in the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, it completely failed to tell the world in how many different ways the world of track and field was inherently 'un-level',” writes Mishra. Equipment is another issue. Cycling might seem like a sport suited to competitors from developing countries, where bicycles are imperative transport. Yet the sport is dominated by countries who can support the huge cost of creating the specialised cycles used for most Olympic events. Australia's Electron Pro bikes for Tokyo 2020, for example, took over 4,500 hours of development, and will cost $18,000 each. Arguably, the real competition in Cycling happens in the design labs of rich countries, but somehow questions of fairness are rarely raised. Another example can be seen in the competing fortunes of wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. The former is an ancient sport which requires no special equipment. Athletes compete with their most basic asset, their bodies, and it is dominated by competitors from the developed world. The latter was created purely for the Olympics and involves running, swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding, the latter three disciplines all involving immense cost. When Mexico's Ismael Hernandez Uscanga won bronze in Rio in 2016 he was the first medallist from outside the developed world or the former Soviet Union and its allies, where competitors nearly all have support from their militaries (as does Uscanga). Yet in 2013 it was wrestling that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to drop from the Games, while Modern Pentathlon was not challenged, despite its absurdly high barriers to competition. It was widely suggested that this was because the vicepresident of its international federation is the son of Juan Samaranch, the revered former president of the IOC, and clearly someone well versed with its politics. The backlash against the decision to drop wrestling was strong enough to get the IOC to reverse its decision, in a rare real victory for fairness in the Games. It was an example of how the one-sided use of fairness by the developed world can be combated, starting with its use against women athletes like Chand and Hubbard.
154 In a final day swoop at Tokyo 2020, the United States earned the bragging rights of Tokyo 2020 by moving ahead of China on the medal table. The three golds that they clinched on Sunday just put their noses in front at the finish line, 39-38. The one in women's basketball may have been on expected lines, but the women's volleyball team winning their first-ever gold drew them level, and Jennifer Valente's cycling gold proved to be the clincher. The one-medal gap between the top two is the closest ever. Before Tokyo, it was at Athens 2004 that the USA with 36 gold and China with 32 gold were involved in a tight race. The other interesting aspect of the tally was the emergence of first-time medal winners. In what is the largest list of medal-winning countries at any Games, 93 different nations earned a podium finish. The number of gold-winning nations at an edition - 63 - also broke the record of 59 set at Rio 2016. Just like in Rio, where Jordan, Kosovo and Fiji medalled for the first time, the Tokyo Games ended with three new countries joining the medal table - San Marino, Turkmenistan and Burkina Faso. The newest on the list of gold-winning nations are Qatar, Bermuda and the Philippines. The final tally seemed unlikely with just a few days left when China had a significant lead in the gold medal count. Over the last several editions, the top position on the gold medal table has been the preserve of the USA or China. In fact, the last Games where a third nation topped the standings was Barcelona 1992, with the 'Unified Team' of the erstwhile Soviet Union states securing the most gold medals. Fluctuating fortunes The US's gold medal count of 39 this time is down from the 46 golds they won at Rio 2016 and London 2012 each. China, which dominated on home turf in Beijing 2008 with 48 gold, won 26 gold in Rio 2016, just one behind Great Britain who finished second. In Tokyo though, the Chinese have equalled the gold medal haul they achieved in London 2012. The American haul this term dropped in their traditional strongholds like swimming (16 in Rio, 11 in Tokyo), athletics (13 in 2016 and seven now) and gymnastics (four and two). The retirement of Michael Phelps and the withdrawal of Simone Biles affected the tally. But the Americans still managed to gain new strides in other events - wrestling, shooting, golf, fencing, and the new 33 basketball and surfing events. China meanwhile improved their already impressive performance in weightlifting (seven gold medals this time compared to five in Rio) while matching the seven they won in diving from five years ago. Shooting was a successful event, as they clinched four gold, compared to the solitary gold Zhang Mengxue won in the 10m air pistol event in Rio. They also tripled their gold medal in swimming to three, but couldn't defend their women's volleyball title. New horizons The Americans won gold in Tokyo in several events not always considered their strengths. Lee Keifer won an individual foil gold in fencing, Nevin Harrison won in canoeing while Anastasija Zolotic triumphed in taekwondo's featherweight class. For China, gymnastics was a big success with four gold medals (including trampoline), while in Rio they failed to win a single gold medal. They also secured top spots on the podium in sports like canoeing, fencing, rowing, sailing and cycling. India's new high With their best-ever tally (one gold, two silver, four bronze), India finished 48th on the table - their highest position since the 1980 Moscow Olympics which was boycotted by 66 countries because of the Soviet-Afghan War. India finished 23rd in Russia, having won just the men's hockey gold. In fact, the 48th position in Tokyo is India's best finish at any Olympics where they won more than two medals (they were ranked 26th with a gold and bronze at Helsinki 1952). Golden sunrise in Japan Japan finished third - their best - in the overall medal table for the third time (after Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964). The 58 medals they won - 27 gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze - in 2021 make this their most successful edition. A stellar performance in judo helped the hosts in the overall ranking. In London, Japan won one gold medal in the sport and three in Rio. Over the 15 events in Judo this past fortnight, they won nine gold, two silver and a bronze. The Japanese also dominated the new skateboarding event, winning three of the four gold medals on offer. They also maximised the return of baseball and softball to the Games' line-up, taking both gold medals. Different name, similar haul Since the end of the Cold War, this was the sixth Olympic Games where 'Russia' competed as a country. But they could not use their name, flag or anthem based on International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctions due to the country's infamous doping scandal in 2014. Instead, the contingent went by the name Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). This was also the second smallest contingent from the country, 333 compared to the 282 that travelled to Rio. In terms of the total number of medals won in Tokyo, the 71 (20 gold, 28 silver and 23 bronze) put ROC third on the leaderboard. But they were fifth based on gold medals - the official standard - behind the USA, China, Japan and Great Britain. This was a better performance from the ROC compared to the 19 golds each in London and Rio. The gold medal in the women's team gymnastics event - their first ever as Russia - made the difference. The Olympic 'Ashes' A rivalry that transcends sports, Great Britain again pipped the Australians in the gold medal tally, 22 to 17 to finish fourth and sixth respectively in the overall tally, though the latter had a much better showing this time - they won just eight golds in Rio. The Australians, courtesy Ariarne Titmus' double gold over USA's Katie Ledecky, won nine golds in swimming compared to the three from Rio. Meanwhile, the Brits continued dominating the cycling event like only the Brits can, winning six gold, four silver and two bronze medals just as they did five years ago.
155 The 19-year-old became only the third player from Simdega to have participated in the Games. The other two are Michael Kindo and Sylvanus Dungdung Salima Tete reminds former hockey captain VirenRasquinha of the legendary Shahbaz Ahmed. This striking comparison is a breath of fresh air on a day that ended on a sore note for India women. Vying for a first-ever podium finish at the Olympics, Rani Rampal and company went down 3-4to Great Britain.But there's a lot to take heart from. Apart from Savita Punia's brave effort between the sticks, 19-year-old Salima stood out with her runs across the pitch, which were instrumental inkeeping India in the game throughout the pulsating sixty minutes. While praising Gurjit Kaur's stinging drag-flick which helped India equalise (2-2), let's not forget how Salima cut into the D to force a penalty corner. Such sheer tenacity and steady stickwork from a teenager is only a sign of great things to come. Salima's father Sulakshan is a proud man today. "I used to accompany Salima to hockey matches. I taught her the sport with bamboo stick. She was in school when she got selected to play for Ranchi team. She lost but we're happy about her achievement," he was quoted as saying by ANI. Salima hails from Barki Chhapar village under Sadar block of Jharkhand's Simdega district. Jharkhand: Visuals from the residence of hockey player Salima Tete, in Badkichapar village of Simdega district Tete is part of the Indian women's hockey team that will take on Great Britain for Bronze medal in #TokyoOlympics today morning pic.twitter.com/DUmhtxoB36 How did it change for Salima Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi remembers when her talent with the stick finally came to the fore. He recalledhow the scouts spotted her, and urged her to appear for trials for a government-run residential hockey centre. "There was no looking back for her after that, as she was talented and got selected. With time, she improved her skills and managed to convert every opportunity in her favour," he said. Salima went to an elementary school in her village, and later got enrolled at a girls high school, but academics never stopped her from playing the sport. In 2019, she was eventually appointed a TTE by South Eastern Railways. Humble beginnings Salima is one of the five siblings. Besides her, Mahima, her youngest sister, plays for the state team. Her parents are farmers. Her father, Sulakshan, said they never forced Salima or other kids to not dream big. "I was happy when she chose hockey as her career as I could see my dream pursue through her," he said. The big break Salima's first big break came in 2014 when she was included in the state team for a sub-junior national women's tournament in Pune. The team won silver. Her international debut happened two years later. In 2016, she was part of the side for the junior nationals in Spain. And then, one accolade followed another. She became vice-caption for national side at theU-18 Asia Cup in Bangkok, where the team clinched bronze. That same year, she broke into the senior national team, and two years later led the Indian squad at the Youth Olympics in Argentina, winning silver. "This was her defining moment and cemented her place in the national team (senior) next year and got opportunities to play regularly at national and international level," Salima's coach Pratima Barwa said in an interview. "She was a defender and true to her character, she would never let her opponents score easily," Barwa added. Following her qualification in Tokyo Olympics, she became the only third player from Simdega to have done so. In the past, only two male hockey players from Simdega - Michael Kindo and Sylvanus Dungdung -- have taken part in the Games.
156 Indian women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne said that they didn't win a medal but they have won something bigger after their loss in the semis. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Indian women's hockey team as Great Britain beat them 4-3 in the semi-final in the ongoing Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne, however, said that they didn't win a medal but they have inspired a lot of Indian girls to dream and take up the sport. The campaign of the women's team was going nowhere after three losses but two wins in a row and a Great Britain win over Ireland meant they qualified for the quarter-finals and that's where the real journey began as they beat the Australian team 1-0 and qualified for the semi-finals. But they lost to a string Argentian team in the semis. They had to now beat Britain to win the bronze medal and what a mouthwatering contest it was. No one really knew, who was going to win till the last minute as it was neck and neck but eventually Great Britain took the game by 4-3. Speaking to the press after the loss, coach Marijne, who has now quit after the match said, "We always had the belief that we can win a medal and we were really close. The girls believing in themselves makes me really proud. "I think that was one of the biggest steps we made. Every girl in the team has her own story and every story is amazing. Let's hope that a lot of women in India have seen this Indian team's performance and are inspired by the team to start playing hockey or any other sport," he added. The ex-Dutch player said that the team has won something bigger than the medal and appreciated his side's fighting spirit. "We showed a fighting spirit in the Bronze Medal match against Great Britain, but it wasn't enough. "We gave away too many PCs and in these kinds of matches, you have to convert all your PCs into goals and I must say Gurjit (Kaur) did really well. I told the team that we didn't win a medal, but we achieved something bigger than a medal and that's inspiring an entire nation," Marijne added. Talking about the turning point of his side's campaign, Marijne said that the loss to Great Britain in the group stage really transformed them as he was very angry with the team then and told that they will have to do better. "After the Pool match against Great Britain, I was extremely angry with the team. I told the team that if you go down then show that you really tried and then go down." "I told the team that they will have to do better and I think the team's mindset transformed after that match. I and Janneke had a lot of individual meetings with the girls and they found the key for the next matches themselves. I think that was an important part of the tournament for us," he said. 'This is the beautiful way to end the journey' In the presser Marijne also informed that this was his last game as coach of the Indian women's hockey team and that he wants to spend time with his family. "I don't have any plans because this was my last match with the Indian women. It's up to Janneka (Schopman) now. I will miss the girls, but I miss my family more. My family is No 1. I want to be with my son, daughter and wife after being away for three-and-a-half years. This is a beautiful way to end this journey," he said.
157 After Artem Dolgopyat landed Israel a spot on the top of the podium at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, netizens had a field day and trolled Anu Malik. Singers and music artists often take inspiration from other singers or old songs for their new tracks. It is appreciated as long as the music is inspired and not blatantly copied. On Sunday (August 1), after Israel landed a spot on the top of the podium at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games 2021, netizens had a field day and trolled Anu Malik. Now, you must be wondering what is the connection of Anu Malik to Israel's national anthem. As Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, won the second-ever gold, his country's national anthem played as he stepped on the podium. Netizens were soon to find an uncanny resemblance between Malik's song Mera Mulk Mera Desh from the movie Diljale (1996) and Israel's national anthem. Several social media users trolled Anu Malik for copying the music. Let's have a look at some of the memes: "The National anthem tune has some familiarity to the Indian song.. Mera Mulk Mera Desh?? Or is it just me?," tweeted one social media user. Another user tweeted, "Anu Malik just simply didn't copy Israel national anthem in 1996 film diljale song. It needs years or reaserch and analysis to find out which country isn't going to win medals for years. Visionary man." A user shared a hilarious meme and wrote, "Anu Malik after watching Israeli National Anthem being played on TV..." "Anu Malik made 1 billion people fool for complete 25 years and no one realised it , ek Gold medal to Anu Malik ka bhi banata hain," wrote on Twitter user. Another user shared a meme and wrote, "Everytime a country wins Gold at Olympics and its National Anthem plays Anu Malik..." Here is another funny meme Meanwhile, Anu Malik has retuend on 'Indian Idol 12' as a judge. The show will soon host its grand finale. on a related note, the Indian women's hockey team created history on Monday (August 2) after beating World no. 2 Australia in the quarter final match of women's hockey at Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and securing a spot in the semi-final for the first time ever.
158 Readers write from Nadia and Calcutta Towards fairness Sir - In a welcome move, the International Olympic Committee announced on Women's Day earlier this year that the Tokyo Olympics would be the "first ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history" with almost 49 per cent of the total athletes being women ("Fair games", July 24).This push was extended to the opening ceremony last Friday, where a rule change allowed countries to select both a male and a female flagbearer to share the honour of carrying their nation's colours. The Games have come a long way since 1900 when 22 women participated in the event in Paris for the first time. Since then, many efforts have been made to achieve gender balance at the Olympics. London 2012 marked the first time when all national Olympic committees managed to include at least one female athlete in their delegation in the history of the Games. Finally, the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires became the first fully gender-balanced Olympic event ever held.Several important decisions had recently been taken to create a more gender-balanced event programme and athlete quotas for Tokyo 2020. It is hoped that these actions will lead to full gender equality for all upcoming Olympic Games. Incidentally, India fell short of sending a gender-balanced contingent to Tokyo with 56 women as opposed to 71 men. A sobering truth is that in spite of being the second-most populous nation in the world, India performs poorly in multi-event competitions. This should act as a reminder to the sports ministry that there is an urgent need to improve infrastructure for both genders in India. S.S. Paul,Nadia Sir - While it is good to know that the Olympic committee is actively trying to bridge the inequities between men and women in sporting events, the reality remains that female athletes all over the world have access to lesser resources than men. It will need the active effort of all countries to truly make a change. Abhra Ganguly,Calcutta Eat right Sir - Since the outbreak of Covid-19, medical experts have urged people to pay attention to their nutrition so that their immunity is not compromised. A recent study has found that a Japanese fermented soybean dish,natto, may inhibit the ability of the coronavirus to infect cells. Whilenattomay not be easy to include in the Indian diet, we must consider eating more fermented food - rich in probiotic bacteria - to enhance the immune system. Aparajita Saha,Calcutta
159 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semifinals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It's not the first time we've been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar said, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, no one from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004 when industry hub Sidcul came up. “Before that, Pals were landowners and we, the workers. With Sidcul, the dominant castes had a windfall after selling off their land for industrial units and became property dealers. We remained workers, and the economic gap widened,” said a Dalit local. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will.
160 BLOODY MARY Irony can be cruel indeed. In the same week that India's women Olympians were being celebrated nationwide, a nine-year-old girl in Delhi was the victim of a bestial assault. While politicians rush to take credit for the achievements of sportspersons by attributing them to initiatives like 'beti bachao beti padhao', they also reveal their patriarchal mindsets when there are crimes against women. Reacting to the gangrape of two minors in Benaulim recently, the Goa chief minister asked why the 14-year-olds were out on the beach at night, implying the girls and their parents were to blame. He later said his statement was taken out of context but the truth is that India remains a maledominated society where justice for women is still elusive, however many medals are won by valiant women athletes. Yes, India's sportswomen are chipping away at the glass ceiling. In the 1960s, 90% of Arjuna (the top sports award) awardees were men and barely 10% were women. Today men make up around 60% awardees while the share of women has risen to over 30%. The story of hockey player Rani Rampal, the daughter of a Haryana cart puller and a domestic worker who once practiced with broken sticks, is remarkable. At first, disapproving family members told her that girls shouldn't play in short skirts but she bravely stepped out of home to take the field. Silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu was once a little girl lifting huge bundles of firewood by herself and carrying them into paddy fields. That is when her family noticed the strength in her thin arms. Herculean personal struggle enabled the weightlifter to escape from the clutches of domestic life to the liberation of sport. Sport is emancipating and gives social power to the powerless. But while Rani and Mirabai's stories are inspiring, some women are struggling even to find a job. A government report released during the Olympics showed a drastic decline of women's participation in India's workforce to a low of 16.1% during the July-September quarter of 2020. By comparison, the female participation rate in Bangladesh is 30.5%. And it's not just lockdowns to blame. According to the World Bank, India already ranks among the worst countries in percentage of employed women. Less than a third of Indian women (15 or older) are working or even seeking work, showing shrinking opportunities, greater burdens of housework and a surge in regressive mindsets that are increasingly confining women to the home. Nowhere is the hypocrisy of pious slogans versus real prejudice more glaring than in politics. The same politicians clamouring to celebrate 'nari shakti' at the Olympics are the ones who have consistently resisted greater representation for women in legislatures. Haryana throws up talented sportswomen, yet its chief minister M L Khattar once opined that if girls “dress decently”, boys wouldn't look at them the wrong way, again blaming women for crimes perpetrated against them. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath once wrote that woman power does not require freedom but protection, implying women are not capable of being independent. Former Uttarakhand chief minister Rawat decried women who wore ripped jeans. Of course, there are some male politicians, including Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who realise that there is now an important woman vote-bank with a mind of its own, and have come up with several gender-focused welfare schemes, a concept first developed by Jayalalithaa and pushed forward by Mamata Banerjee. Which is why medals and trophies are not enough; mindsets need to fundamentally change. On the Internet, gender and religious hatred often combine. Recently a website put up dozens of Muslim women for “sale”, as “deals of the day.” Women are still viciously trolled online. Denial and delusion lie at the root of the malaise. In celebrating the courageous few, we get sucked into the fantasy that 'all is well' when it comes to women. Sportswomen are indeed inspiring role models but as women grow more visible and challenge traditional stereotypes, they are also becoming the targets of fury from patriarchal forces deeply threatened by gender equality. The best way to celebrate India's women Olympians would not be with the usual politician-led extravaganzas, but by realising how urgently society's attitudes need to change. Otherwise, India's glory will remain stained with disgrace, as seen in the manner in which a woman Olympic hockey player's family was subjected to casteist abuse within hours of the team losing their semi-final match in Tokyo.
161 What were you doing on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 2021? Rubbing sleep from your eyes, putting off walking the dog, looking up a vaccination slot, isolating yourself? Or were you waking up to the fact that a girl from Manipur, spring in her step, eyes brimming with hope but sitting lightly on her slight frame, was about to hand India the 'What were you doing that day?' moment of these recent bleak times. For a brief while on Saturday, Mirabai Chanu made us forget the past year and half with a historic Olympic silver on a busy opening day for India that had promised much but as is typical, was delivering very little. In a flash, that bright, white metal belonged to all of us, as much as it did to the one who had claimed it in the weightlifting arena at Tokyo, banishing a few dozen ghosts of her own along the way, in particular the ignominy of a “Did Not Finish” tag against her name at Rio five years ago. In Tokyo, Mirabai was lifting against history, and a Chinese rival in Ho Zhihui who handled those weights as if they were shopping bags. Zhihui, world no. 1 in the 49kg class, raced to an Olympic record with Mirabai happy to give chase. The Indian lifted 202kg (87kg Snatch + 115kg Jerk) to Zhihui's 210kg (94 +116) and the silver was already in the bag. It contrasted well with the gold Olympic ring earrings she sported and which caught a nation's eye. More, it told us of the hoops Mirabai jumped through to get to the podium in Tokyo – mother Tombi Leima had pawned off the family's jewellery to get her youngest daughter those stunners ahead of Rio. On Saturday, she wore them to drive home a point. Mirabai's silver in this sport of fine nuances, and inner and upper body strength, is as much a testimony to her resilience as it is a nod to the pioneers of Indian women's weightlifting in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, when Kunjarani Devi and Karnam Malleswari battled odds to establish a tradition for the rest to follow. More interested in becoming an archer as a kid roaming Imphal's sprawling Khuman Lampak sports complex, Mirabai was, on Saturday, emulating Malleswari — India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist who lifted a bronze in 2000. That it took two decades and one pandemic-affected year for India's second medal in women's lifting, shows that turnaround times in sport take their own, well, time. In the interim, India's women medallists list has expanded to Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Sakshi Malik and P V Sindhu. Mirabai's opening day salvo may fire up the rest of the Indian contingent. Who knows, after decades of wait, there could finally be a hockey podium this time at Tokyo. That then, would be truly personal, for each one for us.
162 Readers write in from Calcutta, Maruthancode, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Chennai Mind over matter Sir - The decision of the American gymnast, Simone Biles, to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics during the artistic gymnastics team final took the world by surprise. Although it was initially reported that she had quit because of an injury, it was later clarified that Biles pulled out because of mental health concerns. The precedent for such an important move was recently set by the tennis star, Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open to prioritize her mental health. It takes incredible courage, especially for female athletes, to voluntarily withdraw from or sit out big competitions on grounds of mental health, primarily because of the criticism they inevitably receive, as Osaka did. They are, however, setting an important example for other sportspersons to follow. Rashika Gupta,Calcutta End of an era Sir - After prolonged suspense, B.S. Yediyurappa resigned from his post as the chief minister of Karnataka during a function celebrating the second anniversary of his government("Southern spice", July 28).The change in leadership did not come as a surprise; it was preceded by months of speculation. However, the claim that Yediyurappa stepped down voluntarily on health grounds is not true. To anyone paying attention to his outgoing speech, it was obvious that Yediyurappa was reluctant to step away from his position. Although Yediyurappa thanked Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, he also mentioned that he was not allowed to form the cabinet for a month and a half after the elections in spite of Karnataka being devastated by floods and rain. This hints at his glacial relations with the central leadership. The septuagenarian has sent out a clear message to his political detractors and the party high command that he is not among those who will join themargdarshak mandal, considered a 'retirement home' for party leaders who have crossed the age of 75. He has also made it clear that he will remain active in state politics and will not accept any assignment outside Karnataka. It is not yet known what the political calculations might have been for the ouster of the Lingayat strongman who is single-handedly responsible for building the presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the southern state. It remains to be seen how the BJP attempts to placate the Lingayat community which is miffed over the removal of its tallest leader. The claim that the BJP is 'a party with a difference' has been proved false by such an unceremonious change of guard. The saffron party is clearly blighted by factionalism, tussles for power and the practice of cutting regional leaders to size. In the light of all this, will the BJP be able to win the 2023 assembly elections and retain power in the state? G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu Sir - The resignation of B.S. Yediyurappa has shifted the political dynamics in Karnataka. Basavaraj Bommai has now taken oath as the 23rd chief minister of the state. With the assembly elections just two years away, it would be important for the new chief minister to show that he is committed to honest and transparent leadership, unlike Yediyurappa, whose tenures were plagued by accusations of corruption. Although it is more than clear that the BJP is trying to pacify the Lingayat community with Bommai, Yediyurappa continues to be their most prominent leader, with the community's seers rallying behind him. There is no doubt that the BJP in Karnataka will witness an intense power struggle in the coming months. Bhagwan Thadani,Mumbai Sir - Strong regional leaders have always worried the central command of major political parties in India. The emergence of regional leaders in the Congress after the demise of Indira Gandhi had caused much consternation among the party high command. Now it seems that the same worry might be plaguing BJP leaders. Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has attempted to concentrate power in just a few hands. However, certain leaders, like B.S. Yediyurappa in Karnataka, had always commanded respect among the common people. It is clear that Yediyurappa had become too powerful; the BJP wanted to take him down a peg or two. While Yogi Adityanath is similarly powerful in Uttar Pradesh, he is far more committed to theHindutvadoctrine, thus endearing him to the high command.The removal of Yediyurappa from a position of power does not bode well for the BJP. As the most popular party leader in Karnataka, he has the potential to determine the results of the next assembly polls. R. Narayanan,Navi Mumbai Sir - The saffron party has often publicly accused the Congress leadership of being subservient to the whims of the Gandhis. But is the BJP under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah any different? B.S. Yediyurappa may have said that the decision to step down as chief minister was voluntary, but this is far from the truth. His speech was indicative of his less-than-friendly relations with the BJP high command. The current situation in Karnataka is quite volatile. The Lingayat community will be sure to make its displeasure known in the next elections. Ravichandran Iyer,Chennai
163 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a national-level hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh) Full report on
164 14-time international winner golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, talks to The Sunday Express about how his father would have felt on watching Neeraj Chopra create history winning the gold: My father waited for so many years for an Indian athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. As this young boy Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Olympic Stadium, I am sure my father is crying up above in the heavens. Whenever I spoke with my father about sports, he would tell me that it is his biggest desire to see an Indian athlete win an Olympic medal. To see Neeraj Chopra dedicate the gold medal to my father, made us cry too. It's a special moment for the Milkha family as well as the whole of India. Let me give full marks to this young boy from Haryana. If my father would have seen him in the final today, he would have told him that determination, hard work, positive attitude is the key to success and that's what Neeraj has done all his life. My father's message to the youth of India was to work hard for your goals, stay determined, focus on the goal, belief in one's abilities and to be sincere in practice. He would tell me that if anybody can do all of these, one can achieve anything in life. That's the mantra, I too have followed in my sporting career right from the first day. I am not sure whether Neeraj would have met my father but if my father would have met Neeraj, he too would have been impressed by the amount of practice and hard work Neeraj does and would have complemented him. My father along my mother Nirmal Milkha Singh watched the Olympics with keen interest and there was hardly any event, which they did not watch on television over the last six decades. And they will applaud each medal and even those who missed the medals. Let me also congratulate Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. My message to her is that she played brilliantly and we all from the golfing world are proud of her. She should not be disheartened as age is on her side and she will be in contention for the next Olympics too. Her performance today is the biggest boost for Indian golf. Never mind, she did not win the medal but she has opened the doors for the youth of India to dream about becoming golfers and winning medals for India. Aditi fought Covid-19 too and came back strongly to come up with today's performance. She played superb in all the four rounds and nothing lacked in her game. It's just that sometimes things don't work your way and that's what happened with her in the final few holes. But to see him in contention for even the gold medal apart from silver and bronze medal till the last two holes was a huge moment. My father knew the agony of finishing fourth and missing out on a medal in Olympics, when he finished fourth in 1960 Rome Olympics. But he carried on. His message to Aditi would have been the same that she should strive hard and not to lose hope and dream about winning a medal in the next Olympics.
165 14-time international winner golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, talks to The Sunday Express about how his father would have felt on watching Neeraj Chopra create history winning the gold: My father waited for so many years for an Indian athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. As this young boy Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Olympic Stadium, I am sure my father is crying up above in the heavens. Whenever I spoke with my father about sports, he would tell me that it is his biggest desire to see an Indian athlete win an Olympic medal. To see Neeraj Chopra dedicate the gold medal to my father, made us cry too. It's a special moment for the Milkha family as well as the whole of India. Let me give full marks to this young boy from Haryana. If my father would have seen him in the final today, he would have told him that determination, hard work, positive attitude is the key to success and that's what Neeraj has done all his life. My father's message to the youth of India was to work hard for your goals, stay determined, focus on the goal, belief in one's abilities and to be sincere in practice. He would tell me that if anybody can do all of these, one can achieve anything in life. That's the mantra, I too have followed in my sporting career right from the first day. I am not sure whether Neeraj would have met my father but if my father would have met Neeraj, he too would have been impressed by the amount of practice and hard work Neeraj does and would have complemented him. My father along my mother Nirmal Milkha Singh watched the Olympics with keen interest and there was hardly any event, which they did not watch on television over the last six decades. And they will applaud each medal and even those who missed the medals. Let me also congratulate Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. My message to her is that she played brilliantly and we all from the golfing world are proud of her. She should not be disheartened as age is on her side and she will be in contention for the next Olympics too. Her performance today is the biggest boost for Indian golf. Never mind, she did not win the medal but she has opened the doors for the youth of India to dream about becoming golfers and winning medals for India. Aditi fought Covid-19 too and came back strongly to come up with today's performance. She played superb in all the four rounds and nothing lacked in her game. It's just that sometimes things don't work your way and that's what happened with her in the final few holes. But to see him in contention for even the gold medal apart from silver and bronze medal till the last two holes was a huge moment. My father knew the agony of finishing fourth and missing out on a medal in Olympics, when he finished fourth in 1960 Rome Olympics. But he carried on. His message to Aditi would have been the same that she should strive hard and not to lose hope and dream about winning a medal in the next Olympics.
166 Indian women's hockey team might have lost the opportunity to secure gold for the country, but everyone is lauding their swashbuckling performance at the Tokyo Olympics. match 3-4 to Great Britain at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Friday (August 6). Anand Mahindra, just like the rest of the country, is proud of their effort and took to Twitter to laud the team. The Mahindra Group Chairman took to Twitter and wrote, "Today we heard the underdogs growl ferociously. They will have their day. They have started a revolution that is unstoppable (sic)." Earlier, for winning an Olympic Silver Medal. He was also moved by Ravi Kumar Dahiya's village's reaction to him winning a silver medal at the Olympics. "Chinese athletes securing 'only' silver/bronze are being trolled by their fellow citizens. We may be lightweights in terms of medal performance but I'm so proud we're true to the real Olympic spirit where 'taking part' is more important. I applaud the residents of Ravi's village (sic)," Anand Mahindra wrote. So far, India has won three bronze and two silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra lauds Indian women's hockey team, says they have started a revolution
167 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a nationallevel hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Haridwar SSP Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S told TOI that all three accused were in custody now and investigation in the matter is on. “We have provided police protection to the family,” he said. This came even as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhamispoke to Katariya on Saturday and congratulated her on her performance. “We are proud of her achievement. She is an inspiration, especially for women. Her success will encourage many to take up sports, even those living in remote areas who lack facilities,” said Dhami. The state has also announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Katariya. Besides, she would be honoured with the Tilu Rauteli award, Uttarakhand's highest recognition for women. The award is named after a young warrior in Pauri Garhwal in the 17th century who is believed to have fought seven wars by the time she turned 21. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh)
168 The atmosphere was all charged up at the KD Singh Babu Stadium as players and sports enthusiasts broke into celebrations soon after India defeated Germany in the bronze medal playoff match at the Tokyo Olympics, breaking a 41-year medal jinx. Celebrations at the stadium were led by deputy sports officer Ranjit Raj. Lucknow has given many international hockey players like Olympics Syed Ali and Sujit Kumar, Ravinder Pal, Rajneesh Mishra and Imran Ali. Veterans expressed happiness over the team's success. Syed Ali, who represented India in 1976 Olympics, said: “The entire country is proud of our players. Lalit Upadhyay is one of our trainees. Most of the national players have played here in the tournaments organised by us.” Another former Olympian, Sujit Kumar, said both the men's and women's team performed exceptionally well. He said players toil hard to win matches and politics should be kept out of the game to provide maximum encouragement to them. Meanwhile, Sahara India Pariwar also congratulated 'Men in Blue' for their stunning victory in Tokyo Olympics. In a statement, the Sahara Group said it was a proud moment for every Indian and Indian hockey team had once again reclaimed the glory of the national game. “Sahara has stood unconditionally, a long and difficult path with Indian Hockey for 22 long years sponsoring during the time when our national game needed much required attention and support. We feel proud that the Indian Hockey has come a long way and the long walk has brought laurels for our nation,” the statement said.
169 In 2013, at the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it was decided that Tokyo would be the host city for the 2020 Olympics. The world was more than half a decade away from the pandemic. Like all plans that went for a toss in 2020, the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to take place between July 24 to August 9, 2020, was rescheduled to 2021. A pall of uncertainty was cast across the sporting world. While life seemed to move on for some with the work-fromhome model, sportspersons found it hard to even continue with their routine practice, let alone participate in any event. The challenge was both logistical and emotional for those preparing for the big game. "With Olympics getting postponed, uncertainty loomed large over us. Still, the goal was to continue with our preparation. I kept Olympics as my goal and we kept pushing ourselves," says the ninetime senior national champion Sharath Kamal Achanta, who has won eight Commonwealth Games medals and is a two-time Asian Games medallist. And after the first wave came the second one and the going got tougher. "It was tough to find motivation. We practiced at home. I decided to have a routine and have short term goals. That kept me going mentally. Training form home was important to improve our fitness because we just did not know how long things would go on like this. But it was important to have Olympics as the bigger goal to keep moving forward," says Sharath. At 20, swimmer Srihari Nataraj represented the country at Tokyo this month and had previously participated at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast. "It was hard to get training for around six months during the lockdown. But I went with my strength routine to keep it up and not put on weight and maintain fitness with the equipment I had," he says. Regular training resumed after he got access to the pool but there were breaks again with the second wave. Like thousands across the world, Srihari also went with the flow. For more than two years, Subha Venkatesan, the athlete representing India in the 4 X 400 mixed relay team at the Olympics, stayed in the camp in Patiala. She was part of the 4 X 400m women's relay team that won silver medal in the Asian junior athletics championships in Japan. In 2019, she won two silver medals at the Junior South Asian Games held in Nepal. Subha's longtime coach Indira Suresh worked with her during her time in Chennai (when Subha began training at Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu's Centre of Excellence) and Nagercoil. It is at SDAT that Subha began honing her skills. "She had good endurance and we worked on her motor qualities. She never shied from hard work and since she stayed at the sports hostel, we could focus a lot more. For the last two years, she has been working with a foreign coach," says Indira, who agrees that the last one-and-a-half years have not been easy for sportspersons like Subha. "It has been two years since she met her family. After the pandemic broke out, they have all been at the camp, following all the norms of social distancing. There were times when she would feel homesick but the coaches would talk to her to boost her morale. Had she visited home in between, she would have had to quarantine herself for two weeks in her hometown and two weeks on her return to the camp. It would mean a loss of one month of training before the Olympics. One cannot afford to do that. During times of complete lockdown, they all followed their fitness regimens in their rooms," says Indira. But then, sportsmanship is also about beating those uncertainties and marching on with singleminded focus. Olympics also requires an enabling ecosystem, which is provided not only by the government but also private parties. For more than two decades, an institution in Moodbidri has been helping Olympians. "In times of covid, when immunity is the key word, who will have better immunity than sportspersons? They are trained to take on any adversity and be unperturbed," says Dr Mohan Alva of Alva Education Foundation, which has previously sent Olympians like Satish Rai, MR Poovamma, Dharun Ayyasamy, and Mohan Kumar. This year, the foundation has sent Dhanalakshmi S and Subha to participate at Tokyo. Dr Alva points out the fact that from the beginning of last year, sporting activities have come to a standstill. "At school, district, state or national level, no sports meets have happened. Our sports culture is linked to schooling and this has made it very tough and has had an impact on the athletes. They need regular competitions and continuous training," says Dr Mohan, who feels that discussions to improve sports should happen not just during the Olympics but throughout the year. "Our ministries have the budget but a lot of it goes into paying the salaries of the employees. Private organisations should help but they also need government support to enable the players. Both at the state and centre, more budget should be allocated and with a quantum jump in that, we can see improvements." Beating all challenges, sportspersons from across the world are finally in Tokyo and a new chapter is being added to India's sporting history. The event itself is a testament to the undying spirit that Olympics stands for.
170 Golfer Aditi Ashok, who has her roots in Jamkhandi in Bagalkot district but was born and brought up in Bengaluru, narrowly missed out on a medal by finishing fourth on Saturday in the women's event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Her relatives in Jamkhandi were nevertheless thrilled by her performance and distributed sweets to neighbours and friends in the afternoon. Aditi's paternal uncle Basavaraj Gudlamani told STOI that she had placed tied 41 at the Rio Olympics in 2016. “This time, we hoped she'd win a medal, but she missed. However, her achievement has come on the biggest sporting stage. Her businessman father Ashok moved to Bengaluru about 25 years ago. He has been updating us on Aditi's exploits. She is an extremely dedicated golfer. We're confident she'll win gold in the next Olympics,” he said. He added: “We don't know much about golf and how it is played. After Aditi's achievements in recent years, many children in our town have shown interest in golf, but they lack information and training here.” Another paternal uncle Arun Gudlamani, added: “We're waiting for Aditi and her father to come here to celebrate the performance.” Sports lovers from Bagalkot and other towns in North Karnataka are celebrating by showering her with congratulatory messages and best wishes.
171 In the backdrop of the nation's grim history in women's hockey, reaching semifinals at the Olympics is a defining moment at so many levels. Despite not winning a medal, the women have not only relaunched the sport, but have shown that there is a bright future ahead, asserts former India hockey captain Pritam Rani Siwach. “Yeah matt socho medal nahi aaya (Don't be disheartened thinking Indian women did not win a medal). The performance in Tokyo is equivalent to winning a medal and these girls have shown they can defeat the best in the business. Today I say it with confidence that the girls will perform even better in the Olympics 2024,” Siwach told TOI from Sonipat, Haryana. It is for the first time ever that Indian women made it to the hockey semifinal at the Olympics. The former captain acknowledged that there has been change in the attitude of people, but still the struggle to encourage girls in sports persists, specially at the grassroots where talent lies in abundance. “With job assurity and rewards people's attitude has changed towards sports in general. I run a hockey academy in Sonipat and I have to get personally involved to convince parents to let their girl child play. Financial limitations exist and lack of awareness is widespread in rural areas. The situation was similar when Neha Goyal, Sharmila Devi and Nisha Warsi had started playing,” said Siwach, who was part of the hockey team that won gold in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Praising women in sport, the 1998 Arjuna Award winner remarked that girls have to fight their way through social barriers if they have to make a name in sports. “And I salute these women who are doing well in sports because the majority of them have fought for their rights at home and outside. It is never easy,” she said. Siwach is excited to welcome her proteges and said she would want all the women to be treated as medal winners. “They are achievers. I will give them the treatment that's accorded to a medallist at the Olympics,” she concluded.
172 Vandana Katariya is the first Indian woman hockey player to score an Olympic hat-trick during the match with South Africa in which India won 4-3. With the Indian contingent performing outstandingly in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the country is overjoyed and states are announcing rewards for players from their respective states. NowUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for India women's hockey team memberVandana Katariyafor her performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Vandana Katariya is the first Indian woman hockey player to score an Olympic hat-trick during the match withSouth Africa in which India won4-3 to keep quarterfinal hopes alive. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all are proud of Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya whose contribution to the game will always be remembered. Vandana Katariya has played for the women's hockey senior national team in more than 200 international matches and was also part of the team that won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games. Dhami also announced that an attractive new sports policy would soon be introduced in the state to help find and grow young talents from different sports. Indian women's hockey teamlost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match in Tokyo on Friday, with dreams of winning the first-everOlympic medal in women's hockey shattered. The India women's hockey team qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Rio in 2016 finishing 12th out of 20 teams. However, they managed to finish fourth this time, shattering all earlier records and showcasing their rise over the years.
173 Watching gymnasts in action can be a lot of fun. It draws the interest of many fans. A skilled gymnast produces many jawdropping moments, expertly combining exceptional strength, balance, flexibility, power, grace, coordination, control and extreme precision. The common understanding is that the sport is for the young; especially in the case of women. Nadia Comaneci was just 14 when she became the first gymnast to be awarded a 'Perfect 10' at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Comaneci received six more Perfect 10s in Montreaal en route to three gold medals. From then on, it was common to see 14 and 15-year-olds topping the sport till the 1996 Atlanta Games. In 2000, there was a rule change which stated that gymnasts must be 16 or older in the Olympic year to compete. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, however, there was a huge controversy. Some of China's female gymnasts were pint-sized and looked so young that it was believed they had fudged their ages. The Chinese gymnastics team, men included, claimed 11 gold medals. Soon after the Games, their passports were pulled offline and are no longer available. The ongoing Tokyo Olympics, though, has seen a paradigm shift. Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan received a standing ovation after competing in vault during the women's artistic gymnastics qualifications. She is 46, mother of a 22-year-old, and is competing in her eighth Olympics. Chusovitina, who recently said Tokyo Olympics would be her last, did not make the final. Simone Biles, the proverbial G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) in gymnastics, wasn't even born when Chusovitina secured a gold for her team on debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Biles, 24, is part of a United States women's gymnastics team whose average age is 20.8. It is USA's oldest women's team since 1952. My-Kayla Skinner, who is also 24 but a few months older than Biles, is the oldest. The German team's average age is 26; its oldest member is 32. Simona Castro of Chile is 32. Vanessa Ferrari of Italy is 30. The Dutch twins Sanne and Lieke Wevers are nearly 30. “Being older, it's been awesome because with all the experience I've had, I feel like my gymnastics has been better than ever,” Skinner said during an interaction in Tokyo. India's Pranati Nayak, who participated in the allround artistic gymnastics event but couldn't progress to the finals, is 26. Dipa Karmakar, who impressed all with her feistiness at the 2016 Rio Olympics as she finished fourth in the women's vault finals, was 23. Dipa became a household name for executing one of the most dangerous feats in gymnastics — the Produnova vault — often referred to as the “vault of death.” Experts feel it is difficult for a girl in her teens to generate the power it takes to execute the move safely. “To pull off such routines flawlessly, you need to improve your muscle strength and have experience and vision to accomplish it; more importantly, generate tremendous amounts of power and energy throughout. The rewards are high,” said Dipa's mentor and Dronacharya Award winner gymnastics coach Bishweshwar Nandi. Dipa is one of Nandi's students. Biles has four Olympic gold and a staggering 19 World Championships gold medals in her kitty. And, the G.O.A.T has hinted she isn't retiring anytime soon. She is gunning for more.
174 The Olympic Games are a prestigious global event where athletes represent and compete to bring glory to their nations. As such, any unsavoury remark that comes their way is only viewed as unfortunate and uncalled for. Which is why when South Korean gold-medalist An San, an archer, faced criticism for her short hair at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, viewers jumped to defend and support her. The 20-year-old has won two gold medals, and set a new Olympic record, but what a certain section of people in her home country noticed and criticised her for, was her hairstyle. [RT] Korean men are attacking An San(), a gold medalist in archery, for "being a feminist". They've assumed she's a feminist from her haircut, etc. They're claiming her medal needs to be taken away. (translations below)#Tokyo2020 #Olympics @Tokyo2020ko (@abaisse_burdock) July 28, 2021 ANew York Timesreporter Kelly Kasulis Cho said on Twitter that targeting her was evidence of an "online anti-feminist movement" in her country. "South Korean Olympic gold medalist in archery, An San, is being criticised by male netizens for her short hair - yet another display of the online anti-feminist movement in a county where haircuts can still be controversial among select groups," Cho tweeted. South Korean Olympic gold medalist in archery, An San, is being criticized by male netizens for her short hair - yet another display of the online anti-feminist movement in a county where haircuts can still be controversial among select groups. pic.twitter.com/wmjXPBW6Ce - Kelly Kasulis Cho (@KasulisK) July 29, 2021 "For context: There is a prominent online anti-feminist movement in S. Korea. Ilbe comes to mind - it's a site where a lot of men campaign against women, and sometimes their taunts move from the web to the real, physical world. A hair style can launch a hate campaign," she continued. For context: There is a prominent online anti-feminist movement in S. Korea. Ilbe comes to mind - it's a site where a lot of men campaign against women, and sometimes their taunts move from the web to the real, physical world. A hair style can launch a hate campaign. - Kelly Kasulis Cho (@KasulisK) July 29, 2021 It is sad that the amount of hatred people have for feminists has motivated them to troll San, and even ask for her medals to be taken away. But, not letting anti-feminists have a field day with their misogynistic rants, some women have been sharing photos of their own short hair in support of San, aReutersreport states. AnIndependentreport states thatChannel News Asia, a local news organisation, has reported that there have been at least 6,000 photographs of women in short hair posted on social media platforms in support of the archer. Additionally, South Korean politician Sim Sang-jung has also publicly defended San, tweeting: "With that firm look, please shoot through every prejudice in the world. We stand by your short-cut hair and support you." (@sangjungsim) July 29, 2021 Per theIndependentreport, San herself reportedly addressed the controversy on her Instagram stories, where she shared a photo of some of the comments she received, writing: "While you're sending messages in your room driven by your inferiority complex, I'm winning two gold medals at the Olympics," according toKorea JoongAng Daily. She is believed to have previously told a commenter - who had asked her about her hairstyle - that "it is more comfortable".
175 29 year-old halfback, who led the women's hockey team in the 2016 Olympics, promises to fight back after the loss to Netherlands As the final whistle blew signaling the end of the India vs Netherlands Women's hockey match in Tokyo, the camera caught a dejected Sushila Chanu walking down slowly towards the tunnel. Yes, a 5-1 defeat may have looked like a hammering at the hands of the current top-ranked team in the world, but nobody who saw the match would have missed the grit and determination displayed by the Indian women till the second quarter of their first match. Perhaps this is what makes Sushila Chanu optimistic about the team's chances in the Olympics 2020. Having led the side in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the experienced campaigner who has over 150 games under her belt is a fighter, be it hockey or the larger game called life. When The Telegraph Online caught up with Sushila after the match, the 29 year-old halfback wasn't dwelling on the defeat but was rather optimistic in her views. "Our opening game with the world champions wasn't outstanding. We displayed good energy and momentum till the second quarter. Going forward, we were always a threat but three goals in the third quarter took the game away from us. We hope to bounce back stronger against Germany on Monday." Not known to many, Sushila shares an uncanny similarity with former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Sushila works as a ticket checker at the Central Mumbai Railway since 2010. Asked about the difference between the current team and the team she led in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sushila said, "This team has a great balance, with a perfect mix of young and experienced players. We've spent a lot of time together in training. Physically, we are much stronger compared to the past. Credit also goes to our coaches and the entire fitness team for working so hard on us. The team that qualified for Rio lacked experience. Indian Women's team qualified for the Olympics after a gap of 36 years in 2016, and the understanding was just not there." Injuries are not new in Sushila's career, having suffered a number of them over the years. However, the former captain absolutely refuses to give up and finds a way to make a comeback every time. "Hockey is a way of life for me. I've been on the field, with a hockey stick in hand since I was 11 years old. These injuries are part and parcel of an athlete's career. The important thing is to fight back for the love of the game. My goal is to see India win a medal in the Olympics and no injury can keep me away from trying to make that happen. Moreover, my family, coaches, friends and my manager have been a pillar of support. They've stood by me whenever things were difficult and with them around, any challenge looks doable." Sushila Chanu is one of India's eighteen Olympic athletes to have secured a sponsorship deal with popular sports brand Puma. Asked about the deal, the athlete heaped praises on the sports management company, Athletes Today. "Athletes Today have been with me since the end of the Rio Olympics. In these five years, they have always been supportive. Professionalism is something I admire a lot about them and moreover, they care about women in sports. "Abhishek & Radhika (co-founders of Athletes Today) happened to me at a time when I was struggling and needed the support of external people. They stood by me and helped use my public image to inspire more girls to take up hockey and sports. In a cricket obsessed nation, it's nice of them to get us sponsorship deals from such a major sports brand. I'm thankful to them." The conversation, however, soon shifted back to hockey with the halfback focusing on the upcoming games. Asked about the toughest opponents in this year's Olympics, Sushila named Netherlands, Australia and Germany. "But on a given day we can take them on. It depends on the collective performance of the team," she said, brimming with confidence. India has long meted out step-motherly treatment to women athletes and sportspersons. Be it the discrimination in pay or the uneven opportunities for women to shine, the list goes on. Sushila, however chooses to look at the bright side, pointing to the positives. "Women athletes in this country have been serial winners. Mirabai Chanu's silver medal, even the performance of women in the Rio Olympics, stands testimony to this fact. Things are changing now with the youth becoming more aware about gender discrimination. Be it men or women, we all share a common goal _ to make India proud on the world stage. I've not faced any issues of gender discrimination so far in my career. We have a professional environment and the credit goes to the Hockey India management."
176 Simdega, known as the state's hockey cradle, celebrated through Monday; now everyone is talking of an Olympic medal Olympian Salima Tete's village in Badkichapara in Jharkhand's Simdega district was without electricity since Sunday owing to incessant rain during the last few days. So, her family and a few neighbours pooled in resources to arrange for a generator set watch their girl play against Australia in Tokyo. As the hockey eves stunned their opponents with a 1-0 victory in a nail-biting finish on Monday, the whole of Simdega erupted in joy, celebrating India women's maiden entry to the hockey semi-finals of the Olympics. Even chief minister Hemant Soren joined the rest of India to heap praise on the national women's team for inching closer to a medal. Congratulations to the entire women's team for the historic feat by entering the semi-finals and prayers for further success, he said in a Hindi tweet. Two players from Jharkhand-Salima Tete (Simdega) and Nikki Pradhan (Khunti) _ played Monday's high-octane quarter finals. While this is Salima's first exposure on the Olympics stage, Nikki is representing the country in the Olympics for the second time. TheIndian womenwill now take on Argentina in the semifinals on August 4. Celebrations in Salima's native district of Simdega, known as the hockey cradle of Jharkhand, continued through Monday. Players of all ages sang songs and danced to the beat of the nagada at the local astroturf hockey stadium built by the state government to nurture talent. Some players even took out a rally that marched through town areas hailing the team's success. Salima's father Sulakshan Tete, a former player and now a small-time farmer, told local media that every family member harboured a single dream - a medal. "We are naturally excited to see our daughter in the Olympics. But we are more happy to see the team doing well after a poor start in the earlier matches. We are all praying that Team India returns with a medal," he said. An official of Hockey Simdega said that everyone in the village was worried after power lines tripped due to inclement weather. "We contacted the district administration for help and officials tried hard to repair the transformer. But due to the erratic weather, power wasn't restored. However, Salima's family, along with local residents, managed to organise a generator set to watch the match," the official said. Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi said that the ongoing Olympics would help hockeyregain some of its lost glory in the country. "Both the men's and women's teams have entered the semifinals. The entire country is now pinning hopes on them like never before. Win or lose, this tournament is sure to help the game and scores of budding players will start to dream big once again," he said. Also, Simdega, he added, would live up to its reputation of being the nursery of hockey in the state and churn out more promising players. "Emotions are running high within the sporting fraternity. Currently, it's hockey, hockey, hockey everywhere in the district. People are excited even more because two daughters of Jharkhand are also playing," he added.
177 For the first time in Olympics history, Gujarat had three young players representing the country in Tokyo Games. The air was thick with excitement, but the results did not meet the expectations. The three athletes from Gujarat — Ankita Raina, Elavenil Valarivan and Maana Patel — all on their Olympics debut in Tokyo, failed to win the coveted medal. But, despite the disappointment, they may just have inspired a generation of young and ambitious athletes by just making it to the biggest sporting event on the earth. Maana Patel, arguably the best swimmer the state has produced so far, made it to the Olympics via the universality quota. Competing in the 100m backstroke, Maana finished second in the three-woman heats with a timing of 1:05.20, behind Zimbabwe's Donata Katai, who clocked 1:02.73, while Grenada's Kimberly Ince (1:10.24) finished third. Maana, whose personal best was1:03.77, later told TOI that the occasion got the better of her. “I was numb and the race didn't go as per what I had planned.” “All the training I had done here felt brilliant, so I was very confident about my race. I was getting my best times in training here. On that basis, I was expecting a much faster time in the race. But, honestly before the race I was super stressed and nervous. I guess that affected me physically also. I felt my muscles getting stiffer. I was shivering while wearing my costume. I think I let the pressure get the better of me.” She, however, termed the race a good learning experience going forward. A lot was expected of tennis star Ankita Raina who paired with Sania Mirza in the women's doubles event. The pair, however, lost in the first round despite being ahead for most of the match. The Indian pair was leading 6-0, 5-3 before the Ukrainian twin sisters Liudmyla Kichenok and Nadila Kichenok staged a remarkable comeback. The duo lost 6-0, 6-7 (0-7), 8-10 to bow out of the event. About the loss, Ankita said, “The result was disappointing. I was not able to sleep that night. Earlier too I have lost matches being up or have won matches from being down. But this happening in Olympics was heart-breaking, devastating and disappointing because all that comes to mind is the years of hard work that has gone behind it, not just for me but for all the people who've worked with me.” The 28-year-old added, “I am still thinking what I could have done better to improve or change the result of the match.” For shooter Elavenil Valarivan, too, it was a disappointing Olympics. The highly-rated Elavenil, who was the topranked player in the women's 10 metres air rifle event and was a major madal hope for the country, finished 16th in the qualification round with a score of 626.5. Only the top eight athletes qualify for the final. China's Qian Yang clinched the gold medal. In the 10m air rifle mixed team event that took place on Tuesday, Elavenil and Divyansh Singh Panwar shot a combined series of 626.5 to be placed 12th after the first stage qualification. On the performance in the mixed team event, Elavaenil's mother Saroja Valarivan told TOI, “The results of the team event were a huge disappointment. We were expecting a podium finish for either of the two Indian pairs. This was totally unexpected. But, this has been an immense learning curve for the shooters.”
178 With Neeraj Chopra winning gold, Indian athletics now has a legacy, a precedent and pioneer, and a totem who is just 23 years old. Healing Neeraj's gold: For years it hurt -the two fourth-place finishes of Milkha Singh and PT Usha at the Olympics. It was the closest that Indian athletics reached the vicinity of the podium. As much as Milkha and Usha were romanticised and revered, there was still a part of their own psyche that refused to come into grips with the near miss. No longer though, as Chopra's historic throw in Tokyo shall exorcise the ghosts of Rome and Los Angeles. Usha herself thanked Chopra for realising her unfulfilled dream. Beyond that, Indian athletics now has a legacy, a precedent and pioneer, and a totem who is just 23 years old, who has just begun his career and with the potential to take Indian athletics to further heights. Renaissance Hockey bronze: Forty one years of crushing pain is over. For long, it seemed India hockey was quietly rolling down the slope of ignominy, its heyday a sodden reel of the past, beyond redemption and retrieval. The longer the wait for an Olympic medal continued for the record Olympic champs, the lonelier Indian hockey felt. But the men's bronze medal-and the near bronze medal of the women's team-could potentially wake up the sleeping giant. Hockey's stature and popularity could soar, the team would only emerge stronger, bag more laurels, and the sport in the country of hockey's Bradman, Dhyan Chand, would witness a second wind that could reinstate the departed glory. Messiah Mirabai's silver: For 21 years, Karnam Malleswari's bronze remained India's only weightlifting medal in the Olympics. Though a popular sport, it seemed drifting down the drain after it got embroiled in doping scandals. The sport was teetering in an existential crisis when Malleswari's spiritual heir burst into the circuit from Imphal, with a beatific smile and charming demeanour. She showed nerves of steeliest steel to overcome injuries and hurt and chart a new path in India's weightlifting history. A path that would be devotedly followed by a thousand unknown Mirabais in the country. The most inspiring of India's medals could inspire a barbell revolution, and no doubt restored the credibility of the sport in the country. Successor Lovlina's bronze: In Mary Kom's Olympics swan-song, she found her successor too-Lovlina Borgohain, the doughty, gritty boxer from Baromukhia. Like her mentor, she has technique, tactical awareness and composure to be more than a one-off, to be a talisman of women's boxing in years to come, to rule the world for many more years. In her bouts in the Olympics, she illustrated Mary-like tenacity to not surrender and keep fighting, even if your adversary has a better repertoire and reputation. Her emergence came just around the time when women's boxing was slithering away from public eyes. Her emergence would catalyse its reemergence. Sustenance Ravi's silver and Bajrang's bronze: Since the Beijing Games, India has been churning out world-class wrestlers at a breezy clip. But winning medals, especially in Olympics, is indispensable in sustaining the legacy from going askance. All it would take is a poor outing for an Olympic sport to go out of fashion. But Ravi and Bajrang ensured that wrestling would continue as India's most prolific medal-winning stream in this century. Bajrang's medal was more or less guaranteed, the colour of the medal was the only speculation, he is ranked second in the world and considered one of the finest around, but Ravi's emergence was unprecedented, making his success sweeter. They could usher in an era of world dominance. Continuity Sindhu's bronze: Though she could not upgrade her silver in Rio, her bronze was well-yearned, accomplished as it was against a tough pool of competitors. As with the wrestlers, it was important that she keeps winning medals so as to keep the torch of tradition flickering, to reassert India's stakes as one of the badminton powerhouses of the world. The medal could fuel her for more glory and a shot at completing the medal set in Paris.
179 A brave and determined Indian women's hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the Olympic Games semifinals for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world no.2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight tie. As scores of celebs congratulated the team, several netizens recalled the iconic sports drama 'Chak De! India' starring Shah Rukh Khan. Actress Vidya Malavade, who essayed the role of the team captain, took to Instagram and shared a picture of the reel vs real team. She captioned it as, "& Indian Womens Hockey Team creates HISTORY .. at the Tokyo Olympics beating the World No 2 Team Australia 1-0 My phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning & I was just a part of the reel ..This .. These women are the REAL DEAL ..such PRIDE .. such GRIT .. so much POWER .. Team INDIA Onwards & Upwards ladies ..#JAIHIND Here's wishing Rani & her team all the very very best .. Go conquer gurls." On the other hand, her co-star Sagarika Ghatge shared a post stating, "The Indian women's hockey team created history today by entering the Olympics semifinals for the first time - congratulations to the whole team and more power to our women." Coming into the match, the odds were totally against India as in world no.2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the narrow win over the Hockeyroos. Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur rose to the occasion when it mattered and converted India's lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute to surprise the Australians. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. The Rani Rampal-led side will play Argentina in the semifinal on Wednesday.
180 Archer Deepika Kumari has said the federation should not have decided on her partner for the mixed team event in the Tokyo Olympics based on one performance in the men's individual ranking round at the showpiece event. In the men's individual ranking round, Pravin Jadhav secured the 31st spot while Atanu finished at the 35th spot, and hence Pravin was chosen as Deepika's partner in the mixed team event. However, heading into the Olympics, Deepika had trained alongside her husband Atanu Das. The pair of Atanu and Deepika had also won gold in the Paris World Cup Stage 3 which was played a month prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Deepika and Pravin ended up losing the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Olympics against An San and Kim Je Deok. "The matter has closed, we cannot do anything about it. If at that time, a decision was taken strongly then the situation might have been different. Obviously, there are qualities that an athlete has, team coordination is also very important. We prepared together for many years but here it came to an end," Deepika said after Atanu's match on Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, Atanu Das bowed out of men's individual event after losing to Japan's Takaharu Furukawa in the 1/8 Eliminations Round at Yumenoshima Park. Furukawa defeated the 29-year-old 6-4 in the decider to cruise into the quarterfinals of the men's individual event. Deepika had also bowed out of the women's individual event after losing to An San of South Korea. Pravin Jadhav and Federation's side of the story Splitting the in-form archery couple Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari for the mixed pair event at the Tokyo Olympics might have stunned many but Indian chief coach Mim Bahadur Gurung said it was a "clean and fair selection". "It was a clean and fair selection. We went with our highest ranked players in the qualification round. It was not a mistake," Gurung told PTI, defending the decision to pick Jadhav ahead of Das. The archery couple Deepika and Das had come to Tokyo less than a month after winning a World Cup gold medal in Paris. But here, Jadhav was the best among the Indian trio, finishing 31st, four places ahead of Deepika's 'favourite' partner Das in the individual ranking round. On what basis are the mixed teams formed The mixed teams are normally formed on the basis of top scores by the male and female archers of a country. A country has the option of switching to their best combination but India opted against it and put up a new pair for the Olympics. In fact, Deepika also sounded upset at the last-minute change and said it "mattered". But Gurung, who has worked with Jadhav since his early days at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, maintained that it was an automatic choice. "I don't know what she (Deepika) has said... It's always the highest ranked two players who team up for the mixed pair competition. "It was an automatic choice. Won't it be hurting to leave someone out despite topping for us. We didn't want to play with his career. "Had Atanu also lost, there would have been questions and allegations. Who would have been blamed then?" Gurung said the new pair were shooting exceedingly well in the pracitce with consistent scores of 38-39. "I can't really say what went wrong after they went on to the field. But at the practice range, they were hitting 39/38s consistently. Jadhav also had shot well in the morning," the coach said, citing an example of their comeback win against Chinese Taipei in the morning session. Asked about the poor six by Jadhav, he said: "He was expected to be consistent after hitting three 10s but unfortunately he could not continue. He (Jadhav) said he faltered while trying to give something extra." He further gave an example of the USA mixed pair team of Brady Ellison and Mackenzie Brown who made a shocking first round exit against Indonesia. "It's a cruel sport, there will always be ups and downs, otherwise the world No. 1 Brady Ellison would not have lost," the coach concluded.
181 For all of us Chak De! girls, it is a month of celebrations, yet again. Our movie Chak De! India released on August 10, 2007 and today (in August), we got the news that our Indian women's hockey team has created history by entering the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. For me, it is like reliving the excitement all over again. I can't contain my happiness and excitement ever since I woke up and got the news,” says Chitrashi Rawat, who played Komal Chautala in the film. Chitrashi, who has been playing hockey since she was 17, adds, “This is so nostalgic. I am extremely proud of what our girls have achieved and very happy. I am sure it is not just me, but everyone who watched Chak De! India would be drawing a parallel between the movie and the real game. For me, someone who has been a hockey player, who was a part of the movie, it is a different feeling altogether. I am also thankful to these girls for giving me a chance to relive those moments,” says Chitrashi. She adds that she has been closely following all the hockey matches of Indian women's team at the Olympics. “I have been regularly watching the matches, following highlights. I am so, so proud of Vandana Kataria, who became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics. We used to be in the camp together when I was training. I fondly remember all those training days with her,” says Chitrashi.
182 Will the Tokyo Olympics provide the impetus for examining gender inclusivity in sport beyond the lens of representation alone? Will the Tokyo Olympics -itbegan on Friday - witness the breaking of the glass ceiling as well as of records? The International Olympic Committee seems to think so. On Women's Day this year, it announced that the tournament would be the "first ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history" with almost 49 per cent of the total number of athletes being women. Indeed, five major participating countries, including Russia, China and the United States of America, are sending more women athletes to the competition than men. The contingent from the US will have 329 women and 284 men. China's representation of women is more than double of that of its men - 298 to 133. The push towards making the Olympics more gender-inclusive is welcome. The issue must, however, be examined beyond the lens of numbers alone. Representation and even performance in international events do not necessarily guarantee equal treatment for women athletes. The gender pay gap in sports remains staggering, with even the most successful football team in the world since 1991 - the US women's soccer team - not making nearly as much as their male counterparts. The asymmetry is evident in the importance accorded to women sportspersons by the media as well; studies have shown that women's sports receive the same amount of coverage now as they did in the 1980s. These disparities are even more acute in India, which has traditionally frowned upon women participating in professions considered to be the domains of men. India is sending only 56 women to the Tokyo Olympics as opposed to 71 men. This is a pity, because India's medal tally had seen significant contributions from women in the Asiad and the Commonwealth Games. Ironically, in 2021, an Olympic year, the Union government slashed the sports budget by Rs 230.78 crore. This is likely to further reduce women sportspersons' share of resources related to equipment, training and sponsorship. Other obstacles faced by women - social discrimination, unethical treatment, the policing of their bodies - run deep in sport and often remain unidentified. Even laws governing sports bodies and tournaments can be prejudicial. In 2014, the Indian sprinter, Dutee Chand, had her gender questioned and had to fight a ban for having high testosterone levels. These prejudices must be actively rooted out through mechanisms - inclusive, sensitized laws, parity in payment, awareness programmes to address social conservatism and so on - that enable women to shatter the gender glass ceiling. The Olympics - one of the premier sporting competitions in the world - treating women equitably could provide a momentum for broader transformations. It must be remembered that the Games are taking place during an unprecedented global health crisis. The staging of the competition, therefore, is a testament to the ferocity of the human spirit. What is needed, however, is for the fierceness of spirit to be matched with the forces of humanitarianism and empathy. If global sporting culture were to be imbued with these salutary values, the day that women athletes break the glass ceiling would, hopefully, not be far away.
183 "There was only so much my parents could do -- Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid," Rani Rampal shared Indian women's hockey team skipper Rani Rampal became the youngest player in the national team for 2010 World Cup at the age of 15. The 26-year-old, who participated in the Olympics this year, shared her inspiring journey on the Humans of Bombay page recently. Hailing from Shahabad Markanda in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, Rampal talked about how she started practising with a "broken hockey stick". With her father working as a cart-puller and mother as a househelp, it became difficult to make ends meet. "I wanted an escape from my life; from the electricity shortages to the mosquitoes buzzing in our ear, from barely having two meals to seeing our home getting flooded. There was only so much my parents could do - Papa was a cart puller and Maa was a maid." Rampal developed an interest in hockey once she started spending hours watching the game at a nearby academy. "Every day, I'd ask the coach to teach me. He'd reject me saying, 'You aren't strong enough to pull through a practice session.' So, I began practicing with a broken hockey stick-I used to run around in a salwar kameez. But I was determined," she said, adding that she finally managed to convince the coach too. Rampal's family, however, were not in favour of watching their daughter play in a skirt. "I'd plead, 'Please mujhe jaane do (please let me go). If I fail, I'll do whatever you want.' My family gave in." Sharing her training schedule, Rampal said, "Training would start early; we didn't have a clock, so mom would look at the sky to check if it was time to wake me." She added, "At the academy, it was mandatory for each player to bring 500 ml of milk. My family could only afford milk worth 200 ml; so I'd mix the milk with water and drink it." The hockey player's coach helped her with her dietary needs and also bought her hockey kits and shoes, she shared. "I wouldn't miss a single day of practice. I remember I won Rs 500 at a tournament and gave the money to Papa. He hadn't ever held so much money in his hands. I promised my family, 'One day, we'll have our own home'; I did everything in my power to work towards that." As a proud parent, Rampal's father now encourages her to "play until your heart's content". "With my family's support, I eventually became captain of the Indian hockey team!" she said. In 2017, she fulfilled her dream of buying a home for her family. "We cried and held each other tightly! And I'm not done yet," she wrote.
184 On Monday, when the Indian women's hockey team created history by entering the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, one man currently living in the US couldn't hold back his joy. The former coach of the junior women's hockey team Baljeet Singh Saini, who had trained some of the girls of the current national team, couldn't be happier. “It's a great achievement by the women's team. It's good to see that their hard work has finally paid off,” said the former India player, from his current base in Sacramento. Baljeet had worked with the likes of Udita Duhan, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi and Lalremsiami during his stint as the coach of the junior national women's team. Of the four players, two of them were also part of the team that won silver in the Hockey 5s event at the Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires in 2018. Asked what is it that has set the team apart from the others in the tournament, Baljeet said, “The biggest advantage of the Indian team is that they were together for most of the time over the past one year when the other teams were taking a break because of the pandemic. As a result, they were able to train a lot and SAI, HI and IOA should all be praised for doing a great job in making sure they were able to do that.” It was only for a short period that the players were able to take a break and visit their family. Otherwise, they remained at SAI Bengaluru after the pandemic began and have left no stone unturned to make good use of the delay in Olympics and prepare for the same. The two-time Olympian also credited coach Sjoerd Marijne for the fitness of the players and said it made a big difference to how they played compared to earlier times.As the team prepares to take on Argentina in the last-four stage for a place in the final, Baljeet believes this performance will help the game regain its popularity among the masses.
185 The history of women's participation in sports in India is riddled with disparities, and weightlifting is no exception. Spearheading this wave is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, whose feats in the weightlifting ring have given her enduring fame. On July 24, the 26-year-old weightlifter became the first Indian to win a medal in Tokyo Olympics and also the country's first silver medal in women's weightlifting. She lifted 84 kg and 87 kg successfully behind China's Zhihu, who lifted 94 kg to create an Olympic record and win the gold. For Mirabai, the fascination for the sport started at the age of 15 in 2006, when she was reading a chapter in her text book about Kunjarani Devi (the most decorated Indian sportswoman in weightlifting). She walked up to her mother and announced her desire to be a weightlifter and just in a decade she has become a force to reckon with in the country. She is as busy as any superstar may be. Her calendar is perennially buzzing with events, photoshoots, interviews and meetings with dignitaries in Manipur. When we requested her for a Zoom interview, she politely said, "Ma'am, there is no internet connection at my place." We wondered how this world champion managed to cross continents to reach Tokyo from a small village, Ongpok Kakching, located at the foothills of Imphal East in Manipur, where she lives in a moderately build two-room house with her five siblings (two younger brothers and three elder sisters) with limited internet and electricity. But here she is, turning the tide to sail through to fulfil her dream. Bringing the glory home On July 27, when Mirabai returned home, she was accorded a hero's welcome. All eyes were on the television sets and she was trending on Twitter as the country saw the athlete run to hug her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei with tears rolling down her face. "It is because of my parents that I have achieved this victory. They have made a lot of sacrifices for me," she says. Mirabai won many hearts after she shared a photo of hers sitting on the floor and eating with her family after two years. The picture gathered many reactions on Twitter including one from actor R Madhavan. A Manipur-based film production company has announced plans to make a biopic on the life of Mirabai that will showcase her childhood and life in a village; her introduction and training in weightlifting; participation at national and international events, and her win at the Tokyo Olympics. As Mirabai unravels her journey, she says that in winning the silver medal for the nation lies her greatest motivation. "The victory, which has come with a mammoth of struggle and patience, is yet to sink in. I dreamed of something that, although wasn't impossible, wasn't easy either," she says. "I always wanted to win an Olympic medal - for many years, India didn't have any in this category. I also wanted to show that women can do anything. Considering the place and background I come from, it was important for me to prove that talent can come from anywhere. And men and women are equal," Mirabai tells us on the phone from her village. Enduring struggles Long before Mirabai produced lifts that were strong enough to clinch an Olympic silver medal, she would take lifts from truckers, who were kind enough to drop her off to her training centre at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal (around 32 kms from her village). There is still no regular bus service from her place to the training venue. "I would wake up at 5am because all the trucks coming from Etham Moirangpurel area would pass through my village early in the morning. The drivers honked from a distance and I would know they are nearby and that I should get ready. They would praise my enthusiasm and knew that I couldn't afford to travel to the training venue," recalls the young athlete, who despite the odds never complained about the lack of resources. "It was free transport for me and I wanted to train so there was no complaint about anything." Although Mirabai would get Rs 10-Rs 20 for her journey, she would save as much as she could for nutritious food. Her father, a government employee in the Public Works Department, couldn't afford to spend for her special diet. "We are eight members in the house. Often, there wasn't enough for two meals a day," she says. She would have a glass of milk and some non-veg food once a week. "My mother would arrange non-veg for me. I would only have regular food that we all ate at home." During her initial days of training, Mirabai would spend hours observing women lifting weights. "I would only watch the weightlifters and go back home. This was a routine but I would constantly think about it. There was not a single moment when I wasn't thinking about weightlifting," she says. Her perseverance paid off with a silver medal, financial aid from the state government, and the Indian Railways. She will now be serving as the additional superintendent of police (Sports). Those big little dreams Despite her many feats, the struggles that the Manipuri athlete has endured drives her to keep improving. This positive attitude is her biggest asset as she never loses hope. She says, "This victory is for every woman who dreams. I wanted to earn this medal so I can prove that women can do anything and I wish more women would come forward in weightlifting and other sports." She wants to teach weightlifting to the children in her village. "I want to teach every child in my village, especially women in Manipur, as they are the victims of harsh racial remarks outside," she says. Even as women are scripting success in almost all sectors today, the weightlifter is certainly an idol for all sportsperson. However, she feels that women have to cross far more hurdles in their journey to reach the top, especially in sports. "Parents should support their girls in whatever they wish to do. Let them dream and win, they can make the nation proud. I wish many more women to take up weightlifting and other sports and bring many more medals," she adds.
186 The tears are yet to dry, they still are struggling to check their emotions but the Indian women's hockey players, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, believe sunny days are ahead for the sport in the country. In a virtual interaction on Saturday, skipper Rani Rampal thanked the nation for the love and support they have received and hoped there would be sustained interest in women's hockey following their fairy-tale run. The 29-year-old striker pointed to the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold as the benchmark and inspiration for the seniors in the current team. “There are many young players who may not be aware of our achievements in 2002. But that was what inspired us. Hopefully our performance will inspire the junior and sub-junior teams because the 2024 and 2028 Olympics belong to these players,” she said. She urged the future generation to work hard and believe in its dreams. “I want to tell the future generation to keep dreaming and work hard for it. Everything is possible, you just need the passion. Believe in yourself even if others don't. There will be struggles but never give up,” was Rani's message. Rani emphasised on the need to build on the momentum as a packed 2022 beckons the Women in Blue. First up is the Birmingham Commonwealth Games followed by the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Also in the pipeline is the Asia Cup. A gold at Hangzhou will seal India's berth at the 2024 Paris Games, while a victory in the Asia Cup will be the ticket to the World Cup next year. “With our performance we have made a mark in world hockey and it is important for us to continue with the progress. I don't know if I will be part of it but one-day the women's hockey team will be part of the Olympic podium,” said Rani. Rani conceded that the scale of their achievement hasn't sunk in yet. “The other teams appreciated us and said we have a bright future. I don't think we have realised it (the scale of achievement) yet. It may take some time to sink in. To get here we have sacrificed a lot. But the future is brighter for our youngsters. They know what it's like to be in the semifinals at the Olympics.” While Rani respected chief coach Sjoerd Marijne's decision to head back to the Netherlands to be with his family, she hoped that the team's rise would continue with the likes of analytical coach Janneke Schopman and scientific advisor Wayne Lombard still in the mix.
187 Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne posted a million-dollar selfie with his players after their historic win over Australia in the quarterfinals at Tokyo Olympics 2020. While several Bollywood celebrities took to their social media handles to laud the Indian women's hockey team's performance at the Olympics, Shah Rukh Khan had, perhaps, the best response to coach Sjoerd Marijne's tweet. than expected because now, India is scheduled to face Argentina at in the semifinals on August 4. Sharing a picture with his players, Marijne wrote, "Sorry family, I'm coming again later (sic)." Sorry family , I coming again later - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) Shah Rukh Khan, who has played the role of a hockey coach in the much-acclaimed film Chak De! India, couldn't keep himself from sharing coach Sjoerd Marijne's tweet. SRK, who was equally pumped by the team's stupendous performance, wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back.for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan (sic)." Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back.for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) For the uninitiated, Shah Rukh Khan played the role of Kabir Khan, coach of the Indian women's national field hockey team, in the film Chak De! India. Directed by Shimit Amin, the film released in 2007. The film also starred Vidya Malavade, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge, Chitrashi Rawat and Anaitha Nair. The match between India and Argentina will take place at the Oi Hockey Stadium. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic SRK reacts to coach Sjoerd Marijne tweet on India women's hockey team's historic win
188 Thanks to the pandemic, nothing is as it used to be in the pre-Covid world, but national table tennis coach Soumyadeep Roy doesn't find the Olympic Village in Tokyo to be too stifling despite the protocols and restrictions. "It's normal as usual, like what we get to see during other multi-discipline events like the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games... Tense-yet-focused faces, gruelling practice sessions and a bevy of activities. The Olympic spirit is very much there. The mood in the Village is much more relaxed than what we expected," Soumyadeep told The Telegraph from Tokyo on Thursday. "Yes, there are protocols which everyone has to follow, that's normal. Like, every morning by 8.30am you have to give your sample for Covid-19 testing. We are wearing masks and on arrival we were given a kit with hand sanitisers and soap," he added. The Village is home to around 11,000 athletes and thousands of support staff. It straddles 44 hectares of reclaimed land in the Tokyo Bay, with 21 residential towers, a 3,000-seat canteen, a park, gyms and recreation facilities. The Indian contingent is staying in Tower 15 on three floors (11, 12 and 13). "I am on floor 13," Soumyadeep said. The best part of staying at a Games Village during a multi-event sporting extravaganza is that one gets to have a glimpse of famous names from other disciplines. During his playing days, Soumyadeep had bumped into swimming legend Ian Thorpe during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He has gone to Tokyo with a wish too. "It would be nice if I manage to meet my favourite Novak Djokovic. He is an inspiration," he said. On Wednesday, shuttlers B. Sai Praneeth and Chirag Shetty posted photos with Djokovic at the dining hall on their respective Twitter handles, but Soumyadeep doesn't have a liking for a freeze frame. "I am not into taking selfies. Even when I met Thorpe, it was just a handshake and a hello," the former paddler, who was just 19 when he represented India in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, said. Sutirtha Mukherjee, one of the two women table tennis players in Tokyo and Soumyadeep's student, is having an experience of a lifetime. "Tokyo is her first Olympics. She has prepared for this for a long time. She is so excited that at times I have to calm her down. The other day she met Viktor Axelsen (top Danish badminton player). She is also a big (PV) Sindhu fan. They are staying on the same floor, so they get to meet very often," Soumyadeep said. The Indian paddlers were handed a tough draw on Wednesday, but Soumyadeep said they were expecting that. "In the mixed doubles, where we have a chance to win a medal, Sharath and Manika drew No. 3 seeds Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-Ching of Taiwan. It's a tricky match but we were anticipating China. That would have been a lot more difficult. Sharath is expected to enter the third round where Ma Long of China awaits. Let's see what happens," he said.
189 On the opening morning of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became India's first medallist at the Games, winning a silver in women's weightlifting (49 kg). “It still hasn't sunk in,” she tells us, and that's perhaps also because she travelled a long and winding path to get to this moment, battling both injuries and depression en route. The “lowest point” of her life was the 2016 Rio Olympics, she says, where as a medal prospect, she failed to register a successful lift in the clean and jerk section, finishing a disappointing 11 out of 12 competitors in the fray. “It hurt me a lot,” recalls the young weightlifter, adding, “I had worked so hard to reach there and I missed a medal. I kept wondering how I missed. It was a low phase.” But the worst was yet to come. Even after she made a comeback in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a back injury put her out of action. The 26-year-old admits to feeling hopeless about her career then. She says, “I set a record there (Commonwealth Games) and things were looking good. But then I got injured. I lost all hope because I couldn't train. I felt I would never make a comeback; I would never lift again.” All this makes Mirabai's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics all the more impressive. “This medal is my redemption. It has renewed my faith in my abilities,” she says. The 26-yearold – who was welcomed at the Delhi Airport on Monday by a sea of supporters and media – spoke to us about her celebration plans, why she's still getting used to the win and more. Excerpts: The Manipur girl says she was battling some doubts going into the event. In an interaction post her return to India, the weightlifter tells us, “I got my periods a day before the event. It affects the body and I was nervous and scared. I had my doubts about my performance. But I decided I couldn't let this stop me from achieving my goal.”
190 On the opening morning of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became India's first medallist at the Games, winning a silver in women's weightlifting (49 kg). “It still hasn't sunk in,” she tells us, and that's perhaps also because she travelled a long and winding path to get to this moment, battling both injuries and depression en route. The “lowest point” of her life was the 2016 Rio Olympics, she says, where as a medal prospect, she failed to register a successful lift in the clean and jerk section, finishing a disappointing 11 out of 12 competitors in the fray. “It hurt me a lot,” recalls the young weightlifter, adding, “I had worked so hard to reach there and I missed a medal. I kept wondering how I missed. It was a low phase.” But the worst was yet to come. Even after she made a comeback in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a back injury put her out of action. The 26-year-old admits to feeling hopeless about her career then. She says, “I set a record there (Commonwealth Games) and things were looking good. But then I got injured. I lost all hope because I couldn't train. I felt I would never make a comeback; I would never lift again.” All this makes Mirabai's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics all the more impressive. “This medal is my redemption. It has renewed my faith in my abilities,” she says. The 26-year-old – who was welcomed at the Delhi Airport on Monday by a sea of supporters and media – spoke to us about her celebration plans, why she's still getting used to the win and more. Excerpts: The Manipur girl says she was battling some doubts going into the event. In an interaction post her return to India, the weightlifter tells us, “I got my periods a day before the event. It affects the body and I was nervous and scared. I had my doubts about my performance. But I decided I couldn't let this stop me from achieving my goal.” The last few days have been a whirlwind of emotions for the Olympic medallist. Courtesy her silver medalwinning effort at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, she has become a household name. While she has been known in the sporting circles, the fame that an Olympic medal brings in India is new for her. She admits this will take some getting used to. “The Prime Minister called me,” she exclaims, “I had never imagined in my life that I would one day receive a call from India's PM. I was so spellbound that I couldn't even respond to him initially. Sab se itni appreciation aur pyaar mil raha hai. I am not used to this par main bahut khush hoon.” Mirabai's triumph has highlighted a curious trend in India where people from the north-east are praised as having made India proud when they achieve something. However, people from the region are constantly subjected to racist jibes otherwise. Mirabai asserts her Indian-ness by saying, “I am as Indian as anyone else.” But she dismisses the casual racism very matter-offactly. “I'm just happy I could make the country proud and make my state Manipur and north east proud too. People are praising me. There will always be some who say something negative,” says the Olympic medallist.
191 In spite of India's promising performance at the Tokyo Olympics, persistent problems plague Indian sports The value of perspective cannot be overstated, especially when the odds that have to be battled are formidable. Indian athletes, in particular, are regularly expected to perform in situations where the odds are heavily stacked against them; that they are often able to give the nation the honour of a podium finish in spite of innumerable roadblocks is a testament to their grit and excellence. India's medal tally at the London Olympics was impressive - it had won six medals, of which two were silver and four were bronze. At the Tokyo Games, which conclude today, India has surpassed all expectations by putting up its best-ever performance at the Olympics - it has won a gold, two silver and four bronze medals. For this, the nation's Olympians must be lauded, not least because their achievements come at a time when training for sportspersons has run into immense challenges owing to the global pandemic. There are other, equally pressing, reasons for acknowledging the athletes' achievements. Their success seems to be falling prey to the oldest trick in the book of the political fraternity - politicians claiming credit for the achievements of sportspersons. Not only did the prime minister say that the Indian women's hockey team embodies the 'spirit of New India' - a phrase synonymous with the Bharatiya Janata Party's political ascendance - but posters praising the bronze-winning boxer, Lovlina Borgohain, featured photographs of the Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the state's sports minister, Bimal Borah; Ms Borgohain's image, interestingly, has gone missing from the posters. The self-congratulatory stance adopted by Indian leaders is only made worse by the irony of their actions - in an Olympic year, the Union government slashed the sports budget by Rs 230.78 crore. This would have a direct impact on resources related to training, infrastructure and sponsorship, all of which play a key role in a sportsperson's ability to win medals. In stark contrast, China, India's regional competitor, plans to make sports a $773 billion industry by 2025, a 70 per cent increase from 2019. An Olympic gold in a track-and-field event is inspiring, but India's total kitty of medals remains modest, especially in view of its population and the fact that it sent its biggest-ever contingent of athletes to Tokyo. The absence of institutional support is one part of the problem; Indian sportspersons also have to contend with the lack of a thriving sporting culture that prioritizes excellence. This makes the model adopted by Odisha for bolstering hockey talent worth emulating: it has, in recent years, been the principal sponsor for the men's and women's hockey teams, both of which made history by reaching the semi-finals, with the men's team clinching the bronze. The template of providing funds, building modern training facilities and hosting quality competitions along with the creation of a robust sporting network at the grass roots seems to be yielding dividends in sharp contrast to the limited success of Central programmes like 'Khelo India'. The government and citizens must perceive sport as a potential driver of the economy that can generate employment and attract investment. What Odisha has thought today, the rest of India must do tomorrow.
192 A day after her family was subjected to casteist slurs, hockey star Vandana Katariya, the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, hit out at abusers with a series of “Dalit Lives Matter” tweets and posed a question to her followers: “Kya Dalit hona gunah hai (is it a crime to be Dalit)?” Two men who harassed her family were, meanwhile, arrested. One of them, a national-level hockey player, could be suspended. TOI had reported the incident on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because the Buddha's enlightenment, Ambedkar's immortality, Kanshiram's mettle and the essence of humaneness run through me. #DalitLivesMatter,” she tweeted in Hindi on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because I am the courage of the oppressed, hope of the marginalised, a representative of those who stand alone. #IamProudDalit #DalitLivesMatter,” another tweet said. While the account is still unverified — it is yet to get the blue tick — on August 3, Vandana had posted it was her official Twitter handle. The two men mocked her family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Times View: It is a matter of both shame and concern that the family of an international hockey player had to face caste abuse. However, it's good to know that one of the accused has been arrested and that other villagers have supported the family. A strong statement on the incident by the state's chief minister backed by further prompt action would be reassuring to the family and other Dalits in the state.
193 PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss announced prize money of ₹10 lakh to the Indian women's hockey team, which fought hard against Great Britain before losing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics recently. In a statement on Friday, Mr. Anbumani said he was saddened to see the entire Indian women's hockey team in tears after losing to Great Britain. "They may have lost the match, but they have won the hearts of the Indians. There is no need to shed tears. Rather, they have made India proud," he said. Mr. Anbumani pointed out that this was the first time the Indian women's hockey team had reached the semifinals of the Olympic Games. "Not many would have known the pain and the hardwork that had gone into this achievement. While other teams had world class training facilities, the Indian team did not have it. They trained in local grounds under severe restrictions. Teams of other countries received several crore rupees in sponsorship deals, but the Indian team didn't. While they got money from the Odisha government, it wasn't enough to cover their basic expenses for the team to participate in the Olympics," he said. "The team, led by Rani Rampal, had 8 players participating in their first Olympic games out of the total of 16 players. Also, the players were under mental distress because some people indulged in violence outside Vandana Katariya's house. Despite all these hardships, the team defeated strong teams like Australia and went to the semifinals. This achievement should be etched in golden words in the history of women's hockey in India," he said. "Though you led in the first half against Great Britain, the game changed only in the end. There is no need to shed tears. The world is going to see all of you win the gold medal in the next Olympic Games and shed tears of joy. I would like to congratulate all of you for that now. I would like to present ₹10 lakh on behalf of Pattali Makkal Katchi," he said.
194 Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar told The Indian Express that 3-4 youths were bursting crackers and dancing outside their house in Haridwar. "They said how can people of my caste play in the national team?" The family members of Indian women's hockey team player Vandana Katariya alleged a group of youths in their locality in Haridwar burst crackers and danced in celebration and passed casteist remarks after India lost to Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics Wednesday. An FIR was lodged and the main accused, Vijaypal (25), was arrested from Roshnabad stadium Thursday morning and raids are being conducted in search of the other accused, police said. Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar told The Indian Express, "We saw 3-4 youths bursting crackers and dancing outside our house. They said how can people of my caste play in the national team?" He added, "Our family is in a state of fear because the youths also threatened to kill us. We have filed a complaint narrating the entire incident." He added that the accused youths live in the same locality in Roshnabad area about a few metres from their house. "Two of them are hockey players and they have an enmity with us but this kind of behaviour on the defeat of the national team in the Olympics is unacceptable. There should be a case of sedition filed against them," he said. According to a statement from Haridwar Police, an FIR under IPC Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and SC/ST Act has been lodged against three persons Vijay Pal, Ankur Pal and Sumit Chauhan and other unidentified persons at Sidcul police station.
195 No woman from Kerala made it to the Tokyo Games A second could be an eternity in sports. But on that sultry August evening in 1984 in Los Angeles, one-hundredth of a second was enough to stand between glory and despair for more than a billion Indians. It was truly a run into history. A tall and lanky 20-year-old, with a tongue-twister name, Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, missed her tryst with destiny to become India's first woman Olympic medallist by the narrowest of margins in the country's sport history. After crossing the finishing line together, a determined lunge at the photo finish helped Romania's Cristieana Cojocaru beat Usha by 0.01 seconds to win the bronze in the 400 metres hurdles. Years later, Usha rued how she had run out of energy in the last 35 metres. The villain was her non-nutritional diet at the Olympic camp consisting of justkanjiandkadumanga(rice porridge and her home-made mango pickle) for more than a week. She was forced to depend on this as no Indian food was available at the camp and she couldn't stand the American baked potatoes and boiled chicken. She had no clue about nutrition issues and there was none to advise her either. Compare this with India's Tokyo Olympic medallist weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, who received such support for five years as the services of a famed conditioning coach and physio in the United States of America for which she was flown out a day before that country imposed restrictions on Indians. A daily fruit-and-fish diet comprising salmon, tuna and pork belly - all imported from Norway - was also ensured for her. The LA Olympics turned out to be the moment of her greatest disappointment; but it also made Usha India's greatest woman athlete. For no Indian woman athlete has come nearer to her record in a track-and-field event even today although the weightlifter, Karnam Malleswari, became the country's first woman Olympic medallist at Sydney 16 years later. India's sprint queen reigned on Asian tracks for two decades, harvesting records and medals aplenty. The 'Payyoli Express's' was much more than a personal achievement. She set a trend. Hundreds of Kerala girls from similar humble backgrounds were inspired to flock to sports to not only compete but also fight their own wretched living conditions. Consequently, India's athletic world came to be dominated by Malayali girls from then. From Usha making Malayali women's Olympic debut at Moscow in 1980 to that of her protg, Jisna Mathew, at Rio 2016, as many as 19 Kerala women have worn India colours in the past 11 Games. Usha participated in three Olympics; her famous contemporary, Shiny Wilson, made it to four. Their successors, K.M. Beenamol, made it to three while the long-jumper, Anju Bobby George (the only Indian gold medallist at the IAAF World Athletics), the middle-distance runner, Chitra Soman, and Usha's trainee, Tintu Luka, attended two each. Tokyo Olympics 2020 would go down in history for various reasons, including its being held in 2021 due to Covid-19. But for Kerala, it would be historic as the first Olympics in four decades without a single woman competitor from the state. That too when the 127-member Indian squad boasted of a record 56 women. The 18-member athletic team included nine women. In a reversal of tradition, the Indian squad this time had a record nine men, including seven athletes from Kerala, where sports has long been dominated by women with 14 of them figuring in the state's total of 16 Arjuna award winners. Three Kerala women who were expected to make it to Tokyo failed in the trials held in Patiala, mainly on account of their injuries and the lack of sufficient preparations. While Jisna Mathew (4 x 400 m gold, Asian Athletics, 2017) finished fourth in the trials for mixed relay, V.K. Vismaya (4 x 400 m gold in the 2018 Asian Games) ended up last in the trials and the middle-distance runner, P.U. Chitra (1500 m gold winner at Asian Athletics, Doha, 2019), narrowly missed out. The Rio Olympics had four Malayali women: O.P. Jaisha (marathon), Anilda Thomas (4 x 400 m relay), Tintu Luka and Jisna Mathew. Usha's trainees and national-record holders, Mayookha Johny (triple jump) and Tintu Luka (800 m), had also attended the London Olympics in 2012. Why? Most athletes, coaches and officials in Kerala blame it on the pandemic and the lockdown that deprived them of sufficient training, workout, competitions and travel. Tournaments were cancelled and there were restrictions on mobility. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics by a year was welcomed by the sporting community as it was expected to provide it with more time for preparations. But the persistence of the pandemic perpetuated the restrictions. Since there were no competitions, Usha conducted meets at her school of athletics in Kozhikode from last September for her 20-odd wards. With her school and its synthetic track securely surrounded by hills, Usha's trainees were India's first athletes to resume training after the lockdown. Yet, it did not go as expected as the unrelenting virus caused further lockdowns. Usha says that the pandemic completely truncated her wards' practice schedules as social distancing and the wearing of masks killed training protocols. This, however, begs a question. Why then the record rise in the number of men who made it? Surely in Kerala too, every hurdle happens to be far more challenging for women than men on account of entrenched inequities. In spite of the better performance on the conventional indicators of health and education, the high incidence of domestic violence, a high suicide rate among women, low employment rateet alexpose Kerala's patriarchal underbelly. According to a research paper on the relationship between patriarchy and sports in Kerala, "gendered practice of sports marginalizes women in multiple ways." Besides the pandemic, many detect a falling interest among Kerala's girls to join sports compared to the past. With economic prosperity and lower number of children in families, parents' priority is studies over sports. The primary reason for the waning interest appears to be the rise in Kerala's general economic status since the 1990s. For long, sports was one of the attractive professions for Kerala's youngsters dogged by poverty and high unemployment. It offered a passport to jobs and livelihood for Kerala's youth, much like it did for the young footballers of South America. Most of Kerala's famed sportspersons have come from poor families who live in hilly regions; they are thus physically stronger, making them suitable for endurance sports. The routine run to and from school through rough terrain makes them potential athletes. Kerala women's advancement in sports also has to do with the generally better indicators like sex ratio, female literacy, life expectancy, higher age of marriage and lower infant and maternal mortality rates, notwithstanding the state's patriarchal trappings. Most women athletes happen to come from lower middle-class Christian farming families settled in the high ranges. Socially progressive than others, Christian families and churches have always encouraged girls to acquire education, take up sports or jobs like nursing to which Hindus and Muslims were indifferent due to caste and religious prejudices. Kerala's women - mostly Christians - have traditionally excelled across the country and abroad as nurses. Kerala's Christian community has provided the country with the largest number of nuns. Since the 1970s, with the state setting up a string of sports schools and organizing more competitions, they began to look at sports as a livelihood option. But with rising economic prosperity, physically demanding and less-paying professions are becoming unattractive in Kerala in spite of high unemployment. This and Kerala's high wages have led to a huge inflow of migrant labourers from other states to take up manual jobs. According to a report, there has been a 40 per cent drop in the number of nuns and priests from Kerala. Ditto with the number of nurses getting registered or migrating abroad, according to a study by the World Health Organization. Once among India's poorest states, Kerala has gone up economically since the 1990s and is now one of the five most prosperous states, thanks to the flow of remittances from the Malayali diaspora in the Gulf. Kerala's per capita income in 2019 was 1.5 times higher than that of the national average with annual remittances crossing Rs 1 lakh crore that formed 30 per cent of the state's GDP. Girls being encouraged to take up sports would be the least priority for most middle-class families. Pursuing sports for survival must have been affected by other factors, such as the fall in population (Kerala had the lowest decadal growth rate in the 2011 census) and the rise of the nuclear family. There is another new trend: the declining sex ratio at birth in contrast to the state's overall picture of females outnumbering males. Kerala saw the sharpest fall among major states in the last five years, according to the latest National Family Health Survey report. It fell to 951 in 2019-20 from 1,047 in 2015-16, while Kerala had the highest overall sex ratio - 1,121 - among the major states, up from 1,049 during NFHS-4. The author, a senior journalist based in Trivandrum, has worked with various print and electronic media organizations
196 TOKYO POWER PLAY It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. A day after her bronze medal win in a match she dominated, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by the United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses 10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures managing director Tuhin Mishra. Rani Rampal, who led the Indian women's hockey team that made the semi-final for the first time ever early Monday morning, trended all day on social media. Rampal and teammates such as Savita Punia and Gurjit Kaur have suddenly become household names, executives said. “These performances are being noticed by brands, for appearances and commercial engagements,” said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Rampal. “For some, we expect regional associations. We understand that only a few of the players will get recognition, but it's a start. If they return with a medal, then the brand interest would escalate even more.” Rampal used to practise with a broken hockey stick because her family couldn't afford to buy one. “We are interested in associations with the young achievers who have proved themselves at the Olympics. They represent a new dynamic for young India, and we are exploring both regular endorsements and digital associations,” said Mayank Shah, senior category head at biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products. The company is among the contributors to Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation that promotes sports. Shah declined to mention specific athletes Parle was considering, stating that talks are in the early stages. Diagnostics startup Healthians announced free health screening for all Olympic participants from India for four years, apart from 10 years of free health checkup packages for medal winners. “India needs more sportspeople to put us on the world map with mega wins and participate in international sporting events such as Olympics,” said former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, an investor in the company. Others such as boxer Lovlina Borgohain and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who have already won medals, are on the radar of brands as well. Domino's signed a digital association deal with Chanu after she won a silver medal, while another four-five deals are being discussed, said her representatives. “We believe in the power of women in sport and have consistently invested in them, ensuring that the athletes are equipped with the right gear for training. Two such women athletes whose talent we spotted early on are Mirabai and Lovlina,” said Sunil Gupta, senior director, Adidas India. Brands that had bet on athletes prior to the games, such as Visa, Thums Up and Adidas, are reaping the benefits. Global card payment brand Visa, which signed Sindhu and launched 'a million cheers' campaign on television and digital platforms including YouTube and social media, is escalating its campaign centered on her as a Team Visa athlete. Borgohain, Chanu and Sindhu are already supported by sportswear and footwear maker Adidas.
197 Still alive', Daniil Medvedev tweeted. That was perhaps the follow-up to his on-court quandary at the Ariake Tennis Park when he wondered, “I can die. I can finish the match, but if I die, who will take responsibility?” World No. 2 Medevedev dug deep in suffocating conditions, where his vision blurred as he struggled with his breathing, which prompted chair umpire Carlos Ramos to ask if he could continue. The 25-year-old, however, held his ground to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Paula Badosa, however, couldn't push forward in the women's singles, struggling with the conditions in Tokyo, 33 degrees and 73 percent humidity. She left the court in a wheelchair after retiring with a heatstroke against Marketa Vondrusova. The Czech won the first set 6-3, taking five games in a row after Badosa took a 3-1 lead, having broken at love in the fourth game. Medvedev, who needed attention from the physio in each set, required two medical timeouts for problems with his abdomen, left arm and thigh during the twohour, 26-minute encounter. “The last physio visit was because I was cramping, 30 minutes after the match it's okay. The first one I had a blocked diaphragm (muscle). It's the same thing,” said Medvedev, who took a shower in cold water after the second set which caused cramps in the decider. Organizers later announced that matches would begin at 3pm starting Thursday to make it easier on the players, who had called for change in timings at the start of the event. In the last eight, Medvedev will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic kept it short and sweet with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 20-time major winner will play home hope Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarters. Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed to Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-7 (4), 2-6. Humbert will play ROC's Karen Khachanov for a place in the semifinals. Among the women, world No. 6 Elina Svitolina, the highestranked player to make the Tokyo quarterfinals, put out Camila Giorgi of Italy, 6-4, 6-4. By making the semifinals, the Ukrainian won herself the opportunity to play for one of the medals. “I know that for Ukraine the Olympics is a really big thing,” Svitolina told The Olympic Channel. “I value the Olympics as a Grand Slam. I'm in the semifinals and I get a chance to get a medal. It is very special for me, but I try to take it one match at a time.” In the semis, Svitolina will take on Vondrousova. The No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland outlasted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 and will play Kazakh Elena Rybakina next. In men's doubles, Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury lost to Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig of Croatia 4-6, 7-6 (2), 10-7. The British pair led by a set and a break but suffered a late collapse. Murray said he was unsure if he would play at another Olympics after his bid for a third gold ended on Wednesday.
198 Indian women's hockey team skipper Rani Rampal on Saturday condemned the allegedly casteist abuse that her teammate Vandana Katariya's family has faced, saying it was nothing short of shameful. The family of Ms. Katariya, who scored four goals during the Olympics, found itself at the receiving end of allegedly casteist slurs from a few people in their neighbourhood in Haridwar after the team lost the semi-final clash against Argentina on Wednesday. "It's such a bad thing which has happened. We work so hard to represent our country. Stop all these things like discriminating on religion, casteism because we work above all these things," Ms. Rani said during a virtual press conference. India finished fourth in the Games after going down to Great Britain 3-4 in an intensely fought bronze play-off. "We come from different parts of India, follow different religions. But when we come here we work together for India. It's so shameful when we see people indulging in such behaviour," Ms. Rani said. "But there are also people who have given us so much love even though we didn't win a medal. So they should learn from such people. If we want to make India a hockey nation, we need everyone." Two men had reportedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Ms. Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area of Haridwar in a gesture of mockery. When some members of the family came out hearing the noise, the two men also passed casteist remarks against them, saying the team had lost because it had too many Dalit players in it, according to local officials. The 29-year-old striker had scored a hat-trick against South Africa in the group stages of the Olympics, becoming the first first from the country to achieve the feat. Ms. Rani hoped that people will learn from this incident and such things will not happen in the future. "It's a bad a thing, it shouldn't have happened... maybe they will learn in the future to not do such things."
199 It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. A day after her bronze medal win in a match she dominated, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by the United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures managing director Tuhin Mishra. Rani Rampal, who led the Indian women's hockey team that made the semi-final for the first time ever early Monday morning, trended all day on social media. Rampal and teammates such as Savita Punia and Gurjit Kaur have suddenly become household names, executives said. “These performances are being noticed by brands, for appearances and commercial engagements,” said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Rampal. “For some, we expect regional associations. We understand that only a few of the players will get recognition, but it's a start. If they return with a medal, then the brand interest would escalate even more.” Rampal used to practise with a broken hockey stick because her family couldn't afford to buy one. “We are interested in associations with the young achievers who have proved themselves at the Olympics. They represent a new dynamic for young India, and we are exploring both regular endorsements and digital associations,” said Mayank Shah, senior category head at biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products. The company is among the contributors to Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation that promotes sports. Shah declined to mention specific athletes Parle was considering, stating that talks are in the early stages. Diagnostics startup Healthians announced free health screening for all Olympic participants from India for four years, apart from 10 years of free health checkup packages for medal winners. “India needs more sportspeople to put us on the world map with mega wins and participate in international sporting events such as Olympics,” said former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, an investor in the company. Others such as boxer Lovlina Borgohain and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who have already won medals, are on the radar of brands as well. Domino's signed a digital association deal with Chanu after she won a silver medal, while another fourfive deals are being discussed, said her representatives. EARLY BETS PAY OFF “We believe in the power of women in sport and have consistently invested in them, ensuring that the athletes are equipped with the right gear for training. Two such women athletes whose talent we spotted early on are Mirabai and Lovlina,” said Sunil Gupta, senior director, Adidas India. Brands that had bet on athletes prior to the games, such as Visa, Thums Up and Adidas, are reaping the benefits. Global card payment brand Visa, which signed Sindhu and launched 'a million cheers' campaign on television and digital platforms including YouTube and social media, is escalating its campaign centered on her as a Team Visa athlete. Borgohain, Chanu and Sindhu are already supported by sportswear and footwear maker Adidas.
200 Samantha Akkineni never misses an opportunity to hit the gym. Despite being a Sunday, Samantha decided to work out and revealed who her inspiration was. Sharing a video of her from the gym, the actress revealed that Olympic silver medal-winner Mirabai Chanu was her inspiration for her workout session on a Sunday. The actress also gave a shout-out to Mirabai Chanu for making India proud at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. MIRABAI CHANU INSPIRES SAMANTHA AKKINENI . She has been sharing photos and videos from the film's shooting spot. On Sunday (July 25), she took to Instagram stories to share a video of her working out at the gym. In her caption, she revealed that her inspiration to hit the gym on a Sunday is in the women's 49kg weightlifting event. Samantha has been training with Arunava Bhattacharya and tagged him and Mirabai Chanu on her video. Here's the video: SAMANTHA'S UPCOMING FILMS Samantha Akkineni was last seen in directors Raj and DK's The Family Man 2, which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. She played the role of Raji, who is a part of a rebel group in Sri Lanka. Though she received applause for her performance, . The actress is currently shooting for mythological film, Shaakuntalam, directed by Gunasekhar. Samantha also has Vignesh Shivan's Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kadhal. She shares screen space with Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara in the rom-com. ALSO SEE | ALSO SEE | Graphic Samantha Akkineni's Sunday inspiration at the gym is Mirabai Chanu. Watch video
201 Shah Rukh Khan starred as Indian women's hockey team coach Kabir Khan in 2007 drama Chak De! India. The Shimit Amin-directed film followed an underdog Indian team's historic win at the Olympics. In a reel-inspires-real moment, Indian women's hockey team on Monday scripted history by entering the Olympic Games semifinals for the first time. Fans were of course reminded of Shah Rukh Khan's 2007 sports drama Chak De! India, which followed an underdog Indian women's hockey team's historic win at the Olympics. Like in the film, India defeated Australia to enter the semis. Elated at their win, India's coach Sjoerd Marijne posted on Twitter a picture of himself with the team members from inside a bus. "Sorry family, I coming again later," the coach wrote alongside the photo. Hours later, superstar Shah Rukh Khan quoted his tweet and wrote in his typical tongue-in-cheek style that the coach can take his time to come back home but return with a gold for a "billion family members". Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Shah Rukh signed off the tweet as his Chak De! India character Kabir Khan, who was the coach to the Indian team. "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," Shah Rukh tweeted. Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach. - Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) August 2, 2021 As fans celebrated the actor's wit, Marijne quoted Shah Rukh's tweet and quipped, "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach." The Indian women's hockey team beat three-time champions and world no 2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight tie on Monday. Several cast members from Chak De! India, including Chitarashi Rawat and Shilpa Shukla, have also congratulated the Indian team.
202 The 47-year-old coached the team to its best ever performance in the Olympic Games, guiding them to a creditable fourth place finish here Sjoerd Marijne has quit as the head coach of the Indian women's hockey team after guiding them to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 47-year-old on Friday revealed that the bronze medal match against Great Britain in the ongoing Olympics was his last assignment with the side. The Indian women came tantalisingly close to winning their maiden Olympic medal before losing to Great Britain 3-4 in a close bronze play-off match. Hours after this feat, Marijne announced that it was his last assignment with the Indian team. "I don't have any plans because this was my last match with Indian women. It's upto Janneka (Schopman) now," the Dutchman told the Indian media in a virtual press conference. "I will miss the girls but I miss my family more. My family is No 1. I want to be with my son, daughter and wife after being away for three and a half years. This is a beautiful way to end this journey," he said. We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger. We have made Indians proud again and we inspired millions of girls that dreams CAN come true as long as you work hard for it and believe it! Thanks for all the support! It has been learnt that both Marijne and team's analytical coach Janneka Schopman were offered an extension by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) but the former refused the offer due to personal reasons. Sources in the know of developments told PTI that Schopman is expected to take over Marine's position on a full-time basis now. Marijne, a former Dutch player, took over the reins of the Indian women's team first in 2017 but was appointed the coach of the men's side later that year. However, in 2018, he was re-designated the women's coach in a rejigging of roles. Marijne has played for The Netherlands, and guided the Dutch Under-21 women's side to a World Cup title and the Dutch senior women's side to a gold at the Hockey World League Semi Finals in 2015. The affable Dutchman has been unable to visit his family for the last 16 months due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions and this ultimately proved too much for him to deal with. He had made efforts to get back home but could not because of the restrictions. He then began writing a book detailing his experiences of being in India during the lockdown.
203 Vandana Katariya becomes the first Indian women to score a hattrick in Olympics Striker Vandana Katariya scored a historic hat-trick to keep alive the Indian women's hockey team's quarterfinals hopes in the Olympics with a fighting 4-3 victory over lower-ranked South Africa in its must-win final group match here on Saturday. Vandana (4th, 17th, 49th minutes) achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Indian woman hockey player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Olympics. Young Neha Goyal (32nd) was the other goal getter as the Rani Rampal-led side registered its second consecutive win at the Games. South Africa's goals came from the sticks of Tarryn Glasby (15th), skipper Erin Hunter (30th) and Marizen Marais (39th). With two wins from their final two pool matches, India have finished the group stages with six points from five games. By virtue of this win, India have jumped to the fourth position in Pool A, but Ireland still have a chance to leapfrog the Indians. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the last Pool A match between Great Britain and Ireland. The Indians will have to wait till the evening to know their fate. A Ireland loss or a draw will be enough for India to seal their place in the quarterfinals. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout round. Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Indians meant business and pressed hard on the South African defence from the start. In doing so, India secured two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the match but dragflicker Gurjit Kaur's poor execution continued in the tournament. Still it didn't take India long to open their account and in the fourth minute, Vandana gave her side the lead, tapping in from close range after being set up by Navneet Kaur's great run from the right flank. India kept up the pressure and penetrated the South African circle many times without much success. But seconds from the end of first quarter, a lapse in concentration from the defence cost India dearly as South Africa drew level through Tarryn Glasby, who deflected in a long shot from Taryn Mallett. India had enough time to regain their lead through a penalty corner but wasted the opportunity. Two minutes into the second quarter, Vandana restored India's lead when she deflected in Deep Grace Ekka's flick from their fourth penalty corner. The Indians had three more chances to extend their lead in the second quarter but they couldn't do so. The Rani Rampal-led side got two more penalty corners which they wasted, and then, Neha Goyal's effort from open play was saved by the South Africa goalkeeper. Just like in the first quarter, India gave away their lead seconds away from half time when Hunter found the net from her team's first penalty corner. Two minutes after the change of ends, Neha restored the lead again, deflecting in a Rani hit from a penalty corner as the Indians executed a fine variation. The fragile Indian defence wilted under pressure once again, when South Africa drew level for the third time in the match, through a Marais strike. South Africa enjoyed a good run of play in the initial minutes of final quarter and, in the process, secured three penalty corners quickly, but this time the Indian defence did enough to thwart the dangers. In the 49th minute, a brilliant Vandana saved the day for India when she deflected in Gurjit Kaur's flick from another penalty corner. Thereafter, the Indians fell back and looked contend to keep the possession as South Africa pressed hard. Two minutes from the final hooter, the Indians successfully referred a penalty corner decision given against them.
204 Still alive', Daniil Medvedev tweeted. That was perhaps the followup to his on-court quandary at the Ariake Tennis Park when he wondered, “I can die. I can finish the match, but if I die, who will take responsibility?” World No. 2 Medevedev dug deep in suffocating conditions, where his vision blurred as he struggled with his breathing, which prompted chair umpire Carlos Ramos to ask if he could continue. The 25-year-old, however, held his ground to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Paula Badosa, however, couldn't push forward in the women's singles, struggling with the conditions in Tokyo, 33 degrees and 73 percent humidity. She left the court in a wheelchair after retiring with a heatstroke against Marketa Vondrusova. The Czech won the first set 6-3, taking five games in a row after Badosa took a 3-1 lead, having broken at love in the fourth game. Medvedev, who needed attention from the physio in each set, required two medical timeouts for problems with his abdomen, left arm and thigh during the two-hour, 26-minute encounter. “The last physio visit was because I was cramping, 30 minutes after the match it's okay. The first one I had a blocked diaphragm (muscle). It's the same thing,” said Medvedev, who took a shower in cold water after the second set which caused cramps in the decider. Organizers later announced that matches would begin at 3pm starting Thursday to make it easier on the players, who had called for change in timings at the start of the event. In the last eight, Medvedev will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic kept it short and sweet with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 20-time major winner will play home hope Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarters. Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed to Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-7 (4), 2-6. Humbert will play ROC's Karen Khachanov for a place in the semifinals. Among the women, world No. 6 Elina Svitolina, the highest-ranked player to make the Tokyo quarterfinals, put out Camila Giorgi of Italy, 6-4, 6-4. By making the semifinals, the Ukrainian won herself the opportunity to play for one of the medals. “I know that for Ukraine the Olympics is a really big thing,” Svitolina told The Olympic Channel. “I value the Olympics as a Grand Slam. I'm in the semifinals and I get a chance to get a medal. It is very special for me, but I try to take it one match at a time.”
205 A day after Vandana Katariya's family was subjected to casteist slurs, a series of “Dalit Lives Matter” tweets was sent out from a Twitter account purportedly belonging to the hockey star and asked: “Kya Dalit hona gunah hai (is it a crime to be Dalit)?” Two men who harassed her family were, meanwhile, arrested. One of them, a national-level hockey player, could be suspended. TOI had reported the incident on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because the Buddha's enlightenment, Ambedkar's immortality, Kanshiram's mettle and the essence of humaneness run through me. #DalitLivesMatter,” one of the tweets said in Hindi on Thursday. “I am Dalit. Because I am the courage of the oppressed, hope of the marginalised, a representative of those who stand alone. #IamProudDalit #DalitLivesMatter,” said another. While the account is still unverified — it is yet to get the blue tick — on August 3, Vandana, the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, had posted it was her official Twitter handle. TOI had a day earlier reported that men from the dominant caste in her village, Roshnabad, burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked her family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. While the complaint had spoken of two men at the time, Ankur Pal, 20, and Sumit Chauhan (his age wasn't clear), one more person, Ankur's brother Vijay Pal, 25, was later identified on Thursday. Vijay is a hockey player himself and has represented Uttarakhand at the national level. A source at Hockey Uttarakhand, the state's hockey association, told TOI that Vijay could be suspended from representing the state or taking part in trials if he's found guilty. All three were booked and Vijay and Ankur were arrested. Sumit is yet to be traced. Vandana's elder brother Shekhar said, “Members of the dominant caste threatened me inside the police station in the presence of an officer. Cops did nothing. What happened was not just an attack on our family but the whole nation. Police took the case very lightly … We are scared. We want protection.” On Thursday, however, most in Vandana's village rallied behind her. Times View: It is a matter of both shame and concern that the family of an international hockey player had to face caste abuse. However, it's good to know that two of the accused have been arrested and that other villagers have supported the family. A strong statement on the incident by the state's chief minister backed by further prompt action would be reassuring to the family and other Dalits in the state.
206 This Olympic Games gave the country its best medal haul ever and a gold too! But there were also those who came tantalisingly close to making the cut Appearing at every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1920, India had another exhilarating run this time around, having sent a 124-member contingent to Tokyo. Here are the biggest Indian performances from the latest Games. THE GOLDEN ARM Already an Asian Games and Asian Championship gold medalist, Neeraj Chopra entered Tokyo 2020 as one of the dark horses for a gold medal in the javelin throw. After a seamless qualification round, Chopra approached the finals with the equanimity of a man who knew he was destined for greatness. A nation waiting with bated breath, India's woeful history in track and field, the demons that rage inside the mind before the biggest moment of one's life could all have derailed Chopra, but the 23-year-old held his nerve and came up trumps. Recording a distance of 87.58m, Chopra took gold, ahead of J. Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, immortalising his name in the annals of Indian athletics. A SILVER AS GOOD AS GOLD Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya came within touching distance of winning gold at Tokyo 2020, but in the final running, was outplayed by Russian Olympic Committee's Zavur Uguev. A gutted Dahiya commented that a silver medal "will not give me satisfaction", but for the millions of Indians who cheered for him in the final, it was nothing short of a monumental prize for a masterful athlete. While Dahiya went down fighting in the final, admitting that Uguev had been the better wrestler on the day, Bajrang Punia took down Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in clinical fashion to claim bronze. Deepak Punia, however, missed out on bronze by a whisker, conceding a takedown in the last 10 seconds of his bronze medal match against San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine. LIFTING THE SPIRITS OF A BILLION PEOPLE Saikhom Mirabai Chanu went into the Olympics as second-favourite to seal the gold medal in the women's 49 kilograms weightlifting category. Despite the enormous burden of expectations and the turbulence inflected by injuries in recent years, the 26-year-old remained unfazed on her way to lifting 202 kilograms (87+115) to eclipse Karnam Malleswari's stellar performance at Sydney 2000. Chanu's incredible display not only gave India an early surge of momentum in Tokyo, but also guaranteed personal redemption for her, as she managed to banish the ghosts of Rio 2016, where she had failed to execute a single legitimate lift. SINDHU DOES IT AGAIN After winning silver at Rio 2016, the ever dependable P.V. Sindhu became the first Indian woman to earn a second individual Olympic medal as she bagged bronze in Tokyo. The reigning world champion may have succumbed to Tai Tzu-ying in the semi-finals, but held her own against China's He Bingjiao in the battle for bronze. Sindhu's calibrated aggression and big match temperament shone through as she never let Bingjiao settle down. However, barring Sindhu, none of the members of India's badminton delegation could advance beyond the group stages. MIXED FORTUNES FOR THE FISTS OF FURY India's boxing cohort for the Olympics produced a number of surprises, both good and bad. The legendary Mary Kom crashed out in a controversial call in the round of 16 in what is likely to be her Olympic farewell, a somewhat underwhelming end to one of the most inspiring Olympic careers enjoyed by an Indian. Kom's departure opened space for a new titan to rise - 23-year-old Lovlina Borgohain. Defying the odds in the welterweight category, Borgohain progressed with an assurance rarely seen in one so young, before eventually ending her time in Tokyo with a bronze medal for the country, becoming only the third Indian boxer to grab a medal at the Games. Among other boxing results, Simranjit Kaur and Pooja Rani were both eliminated ahead of the quarters whereas from the men only Satish Kumar was able to make it to the last eight. A GLORIOUS RESURGENCE FOR THE NATIONAL SPORT Hockey, India's unofficial national sport, had long ceased to be India's national obsession. At Tokyo 2020, however, both the men's and the women's teams turned on the style to bring hockey back into the limelight. Winning an Olympic medal after 41 years, the men's team rallied against Germany in one of the most memorable come-from-behind wins to seal the bronze medal. Down 3-1, the Indians produced a mesmerising spell of play in which they scored four times in seven minutes to rattle their German counterparts. In the end, they hung on to win by the odd goal in nine. Even though the women could not secure bronze themselves, falling agonisingly short against Great Britain, their energy and resilience proved that the future of women's hockey in India has not been brighter in a generation. HITTING (AND JUST MISSING) THE BULLSEYE In spite of not landing a medal, India's archery unit made the country proud with a string of valiant performances, none more so than Atanu Das's nail-biting victory over Oh Jin-Hyek in the round of 32. Das, alongside Pravin Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai, also made it to the quarters of the men's team event, matching the achievements of Deepika Kumari (in the women's individual event) and Jadhav and Kumari (in the mixed team event). THE BEST OF THE REST Seemingly in cruise control for much of her time in Tokyo, golfer Aditi Ashok missed out on what would have been a historic medal after finishing fourth in the women's individual stroke play. Elsewhere, Kamalpreet Kaur finished a commendable sixth among the women's discus throwers, shooter Saurabh Chaudhary occupied the seventh position in the men's 10metre air pistol face-off, and Chaudhary along with Manu Bhaker registered another seventh place finish in the mixed 10metre air pistol.
207 The withdrawal of star US gymnast Simone Biles from team and all-round individual events at the Tokyo Olympics ignited a social and political firestorm on Wednesday after right-wing commentators and trolls accused her of letting down her team and her country. Former Olympians, celebrities, and political figures from the liberal side of the spectrum rushed to defend Biles after she was attacked from the white-dominated right for bailing out following a sub-par performance that put the US team's medal prospect in jeopardy. Widely considered the greatest American gymnast of all time, Biles, who is black, was expected to lead the US to a clutch of team and individual gold medals at Tokyo, after her four-gold medal performance at the Rio 2016 Games, including individual all-around title. But after stumbles in the early rounds she dropped out of events “to focus on my mental health”, triggering criticism from right-wing commentators, one of whom called her a “selfish sociopath” and a “shame to the country”, and said “we are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles”. Some of the right-wing trolls invoked the “courage” of Kerry Strug, an American gymnast who performed despite an injured ankle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Biles' defenders, however, argued that more recent disclosures of what gymnasts are put through in a win-at-allcost culture raised questions about whether Strug's effort was raw courage or coercion by a “hectoring” coach. Underlying Biles' withdrawal and reference to mental health issues is a troubling story surrounding sexual abuse that she and other female gymnasts endured at the hands of Larry Nassar, the doctor for the US women's national gymnastics team, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to de facto life without parole. “We are talking about the same girl who was molested by her team doctor throughout her entire childhood and teenage years. That girl has endured more trauma by the age of 24 than most people will ever go through in a lifetime,” Andrea Orris, a former gymnast-turned-fitness trainer said. Biles also found support from the Biden-Harris establishment and many current and former athletes. “Putting your mental health first is hard in normal circumstances. Doing it when the eyes of the world are upon you takes extraordinary strength. Grateful to @Simone_Biles for demonstrating what strength looks like on and off the mat,” tweeted US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Michael Phelps, the iconic swimmer who holds the record as the most decorated Olympian in history, said athletes need support when they feel vulnerable, rather than someone trying to fix them.
208 Here are the top 5 news updates of August 6, 2021: 1. Bronze lost but hearts won: Indian women's hockey team signs off 4th at Olympics after narrow loss The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off but the stout-hearted side managed to record its best ever finish at the Games today. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no.4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. 2. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award India's highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award, which was named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was today rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics. Making the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. 3. RBI keeps policy rate unchanged for 7th time in a row; repo retained at 4 pc The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today decided to keep benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4 per cent but maintained an accommodative stance as the economy is yet to recover from the impact of second COVID wave. This is the seventh time in a row that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has maintained status quo. RBI had last revised its policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting interest rate to a historic low. 4. Opposition leaders support farmers, join Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar Several leaders of opposition parties, including former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, today extended their solidarity to protesting farmers and joined their Kisan Sansad at the Jantar Mantar, saying the three "black" agri laws will have to be withdrawn. Leaders of 14 opposition parties met at Parliament House and then reached the nearby Jantar Mantar to participate in the Kisan Sansad, which began on July 22 to mark over seven months of the farmers' protests at Delhi's border points against the laws. "Today all opposition parties together decided to support the farmers and demand the withdrawal of the three farm laws," Gandhi said. 5. Sensex ends 215 pts lower as Reliance tumbles Equity benchmark Sensex dropped 215 points today, tracking losses in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC and SBI, after the Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged and maintained its accommodative stance. The 30-share index ended 215.12 points or 0.39 per cent lower at 54,277.72, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 56.40 points or 0.35 per cent to 16,238.20. Reliance Industries was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, shedding over 2 per cent, followed by UltraTech Cement, SBI, Tata Steel, HDFC and Axis Bank. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, NTPC and Bajaj Auto were among the gainers.
209 Table tennis champ Harmeet Desai, who now trains in Germany and represents the Loire Nord Table Tennis Club in the French League (he flies to France during matches), is back to his hometown Surat for a short break. He tells us, “After spending four months in France and Germany, I was keen to have a short break and meet my family. Some of the players from my training centre have gone to participate in the Olympics and so, I flew down to India on July 7 for a one-month break. I will be flying back to Germany on August 6.” Harmeet's parents had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year and his dad had to be hospitalised. Recalling that phase, he shares, “I was really worried for my parents and even though I wanted to come back to be with them, it wasn't possible due to the prevailing circumstances back then. So, it was a pretty emotional reunion for us.” Harmeet's long-time girlfriend Krittwika Sinha Roy (they had gotten engaged in March), a member of the Indian women's TT team, has also come down from her hometown Kolkata to spend a few days with Harmeet's family. He shares, “Krittwika and my mom are busy preparing delicacies that I love the most and I am relishing maa ke haath ka khaana. Before coming here, my coach had asked me to ensure that I don't put on more than two kilos during this break. I am making sure to work out so that I don't gain weight. Once I go back to Germany, I plan to be on a very strict diet again for the next few months. Krittwika and I have also been practising together at home.” Recently, Harmeet celebrated his birthday at home. He shares, “We had a small get-together. Krittwika gifted me bedsheets and pillow covers which had my family photos as well as memorable moments from my professional journey, like winning the Arjuna Award.” The two will be getting married in December. He adds, “It will happen in Kolkata.” While there has been a fresh surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, Harmeet says that he isn't too stressed about flying back to Germany. He shares, “I have taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine and so, I am feeling a little relaxed. Since I am fully vaccinated now, I don't need to quarantine there.” Talking about bio-bubbles, he says, “Every sportsperson has to accept it. I feel it is a very small sacrifice that we need to make to get to do what we love — playing our sport.” While he missed out on qualifying for the Olympics this time, Harmeet says it has only made him more determined. He adds, “I am very optimistic about India's medal prospects this time. I believe that we will win more than 10 Olympic medals this time.”
210 Manipur Chef Minister N. Biren on Friday assured Sushila Pukhrambam of the State, who is a member of the Indian women's hockey team for Tokyo Olympics, that she would be appointed in the Sports department on her return. Besides, an incentive of ₹25 lakh would be given to her. Mr. Biren spoke to Ms. Pukhrambam, now in Tokyo, through videoconferencing on Friday. The Chief Minister told her that the country appreciated the inspiring performance of the Indian women's hockey team. To a question by Mr. Biren, Ms. Pukhrambam said she is working as chief train ticket collector. Asked what kind of job she wanted, the player said she would accept any job suitable to her. The Chief Minister told her that most of the international players from Manipur, beginning from Mary Kom, were posted in the Police department. The government would create some jobs in the Sports department for players like Ms. Pukhrambam. He also wanted to know whether she would stay in Manipur if she got a suitable job. To this, Ms. Pukhrambam said she would certainly stay in Manipur to train promising and talented girl hockey players. She urged the Chief Minister to do something for hockey players since it was gaining popularity throughout the world.
211 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad in Haridwar district. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv Temple lane and the dominants live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semifinals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It is not the first time we have been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar Kataria added, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, not one person from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us. Things could have been resolved had they tried to reach out. But they didn't.” Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will. “We had good relations with the Dalits in our village. We want peace,” an upper caste man who didn't want to share his identity said.
212 Early Friday morning, as the Indian women's hockey team walked onto the astroturf at the Oi National Stadium in Tokyo for their semifinal match against Great Britain, thousands of kilometres away, people trickled into a hall lined with asbestos sheets and took their place on a rug in front of a projector. Hesal, a tribal village in Khunti district of Jharkhand, listed as Naxal territory, seems a long way from even the state capital. On days such as these, when the rains churn the mud roads, the distance is even longer. Yet, even with its non-existent roads and crushing poverty, the tribal village has sent at least 12 hockey players to the state and national teams. Nikki Pradhan, the defender in the Dream 16 team that played in Tokyo, grew up here, playing with bamboo balls and sticks. Hesal is home to about 60 families, 80% of them tribals. The village has only one health sub-centre that mostly stays shut and no school, with most children walking down to nearby Pilaul. It was this walk to school that was to change Nikki's life, along with an other children of her generation. At the Pilaul Middle School was "Mahato sir", Dasrath Mahato, who played hockey for Bihar from 1978 to 1981 and who joined the school in 1988 as Assistant Teacher. "He wasn't a sports teacher but every game period, he encouraged us to play hockey. He trained anyone who showed an interest, including me," recalls Shashi, 32, Nikki's sister, elder to her by five years, who played hockey for Bihar and Jharkhand, and now works for the Railways. "We would play with bamboo sticks and bamboo balls. Sir took us to tournaments in villages, including with men. After Class 8, those of us who played the game reasonably well were sent to the Bariatu Girls' Hockey Center in Ranchi, a boarding school for hockey players. Before we left for Ranchi, he handed Nikki and me food and money," says Shashi. Mahato, who is now general secretary of the Khunti unit of Hockey Jharkhand, says, "Around 77 of my students, including the Pradhan sisters, have made it to several top level circuits... It is a matter of great pride." He has a regret, though. "Khunti still lacks basic facilities for training. Simdega (the district from where Salima Tete, the only other Jharkhand player in the Olympics team, hails) has 13 day centres for hockey, two boarding centres for women and three for men, where education, training and lodging are taken care of. Khunti has only one boarding centre each for men and women, apart from eight day centres," Mahato says. The district has two astroturfs, but they are mostly under water during the rains. But every such challenge only spurred Hesal's girls and boys to come out stronger. After playing national-level hockey for 10 years, from 1998-2004, Hesal girl Neelam Mundu, 32, took to teaching the game. In 2017, she was recruited by Tata Trusts for its programme to "professionalise grassroot-level hockey" in India. Since the pandemic began, Mundu says, she has not been able to travel much to hold lessons. "I get Rs 8,000 a month to teach hockey. When I took to the game, we thought if we played well, we could at least get into a school where our food and accommodation were taken care of, where we at least didn't have to worry about getting married off," she says. One of Munda's students is Junita Pradhan, a Class 8 student of a private school in Khunti. From 7 to 9 every morning, Junita walks barefoot with her hockey stick to the Khunti Sports Shop, where Mundu coaches her and 25 other girls and boys. The hockey stick cost her Rs 400, so she had to shelve her plans of buying shoes. On Friday, she skipped practice to watch the Olympic semifinal. While sad the team lost, she says, "I saw Nikki didi play. I entered the sport due to her." Standing beside his under-construction house, Nikki's father Soma Pradhan, a former constable with the Bihar Police, is a proud father, but it took him long to get here. "I wasn't happy about the girls playing this game. I did not know much about it. People used to tell me that no one would marry my girls if they played hockey." Soma points out that Hesal does not have toilets still while power is erratic and the mobile network patchy. "Even while we were watching the match, we missed some part of it," he says, adding that in June, a power failure meant he got news of his daughter's selection for the Olympics two days later. On Friday morning, surrounded by cheering villagers, he felt his heart weighing down as his daughter leaned against her hockey stick after an agonisingly close match. "But at least the girls played well," he says.
213 Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from the women's gymnastics team event and the individual all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics seems to have divided America along the conservative-liberal lines. The four-time Olympic gold medalist pulled out to look after her mental health and support has poured in from different quarters. But there were also those who criticised her move. Who all are criticising Biles? There's an uncanny similarity in the nature of criticism. Charlie Kirk, an American conservative activist and also the founder of Turning Point USA, has called the gymnast a "selfish sociopath" and "a shame to this country". "We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles," Kirk said on his podcast, adding: "Simone Biles just showed the rest of the nation that when things get tough, you shatter into a million pieces." Writing for The Federalist, a conservative online magazine, their political editor John Davidson aimed a thinly veiled dig at Biles, suggesting that she should be ashamed of her withdrawal. "Biles doesn't suffer from a specific mental illness, at least not that we know of or that's ever manifested itself before," Davidson wrote. "What she experienced wasn't that, it was something more common among professional athletes: she got psyched out. She wasn't mentally tough when she needed to be," he went on. "Instead of being ashamed of that, or apologising to her teammates and her countrymen, Biles seemed to revel in taking care of her 'mental health', whatever that means." How has the mainstream media reacted? Reaction from the mainstream US media has been overwhelmingly positive. The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today lauded Biles for showing courage and putting her mental health first. "I'm very proud of Simone, and I can't imagine the bravery that it takes to just say, 'I'm not going to do it today,'" three-time Olympic gold medalist and Biles' former team-mate Aly Raisman told ESPN. On NBC's primetime broadcast, legendary swimmer Michael Phelps threw his weight behind Biles, hoping that this would be "an eye-opening experience". Biles is a rags-to-riches story, a black sportsperson in a country which is still going through an evolution in terms of racial and gender equality. She is also a survivor of abuse, as was part of the group that had the disgraced ex-US Team doctor Larry Nassar. The latter was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for crime related to his sexual abuse of underage gymnasts. Biles, on the other hand, is one of the stars, believed to have become the face of the liberals who allege racial bias in all walks of life. Do the brickbats reflect a polarised America? Biles' reproval has come chiefly from right-aligned commentators and outlets. On his Fox Sports radio show, Doug Gottlieb has questioned the gymnast's ability to handle criticism. "Generally, we don't have any sort of critique for our female sports teams. On one hand you want to be viewed, treated, and compensated the same as the men, but on the other hand, whatever you do, just don't be critical of us," he said, as quoted by The Guardian. On another Fox show, Clay Travis opined that Biles should apologise to her team-mates, as her pull-out "represents a fundamental breach of the most important aspect of team sports". How have politicians reacted? Biles has been outspoken in her disapproval of former US President Donald Trump and also strongly supported the Black Lives Matter movement. After the Olympics pull-out, she, however, has found backing from Republican Senator Mitt Romney. "I love and admire Simone Biles and our Olympians. Beyond their determination and sacrifice, they evidence the greatness of the human spirit, in victory and in defeat. I take pride in them, not so much for the medals they win as for the grace, humanity & character of their hearts," Romney tweeted. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama tagged Biles in a tweet and posted: "Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_Biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you. Congratulations on the the silver medal, Team @USA!" How has Biles reacted to bouquets and brickbats? She has spoken about how the "outpouring of love" has helped her look at things from a different perspective. "the outpouring love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before." Biles commented through a tweet on Thursday.
214 After news of casteist abuse against Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya's family went viral, Indians questioned the silence of other sportspersons on the matter. Soon after India's women's hockey team lost to Argentina in a semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics, two men allegedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area in a gesture of mockery on Wednesday evening, an official at SIDCUL police station said. When some members of Katariya's family came out hearing the noise, the two men passed casteist remarks, saying the team had lost because it had too many Dalit players in it, he said. A man, identified as Vijay Pal, has been arrested and booked in connection with the incident under section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code and the SC-ST Act, the official said. People across India took to social media to raise their voices and condemn the casteist abuse. Many questioned why no Indian athletes and/or celebrities are condemning the attack on Katariya's family. "India is a country where Ravindra Jadeja & Raina can take pride in being upper-castes & the whole country, fans, netas, cricketers, etc stand in support with their casteism. But a Dalit hockey star who has to hide her caste will still be abused by UCs & no one will stand with her," Sankul Sonawane wrote on Twitter. On Friday morning, an old tweet of cricketer Hardik Pandya went viral wherein he had taken the knee to protest the racism against Blacks. Many questioned why Pandya is silent about casteist atrocities back home. Here's what others are saying about the matter.
215 Modi also congratulated all the members of the team and their coach for their achievement - the best finish by Indian women's hockey team in past 41 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke on phone with the Indian women's hockey team after they lost to Britain in the bronze medal match and finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. "You all played very well. Though your four-five years of hard work couldn't be converted to a medal, you hard work and sweat have become an inspiration to crores of daughters of the country. Don't be disappointed," Modi told an emotional Indian team. He also congratulated all the members of the team and their coach for their achievement - the best finish by Indian women's hockey team in past 41 years. Modi further inquired about the injury sustained by India's Navneet Kaur after colliding with Argentina's Agustina Gorzelany in the hockey semi-final match. Taking the names of each players, PM congratulated them and asked them to stop crying as he could hear them break down. Rani Rampal, the team captain, thanked the Prime Minister for the encouragement. PM Modi then went on to praise Vandana Katariya and Salima Tete for their performance at the match. "Please stop crying. The whole of India is proud of you. There is no need for disappointment. India's identity in hockey has been revived and it's because of you people," he added. The Prime Minister also spoke with team coach Sjoerd Marijne and thanked him for his and the team's hard work.
216 "Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face!" Justin Bieber wrote One of the most decorated American gymnasts, Simone Biles', withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics drew everyone's attention and got them to focus, once again, on the importance of mental health. Ahead of the women's gymnastics team final, Biles decided to withdraw from the sport to prioritise her well-being. "We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we're human, too," she was quoted as saying by AP. Supporting her decision, Justin Bieber took to social media to speak about the time when he was thought to be "crazy" for not completing his world tour for the promotion of his album Purpose. "People thought I was crazy for not finishing the Purpose tour but it was the best thing I could have done for my mental health!" the pop sensation wrote on Instagram. Bieber went on to say he was "proud" of Biles. "Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face! I know we don't know each other but I'm so proud of the decision to withdraw." He added, "It's as simple as - what does it mean to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul. Sometimes our no's are more powerful than our yes's. When what you normally love starts to steal your joy it's important we take a step back to evaluate why."
217 PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The PM, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with home minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India's greatest sportspersons”. “Naming the country's highest sports honour in the name of the country's greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud,” Shah said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons.
218 DALITS IN OLY STAR VANDANA'S VILLAGE About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv Temple lane and dominant Pals live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. While the incident shocked the nation, village Dalits said it wasn't new to them. “It is not the first time we have been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar Kataria added, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, not one person from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us. Things could have been resolved had they tried to reach out.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004, when industry hub Sidcul came up. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to said they harbour no ill-will. “We had good relations with the Dalits in our village. We want peace,” an upper caste man who didn't want to share his identity said. “We want a fair trial.”
219 There's a second medal, India. This one's still growing wings. It could metamorphose into silver, or gold, perhaps something even bigger. So, you could hold on to your congratulatory messages for now or just holler it. Like Lovlina Borgohain did today. That scream was one for the ages. More than just relief, it also bellowed belief. “I want to win gold. There's only one medal and that's gold,” she would say after outwitting an old foe, the former world champion Nien-Chin Chen for a shot at the semis in the women's 69kg boxing in Tokyo. To think, Lovlina took up boxing only in 2012, the year Mary Kom was winning India's first boxing medal at the Olympics. Today, when a much-travelled legend was unable to figure whether she had won or lost, the apprentice was writing history of her own, borrowing a little from the Manipur icon here, a little bit of Muhammad Ali there and some from Thai martial art Muay Thai. Something of a hand-medown from her elder sisters, the twins Licha and Lima, Muay Thai was Lovlina's first love. She was even national sub-junior champion once, and on Friday, she was smartly combining it all. The real impact — and promise — of Lovlina's bronze is being felt back home. She grew up in the village of Baro Mukhia in Assam's Golaghat, 300 km from Guwahati. There were no paved roads, and piped water and medical facilities were unheard of. Little has changed in the years since then. Hopefully, Lovlina's medal will change the fortunes of the village.
220 There's a second medal, India. This one's still growing wings. It could metamorphose into silver, or gold, perhaps something even bigger. So, you could hold on to your congratulatory messages for now or just holler it. Like Lovlina Borgohain did today. That scream was one for the ages. More than just relief, it also bellowed belief. “I want to win gold. There's only one medal and that's gold,” she would say after outwitting an old foe, the former world champion Nien-Chin Chen for a shot at the semis in the women's 69kg boxing in Tokyo. To think, Lovlina took up boxing only in 2012, the year Mary Kom was winning India's first boxing medal at the Olympics. Today, when a much-travelled legend was unable to figure whether she had won or lost, the apprentice was writing history of her own, borrowing a little from the Manipur icon here, a little bit of Muhammad Ali there and some from Thai martial art Muay Thai. Something of a hand-medown from her elder sisters, the twins Licha and Lima, Muay Thai was Lovlina's first love. She was even national sub-junior champion once, and on Friday, she was smartly combining it all. The real impact — and promise — of Lovlina's bronze is being felt back home. She grew up in the village of Baro Mukhia in Assam's Golaghat, 300 km from Guwahati. There were no paved roads, and piped water and medical facilities were unheard of. Little has changed in the years since then. Hopefully, Lovlina's medal will change the fortunes of the village.
221 We women all want to feel good in our skin," said German gymnast Sarah Voss, as she explained her decision to wear a full body suit at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championship in April this year. On Sunday, she was joined by her teammates who wore unitards that covered their arms and legs for the Tokyo Olympics' qualifying round, making a statement against what they described as the "sexualisation" of women in sports. "We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear," said German gymnast Elisabeth Seitz. Women athletes everywhere are protesting rules and conventions that expect them to wear outfits which have less to do with function and more to do with glamour and "sex appeal". Most sporting bodies remain conformist and sexist in their approach to athletic outfits. Take what happened with the Norwegian women's beach handball team in the recent European Beach Handball Championship: After their repeated complaints against the mandated bikini bottoms were ignored, they played wearing shorts. The European Handball Federation imposed a fine of 150 euros per player, although after outrage from other teams and the general public, it promised to do something to change the uniform rules. It's been nearly half a century since John Berger observed, "Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at." The tyranny of the "male gaze" is strongest in fields like cinema and sports. For women athletes, it cuts both ways: They're forced to wear clothes that make them self-conscious, and they're also criticised if they embrace glamour and femininity, as happened with Florence Griffith Joyner. Finally, athletes themselves are starting to be heard: The Norwegian Handball Federation supported its players and offered to pay the fine on their behalf. Others need to follow its example.
222 Vishal Singh, the grandson of Major Dhyan Chand, is thrilled to see Indian hockey team getting a bronze medal. He believes every sport is performance oriented and only the enhancement in performance is key to get attention, infrastructure and other facilities. Vishal thanked the Centre for replacing the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award with the name of his grandfather, but said that the hockey wizard deserves Bharat Ratna. TOI spoke to Vishal, a sports officer based at Baran and a hockey coach, to know how medals and performances will improve the facilities in sports in India. “I believe everything in sports is performance oriented. In the past 41 years, we were not getting any medal in hockey. Thus, ironically our national game was not getting that much attention. I believe the performance of Indian men and women in hockey is phenomenal and this is certainly going to boost the game in India,” Singh said. Vishal is the son of Major Dhyan Chand's eldest son Brij Mohan Singh. Vishal's father had migrated to Kota when he got a job as sports officer. “Since then our family is based at Kota and Baran,” he added. “Also I would like to add that we tend to forget the achievement of sportsman within some time. Thus, I will urge the government of India and other states, including Rajasthan to focus, plan and execute for the improvement in facilities and infrastructure in other sports as well.” He said that sportsmen were vouching for changing the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award since 2012. “The moment PM Narendra Modi announced it, we had good number of people coming to our home and congratulated us. I think I am blessed to be part of the family which had Major Dhyan Chand,” he added. Vishal believed that his grandfather deserves Bharat Ratna. “He was the man who had denied a job in German Army and their citizenship that was offered to him after his performance in Berlin Olympics in1936. He was a true patriot.”
223 About two months ago, Rahul Kumar set up a roadside eatery in Roshnabad. It was on the village thoroughfare. Then one day, a group of dominant caste men asked him to shut it down. “They said their cars couldn't pass if a Dalit's establishment was on the way,” Kumar, 20, told TOI on Friday. Caste schisms run deep in this village of 3,000-odd people, home to Vandana Katariya, India's first woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. The houses are stacked along clear caste lines — the Dalits huddle along the Shiv temple lane and the dominant Pals live on the opposite side of the road. Everyone mostly sticks to their side. On Wednesday, three men from dominant castes allegedly harassed Vandana's family with casteist insults after the Indian women's hockey team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. While the incident shocked the nation, Dalits at Roshnabad said it wasn't new to them. “It's not the first time we've been oppressed. We are often targeted for small things,” said Kumar. Vandana's brother Shekhar said, “We treat everyone with respect but the dominant castes seem to hold a grudge against us. After what we went through, no one from the upper caste in our village came to talk to us.” Dalits in the village said prevailing caste dynamics were entrenched in 2004 when industry hub Sidcul came up. “Before that, Pals were landowners and we, the workers. With Sidcul, the dominant castes had a windfall after selling off their land for industrial units and became property dealers. We remained workers, and the economic gap widened,” said a Dalit local. Those from the dominant caste TOI spoke to largely said they harbour no ill-will. While Dalits said they had grown more aware about their rights over the years, those from the dominant caste saw it as a “problem”.
224 Calcutta: From Zafar Iqbal to Mir Ranjan Negi, the India women's hockey team's stunning quarter-final win over Australia has rekindled hope in many a former star, tempting them to weave bigger dreams around Rani Rampal's band of fearless achievers. "They haven't reached this far just by fluke. They did struggle initially in the league phase, but never did they give up. They never took a step back, rather kept persevering and now you can see the result. "Such perseverance only showed that ladkiyon mein dum hai aur woh ladkon se accha khelein," Iqbal, a former India captain and also a member of the India hockey team that clinched gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, told The Telegraph. Negi, on the other hand, feels that the real story has been "more thrilling" than the reel, referring to the Bollywood blockbuster Chak De! India. "This win against Australia is more thrilling than what we saw in Chak De! India. The film went according to the script, but in Tokyo, our women's team has created history. Sitting miles away from the stadium, I'm getting goosebumps," former India goalkeeper Negi, whose life story was one of the inspirations behind the 2007 movie, said. "Nobody had any expectations from this team. Honestly, I too didn't have any, but these girls have proved everyone wrong," Negi, also a former goalkeeper coach of the men's and women's teams that won gold in the 1998 Asian Games and 2002 Commonwealth Games, respectively, added. In Wednesday's semi-final, India will face Argentina. "The Argentina women's team is really good. But there's no need for our girls to fear them. They just need to focus on their strengths. Just make sure you plan properly, make minimum wrong passes and keep the ball in your control," the 65-year-old Iqbal advised. And according to Negi, all they need to do is stay calm. "The momentum is with them and at this point, they can beat any team in the world. But they have to be calm.".
225 There is a lot of euphoria surrounding the Indian women's hockey team's performance at the Olympics. The Tokyo sojourn has been a period of awakening for the team. But once the dust settles, the big question is, what will this mean to Indian women's hockey? Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who bid adieu to the team after Friday's match, believed the team's journey was bigger than winning a medal. “We didn't win a medal, but we won something bigger. We aimed to inspire a whole nation and make India proud,” said the Dutchman in a virtual press conference. Going forward, Marijne said it was important to build on this success story. “The last match we played under pressure was the Olympic qualifiers and that was almost two years ago. What needs to be done is to organise the Hockey India League for women, play more Pro League matches and conduct more matches in India and play more matches overseas,” he pointed out. Marijne also hoped the team's performance in Tokyo would serve as an inspiration. “I think every girl in this team has her own story and each one of them is amazing. That is something I experienced, especially from where I come from, the Netherlands, we don't have stories like this. I hope they inspire a new generation of girls who will start playing. Not just hockey, but any sport,” he added. The Dutchman, who worked in tandem with his compatriot Janneke Schopman, the analytical coach, and scientific advisor Wayne Lombard, pointed out that belief was a huge part of the team's structure. “Earlier, if I had told someone that the no.10 in the world can win an Olympic medal, people would have said, 'you can say what you want coach, but we are not believing you.' But we always had the belief that we could win a medal and we got very close to it. This was because of the belief the girls had in themselves. I'm very proud of them,” he said. During the competition, Marijne and Schopman, apart from working out strategies, also showed emotions like anger and empathy to turn things around after India lost their first three matches in the league phase. They even had the team watch an inspirational movie and short clips about being in the moment. Hence he seems at ease handing over the job to Schopman who he said he always considered as an equal. Before the bronze-medal playoff the message was simple. “You have to give everything so you can look in the mirror and say,' I did everything I could. We showed fight and spirit but it wasn't enough,” opined the coach.
226 Mumbai: A medal isn't the only measure of a champion. The Indian women's hockey team proved to be a success story with their performance at the Tokyo Olympics, garnering love and respect along the way. It was only their third Olympic hockey appearance, but yet managed to claim the spotlight. Rani Rampal and her girls from nowhere became champions, winning hearts of crores of people at home and across the globe, in their own way. The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled when they lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match on Friday. The Indian women had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semi-finals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained elusive as world no. 4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. However, the Indian eves left the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch with respect and proved that the greatness of sport lies not just in winning medals, but being champions despite having anything in their kitty, yet conquering the world. It was one of the rare moments as the English women were seen consoling their opponents after India lost the bronze medal-winning match against them. A soothing act by the English women, which has been rare in the field of sports. Indians, who were underdogs when the games began, punched above their weight and rattled their opponents with their fight. As Nazleen Madraswawalla, former Indian player said, "It has been a day of mixed emotions, as Indian women went down fighting to the former 2016 Olympic Champions 3-4. It was a great display of top-class hockey along with determination and grit. The hunger was evident, but it did not convert into the outcome we so dearly wished for." Recalling the painful moment, Nazleen, who is now settled in New Zealand, said, "It was painful to know that the opportunity to stand on the podium and create history was snatched away in the blink of an eye." But the striking forward of yesteryears, Nazleen, added, "In this loss, I don't see defeat. I see this as a moment to understand how these girls worked as a team, and gave their all till the very last whistle." There was individual brilliance, with Vandana Katariya becoming the first Indian player with a hat-trick, and the custodian Savita Punia's 100 per cent accuracy rate, and Gurjit Kaur scoring in the last three matches with her powerful drag flicks. "Self-belief is crucial as unless they believe in themselves, the next steps will be too difficult to navigate, and my advice to those who are in the team, the young players who are waiting in the ranks to represent India, and those who aspire to do great things for this game, three words: Dedication, focus and self-belief," Nazleen added. No medal. But celebrate the India women's hockey team anyway. They deserve it. The strides they have made in international hockey have been nothing short of incredible champions.
227 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of ?25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The Prime Minister, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India''s greatest sportspersons”. “Naming the country's highest sports honour in the name of the country's greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud,” Shah said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons. BJP President JP Nadda said, “Naming the highest sporting honour after the 'magician of hockey' is a welcome decision and the nation embraces it.” Party MP Gautam Gambhir, a member of two cricket World Cup winning teams, said the Khel Ratna Award should have been named after a sport's personality when it was launched.
228 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India's highest sporting award will be renamed after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, a change which effectively removes “Rajiv Gandhi” prefix to the Khel Ratna. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, launched in 1991-92, comprising a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Chess legend Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. The announcement sparked a discussion over the “political overtones” of the decision though Modi tweeted that he had been getting many requests from citizens across the country to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. “Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,” the PM said and shared a picture paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. The Prime Minister, who has been interacting with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and had also urged the nation to keep encouraging the Indian players, said the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams has captured the imagination of the entire nation. “There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” he added. BJP hailed the announcement made by PM Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a “true tribute to one of India''s greatest sportspersons”. "Naming the country''s highest sports honour in the name of the country''s greatest sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand is a true tribute to him. The decision will make everyone associated with the sporting world proud," Shah said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand is a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportspersons. BJP President JP Nadda said, “Naming the highest sporting honour after the 'magician of hockey' is a welcome decision and the nation embraces it.” Party MP Gautam Gambhir, a member of two cricket World Cup winning teams, said the Khel Ratna Award should have been named after a sport's personality when it was launched.
229 Simdega residents gather to watch semi-final match in a tent While the Indian women's hockey team faced defeat against Argentina during the semi-final clash in the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, family members of Salima Tete and Nikki Pradhan-part of the national squad hailing from this state, have hailed the players for having fought till the end. In Badkichapar village in Simdega district where Salima lives, all hockey fans and villagers were enthusiastic hours before the match. Outside Salima's house, villages pooled in resources with the help of Hockey Simdega, the district outfit, to set up a tent for viewing the match. On Tuesday night, the district administration also gifted Salima's parents a 43 inch LED TV along with a D2H connection and installed it immediately, as a token of appreciation for the athlete's achievement for the district and the state. By the time the match began at 3pm, villagers across different age groups descended outside Salima's home to watch the historic match. Chants ofSalima-Salimaranted in the air whenever her visuals popped up on the screen. "Gaon ki beti khel rahi hai. Pehli baar etna bada TV mein dekhe usko(Daughter of the village is playing. I am seeing her for the firstI time on such a big TV," remarked Banti Mahto, a middle-aged man, part of the village crowd. "Disappointed with India's loss, but hopes aren't lost all together. Whole country's blessings are with the team.Betiyan jitegi jarur(Daughters will win for sure)," said Salima's father, Sulakshan Tere. Similar views were expressed by Nikki's kin. Her sister Shashi Pradhan, a former player and railway employee said, "The game is still not over." She added that the girls fought valiantly in true spirit and the match was an apt semi-final. "It was just about one lucky shot. Probably, it wasn't India's day today," she commented. Hopes of a bronze medal are still alive both for the men and women's team. The latter will take on Great Britain on August 6 for their final clash.
230 Sonepet, Shahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Kolasib, Lulkidihi, Roshnabad or Badkichapar: the Indian women's hockey players hail from different parts of the country. But they are driven by a common passion and purpose. “Desh ki liya kuch karna hai,” is the team mantra. They have already done enough to make the country proud, transforming themselves from also-rans to podium contenders as they reached the semifinals at the Tokyo Games with a commendable win over Australia. Two steps away from their maiden Olympic medal, Rani Rampal and her band of courageous girls will look to punch above their weight again when they take on world No. 4 Argentina in their last-4 clash on Wednesday. What is required of them is a knockout punch despite the odds. While they go about rewriting history, it is important that the Sjoerd Marijne-coached team stay focused as the weight of expectations has increased after their male counterparts failed to overcome the Belgian challenge in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Las Leonas will start as formbook favourites. The twotime silver medallists (2000, 2012) are looking to return to the podium, having missed out on one at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The two teams faced each other earlier this year when India had toured Argentina, playing seven matches against various teams. They faced the senior side in three matches, splitting points in the first match (1-all) before going down in the next two (0-2, 2-3). The key difference between Australia and Argentina is their on-field approach. While the Aussies are all aggression and pace, Argentina are conventional in their approach, focusing on the midfield and controlling the pace of the match. Patience is a virtue that they exhibit in abundance to wear the opposition down. Not only will India have to play out of their skin, they will also have to display the bold brand of hockey like they did against Australia. India will be in with a real chance if the defenders can keep away from conceding penalty corners which is among Argentina's strengths. Also, the midfield and strikers will have to use the flanks well to move ahead. Dutchman Marijne conceded Argentina is the team to beat. “It will be a difficult match for us, Argentina is a good team. We played them in January and we know that Argentina is a hard team to beat. Their defence is very strong. We have to convert our goal-scoring opportunities like we converted the penalty corner against Australia. It's all about focusing on the task and staying in the moment.”
231 The Indians defended bravely - often throwing their bodies on the line - and attacked boldly, stunning three-time champions Australia 1-0 in a thrilling quarter-final From Zafar Iqbal to Mir Ranjan Negi, the India women's hockey team's stunning quarter-final win over Australia has rekindled hope in many a former star, tempting them to weave bigger dreams around Rani Rampal's band of fearless achievers. "They haven't reached this far just by fluke. They did struggle initially in the league phase, but never did they give up. They never took a step back, rather kept persevering and now you can see the result. "Such perseverance only showed that ladkiyon mein dum hai aur woh ladkon se accha khelein," Iqbal, a former India captain and also a member of the India hockey team that clinched gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, told The Telegraph. Negi, on the other hand, feels that the real story has been "more thrilling" than reel, referring to the Bollywood blockbuster Chak De! India. "This win against Australia is more thrilling than what we saw in Chak De! India. The film went according to the script, but in Tokyo, our women's team has created history. Sitting miles away from the stadium, I'm getting goosebumps," former India goalkeeper Negi, whose life-story was one of the inspirations behind the 2007 movie, said. "Nobody had any expectations from this team. Honestly, I too didn't have any, but these girls have proved everyone wrong," Negi, also a former goalkeeper coach of the men's and women's teams that won gold in the 1998 Asian Games and 2002 Commonwealth Games, respectively, added. In Wednesday's semi-final, India will face Argentina. "The Argentina women's team is really good. But there's no need for our girls to fear them. They just need to focus on their strengths. Just make sure you plan properly, make minimum wrong passes and keep the ball in your control," the 65-year-old Iqbal advised. And according to Negi, all they need to do is stay calm. "The momentum is with them and at this point, they can beat any team in the world. But they have to be calm."
232 German Judo star Martyna Trajdos was shaken up and slapped by her coach just before her match and said that this ritual keeps her awake before fights. A viral video of a coach shaking his player ferociously and then giving her a couple of slaps to get her ready before her match has raked in over 5 million views on social media. Many players and coaches follow various pre-game rituals, but this was out of the ordinary and that the views of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics have never seen before. German Judo star Martyna Trajdos was thoroughly shaken up by her coach and received a couple of slaps as part of his pep talk before her match against her Hungarian opponent Szofi Ozbas. While Trajdos clarified later after the match that this is the 'ritual' she chose for herself before the Games, the coach Claudiu Pusa has landed in trouble. The International Judo Federation has issued a warning against Pusa for 'bad behaviour' towards his player. Trajdos, who was competing in the 63kg category of women's Judo, lost the Round of 32 game but has requested everyone to not blame her coach as she said that she requested him to do this as it keeps her awake before the match. Taking to Instagram, Trajdos wrote, "Look's like this was not hard enough! I wish I could have made a different headline today. As I already said that's the ritual which I chose pre competition ! My coach is just doing what I want him to do to fire me up!" While the ritual invited some harsh criticism on social media as many said that this is not how a player should be motivated, most of the users on Twitter had a laugh about and came up with hilarious reactions to the same. Many of them were reminded of their alarm clocks, while many of them were reminded of what coffee and energy drinks do to them. Here are some of the reactions:
233 A third person from Roshnabad village in Haridwar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly passing casteist slurs on the family of hockey star Vandana Katariya. Sumit Chauhan, 22, was picked up from his home by Haridwar police. A team of four cops was also stationed at the Olympian's house on Friday after the family demanded security alleging threats from the dominant caste members in their village. Hockey team captain Rani Rampal condemned the “shameful act” on Saturday, urging people to “rise above casteism”. “Our religions are different, we come from different parts of the country but when we play, we play for the Indian flag,” she told the media, adding that lessons had to be learnt to end such abuse “if India is to become a sporting nation”. Earlier, two men who allegedly harassed Kataria's family, including a national-level hockey player, were arrested and produced before court. All three have been booked under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act. Chauhan, Ankur Pal and his brother Vijay Pal — a hockey player who has represented Uttarakhand at the national level — had burst crackers, staged a dance and mocked Katariya's family after the Indian women's hockey team's semi-final loss at the Olympics. The team lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” the men had allegedly said, launching into a stream of casteist abuses. Haridwar SSP Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S told TOI that all three accused were in custody now and investigation in the matter is on. “We have provided police protection to the family,” he said. This came even as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Katariya on Saturday and congratulated her on her performance. “We are proud of her achievement. She is an inspiration, especially for women. Her success will encourage many to take up sports, even those living in remote areas who lack facilities,” said Dhami, adding that he had invited the hockey player to his official residence after her return from Tokyo. The state has also announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Katariya. Besides, she would be honoured with the Tilu Rauteli award, Uttarakhand's highest recognition for women. The award is named after a young warrior in Pauri Garhwal in the 17th century who is believed to have fought seven wars by the time she turned 21. (Inputs by Kautilya Singh)
234 WOMEN'S GOLF Ace Indian golfer Aditi Ashok followed up her first-round 67 with another brilliant, blemish-free five-under 66 to stay in contention for an Olympic medal in Tokto on Thursday. The 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, took her two-day total to nineunder 133 to be tied second with the Danish duo of Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63). The trio was four shots behind the world No. 1, American Nelly Korda, who shot a stunning nine-under 62 on another brilliant day for scoring at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Diksha Dagar (72), the other Indian in the 60-player field, was tied 53rd on sixover 148. With the threat of thunderstorms over the weekend, the 72-hole competition could be reduced to a 54-hole affair, and Aditi knows that she needs to start attacking the pin from the get-go on the third day to be on the podium. “Whether it's 54 or 72 holes, I'm not going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be aggressive and make more birdies,” Aditi said. Although the birdies were hard to come by after she picked up shots on the second and sixth holes, the Bengalurean was solid right through. “I played well today and scrambled fewer times compared to the opening round,” she said. The 23-year-old hit a purple patch on the home stretch, picking up birdies on three of the last four holes – 15th, 17th and 18th to stay within striking distance of the leader. She could have had another birdie on the par-3, 16th hole but missed a tough 15-foot putt. “The last three holes, I had a couple shots that were just a good number for me, and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day,” said Aditi, who hit within 7-8 feet of the flag on the closing holes. “I could have definitely created more birdie opportunities today, but I'm happy that I played bogey-free and stayed consistent with my game plan,” said Aditi, who was solid with her hitting and didn't give herself any long putts. The youngster knows she is on the cusp of winning a medal, but isn't getting ahead of herself. “It's definitely at the back of my mind, but on the course, I'm not thinking much about it. I'm just trying to hit the best shot I can hit,” said Aditi, who is coming off a career-best third-place finish on the LPGA. Leading scores (after 36 holes): 129: Nelly Korda (US, 67, 62); 133: Aditi Ashok (Ind, 67, 66), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Den, 69, 64), Emily Kristine Pedersen (Den, 70, 73); 134: Madelene Sagstrom (Swe, 66, 68); 135: Mone Inami (Jpn, 70, 65), Ko Jin-Young (Kor, 68, 67).
235 Karnam Malleswari created history at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal when she clinched a bronze in weightlifting. On Saturday in Tokyo, 21 years later, Mirabai Chanu improved on that feat by bagging a silver, a news that brought immense joy to Malleswari. "After a long gap there has been some good news in the weightlifting family of the country," Malleswari told The Telegraph. "It is a wonderful feeling, the way Mirabai performed today and did the country proud. I extend my hearty congratulations to Mirabai, her team and her family members, all of whom had a role to play in her success." Asked why the country had to wait for two decades for a weightlifting medal since her bronze, Malleswari said: "See, most of the Indian athletes who have reached the world level, the Olympic level, have come out of the interior areas of the country, villages and small towns. And so long as we don't reach those backward areas to provide coaching and develop infrastructure, the situation will not change. "And after another 20 years you will be asking Mirabai the same question that you are asking me now. "There is no dearth of talent in our country but the onus of nurturing that talent, of providing them with the requisite training lies on us, doesn't it? There may be a kid who is a terrific sprinter in a backward region. But there isn't an athletic track anywhere close. "A youngster may have the potential to be a great weightlifter but there are no gyms around. How then do you expect an athlete to develop his talent? So, as long as we do not make coaching and infrastructural facilities available at the grassroots level, from one medal to the next this yawning gap will remain." Malleswari strongly disagreed when asked if fewer women take to weightlifting because it is a more 'manly' pursuit. "It is not about the mindset. I took to lifting 30 years back. It is, I reiterate, more due to the lack of basic facilities. "Yes, the government has brought good schemes for those girls and boys who have reached a certain level. But there has been hardly any development at the grassroots level. And if the situation does not change, one medal in 15-20 years is all we will get. "And the credit for that medal will almost totally go to the athlete himself/herself, to their own talents and perseverance - a reason why Mirabai deserves a lot more credit for having overcome her injury and groomed herself to the podium," she concluded.
236 Naomi Osaka's power was doused by pressure at the Ariake Tennis Park on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Japanese, the face of the Tokyo Games, fell to the left-handed ware of Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 1-6, 4-6 in 70 minutes. “I'm really glad to be here,” a downcast Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame to flag the Games off, insisted. “I'm sad that I lost, of course, but all in all really happy with my first Olympic experience.” Osaka's last match, coming into her home competition, was at the end of May. The world No.2 had taken a mental health break after she refused to do press conferences during the French Open. Osaka addressed the media briefly at the mixed zone following her loss. Vondrousova, the 2019 French Open finalist, ranked 42 in the world, owned the stats. That said as much about her performance as it did about her opponent's struggle on the day. “I feel like I should be used to it by now,” said Osaka of the pressure. “At the same time, I think the scale of everything is a bit higher because of the break that I took. I'm glad I didn't lose in the first round, at least.” The ninth seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic ousted reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to make the quarters. Tokyo: US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles sent shockwaves through the Olympics on Tuesday, tearfully citing concerns for her mental health after a dramatic withdrawal mid-competition during the women's team final. The 24-year-old four-time Olympic gold medallist - one of the faces of the Tokyo Games - got off to a shaky start at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre with a lacklustre opening vault. Stunned onlookers watched as Biles was led off the competition floor before returning wearing a tracksuit. Soon afterwards, USA Gymnastics confirmed she would sit out the remainder of the final with an unspecified medical issue. Speaking to reporters after the final Biles said concerns for her mental wellbeing prompted her decision to withdraw. “At the end of the day, I have to do what's right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my wellbeing,” she said. Biles cited Osaka as an inspiration and said she thought it was good to be talking about mental health in sports. “At the end of the day, we're human too so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than do what the world wants us to do.” If Biles fails to recover in time for Thursday's individual allaround competition, it would mark a stunning turn of events at a Games which she had been strongly expected to dominate. Biles later began crying as she revealed a loss of confidence in her abilities. “I just don't trust myself as much as I used to,” she said. “I feel like I am also not having as much fun. That just hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken.” In the end, the Russian team beat the Americans by 3.5 points, a significant margin in the sport.
237 Naomi Osaka's power was doused by pressure at the Ariake Tennis Park on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Japanese, the face of the Tokyo Games, fell to the left-handed ware of Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 1-6, 4-6 in 70 minutes. “I'm really glad to be here,” a downcast Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame to flag the Games off, insisted. “I'm sad that I lost, of course, but all in all really happy with my first Olympic experience.” Osaka's last match, coming into her home competition, was at the end of May. The world No.2 had taken a mental health break after she refused to do press conferences during the French Open. Osaka addressed the media briefly at the mixed zone following her loss. Vondrousova, the 2019 French Open finalist, ranked 42 in the world, owned the stats. That said as much about her performance as it did about her opponent's struggle on the day. “I feel like I should be used to it by now,” said Osaka of the pressure. “At the same time, I think the scale of everything is a bit higher because of the break that I took. I'm glad I didn't lose in the first round, at least.” The ninth seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic ousted reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to make the quarters. US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles sent shockwaves through the Olympics on Tuesday, tearfully citing concerns for her mental health after a dramatic withdrawal mid-competition during the women's team final. The 24-year-old four-time Olympic gold medallist - one of the faces of the Tokyo Games - got off to a shaky start at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre with a lacklustre opening vault. Stunned onlookers watched as Biles was led off the competition floor before returning wearing a tracksuit. Soon afterwards, USA Gymnastics confirmed she would sit out the remainder of the final with an unspecified medical issue. Speaking to reporters after the final Biles said concerns for her mental wellbeing prompted her decision to withdraw. “At the end of the day, I have to do what's right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my wellbeing,” she said. Biles cited Osaka as an inspiration and said she thought it was good to be talking about mental health in sports. “At the end of the day, we're human too so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than do what the world wants us to do.” If Biles fails to recover in time for Thursday's individual allaround competition, it would mark a stunning turn of events at a Games which she had been strongly expected to dominate. Biles later began crying as she revealed a loss of confidence in her abilities. “I just don't trust myself as much as I used to,” she said. “I feel like I am also not having as much fun. That just hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken.” In the end, the Russian team beat the Americans by 3.5 points, a significant margin in the sport.
238 Ever since she returned home from Rio de Janeiro with a silver medal, PV Sindhu has been wanting to change it to gold. Five years on, she had an opportunity on Saturday, only to fluff her lines as touch artist Tai Tzu Ying proved a cut above. The world No. 1 Chinese Taipei shuttler outclassed Sindhu 21-18, 21-12 in the women's singles semifinals on Saturday. Try as she did, Sindhu was no match for her opponent, especially in the second game. “I'm sad because it's the semifinals. I tried my best but it was just not my day,” a wistful Sindhu said. Sindhu will now contest the bronze medal playoff with He Bing Jiao of China on Sunday. Bing Jiao lost the other semifinal to top seed Chen Yufei of China 16-21, 21-13, 21-12. Though Bing Jiao enjoys a 9-6 win-loss record, Sindhu won their last meeting at the World Tour Finals in 2019. Against Tai, Sindhu looked good in the first game and led 5-2. Retrieving almost everything, Sindhu went into the break up 11-8. But it was just a matter of time before Tai unfolded her bag of tricks. She won four straight points to move to 12-11. Having wrested the initiative, Tai looked unstoppable. The world No. 1 played three body smashes and many drop shots to take the sting out of Sindhu's attack. The Indian worked hard to stay close till 18-18 before Tai clinched the issue. If the first of the three points that Tai won, a round the head drop, was a delight to watch, the straight smash was ferocious. It was easy pickings for Tai in the second game, as she repeatedly troubled Sindhu at the net. Though Sindhu tried to alter the pace of the game with some aggressive smashes, Tai was fully in control. The trademark crosscourt acute-angled drop, a shot which many men shuttlers struggle with, was a regular feature of her second game and won her points. She went into the break up 11-7 lead and finished the match with a powerpacked crosscourt smash to avenge the pre-quarterfinals loss to Sindhu at the Rio Olympics. “I was prepared for her skills, so I don't think that troubled me a lot. The level of the semifinals is going to be really high. You can't expect easy points. I just couldn't be on the winning side,” Sindhu said.
239 INDORE: Chak De India! The moment of climax when the Indian women's hockey team beat the Australian hockey team...a dream that many even feared would come true on Monday, thanks to the fighting spirit of the women who did not back down and played demonstrating their 'fight-back' attitude! A new history has been created-a history that will inspire many and create new benchmarks for every sportsperson. The Indian women's hockey team has scripted this history! They booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time after beating Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Rani Rampal and her team will face in the semis Argentina, which beat Germany 3-0 in the previous quarter-finals match. Recounting the match, there were several moments that can inspire anyone to dream and follow those dreams. It was the match of a century, where the Indian women's hockey team made the entire country proud. As we look at the team creating history, we must remember to look back and see these women. Most of these are women who have grown up with a lack of facilities. They have lived in poverty and imbibed a fighting spirit from their nascent years. The Chak De moment is also that both teams are playing the semi-finals after more than four decades. It was a true and wonderful surprise for the entire country. After losing three matches, their attempt portrayed one thing clearly: 'Fight back!' Theirs was a come-back that hit the target after hitting a pole. When the match started, and they gave their first shot, the ball came back hitting a pole. It was a huge let-down for the team. But they did not give up, and fought back with more energy and spirit to win. Not backing down, Gurjit Kaur scored the first goal during the Women's quarter-final match between Australia and India on Day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday.Throughout all the quarters, the Australian team kept up the pressure. Despite looking little in front of the Australian women's team, our little girls did not back down. They stayed committed to their goal and worked patiently towards it. It was a very different match from the other matches. They wanted to prove themselves. They were persistent. The entire country watched the match. The last moments of the match had everyone on their toes praying for a win and... there it was, a victory to remember! Goalkeeper Savita played an essential role in bringing this moment to India. She literally gave it her all and then some more, defending 2/2 field goal attempts by the Australian team to keep her clean sheet intact. It is a new start...A new sun rose for hockey in India. People are talking only about hockey, and that, too, women's hockey, in the country now! If these warriors control their excitement, there is more to come. Excitement is normal, but if they control it and play with focus, they can win over Argentina easily.I have been talking non-stop since morning about this achievement. It is a sign that Chak De is back! Our women's hockey team rocks and is ready to take on the battle. They must just remember to be patient, persistent and grounded.
240 Think Indian women's hockey and the image that would usually flash through most people's minds was the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak De! India'. Usually, that is. After the performance of the women in the Tokyo Olympics, common notions are set to change: this real team of bravehearts might replace make-believe screen icons as the source of inspiration in people's minds. Over the past couple of weeks, the Indian women's hockey team – the real deal – has emerged from the shadows of Bollywood's bright lights. The likes of Rani Rampal and others from the courageous group marshalled by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne are now household names. In only their third appearance on the world's biggest sporting stage, the team went from also-rans to being among the top four. A historic medal was within grasp but sadly not in the bag. A resurgent Great Britain pulled off a great escape with a 4-3 victory in the playoff for the bronze medal on Friday. Britain have commanding credentials. Champions in 2016 and ranked No. 5 in the world, they were ahead in experience, exposure and skill. And yet, for the most part, it didn't count for much against the Indians. Much like the rest of the competition, it was a rollercoaster ride for the Indian team. They were trailing by two goals when six magical minutes sent their hopes and expectations soaring. India scored three times with Gurjit Kaur and Vandana Katariya powering them ahead. They led 3-2 at half-time. The fire was stoked but Britain had enough in their armoury to douse it. Their inspirational skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb ensured her team found parity in the 35th minute. And with 12 minutes to go, Grace Balsdon's powerful drag-flick sealed the deal for Britain. For the better part of the 60-minute contest, though, there was little to choose between the teams. If anything, India's midfield was slightly off-key, failing to execute passes and losing possession. Perhaps big-match composure will come with time. India fired the first salvo when Navneet Kaur forayed into the striking circle after latching on to a pass from Rani in the second minute. But her shot at the goal was cleared by the British defenders. Once Britain settled in, they launched a blitz. It took an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Savita Punia to keep the sheet clean at the end of the first quarter. A solo effort from Elena Rayer on the right flank put Britain ahead in the 16th minute, her goalbound shot going off defender Deep Grace Ekka's stick. Britain then crowded India's defence and doubled the lead in the 24th minute with Sarah Robertson finding the mark after being set up by Shona McCallin. Then followed the Indian fightback. They played to their strengths of forcing penalty corners and Gurjit (25th and 26th minute) struck twice in as many minutes. India's strikers were then guilty of some profligacy with Navneet Kaur missing a rebound off Sushila Chanu but Vandana made amends and found the back of the net. However, Britain piled on the pressure and the Indians picked up cards at crucial junctures, leaving them vulnerable. Britain didn't need a second invitation.
241 Indore: Chak De India! The moment of climax when the Indian women's hockey team beat the Australian hockey team...a dream that many even feared would come true on Monday, thanks to the fighting spirit of the women who did not back down and played demonstrating their 'fight-back' attitude! A new history has been created-a history that will inspire many and create new benchmarks for every sportsperson. The Indian women's hockey team has scripted this history! They booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Olympics for the very first time in the last 41 years beating Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Rani Rampal and her girls will face Argentina for a place in the final, which beat Germany 3-0 in the previous quarter-finals match. Recounting the match, there were several moments that can inspire anyone to dream and follow those dreams. It was the match of a century, where the Indian women's hockey team made the entire country proud. As we look at the team creating history, we must remember to look back and see these women. Most of these are women who have grown up with a lack of facilities. They have lived in poverty and imbibed a fighting spirit from their nascent years. The Chak De moment is also that both teams are playing the semi-finals after more than four decades. It was a true and wonderful surprise for the entire country. After losing three matches, their attempt portrayed one thing clearly: 'Fight back!' Theirs was a come-back that hit the target after hitting a pole. When the match started, and they gave their first shot, the ball came back hitting a pole. It was a huge let-down for the team. But they did not give up, and fought back with more energy and spirit to win. Not backing down, Gurjit Kaur scored the goal, converting a penalty corner at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Throughout all the quarters, the Australian team kept up the pressure, our girls did not back down. They stayed committed to their goal and worked patiently towards it. They wanted to prove themselves. They were persistent. The entire country watched the match. The last moments of the match had everyone on their toes praying for a win and... there it was, a victory to remember! Goalkeeper Savita Guniya played a crucial role in bringing this moment to India. Savita literally gave it her all, and her saves of two goal-bound attempts kept the Aussie women at bay. It is a new start...A new sun rose for hockey in India. People are talking only about hockey, and that, too, women's hockey, in the country now! If these warriors control their excitement, there is more to come. Excitement is normal, but if they control it and play with focus, they can win over Argentina easily. I have been talking non-stop since morning about this achievement. It is a sign that Chak De is back! Our women's hockey team rocks and is ready to take on the battle. They must just remember to be patient, persistent and grounded. The writer, Mir Ranjan Negi is the former international player
242 Was Manika Batra a little out of line or justified in her demand to get oncourt access to personal coach Sanmay Paranjape? Whatever the real reason, a day ago the table-tennis player's blunt refusal to seek advice from chief national coach Soumyadeep Roy, during her first-round match against Britain's Tin-Tin Ho, generated some controversy. On Sunday, Manika rose above all the chatter and negative talk, scripting a sensational, comefrom-behind victory against World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska in a seven-game thriller. The win brought cheer and served as a timely reminder of Manika's considerable abilities. The 26-year-old Delhi girl, ranked 30 places below Pesotska at World No. 62, came back from two games down to upset the Ukrainian 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 in her women's singles second-round match, which lasted a pulsating, excruciating 56 minutes. Pesotska is coached by her mother Margarita Anatoliina, a former USSR and Ukraine champion. Manika, the country's topranked women's table-tennis player, will next face Austria's Sofia Polcanova, the World No. 16, in the third round on Monday, and the entire country will hold its breath in anticipation of another giant-killing act from the talented paddler. Manika had already created history en route her 4-0 victory against Ho on Saturday, when she became the first Indian woman paddler to win a table-tennis match in 29 years since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. India's last women's singles win in T-T came when Niyati Roy-Shah defeated Cuba's Marisel Ramirez in Barcelona during the preliminary stage. Manika's strong mental resolve and brilliant control stood out. In a way, she also appeared to be seeking validation of sorts. After all, she knew a disciplinary action might be awaiting her back home for stopping official coach Roy from performing his duties. Manika has largely been keeping to herself in the Athletes Village, spending much of her time indoors. She has kept her interactions with team members and coaches to a minimum. Perhaps it has all added to her resolve. On Sunday, she was two games down to Pesotska and stood on the precipice of defeat. Even as she recovered, finding hidden reserves of confidence and resilience, TV cameras inside the Tokyo Gymnasium arena focused on a man constantly cajoling Manika from the spectators' gallery: it was Paranjape, with his mask on. It was as if Manika was waiting for her coach to arrive and show her the way. Midway through, she changed her game plan and focused more on rallies and powerful smashes. At times, she just rolled the ball on to the opponent's side of the table to make the return impossible. She even took to standing a slight distance behind the table. The Ukrainian threatened to derail Manika's Tokyo campaign by taking the fifth, but Manika wasn't in the mood to give up after having come this far. She effected an even greater comeback in the sixth game and her relentless attack, coupled with occasional top spin, sealed the issue in her favour in the decider. For the player, the performance must have been a resounding retort to her detractors.
243 Was Manika Batra a little out of line or justified in her demand to get on-court access to personal coach Sanmay Paranjape? Whatever the real reason, a day ago the table-tennis player's blunt refusal to seek advice from chief national coach Soumyadeep Roy, during her first-round match against Britain's Tin-Tin Ho, generated some controversy. On Sunday, Manika rose above all the chatter and negative talk, scripting a sensational, come-from-behind victory against World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska in a seven-game thriller. The win brought cheer and served as a timely reminder of Manika's considerable abilities. The 26-year-old Delhi girl, ranked 30 places below Pesotska at World No. 62, came back from two games down to upset the Ukrainian 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 in her women's singles second-round match, which lasted a pulsating, excruciating 56 minutes. Pesotska is coached by her mother Margarita Anatoliina, a former USSR and Ukraine champion. Manika, the country's top-ranked women's table-tennis player, will next face Austria's Sofia Polcanova, the World No. 16, in the third round on Monday, and the entire country will hold its breath in anticipation of another giant-killing act from the talented paddler. Manika had already created history en route her 4-0 victory against Ho on Saturday, when she became the first Indian woman paddler to win a table-tennis match in 29 years since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. India's last women's singles win in T-T came when Niyati Roy-Shah defeated Cuba's Marisel Ramirez in Barcelona during the preliminary stage. Manika's strong mental resolve and brilliant control stood out. In a way, she also appeared to be seeking validation of sorts. After all, she knew a disciplinary action might be awaiting her back home for stopping official coach Roy from performing his duties. Manika has largely been keeping to herself in the Athletes Village, spending much of her time indoors. She has kept her interactions with team members and coaches to a minimum. Perhaps it has all added to her resolve. On Sunday, she was two games down to Pesotska and stood on the precipice of defeat. Even as she recovered, finding hidden reserves of confidence and resilience, TV cameras inside the Tokyo Gymnasium arena focused on a man constantly cajoling Manika from the spectators' gallery: it was Paranjape, with his mask on. It was as if Manika was waiting for her coach to arrive and show her the way. Midway through, she changed her game plan and focused more on rallies and powerful smashes. At times, she just rolled the ball on to the opponent's side of the table to make the return impossible. She even took to standing a slight distance behind the table. The Ukrainian threatened to derail Manika's Tokyo campaign by taking the fifth, but Manika wasn't in the mood to give up after having come this far. She effected an even greater comeback in the sixth game and her relentless attack, coupled with occasional top spin, sealed the issue in her favour in the decider. For the player, the performance must have been a resounding retort to her detractors.
244 For nearly four decades, the mother of all sporting upsets belonged to India. It was getting lonely at the top for Lord's 83, somewhat jaded as it waited for genuine company. Along the way, a lot of close hits and wide misses, but nothing perhaps counted. Then, on Monday, in sunny Tokyo, an Indian women's hockey team, low in prominence, but high on belief, did the unthinkable. They shocked the mighty Australian women's team – so good they have a name, Hockeyroos – to move in to the semifinals of the Olympics. A Gurjit Kaur penalty corner conversion and nine saves by goalkeeper Savita Punia meant Rani Rampal's team were handing the Aussie women an upset of epic proportions. Coming a day after the Indian men's entry into the semis, suddenly hockey was storming back into a waiting nation's collective consciousness. But it wasn't just all heave and connect. There's a backstory, starting with the meeting room in the women's hostel at Bengaluru's SAI South Centre, which is adorned with newspaper cuttings that chronicle their journey — as a team and as individuals. An initiative of skipper Rani, the laminated frames at the second home to this hockey team are a reminder of who they are and how far they have come. For a squad comprising eight first-time Olympians, this unique installation lends itself as anchor to forge a closely-knit unit. Scenes after the hooter at Oi Stadium – Indian hockey's Lord's – were testimony when tears, laughter, banter and huddles merged into a happy chaos, even as the Hockeyroos trudged off shellshocked. What a turnaround it was proving. For a better part of their careers, the reach of the women's team was limited. They couldn't have gotten off to a worse start at Tokyo, losing three matches on the trot in the group stage. And then, out of nowhere, came two back-to-back wins that took them into the knockout rounds. Suddenly, these 18 destiny's children were builders of dreams, knowing that everyone was at zero once the group phase was over. The sporting egalitarianism of a knockout stage provided an unlikely impetus. The Indian women's success is an evolving story of skill and speed as much as it is of mental strength. It has been a moving tale of pain, pressure, sacrifice, and breaking barriers. Most of the team hails from economically meagre families and all the attended societal pressures that come with it. In a sense, they were already battle-hardened even before they took up the stick, they only needed to turn a corner. Monday's madness proved that turn. It was the strangest run-up to the Games. Vandana Katariya, hattrick heroine against South Africa, lost her father as recently as May 30 this year. Seven players had to take a Covid-19-induced break, they have lived in near isolation at Bengaluru's SAI centre and conformed to new norms of training – smaller groups and limited interaction. Most of the team building exercises were virtual. Against Australia, the team was all aggressive intent, holding nothing back in both the attack and defence. Australia dominated ball possession but the Sjoerd Marjinecoached team took control of the proceedings. While each one played a part, it came down to goalkeeper Savita Punia to put up the performance of her career and the 29-yearold gave it her all. Covering every inch of her goal with quick reflexes and finesse in stickwork, she swatted away nine goal-bound balls to ensure this was not to end just a pipe dream. After all, Lord's 83 was in dire need of a partner, because after a while, one-man clubs are no fun.
245 Readers write from Calcutta, Patna, Mumbai, and Jamshedpur Right step Sir - It was inspiring to witness the German women's gymnastics team opt for full-body suits in the qualification round at the Tokyo Olympics in a move to promote freedom of choice and to encourage women to play in what makes them feel comfortable. This step was necessary after the Norwegian women's beach handball team was fined for refusing to wear bikini bottoms during a game in the Euro 2021 tournament - they wore thigh-length elastic shorts instead. Why are women athletes not allowed to compete in clothing they find comfortable, especially when it does not affect their performance in the least? The same restrictions, curiously, are never put on men. Ronodeep Ray,Calcutta Trouble ahead Sir - India might be engaging all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including parts of the Taliban, as part of a 'multi-track' strategy, but it cannot be forgotten that the Taliban are allergic to peace. The increased violence and the rapid territorial gains made by the militant group in Afghanistan since the United States of America began withdrawing its troops show that the former have no intention of bringing political stability to the war-ravaged country. For India, this is cause for great concern. First, if the Taliban capture the Afghan government by force then there is a great likelihood of insurgents from the outfit being used by terror groups in Pakistan to target India. Second, even though the Afghan defence forces have largely succeeded in maintaining peace in Kabul and its adjoining regions, it is likely that the Taliban will disrupt development projects and destroy infrastructure in the countryside, which they have already seized. The US and Nato have promised to give Afghanistan $4 billion annually for countering the Taliban. New Delhi must use this as an opportunity to salvage its investment of $3 billion in several infrastructure and trade projects in Afghanistan. Negotiations with the Taliban may be inevitable, but India must be prepared for an unfavourable outcome. Tushar Anand,Patna Sir - As the prospect of the Taliban fighting their way back into Kabul becomes more likely with the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, there is a growing perception in India that the situation holds no glad tidings or even a silver lining for our country. There are several concerns - if the Taliban regain power, not only will India lose its influence, but the battle-hardened militants may also turn their attention to Kashmir. The return of the Taliban will be terrible for the people of Afghanistan; moreover, they will try to pose the same kind of threat to India as they did in the 1990s. Even then, the Taliban's hostility towards India was found to be driven more by the agenda of Pakistan's military-jihadicomplex than anything else. In recent times, its adversarial position towards India has been in response to India's support for the Afghan government. Now, there may be greater threats to India from the Taliban - supported by Pakistan - in Kashmir. Bhagwan Thadani,Mumbai Sir - Evil often prevails in this world because people in positions of power choose to engage with those who perpetuate crime and terror. At this time, Afghanistan is reeling under the brutal activities of the Taliban. Amid such a situation, Russia allowed a visit by a Taliban 'delegation' earlier this month. Then, a 'delegation' led by the Taliban co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, went on a sudden visit to China and held talks with the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi. In what capacity are the members of the terrorist group being allowed to go on such diplomatic missions? Are they representatives of the Afghan government? Have these 'delegations' been sent by the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani? If that is not the case, then why did the Russian and Chinese governments allow the 'delegations' made up of militants to visit their major cities? If political leaders keep affording such legitimacy to extremists in this manner, then it is highly unlikely that terrorism will ever be eradicated. While there may not be any permanent enmities or friendships in politics, extremism must be opposed at all costs. Jang Bahadur Singh,Jamshedpur
246 In an ideal world uncontaminated by overzealous sports officials, their only mandate over what women should wear in sport would extend to choosing colour schemes of the polyester medal ribbons. And in ensuring every athlete with jelly ligaments has proper taping. Like, not leave India's top woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat rudderless without a physio, if she had a strong chance of getting a medal. Sports policing of athlete outfits could focus on ensuring that sneaker soles and spikes or swimsuits don't accord undue advantage on the track or the pool. But exceeding their brief, sport's officialdom decides that it will not only have an opinion but also air it, on what women will wear when they compete. German gymnasts gave it a long, hard thought over this summer, and decided they will not take on additional pressure of discomfort wearing bikini-cut leotards at Tokyo Olympics. Instead, they opted for unitards, which incidentally are not a novelty for those watching. Men have always been wearing them. Smart ankle-lengths and long-sleeved gear in cherry red, with geometric patterns for a yoke, and a snazzy tattoo pattern at the ankle which accentuated the pointed toes - the design that German gymnasts sported merged aesthetics with acrobatic comfort. Beyond Germany, woman gymnasts in Europe have rebelled this Fall against the unspoken tradition of wearing leotards that are highly sexualised and minutely photographed from uncontrollable angles while women are flinging themselves in the air, and chosen to be more concerned about sticking landings and not breaking their necks. German Elisabeth Seitz nailed her uneven bars routine, but not before declaring: "We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear. On competition day, we will decide what to wear." For a sport that has not quite completely resolved yet the traumatised fallout of a sexual abuse scandal in the US, the apprehensions of the Germans were not imaginary. Elsewhere, the European Beach Handball governing body showed some remarkable thickness in imposing fines on the Norwegian team for turning out in shorts instead of the mandated bikinis. The stipulations are so outrageous that, after 15 years of disapproving, the players couldn't bother less, and their home federation didn't think twice about shelling out the ridiculous fines on their behalf. Sample the stupidity as fleshed out by The New York Times: "Women must wear bikini bottoms 'with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg', and those bikini bottoms cannot be longer than 4 inches". The corresponding men players could "wear shorts at least four inches above the knee, provided they are 'not too baggy'". Beach volleyball women's players are split on the topic of whether shorts ought to be allowed, with practical considerations of sand clinging to the pockets. The entire Muslim world with its women athletes bounding out to participate in every sport possible, meanwhile, is grappling with the skittish issue of why women wearing a hijab - or not, as the case may be - is anyone else's concern. Egyptian beach volleyball player Doaa Elghobashy has competed at the Games for a decade wearing ankle-length tights and a head scarf. Smashing an unreturnable spike gives her immeasurable glee. Watchers should try following the sport, she reckons. Serena Williams was wearing a baby literally when she won an Australian Open. The French crinkling their noses at her bodysuit was plain bad form. At the heart of this debate is women's free choice - to compete feeling comfortable, feeling not being ogled at and feeling good about their game. As a corollary, women do not want to be judged for indulging in fashion on their Big Competition Days either. Painted nails, pretty braids of wrestlers, hair parted two-ways for the sprints, dyed a flaming red to streak on the track, an aura of curls and stylised flags on running tights, lipstick and eye shadow - the tyranny of the trudging tracksuit ended a while back. Tokyo's newest contrivance from the broadcasters zoomed in on swimmers - both male and female - as they wrapped up their swims with limber downs in outdoor showers. But the roving gaze of cameras while athletes compete isn't the only problem. Outdated marketeers insecure about selling their sport, and untrusting of every sporting discipline being capable of producing exciting match-ups, has led to years of dress diktats from the suits. Defiance was long due when women knew in their bones that they could compete just as well without this skin-showing compulsion, that in fact dissuaded many budding careers after puberty hit and body image issues cropped up. The talent oozing out of Tokyo's badminton women's singles final between Tai Tzu Ying and Chen Yufei was so mesmerising that you didn't notice that the two had turned up in shorts. Badminton had once contemplated a compulsory skirts rule. The current golden generation emerged right after the dress-code was summarily dumped. Skills, not body-hugging skins, were enough.
247 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe.
248 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe. (Inputs from Kangan Kalita, Sudeshna Ghosh, Amit Sampat, Dwaipayan Datta, Saibal Bose, Satya Narayan & Dhritiman Ray)
249 It may be time to dust off India's old sports map and add new capitals to it. With the rise of zealous coaches, crowdfunding platforms, state government schemes for rural athletes and keen parents, some of India's mainstream and non-mainstream sports are sprouting from new epicentres. This is perhaps why talent scouts can now find worldclass badminton players in Nagpur, champion sprinters in Tiruchirapalli and promising gymnasts in Tripura. TOI plots a few of the emerging hubs on the country's sports map 2.0 With world-class pugilists Shiva Thapa, Jamuna Boro, Lovlina Borgohain, Bhagyabati Kachari and athlete Hima Das, Guwahati has emerged as a boxing and athletics hub over the last decade. Borgohain, who has become the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country following Shiva Thapa, was 13 when she was spotted by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2013 during a SAI boxing trial. Three track-andfield athletes from Trichy — Arokia Rajiv, S Dhanalakshmi and V Subha — headed to Tokyo, following commendable performances in national-level events like as Federation Cup and Indian Grand Prix editions. Manikandan Arumugam, Dhanalakshmi's long-time coach, credits the sturdy sporting ecosystem in Trichy. “Schools, both government and private, conduct regular athletic meets where talent gets spotted. The presence of a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu centre in Trichy offers the required facilities such as free food and topnotch training to amplify their potential,” said Manikandan. With two established racing platforms -- the popular Bangalore Bicycle Championships and Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR) — providing plenty of racing opportunities, seasoned pros and aspiring riders from various states have made Bengaluru their home. There are at least two races a month for the riders to look forward to. “Community racing is the stuff that builds Trained and skilled by the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur has emerged as the archery hub of Jharkhand. The world cup winning women's recurve team comprising Deepika Kumari, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat come from this academy. Indian women's archery coach Purnima Mahato also hails from the academy. the culture of racing and no other place in India has that going for them,” said six-time national champion Naveen John. A popular UK-based firm is looking to unearth more talents who could one day race on the bigger tours across the world. Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar, famous as the 'city of temples', is slowly morphing into a 'city of athletes'. International events like the Hockey Champions Trophy and the Asian Athletics, held at the main Kalinga Stadium, came as a boon. The hockey turf too was upgraded. The turning point came when Odisha was awarded the hosting rights for the Hockey World Cup in 2018. The hockey stadium in Bhubaneshwar was again renovated and a second pitch set up. The city will now host the next Hockey World Cup along with Rourkela in 2023. Not too far away, the other mini powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur, has so far produced 17 Olympians, seven of whom are hockey players including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the current Indian hockey squad in Tokyo. Khong Kangei — an indigenous sport akin to hockey but played with bamboo root as ball and bamboo stick — has helped local players adapt hockey techniques. Astro turfs coming up and dedicated local coaches contributed to the game's ecosystem. Between the 1960s and 80s, 24 gymnasts from Tripura went on to win 60 national championship medals. But after a long lull that followed in the '90s, it took Dipa Karmakar's bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to bring Tripura into national focus. Tripura's affair with gymnastics began in the 1960s when gymnast Dalip Singh revamped the Vivekananda Byamagar. Mangaluru, the coastal town of Karnataka, is lined with beaches. When local authorities realised its tourism potential, it led to a windfall in another sphere — water sports. While surfing, kayaking and sailing became the main draws, it was South African cricket ace Jonty Rhodes who made water sports in Mangaluru famous when he visited Mulki, 30km from Mangaluru, for water sports in 2013 and has been a regular visitor. Rhodes has been a draw for the young, who began taking interest water sports. The city also hosted an Indian Open of surfing competition and many water sports clubs mushroomed over the past few years. Today, a large number of local fishermen's children have taken up sports like surfing competitively. Once the preserve of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, badminton began to bloom in Nagpur, more famous for its oranges. The city came up on the sports map when Arundhati Pantawane became junior India number one and won the 2011 National Games gold. She later became India number one and world number 40 at a time when the 'City of Oranges' lacked badminton infrastructure. Later, city shuttlers Rasika Raje and Vaibhav Bisne put Nagpur on the national platform and coaches like Kiran Makode and Ajay Dayal nurtured young talent like Malvika Bansod, Ritika Thaker, Vaishnavi Bhale, Rohan Gurbani, Mugdha Agrey, Mrunmayi Saoji and Rashi Lambe.
250 Even as we bask in Neeraj Chopra's glorious javelin goldshine, we aren't like to forget that all losses hurt. But there is a kind of defeat, the one in which so much effort has been firmly hitched on to proven ability, that one was on the brink of victory. And then it is on this brink — on this 'on the verge of' — that one falls short. In this, India's women's hockey team's missing out on an Olympic medal — and to a less obvious manner since his efforts have not been fruitless, Ravi Dahiya missing out on gold in the 57 kg wrestling category — joins the ranks of Milkha Singh and PT Usha in 'falling an inch short'. More than any other variety of defeat, this kind is also the most valuable. It usually provides the most telling clue as to what separated victory from defeat — or more precisely, more certain victory from an uncertain one. 'Falling short,' of course, can also be determined by chance. That one opening, that one stretch of play when dominance becomes key, that single miss or fumble. But if winning is to become a habit — a quality that makes for 'favourites,' and divides topdogs from underdogs, chance must be made to wield the shortest stick. What one picks up from an unexpected victory can also be educational to understand unexpected defeats. And in the case of India's Friday hockey defeat for Olympic bronze, its 'unexpectedness,' one must remember, comes from great expectations that coalesced after India turned the tide after losing to the Netherlands 0-5 on July 24, to Germany 0-2 on July 26, and to Britain 1-4 on July 28 in the pool games by beating South Africa and Australia subsequently. What India coach Sjoerd Marijne told the squad in terms of strategy, in terms of change of game, in terms of sticking to one's guns is important to know. One doesn't go on a wing and a prayer and then beat Australia to meet Argentina in an Olympic semifinal. In 1911, when Mohun Bagan unexpectedly defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to lift the IFA Shield, the subsequent jubilation focused on the 'Indian' side winning the match 'despite playing barefoot'. The tremendous effort, grit and determination that went before Rani Rampal and her team was literally against all odds, which unlike many other Olympic sides stretch back beyond hockey and into economic and social deprivation, the daily challenges of living in the throwaway term but very real entity of 'Real India'. On top of all this, when one encounters the news that members of the upper caste celebrated India's defeat outside Vandana Katariya's home in Haridwar, going on to blame India's defeat against Britain for bronze on Friday to the forward being a dalit – 'What is a dalit doing in an Indian Olympic team?' was one 'question' raised outside the Katariya door — the mind simply boggles and crumples at the same time. But it won't be by focusing on the Indian women pushing against these 'odds' and making it to where they are – shock and awe-making and inspiring as this is — but by their sheer pushplay and talent against opponents displayed on the literally level-playing field of the hockey turf that needs to be celebrated, honed, tweaked to optimum prime. Making the 'despite playing without boots' aspect the central source of pride would be making the same mistake Indian football made. Our athletes not only deserve the metaphorical 'boots' that they are now finally getting, but all the support — and certainly not just moral, but financial, technical, physical and psychological, infrastructural — that makes for a sporting powerhouse. The lesson from Tokyo — from its hockey fields or wrestling mats or weightlifting arenas or boxing rings or track and field — is winning in sports at the highest level requires the wherewithal to win. Or, as they say in politics these days, winnability is all. And for that, the right lessons that go beyond headlines and 'national pride' — which should be an effect of victory, not a cause — have to be gleaned wisely, effectively. As the athletes themselves and their support system know, it's being in it for the long haul, and making it over that precipitous brink.
251 What were you doing on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 2021? Rubbing sleep from your eyes, putting off walking the dog, looking up a vaccination slot, isolating yourself ? Or were you waking up to the fact that a girl from Manipur, spring in her step, eyes brimming with hope but sitting lightly on her slight frame, was about to hand India the 'What were you doing that day?' moment of these recent bleak times. For a brief while on Saturday, Mirabai Chanu made us forget the past year and half with a historic Olympic silver on a busy opening day for India that had promised much but as is typical, was delivering very little. In a flash, that bright, white metal belonged to all of us, as much as it did to the one who had claimed it in the weightlifting arena at Tokyo, banishing a few dozen ghosts of her own along the way, in particular the ignominy of a “Did Not Finish” tag against her name at Rio five years ago. In Tokyo, Mirabai was lifting against history, and a Chinese rival in Ho Zhihui who handled those weights as if they were shopping bags. Zhihui, world no. 1 in the 49kg class, raced to an Olympic record with Mirabai happy to give chase. The Indian lifted 202kg (87kg Snatch + 115kg Jerk) to Zhihui's 210kg (94 + 116) and the silver was already in the bag. It contrasted well with the gold Olympic ring earrings she sported and which caught a nation's eye. More, it told us of the hoops Mirabai jumped through to get to the podium in Tokyo – mother Tombi Leima had pawned off the family's jewellery to get her youngest daughter those stunners ahead of Rio. On Saturday, she wore them to drive home a point. Mirabai's silver in this sport of fine nuances, and inner and upper body strength, is as much a testimony to her resilience as it is a nod to the pioneers of Indian women's weightlifting in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, when Kunjarani Devi and Karnam Malleswari battled odds to establish a tradition for the rest to follow. More interested in becoming an archer as a kid roaming Imphal's sprawling Khuman Lampak sports complex, Mirabai was, on Saturday, emulating Malleswari — India's first-ever woman Olympic medallist who lifted a bronze in 2000. That it took two decades and one pandemic-affected year for India's second medal in women's lifting, shows that turnaround times in sport take their own, well, time. In the interim, India's women medallists list has expanded to Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Sakshi Malik and P V Sindhu. Mirabai's opening day salvo may fire up the rest of the Indian contingent. Who knows, after decades of wait, there could finally be a hockey podium this time at Tokyo. That then, would be truly personal, for each one for us.
252 Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-yearspell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “The day I had asked Pradhan sir, it was a joke. But deep down, I wanted it,” she told TOI from Gangtok. Women's boxing had a long history of struggle. Britain had lifted its ban on it just three years before her conversation with Pradhan and the US only six years. It'd be another 13 years before it became an Olympic sport. “In1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. But she wasn't done with boxing yet. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semi-final bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought," Sandhya said. "But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
253 OVERCOMING ODDS Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-year-spell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India internationally and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “The day I had asked Pradhan sir, it was a joke. But deep down, I wanted it,” she told TOI from Gangtok. Women's boxing had a long history of struggle. Britain had lifted its ban on it just three years before her conversation with Pradhan and the US only six years. It'd be another 13 years before it became an Olympic sport. “In 1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. But she wasn't done with boxing yet. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semi-final bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought," Sandhya said. "But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
254 Mirabai Chanu halted all of India in its tracks on Saturday morning. In Tokyo, which is three and a half hours ahead, the pocketsized woman from Manipur gave a beleaguered nation a strange sense of relief with an unforgettable, opening-day Olympic silver medal. Mirabai, ever-smiling, confident, with a bold body language, would scream to let the adrenaline flow, gently touch her forehead in her own private ritual of prayer before stepping on to the weightlifting pad and gingerly taking a feel of the gleaming metal barbell. Each time she let out her 'war cry', back home it would shake every Indian out of their lazy weekend reverie and compel them sit up and to watch. In moments, an entire nation would be wide awake, old ghosts would be buried and new banners raised. All this in the 49kg women's weightlifting contest. Each time Mirabai gripped the barbell with clear intent, the weight at either end would have increased by a couple of counts more: 110kg, 115kg, maybe even a record-breaking 117kg! That was not the only weight that Mirabai was lifting. Each time, with every round, as she approached the imposing apparatus before her, the burden of a nation's expectation would increase. Mirabai simply smiled and shrugged it off, her upside-down golden 'Olympic ring' earrings glinting proudly. Mirabai confirmed silver with a total lift of 202 kg (87+ 115kg). Her Chinese opponent, a deadpan Ho Jhihui, lifted 94kg in Snatch and 116kg in clean and jerk, as if she was lifting shopping bags, for gold. It would be a short, fun contest as the Indian would seek to raise the bar after Jhijui managed an Olympic record with her 116kg final lift. It would never show but this was Mirabai's final chance to redeem her past and erase the painful memories of Rio 2016. In doing so, she ended the country's 21-year-old women's weightlifting medal drought in the women's 49kg category. Somewhere, watching, a usually sombre Karnam Malleswari must have herself allowed a satisfied smile. After all, Mirabai was only following what Malleswari had first begun in Sydney 2000, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, that too in women's weightlifting. As our world clamoured for her, all Mirabai did was post a tweet, and remember to particularly thank her mother for all the sacrifices. It would be a dignified nod to all the women in the country and the quiet sacrifices they make. It would also be a shot in the arm for rising woman power in the sporting arena, with Mirabai becoming the sixth individual Indian women's medallist since Malleswari in 2000. Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik all are members of the club that welcomed Mirabai on Saturday. “The entire country was watching me and they had their expectations. I was a little nervous but I was determined to give my best. I worked really hard for this,” Mirabai said. “I like to thank my family, especially my mother for a lot of sacrifices and believing in me. I would like to give special thanks to my coach Vijay Sharma sir and support staff for their continuous hard work, motivation and training.” Mirabai's journey had begun long before she reached Tokyo, having spent much of 2021 training and rehabilitating from her shoulder injury in St. Louis, USA. In between, in April, she scorched the Asian championships in Tashkent with a personal best lift of 205kg, rewriting the world record in the clean and jerk segment with a lift of 119kg. On Saturday, Mirabai would come up short in her last attempts in both snatch and clean and jerk. In snatch, she went for an audacious lift of 89kg but couldn't control the barbell. Had she done so, she would have surpassed her personal best of 88kg. Similarly, in clean and jerk, she willed herself to lift 117 kg in her third and final attempt, but the 26-year-old lost her balance while going for the upright position. As she withdrew from her lift, Mirabai could be seen in discomfort, clutching her back as if she had sprained it. That's when the family came in. She was examined by the coaching staff but was soon seen indulging in a couple of selfies and video calls with her family and friends, who were cheering back in her Imphal village of Nongpok Kakching. Indonesia's Aisah Windy Cantika won bronze with an overall lift of 194kg: 84kg snatch and 110 clean and jerk.
255 The Indian women's hockey team is a stirring tale of overcoming societal pressure, poverty, sacrifices and resilience. Each player in the squad of 18 has overcome odds to realise their Olympic dream. Having made it to the Games and then advancing to the knockouts, they will have to go the extra mile to make their hard work and perseverance count. Rani Rampal & her band of gritty girls will come up against formbook favourites and Pool 'B' toppers Australia in the quarterfinals on Monday. It is an uphill task for India, ranked 10th in the world, to put it across the No.4 team. But impossible is not a word we associate with sport. The two teams had met during the Olympic Test event at the Oi Stadium in Tokyo in 2019 with the match ending in a 2-all draw. Emily Chalker's team, with its attacking hockey, goes into the contest with an all-win record backed by 13 goals scored against one conceded. India, on the other hand, fumbled against Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain before finding their feet in time to get past Ireland and South Africa. They have scored seven goals but have let in 14. To make a match out of the contest, Indian players will have to play out of their skin and also plug the gaps in their game. More importantly, they will have to play not as individuals looking to make a mark but as a tight unit which will fight tooth and nail until the final whistle. On the eve of the match, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne conceded the team has to show marked all-round improvement. “We won our last two matches because we learnt from the mistakes and made improvements accordingly. We have been creating a lot of chances throughout the competition, but our conversion of those chances has not been up to the mark. We need to get better in that department, while also giving away fewer chances to the opposition.” For India to make a match out of it, the role of leader Rani will be crucial. Throughout the competition, much like Sharmila Devi and a young Lalremsiam, the 26-year-old from Shahbad has struggled to put the finishing touches to some goalbound attacks. Rani will have to work with the strike force, which includes the in-form Vandana Katariya, to find the target. The defenders will have to brace for a tough challenge and get rid of their now familiar pattern of slow and sloppy ball clearances and making unforced errors which have allowed the opposition to walk away with penalty corners. The gap between the two teams is apparent, but on Monday more than the result, what will shape the future of Indian women's hockey is how they deliver on their biggest stage yet.
256 The Manipur Cabinet has decided to create 18 new posts in the Sports Department to accommodate Manipuri Olympians. The meeting also approved the direct recruitment of Sushila Pukhrambam, a member of the Indian women's hockey team, as a Sub-Inspector of Police. The meeting held on Saturday evening decided to take these steps to encourage sportspersons from the State who had brought laurels from home and abroad, including from the Olympic games. "We have approved the proposal for the creation of new posts. They are three Joint Directors, five Deputy Directors and 10 Assistant Directors in the Sports Department. Besides, we approved the direct recruitment of Sushila Pukhrambam, a hockey player in the Indian team," Chief Minister N. Biren said. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister. "The government is of the view that all future sportspersons should be accommodated in other departments also," Mr. Biren said. In the past, most players from Manipur had gone to Nagaland to join the Police Department. They said the Nagaland government had offered them higher posts in the Police Department. Most of the Manipuri players in Nagaland had retired as Superintendents of Police (SP). It was learnt that most of the national and international players from Manipur had joined the Indian Railways as Ticket Collectors (TCs). Mr. Biren said, "Our players have no longer to work as Ticket Collectors as there will be jobs suitable to their status." After winning the silver medal in Tokyo, the Railway Minister gave ₹2 crore to Mirabai Chanu, who had been working as a TC, and promised to promote her. However, she declined and accepted the offer from the Manipur government.
257 Social media is tricky terrain where trends are unpredictable. Love can turn into trolling within minutes and trolled people can gather support within seconds. In one such turn of events, the film Chak De India, which was enjoying attention and admiration on Monday morning is now getting trolled on Twitter. Ever since the Indian Women's Hockey team scripted history by defeating Australia to enter the Olympic Games' semi-final in Tokyo, the name of the Shahrukh Khan starter film has been the talk of the town. People said that Monday's hockey win reminded them of the victory in the said film. Some people also compared the women's team coach Sjoerd Marijne to the character of coach Kabir Khan played by Shahrukh Khan. However, the hype has irked some who are saying that the film is wrongly attention as the only ones deserving attention are the players and the coach. When journalists called up the cast of Chak De India after India's win at the hockey event, many deemed it as an insult to the hockey players who have actually brought glory to India. When YouTuber Dhruv Rathee said that the credit for India's win goes to Chak De India, a lot of people got furious. Twitterati are enraged and are expressing their resentment using strongly worded tweets as well as memes. Here's what people are saying.
258 In a tweet on Friday PM Narendra Modi announced that India's highest sporting honour, Khel Ratna Award, will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. He said that he has been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "I thank them for their views. Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he said. The exceptional performance of the men's and women's Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation, the prime minister said, adding that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times, he said. Apart from the Khel Ratna award, the country's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. Know more about Khel Ratna award: India's highest sporting honour formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna has now been renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Dhyan Chand, whose birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day, won three Olympic golds for the country. The award is given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The recipient(s) is/are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and honoured for their "spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at international level. As of 2020, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of 25 lakh (US$35,000). The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who was honoured for the performance in the year 1991-92. In 2001, sport shooter Abhinav Bindra, then aged 18, became the youngest recipient of the award. The award is usually conferred upon only one sportsperson in a year, a few exceptions have been made (1993-1994, 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2016-2020) when multiple recipients were awarded in a year. As of 2019, there have been forty-three recipients from fifteen sport disciplines.
259 With proceedings in both Houses of Parliament remaining stalled for the third week of the monsoon session over the Pegasus spyware snooping controversy and the farm laws, Opposition members on Friday are likely to hold a symbolic protest at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with protesting farmers. Since the start of the Parliament session, a section of farmer leaders have been protesting at Jantar Mantar to demand the repeal of the three controversial farm laws. The modalities are likely to be worked out at the routine floor coordination meeting of Opposition leaders on Friday morning but former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is expected join the protests. "All of us, including Rahul-ji will go to Jantar Mantar and reiterate our stand that the farm laws are 'black laws' and need to be withdrawn," a senior Congress leader from the Lok Sabha said, adding that the Pegasus snooping controversy continues to be the "number one issue". On Thursday too, the Lok Sabha witnessed multiple adjournments over the Pegasus snooping and the farm laws, even as the government introduced two key Bills: the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Bills were being passed in the House without a debate with an average time of seven minutes spent on a Bill, and objected to supplementary list of business being circulated at the last minute. The day's proceedings started at 11 a.m. with Speaker Om Birla congratulating the Indian hockey team for its Olympic bronze medal after 41 years, as well as the women players who won medals in individual events. However, protests and sloganeering started the moment the Question Hour was taken up by the Speaker, with many members trooping into the Well of the House. "This is not appropriate for Parliament traditions," Mr. Birla said as the protests continued. He pointed out that crores of rupees were being spent to run Parliament and people were asking why the House was not functioning. As the protests did not stop, he adjourned the House until noon; three more adjournments took place after this. In between the interruptions, Mr. Chowdhury tried to raise the issue of the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year Dalit girl but was quickly rebutted by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal, who wondered why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi never raised his voice against such incidents in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.
260 Sonam Malik impressed during her brief outing in her debut Olympic Games but the experience and maturity showed by her Mongolian rival Khurelkhuugiin Bolortuyaa trumped the Haryana girl's youthfulness and enthusiasm on Tuesday. The Mongolian won the 62-kg opening round on technical superiority. Sonam, 19, had maintained her slender two-point lead over Bolortuyaa, 25, till the final 30 seconds of the six-minute bout – divided over a period of three-minute each. But the Asian championships silver medallist from Mongolia executed a perfect twopoint takedown seconds before the final whistle to win on the 'highest single scoring' criteria after the two grapplers were locked 2-points each at the end of the contest. According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, “if the score at the end of a bout is tied, the wrestler who has the most higher value scoring actions will be declared the winner on these counts: Most 5-point actions (Greco Roman only); Most 4-point actions and Most 2-point actions (freestyle)”. In this case, Bolortuyaa earned two points through takedown in her single scoring attempt, whereas Sonam's two points came in each of the two halves. The Mongolian breached Sonam's defence and got hold of her right leg in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion before tripping her and pinning her down to the mat backwards. Kuldeep Malik, the women's wrestling chief national coach, was screaming at Sonam just before that move not to leave her leg exposed. Just as the time ticked away, the Mongolian changed tracks from playing a more defensive game to attacking her inexperienced rival through single leg drives. It worked and Sonam was left ruining her missed chances. Earlier, Sonam had scored both her points after pushing her opponent off the mat. Sonam hopes of making the bronze medal round through the repechage route ended when Bolortuyaa lost to Bulgaria's multiple Worlds medallist Taybe Yusein in the quarters. Had the Mongolian reached the final, Sonam would have qualified for the repechage. India would expect a medal confirmation from its wrestling brigade on Wednesday from hopefuls Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Anshu Malik (57kg).
261 Sonam Malik impressed during her brief outing in her debut Olympic Games but the experience and maturity showed by her Mongolian rival Khurelkhuugiin Bolortuyaa trumped the Haryana girl's youthfulness and enthusiasm on Tuesday. The Mongolian won the 62-kg opening round on technical superiority. Sonam, 19, had maintained her slender two-point lead over Bolortuyaa, 25, till the final 30 seconds of the six-minute bout – divided over a period of three-minute each. But the Asian championships silver medallist from Mongolia executed a perfect twopoint takedown seconds before the final whistle to win on the 'highest single scoring' criteria after the two grapplers were locked 2-points each at the end of the contest. According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, “if the score at the end of a bout is tied, the wrestler who has the most higher value scoring actions will be declared the winner on these counts: Most 5-point actions (Greco Roman only); Most 4-point actions and Most 2-point actions (freestyle)”. In this case, Bolortuyaa earned two points through takedown in her single scoring attempt, whereas Sonam's two points came in each of the two halves. The Mongolian breached Sonam's defence and got hold of her right leg in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion before tripping her and pinning her down to the mat backwards. Kuldeep Malik, the women's wrestling chief national coach, was screaming at Sonam just before that move not to leave her leg exposed. Just as the time ticked away, the Mongolian changed tracks from playing a more defensive game to attacking her inexperienced rival through single leg drives. It worked and Sonam was left ruining her missed chances. Earlier, Sonam had scored both her points after pushing her opponent off the mat. Sonam hopes of making the bronze medal round through the repechage route ended when Bolortuyaa lost to Bulgaria's multiple Worlds medallist Taybe Yusein in the quarters. Had the Mongolian reached the final, Sonam would have qualified for the repechage. India would expect a medal confirmation from its wrestling brigade on Wednesday from hopefuls Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Anshu Malik (57kg).
262 Sandhya Gurung had jokingly told her husband's friend from his Army days, former Olympian Jaslal Pradhan, that she wanted to join his boxing practice. When he told her there was no organised women's boxing, she let it rest. She had anyway not been confident about her athletic abilities after a three-year spell of paralysis as a teenager. But women's boxing opened up that year, 1999, and in 20 years since then, she became a national-level boxer, represented India and is the force behind Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. “In 1999, Pradhan sir told me he had news — women's boxing had started.” She was nervous. “I'd been told I wouldn't be able to box. I was paralysed when I was 14. I did recover, when I was 16, and was married at 18,” she said. “In 2000, I started training secretly. People would have mocked me,” she said. Her daughter was nine then and she a mature 27. For eight years, she competed at national and international levels. “I went to the national camp in 2002, Turkey in 2004. It was a good run,” she said. In 2008, she hung up her boots. “In 2009, I was called to coach a youth camp.” In 2012, Sandhya came across Lovlina for the first time at the sub-junior national camp — it was Lovlina's first tournament, and she won a gold. Four years later, at the senior national camp in Kolkata, Sandhya met Lovlina again. Days before that, Sandhya had decided she would retire. She had been coaching the Indian Elite Boxing Team Women since 2014. “I was going to leave in 2017,” she said. One day, Lovlina came up to her. “She asked me, hesitantly, if I would train her. A quiet, sweet girl asking me for help. How could I say no?” Sandhya started working on what she called Lovlina's “fear”. “She would be like a punching bag in the ring. She was scared of getting hurt … I won't say all of that fear is gone now — 10% remains — but she kept getting better,” Sandhya said. On Wednesday, Lovlina lost her semifinal bout against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli. “It didn't go as I thought,” Sandhya said. “But if you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars. We have a bronze.”
263 Vidya Malavade doesn't play the sport anymore, but she has been following India's women's hockey in the on-going Olympic Games. And when the girls defeated World No. 2 Australia to reach the semi-finals for the first time to make history, she was as delighted as the rest of us, maybe more. "The phone hasn't stopped ringing since morning and I was just a part of the reel... This... These women are the REAL DEAL... such PRIDE... such GRIT... so much POWER... Team INDIA Onwards and Upwards ladies," posted an overwhelmed and teary-eyed Vidya, who had captained the team in Shimit Amin's sports drama, even as cries of Chak De! India resonated across the country. Rani Rampal and her incredible band of girls have since been edged out of the race to gold, losing narrowly to Argentina 2-1, but Vidya is no less proud. The actress, who had never played any sport before, trained for a year-and-a-half to convincingly play the goalkeeper in the film. "It was tough, starting from wearing the suit and the pads and waddling around like a duck to playing, running and doing a split in it to save a goal. I don't know when the transformation happened, but it took time, effort, discipline, blood and sweat. Every day, for over a year, I was black and blue from being hit by the ball; all my toenails had fallen out," Vidya reminisces. She is quick to add that it's even tougher for the real players, who come from humble backgrounds, have little support and don't have the luxury of a retake, yet have been doing this for all their lives, giving their all to put the country on the world map. She recalls a scene where Shah Rukh Khan - who played their motivational coach Kabir Khan, who's battling his own demons - and she are together and he says, "Pehli baar kissi angrez ko India ka tiranga lehrate hue dekh raha hoon." The words still ring in her ears. Then there was that first scene where she arrives after some of the other players, who have introduced themselves as Balbir Kaur - Punjab, Nethra Reddy - Andhra Pradesh, and says simply, "Vidya Sharma - India." She admits that the line gave her goosebumps even as she was reading it. .Moments & Memories: Asha Parekh's birthday wish for Manoj Kumar as he turns 84 today . This character, a small-town girl who is being coaxed to quit hockey and settle down to domesticity, gave her namesake a lesson in determination, dedication and patriotism. "That's perhaps why deprived of the normal perks of an actor, like a vanity van or a hair and make-up person, I could go on and on for hours, sweltering in that heavy suit, through the rain in Delhi, the unbearable humidity in Mumbai and on the hottest day in 50 years Australia. It was physically taxing, but we pulled through. That's what is called resilience," Vidya asserts. It's been 14 years since the film released, but its memory hasn't lost its golden lustre. For Vidya, her winning Chak De! India moment was when she was holding the cup in her hands as the country's hockey captain. "It was scripted and the emotions only for the reel, but I understood in that moment what a sportsperson must feel bringing glory to the nation," she says emotionally. Prod her on their coach whom we remembered watching Team India's coach, Sjoerd Marijne, pace restlessly, cheer lustily and frolic happily with the girls after their big win, and Vidya is all praise for SRK. "He was always there. The team was a mix of actors and real players and he was always mindful of the latter, telling them where the camera was placed and instructing them on light and angles. Off the field, he once whisked us all to a show of his film, Don, which had just released, followed by a meal and a party. I was sitting beside him, watching the film, and I had to pinch myself to believe it was for real. We called him Coach Sir, and then, because Shah Rukh sir was like a guardian to all of us and just so nice, we also fondly referred to him as 'Papa Bear'," Vidya signs off.
264 This story goes 14 years back in time, when Mirabai Chanu was a 12-year-old living in the village of Nongpok Kakching, about 20 kilometres from the city of Imphal in Manipur. The area Mirabai's family lived was surrounded by hillocks. Born in a poor family, Mirabai was the youngest of six siblings. Her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei was a construction worker in the state public works department in Imphal, while her mother Saikhom Tombi Devi ran a small tea-snack shop in the village. Her father's salary was just about enough for hand-tomouth existence. She often accompanied her brothers to the nearby jungle to collect firewood. On one such trip, Mirabai went deep into the hills with her brother Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, who was 16 at that time. The brother-sister duo collected a bundle of firewood, and Sanatomba tried to lift the bunch on his head. But he wasn't able to. “To my utter surprise, Mira easily lifted the bundle of firewood on her head. She then walked back to our home that was some two kilometres away with the stack,” said Sanatomba. Even when she was just five years old, Mirabai could carry bucket full of water on her head, all while negotiating the steep inclines of the hilly region. “There was a lot of financial crisis and my parents could hardly support her. Whatever she has done, it's on her own,” said Sanatomba. When she was 12, Mirabai visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Imphal at the Khuman Lampak Stadium. She was on the lookout for some archery training but couldn't find any. Incidentally, she saw some clips of a female weightlifter from Manipur, Kunjarani Devi, who was a seven-time silver medallist at the World Champioships and won gold at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Mirabai was inspired. Without any weightlifting infrastructure nearby, Mirabai eventually found herself under the tutelage of coach Anita Chanu. She would travel around 40km over hilly terrain daily for her training. “The biggest problem for us was sending her alone to Imphal for training, but Mira insisted. She was ready to cover 40km daily. At times, she would hitch a ride on a truck or if she got lucky, share a tuk-tuk. Some days she would cycle and some days she would come half the way and then walk back home,” mother Tombi Devi said. At the centre, Mirabai first used bamboo trunks as barbells to hone her technique and after six months switched to conventional tools. Two years later, she made it to the national camp. A tenacious Mirabai went on to win titles at the state level in the sub-junior category and then clinched her first national medal in the junior category in 2011. Soon after, she earned her national team call-up and ultimately came under the guidance of her idol Kunjarani Devi. Then came her first taste of the international stage at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she won a silver and announced herself to the world. There was no looking back.
265 “D.N.F.” At Rio de Janeiro five years ago, alongside Mirabai Chanu's name in the final scoresheet of the women's 48kg weightlifting competition, read the words, “Did Not Finish”. Actually, it wasn't as abrupt as that. Placed sixth in the final after completing her snatch assignment, the diminutive Mirabai simply needed to dig deep and rally. One legitimate lift within her favoured range in the preferred clean and jerk section and she could have finished on the podium. But that's also when it all unravelled. Mirabai failed to record a single lift in her three attempts to crash out of the competition. Five of her six lifts were ruled invalid. Those images – a miserable Mirabai, teary eyes hidden behind her hands, chief national coach Vijay Sharma trying to console her but to no avail -- are still vivid in memory. And perhaps, on Saturday, when the Manipur lifter steps up at the Tokyo International Forum's arena, those images will flash before her eyes. It could make her wilt, or that could also mean that Mirabai gets an opportunity to bury those ghosts set herself free from the painful memories of Rio. So which Mirabai will show up on Saturday? Entering the arena as a World No. 2, a world record to her name, a world championship gold in the interim, Mirabai is expected to open India's medal count in a slightly altered women's 49kg category. In a bold move, signalling her intent, on Friday, Mirabai entered the highest weight in the start list shared by the event officials in Tokyo. She declared to lift a sensational 210kg during her competition, ahead of all her nearest competitors – China's Hou Zhihui, world No 1, in contrast, has opted for a safer, more conservative approach by offering to lift a maximum of 205kg. Whether Mirabai's aggressive tactics will serve her well remains to be seen. She will have to smartly plan her break-ups in both the clean and jerk and snatch. Given that there's an exemption of 20kg than the maximum weight listed, she will have to attempt at least a 190kg lift in her first shot to set the tone for the rest of the competition. But then, there has been a remarkable turnaround to the Mirabai approach since the Rio disappointment. A year after that DNF, there was a historic gold at the World Championships which she followed up with a Commonwealth Games gold in 2018. In clean and jerk, Mirabai now holds the world record with a 119kg lift recorded in Tashkent during the Asian Championships. Last year's Olympic postponement also helped Mirabai work on her recurring lower back and shoulder injury in the US. She is primed to finish on the podium in Tokyo but will have to watch out for her Chinese nemesis Hou Zhihui, USA's Delacruz Jourdan Elizabeth, Indonesian Aisah Windy Cantika and Belgium's Sterckx Nina. Like the China's Zhihui, Cantika (203kg), Elizabeth (200kg) and Nina (199kg) have displayed a cautious approach in their startlist weights on Friday. At the Asian championships in Tashkent in April, Zhihui had lifted a total of 213kg for gold – 96kg in snatch and 117kg in Clean and Jerk. In the same meet, where she won the bronze, Mirabai could manage 86kg in snatch but came up with a world-record lift of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total of 205kg, still eight short of Zhihui's effort. Cantika and Elizabeth, too, are ahead of the Indian. Mirabai's personal best in snatch is 88kg.
266 The three-part series has overturned the template of average sports documentary Whether she's digging into a Ramen bowl or is perched at Championship Point at a Grand Slam final, Naomi Osaka has an almost inscrutable face. And yet, very often, she seems to be a deer caught in the headlights. Which isn't, given the circumstances that have surrounded the 23-year-old tennis champ over the last few months, an implausible way to describe her. Last month, Osaka - ranked No. 2 in the world currently - withdrew from Wimbledon saying that she was "taking some personal time with friends and family". This, right after she controversially backed out of this year's French Open after expressing her decision not to speak with the press during the tournament. In doing so, Osaka has not only brought mental health and the pressures of the tennis circuit into the spotlight, but has also paved the way for others to (sometimes) put themselves before the game. Naomi Osaka, the three-part series commissioned by the champ herself and now streaming on Netflix, couldn't, therefore, be better timed. The series not only traces Osaka's meteoric rise to four Grand Slam titles in the last three years to become the top-earning female athlete of all time, but more interestingly, shows her life between her wins and losses, a life plagued by self-doubt, melancholy, worry and the burden of the success that has come to her at a very early age. "I feel like a vessel," is something that Osaka says more than once in the series. It's an interesting line, which can be interpreted in different ways. While Osaka probably refers to herself as a "vessel" for all the hard work that she and her team puts in, it could also signal an emptiness of sorts, something that the series - often panning on the tennis star's melancholic face, looking into the distance - reinforces time and again. Naomi Osaka isn't the average sports documentary that almost often only casts a look at its subject's grace under pressure or the path the underdog at the centre takes to win over the world. Osaka's successes on court are balanced by some big losses - including the 2020 Australian Open, which was another title defence for Osaka gone awry - and we see her putting her thoughts out there more in her self-taped 'confessional videos' (some of which she shoots inside her bathroom) than in the dime-a-dozen press conferences that we now know how much she despises. But that isn't to say that Osaka, as we get to see in this Garrett Bradley-directed documentary, is impolite. Very often, she's thoughtful in her media interactions, answering the questions thrown at her softly. Even when she's modelling for the biggest names in the business, Osaka is noticeably reserved. In fact, on an episode of The Ellen Show, host Ellen DeGeneres tells her after the young woman mutters a sentence, "Wow, you've really come out of your shell!" What sets Naomi Osaka apart from other sports documentaries is its deeply meditative pace. While that may not find favour with everyone, it's an intriguing approach to take, given how deep a peek it offers into the 'other life' of its subject. Osaka's breakdown after the sudden death of her mentor Kobe Bryant brings a lump to the throat, while you admire her quiet strength when she lends her voice to the Black Lives Matter protests, wearing face masks emblazoned with the names of victims of police shootings to each of her seven matches at the 2020 US Open. A laudable aspect of the documentary is how it illustrates the flipside of stardom, but doesn't make for a bleak watch. You feel for young Osaka when she pines for a life not lived. "I always wanted the high school experience, like going to college," she says. "Honestly, I feel like I'm too far down this path to even wonder about what could have been". But you also cheer her on as she moves from one win to another, her self-criticism clearly giving way to a dogged determination to put her contemplation into action. Case in point: Osaka, in the middle of her 22nd birthday dinner, turns to her mom and asks her hesitantly, "Did you think, by the time I was 22, I would've done more?" Well, late last week, at age 23, Osaka was the the final torchbearer, lighting the Olympic flame in a memorable end to a dazzling ceremony to mark the opening of Tokyo 2020. The game for Osaka has clearly just begun.
267 Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday congratulated P.V. Sindhu for winning the bronze medal in badminton at the Tokyo Olympics and becoming the first Indian woman to win medals at two Olympics. Mr. Purohit hailed Ms. Sindhu as an extraordinary badminton player, and said she had brought pride to the country through this historic achievement. "I am sure her achievement will inspire and motivate many sportspersons from India to perform their best at the Olympics and get many more medals and laurels for our great nation," he said. In a tweet, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated the Indian women's hockey team for defeating Australia and qualifying for the semi-finals. "I am absolutely delighted at the victory of the Indian women's hockey team against Australia. You're scripting history. I wish you all the best to enter the finals and clinch the Olympics gold," the Chief Minister said.
268 Vinesh Phogat's memorable run at Tokyo Olympics 2020 came to an end after defeat in the women's 53kg wrestling quarter-finals. Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, a 2-time world champion, has booked her semi-final berth after prevailing over India's Vinesh Phogat in the women's 53kg wrestling category. It was a win by fall to Vanesa, who was in complete control for large parts of the bout. Vinesh, who had to withdrawn from the Rio Olympics five years ago with a serious injury, overcame Sofia Mattsson, bronze medallist in the Rio Olympics,7-1 on points to make it to the quarterfinals. Vinesh was defeated by her quarter-final opponent with a score of 9(F)-3. She was pinned down by Vanesa to claim the victory by fall. Vanesa was brilliant in her defence and stunned the Commonwealth gold medalist from India out of the competition.
269 23-year-old loses to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 The host country's superstar is out of the Tokyo Olympics. Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of the Tokyo tennis tournament on Tuesday. The second-ranked Osaka struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes. The second-ranked Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States, struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes. The 42nd-ranked Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners and other crafty shots that drew Osaka out of her comfort zone. Daring to dream. Marketa Vondrousova is the first player through to the women's singles quarterfinals, upsetting Naomi Osaka in straight sets. #Olympics #Tennis #Tokyo2020 Osaka won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental-health break. But conditions were different on Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.
270 Hours after India went down to Argentina in the women's hockey semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, two upper caste men began circling Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. They burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled caste abuses at her family, saying that the team had lost because it had “too many dalit players,” Vandana's family told TOI. One of the accused has been detained by police. Vandana's brother Shekhar told TOI: “Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village — we know them and they are upper castes — dancing in front of our house.” When they saw Vandana's family step out, they unleashed a stream of casteist abuses. “They used caste slurs, insulted our family and said the Indian team lost because too many dalits have made it to the team,” the complaint filed by Shekhar said.
271 Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has started her journey in the women's singles in table tennis at Tokyo Olympics in an emphatic fashion. She defeated Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in her first-round encounter without much hassle. Manika will now face Ukranian star player Margaryta Pesotska in her second-round.
272 It seemed impossible to overcome Australia before the match started with pundits praising India for coming so far. And rightly so, India did have nothing to lose but little did the world know that the girls are here to create history. The Indian women's hockey team registered one of its biggest wins in history by starting Monday with a stunning 1-0 win over three-time champions Australia 1-0 to reach their maiden semifinals in women's hockey at the Olympics in Tokyo. Gurjit Kaur converted a penalty corner to score her maiden Olympic goal in the 22nd minute through dragflick, putting India in the lead. India somehow managed to hold on to their lead from there onwards, denying wave after wave of attacks from Australia to book clash against world No. 2 Argentina, who knocked out Germany with a 3-0 win in the first quarterfinal. The semifinal will be played on August 4.
273 It is the first time the Indian women's hockey team have entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. The Indian women's hockey team had created history after defeating mighty Australia 1-0 to book a semi-final berth. India face Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final at Oi Hockey Stadium right now. India have taken a goal lead in the first quarter asGurjit Singh converts the penalty corner to give India an early lead. India are 1-0 up against Argentina at the end of the first quarter. However, the second quarter sawArgentina equalise 1-1. The World No 2 team converted the penalty into goal as Barrionuevo Maria Noel makes it 1-1. At the end of the first half, the scoreline remains 1-1. Earlier, against Australia, Gurjit Kaur had scored the lone goal in the match during the first half through a penalty corner. Soon after the ladies became a household name. With this win, it was the first time the eves entered the semi-finals of the big tournament. The time the women had made their first Olympic appearance was at the 1980 Games in Moscow. The second Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
274 PV Sidhu, the sixth seed was up against the Denmark shuttler who is seeded 13th. India's star badminton player PV Sindhu won the round of 16 game in straight sets against Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the women's singles event to book a spot in the quarter-finals. Sindhu, the sixth seed took a 1-0 lead after the first game scoring 21-15 in just 22 minutes. She later went on to score 21-13 to win the clash in straight sets against the Denmark shuttler who is seeded 13th. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will next face the winner of the match between Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and Korea's Kim Gaeun. Earlier, Sindhu had defeated Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9, 21-16 to top Group J. The ace shuttler is the lone Indian badminton hope left after B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign came to an end in the men's single's competition. The men's double pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also suffered heartbreak after failing to make it to the quarterfinals despite winning two matches in their group.
275 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday evening announced 'Samman nidhi' of Rs 31 lakh each to women's hockey team members who took part in Tokyo Olympics. "Our women's hockey team's performance in Tokyo was superb. They may have lost the fight for bronze medal but won our hearts. We have decided to give Rs 31 lakh to every member of the team. Our daughters will certainly win in future," he said The CM also congratulated Neeraj Chopra on winning gold medal in the Olympics, which he said, was the first gold medal in Olympics for India after 13 years. He said, "I salute Neeraj's passion and determination. The entire country is proud of his achievement." The Chief Minister also congratulated golfer Aditi for, what he said, exceptional performance in the Olympics. He said, "We couldn't win a medal (in Golf) but I am confident that the future is bright. You are an inspiration. We are proud of you. Keep giving your best."
276 Congratulating Neeraj Chopra for winning gold medal in javelin throw and Bajrang Punia for his bronze medal in wrestling in Tokyo Olympics CM Yogi Adityanath said the two sportspersons displayed great grit and resolve in their exceptional performances and have made the country proud. The CM announced UP would felicitate winners along with members of the women's hockey team. “This is a first Olympic gold medal for India in athletics. In the history of Olympics, this year saw India winning the most medals. PM Modi's 'Khelo India Khelo' policy has provided encouragement and its positive impact can be seen ,” CM said. TNN
277 Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): Former captain of the Indian women's hockey team and Arjuna awardee, Madhu Yadav, celebrated the entry of the women's team entry into the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. She distributed sweets as well as enjoyed the moment along with junior hockey players and youths. The Indian women's hockey team defeated the Australian team 1-0 in the quarter-finals. The performance of the team has forced everyone to cheer them up. She said that the kind of performance that the Indian women's hockey team had shown against Australia, it seemed that the Indian women's hockey team would definitely bring a medal to the country. It is the first time since 1980 that the Indian women's hockey team has made a place to the semi-finals in the Olympics.
278 Police have arrested a man in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district for allegedly mocking and passing casteist remarks against the family of Vandana Katariya who was part of India's women hockey team which lost a semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics. Soon after the Indian team went down to Argentina in the semifinal, two men allegedly danced and burst firecrackers outside Katariya's house in the Roshnabad area of Haridwar in a gesture of mockery on Wednesday evening, an officer at SIDCUL police station said. When some members of Katariya's family came out of house hearing the noise, the two men also passed casteist remarks against them, the police said.
279 Ace striker Rani Rampal (10th minute goal) and goalkeeper Savita form the fulcrum of the Indian women's hockey team but rarely has individual brilliance helped teams win matches. The duo's gritty efforts were overshadowed by World No.1 Netherlands' attacking brand of hockey which saw India begin their Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 1-5 defeat on Saturday. Felice Albers (6th, 43rd) scored a brace for Netherlands, while Margot van Geffen (33rd minute), Frederique Matla (45th) and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker (52nd) were the otherl scorers for the Dutch. TNN
280 Ace striker Rani Rampal (10th minute goal) and goalkeeper Savita form the fulcrum of the Indian women's hockey team but rarely has individual brilliance helped teams win matches. The duo's gritty efforts were overshadowed by World No.1 Netherlands' attacking brand of hockey which saw India begin their Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 1-5 defeat on Saturday. Felice Albers (6th, 43rd) scored a brace for Netherlands, while Margot van Geffen (33rd minute), Frederique Matla (45th) and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker (52nd) were the otherl scorers for the Dutch. TNN
281 The Haridwar police on Saturday arrested a third accused in connection with the alleged passing of casteist remarks against family members of women's hockey team player Vandana Katariya after India's defeat against Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics. According to a release from the police, Sumit Chauhan (23) was arrested this morning following a tip off from informers. The police on Thursday had arrested two brothers, Ankurpal (21) and Vijaypal (25), in connection with the case. Vandana's brother Chandra Shekhar had lodged an FIR at Sidkul police station Wednesday, alleging that when the Indian hockey team lost to Argentina, Sumit Chauhan, Ankurpal and Vijaypal had danced in celebration, burst crackers in front of their house in Roshnabad area, and hurled abuses with casteist remarks against the family. As per his complaint, the accused also said the Indian team lost the game due to players from a particular caste.
282 Hours after India went down to Argentina in the women's hockey semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, two upper caste men began circling Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. They burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled caste abuses at her family, saying that the team had lost because it had “too many Dalit players,” Vandana's family told TOI. One of the accused has been detained by police. “We were upset after the loss. But the team went down fighting. We were proud of that,” Vandana's brother Shekhar told TOI. “Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village — we know them and they are upper castes — dancing in front of our house.” When they saw Vandana's family step out, they unleashed a stream of casteist abuses.
283 The Public Works Department (PWD) has started repairing the road to boxer Lovlina Borgohain's home in eastern Assam's Golaghat district. The work was undertaken soon after she reached the welterweight category semi-finals in women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics, assuring at least a bronze medal for India. The 23-year-old pugilist's home in Baromukhia village under the Sarupathar Assembly constituency has had a partly-metalled road for years. The village is about 3 km from Barpathar, the nearest town. "We are trying to repair the road with sand and gravel before she returns from Tokyo. The road will be metalled after the monsoon season," Sarupathar's Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Biswajit Phukan said, adding that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had wanted the road to be usable for vehicles within a few days. PWD officials said about 600 metres of the road leading to Lovlina's home would be repaired for now.
284 India's highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award, which was named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was on Friday rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics. Making the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. The exceptional performance of the men's and women's Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation, the prime minister said, adding that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times, he said. The prestigious award carries a prize money of ₹ 25 lakh.
285 India's Aditi Ashok put up a swashbuckling performance at the Women's Golf Individual Strokeplay but missed the Olympic Bronze medal by a whisker. Aditi might have missed the opportunity to secure a bronze medal but everyone is proud of her effort and appreciated her for putting up a great fight. Anand Mahindra took to Twitter after the event and thanked the young golfer for making India a force in the game's future. The Mahindra Group Chairman took to Twitter after and wrote, "She stormed the fortress of Golf and put India in the reckoningThank you for making us a force in the game's future, #AditiAshok (sic)." World No 200 Aditi Ashok was battling toe-to-toe with World No 1 Nelly Korda of the USA and former World No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand. She was in the race for a medal till the 72nd hole on Saturday (August 7). Aditi made history at the Rio Olympics 2020 by becoming the youngest golfer (male or female) to feature at the Games. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra thanks golfer Aditi Ashok for making India a force in the game's future
286 It's advantage girls. Stellar, aggressive performances by Indian women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics — from badminton to hockey to weightlifting to boxing — are set to launch new stars for brands looking for young achievers, industry executives said. For established athletes like badminton champion PV Sindhu, brand market value has already escalated. The new names, who haven't yet had the backing of any endorsements or support from India Inc., are emerging into the brand associations spotlight. Aday after her bronze medal win, a match she dominated after overcoming a demoralising defeat the day before, Sindhu's endorsement fee has nearly doubled to ?4-4.5 crore per brand. Sindhu's talent management company Baseline Ventures has also been approached by United Nations for a global association, details of which are being discussed, said an executive aware of the development. The 26-year-old shuttler currently endorses10 brands including Visa, Stayfree and Google. “Sindhu embodies consistency and handling pressure situations, which will surely catapult her market value manifold,” said Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra.
287 India's hockey star Vandana Katariya was on Sunday named the brand ambassador of the women and child development department of Uttarakhand as well as the brand ambassador of the Centre's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme for Haridwar district. The announcements were made by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on the same day that she was awarded the Tilu Rauteli award, the state's highest honour for women, and a day after the state government announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for her Olympic feat — she is India's first woman to score an Olympic hat-trick. State sports and education minister Arvind Pandey visited Pandey's home in Haridwar's Roshnabad to hand over the certificates announcing her appointment to Katariya's mother. “It is a proud moment,” Vandana's mother Sauran Katariya said. The announcement comes after three people were arrested for bursting crackers in mock celebration outside Katariya's house after the women's hockey team lost in the play-off for bronze. They alleged the team had lost for having “too many Dalit players”.
288 Diamond baron Savji Dholakia will award Rs 2.5 lakh to each member of the Indian women's Olympic hockey team for their overall performance. Dholakia also invited the team to the Diamond City to accept the award. “Hari Krishna Group is inviting Indian women's hockey team to visit Surat where each player will be honoured with an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh,” Dholakia tweeted on Saturday. TNN
289 Diamond baron Savji Dholakia made yet another announcement declaring that he will award Rs 2.5 lakh to each member of the Indian women's Olympic hockey team for their overall performance. Dholakia, who made the announcement through social media, also invited the team to the Diamond City to accept the award. “Hari Krishna Group is inviting the Indian Women's Hockey Team to visit Surat where each player will be honoured with an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh. It is our humble effort to encourage the players and appreciate their commitment,” Dholakia tweeted on Saturday. Earlier , the diamantaire had announced awarding Rs 11 lakh for house and Rs 5 lakh for car to each member of women's hockey team if they won the final. In the past ,Dholakia, who is known for introducing various welfare schemes in his diamond and jewellery manufacturing units, had awarded cars as a bonus to his best performing employees.
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1 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); CRICKET (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: BUDGETS (66%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (50%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (92%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (58%); CALIFORNIA, USA (58%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); FRANCE (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
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3 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
4 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); GOLF (77%); ARCHERY (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
5 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); NARI SPORTS (94%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); ARGENTINA (95%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
6 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); GOLF (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (62%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (62%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (62%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (62%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (62%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (62%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (62%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (54%); INDIA (94%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (77%); JAPAN (73%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
7 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
8 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (67%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
9 Subject: NARI SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (78%); ATHLETES (77%); CHILDREN (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WINTER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); EMOTIONS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
10 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
11 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (88%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPRAINS & STRAINS (76%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (54%); TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (91%); CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (90%); INDIA (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (72%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
12 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); UNITED STATES (69%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
13 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SOFTBALL (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS (72%); SALES FIGURES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (68%); ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (60%); CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER (60%); NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (53%) Company: NOJIMA CORP (66%) Ticker: 7419 (TSE) (66%) Industry: NAICS443142 ELECTRONICS STORES (66%); TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (90%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (77%); MANUFACTURING (67%); CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER (60%); NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS (60%); NUCLEAR ENERGY (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOHOKU, JAPAN (92%); JAPAN (94%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
14 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%); GERMANY (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
15 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (84%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (65%); CORONAVIRUSES (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (60%); VIRUSES (50%) Person: LYDIA KO (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); INDIA (89%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
16 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TRIATHLONS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
17 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); CROATIA (73%); GERMANY (52%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
19 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MARRIAGE (87%); ATHLETES (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (77%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (53%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (58%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (53%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
20 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (76%); EMOTIONS (69%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
21 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
22 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); ATHLETES (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (73%); HONG KONG (67%); SPAIN (51%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
23 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); DRAMA FILMS (78%); DRAMA LITERATURE (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); FILM (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (72%) Industry: MOVIE INDUSTRY (93%); MOVIE & VIDEO PRODUCTION (91%); DRAMA FILMS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FILM (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
24 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (90%); BELARUS (73%); NIGERIA (52%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
25 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); YOUTH SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); ARGENTINA (94%); AUSTRALIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
26 Subject: EXERCISE & FITNESS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
27 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (75%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (53%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (89%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (67%); POWER FAILURES (67%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (53%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
28 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); INTERVIEWS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); EXECUTIVES (67%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%); HT MEDIA LTD (82%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (55%); JSW GROUP (51%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%); HTMEDIA (NSE) (82%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); NAICS511110 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS (82%); SIC2711 NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING, OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING (82%); NAICS541810 ADVERTISING AGENCIES (51%); SIC7311 ADVERTISING AGENCIES (51%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (91%); RESTAURANTS (90%); SPONSORSHIP (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PUBLISHING (78%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (61%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); MANIPUR, INDIA (88%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
29 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CABINET OFFICES (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (74%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (95%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
30 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (77%); BADMINTON (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); RANKINGS (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
31 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
32 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE (77%); CHILDREN (76%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (73%); INFANTS & TODDLERS (66%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); GERMANY (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
33 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (90%); ART COLLECTING (90%); ATHLETES (90%); COLLECTORS & COLLECTING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (89%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); SPORTS FANS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); CARTOONS & COMICS (75%); CRYPTOCURRENCY (73%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); VISUAL ARTISTS (73%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (94%); ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (90%); CRYPTO ASSETS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (89%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); DIGITAL ASSETS (88%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); CARTOONS & COMICS (75%); CRYPTOCURRENCY (73%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); VISUAL ARTISTS (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (77%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
34 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); WEATHER (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
35 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
36 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
37 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
38 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); CYCLING (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (70%) Company: BIOCON LTD (57%) Ticker: BIOCON (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS325414 BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT (EXCEPT DIAGNOSTIC) MANUFACTURING (57%); NAICS325412 PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION MANUFACTURING (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); VIENNA, AUSTRIA (58%); NETHERLANDS (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
39 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); CYCLING (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (70%) Company: BIOCON LTD (57%) Ticker: BIOCON (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS325414 BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT (EXCEPT DIAGNOSTIC) MANUFACTURING (57%); NAICS325412 PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION MANUFACTURING (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); VIENNA, AUSTRIA (58%); NETHERLANDS (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
40 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BRANDING (89%); COMPANY STRATEGY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); CONSUMERS (78%); SPORTS AGENTS & PROMOTERS (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (76%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (75%); BADMINTON (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); TRENDS (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (69%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (73%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (57%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (73%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (73%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (73%); BRANDING (89%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (78%); FOOD & BEVERAGE (78%); SPORTS AGENTS & PROMOTERS (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING SERVICES (77%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (75%); BEVERAGE PRODUCTS (73%); FOOD INDUSTRY (73%); FOOD PRODUCTS (73%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (69%); SOFT DRINKS (53%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
41 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (92%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
42 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CHILDREN (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: CONSUMER PRODUCTS (89%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); REALITY TELEVISION (73%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
43 Subject: BRAND EQUITY (90%); BRANDING (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); EXECUTIVES (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); BADMINTON (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (58%); BRIDGESTONE CORP (55%); BANK OF BARODA LTD (55%) Ticker: 5108 (TSE) (55%); BANKBARODA (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); NAICS326211 TIRE MANUFACTURING (EXCEPT RETREADING) (55%); SIC3011 TIRES & INNER TUBES (55%); NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (55%); SIC6021 NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS (55%); BRAND EQUITY (90%); BRANDING (90%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); REAL ESTATE (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING SERVICES (77%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
44 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); NARI SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
45 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); TRANSGENDER ATHLETES (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRANSGENDER PERSONS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NONBINARY PERSONS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TORONTO, ON, CANADA (74%); ONTARIO, CANADA (74%); CANADA (90%); UNITED STATES (58%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); SUMO (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (72%); WRESTLING (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (58%); ASSAM, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
47 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); JOURNALISM (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); EMOTIONS (73%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); WRITERS (71%); CABINET OFFICES (68%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (68%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); WRITERS (71%); BUDGETS (50%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (95%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
48 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); DIWALI (79%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (73%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
49 Subject: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FILM (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); FAMILY (76%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (91%); FILM (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); MOVIE FILMING (74%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
50 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); DIWALI (79%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (73%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
51 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); PAKISTAN (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
52 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BASKETBALL (78%); CYCLING (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); TRACK & FIELD (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); CHINA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
53 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
54 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (77%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (77%); TRIATHLONS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (57%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VIRAL VIDEOS (61%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
55 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (57%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (78%); GERMANY (71%); BELGIUM (67%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
56 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RUNNING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BASKETBALL (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BASEBALL (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); WRESTLING (73%) Person: KEVIN DURANT (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); ITALY (66%); JAPAN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%); QATAR (52%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
57 Subject: TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (75%); PRIME MINISTERS (75%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (75%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); PARENT COMPANIES (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (72%); VACCINES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (71%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (70%); SPORTS & RECREATION (70%); WRESTLING (70%); MOVIE REVIEWS (69%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (53%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (53%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (53%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); VACCINES (72%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (71%); MOTORCYCLES (70%); MOVIE REVIEWS (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (90%); MEGHALAYA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FAMILY (77%); GRANDCHILDREN (77%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (92%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
59 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); WRESTLING (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
60 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (76%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); NARI SPORTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%); DANCE (70%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); RANKINGS (60%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BASKETBALL (78%); CYCLING (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); TRACK & FIELD (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); CHINA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
62 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (64%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (91%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
63 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FASHION & APPAREL (77%); STYLISTS & IMAGE CONSULTANTS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
64 Subject: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%); INSECTS & ARACHNIDS (73%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); CAMERAS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ARGENTINA (90%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
65 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BOXING (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ARCHERY (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%); COLOMBIA (70%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
66 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (67%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (75%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
67 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (76%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); NARI SPORTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); DANCE (70%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); RANKINGS (60%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
68 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
69 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TENNIS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); RANKINGS (75%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (73%); WEATHER (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); EUROPE (78%); DENMARK (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
70 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (66%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); SALMAN KHAN (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
71 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FAMILY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
72 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
73 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (58%); HONG KONG (51%); SPAIN (50%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
74 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (92%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (91%); EPIDEMICS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); PANDEMICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); PUBLIC HEALTH (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); OLYMPICS (87%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (86%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); DISEASE REPORTING (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (78%); VIRUSES (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (73%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (73%); VACCINES (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Industry: DESTINATIONS & ATTRACTIONS (78%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (73%); VACCINES (73%); TOURISM (70%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
75 Subject: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); NARI SPORTS (72%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); RESTAURANTS (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
76 Subject: ELECTION TECHNOLOGY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (89%); ATHLETES (88%); CELEBRITIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (76%); MEDICAL RESEARCH (75%); POLITICS (75%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (74%); SPORTS AWARDS (74%); SPORTS INJURIES (74%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); NARI SPORTS (74%); EMBASSIES & CONSULATES (72%); VOTERS & VOTING (71%); FAR RIGHT POLITICS (69%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (69%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (69%); SPORTS MEDICINE (69%); ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (66%); INVESTIGATIONS (66%); WEIGHTLIFTING (53%) Industry: ELECTION TECHNOLOGY (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPORTS MEDICINE (69%); ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (66%) Person: JAIR BOLSONARO (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); BRAZIL (92%); ASIA (79%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
77 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); DEPRESSION (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (74%); FACE MASK MANDATES (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (66%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (74%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
78 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); DEPRESSION (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (74%); FACE MASK MANDATES (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (66%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (74%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
79 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); FILM (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (71%); VISUAL ARTISTS (68%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (71%); EMERGENCY VEHICLES (69%); VISUAL ARTISTS (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
80 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
81 Subject: LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (90%); LIBEL & SLANDER (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); OLYMPICS (85%); DEMOCRACIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); CORONAVIRUSES (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (75%); GENOMICS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); BADMINTON (72%); LITIGATION (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); VIRUSES (69%); ARRESTS (68%); DEFAMATION (67%); SPORTS AWARDS (67%); NARI SPORTS (67%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%); CRICKET (62%); ATHLETES (61%); PORNOGRAPHY (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (68%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
82 Subject: LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (90%); LIBEL & SLANDER (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); OLYMPICS (85%); DEMOCRACIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); CORONAVIRUSES (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (75%); GENOMICS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); BADMINTON (72%); LITIGATION (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); VIRUSES (69%); ARRESTS (68%); DEFAMATION (67%); SPORTS AWARDS (67%); NARI SPORTS (67%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (66%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%); CRICKET (62%); ATHLETES (61%); PORNOGRAPHY (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); SPYWARE (71%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (70%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (64%); VIRAL VIDEOS (64%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (68%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); FENCING (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%); ALGERIA (71%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
84 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); ARGENTINA (96%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
85 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); TOURNAMENTS (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); ARGENTINA (96%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
86 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCCER (78%); WOMEN (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
87 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
88 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (77%); SUMO (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); TALKS & MEETINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
89 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (77%); SUMO (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); TALKS & MEETINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
90 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: BELGIUM (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
91 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: BELGIUM (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
92 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); MARRIAGE (88%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (78%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); FAMILY (77%); MEN (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (75%); DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (73%); INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (73%); HANDBALL (72%); FINES & PENALTIES (70%); RELIGION (69%); JUDGES (60%); LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (60%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS (66%); TELEPHONIC EQUIPMENT (66%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (61%) Person: SIMONE BILES (73%) Geographic: KERALA, INDIA (79%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); GUJARAT, INDIA (74%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
93 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
94 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
95 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (78%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
96 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS INJURIES (90%); SPORTS MEDICINE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEDICAL RESEARCH (88%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (72%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: SPORTS MEDICINE (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
97 Subject: TOURNAMENTS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); AUSTRALIA (90%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%); ARGENTINA (77%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
98 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
99 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
100 Subject: PHYSICAL THERAPY (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
101 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
102 Subject: DRUGS IN SPORTS (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ACADEMY AWARDS (78%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CRIME (76%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (76%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); INVESTIGATIONS (73%); WINTER SPORTS (73%); SCANDALS (71%); AUTO RACING (66%); DISCRIMINATION (66%); FIFA WORLD CUP (66%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (65%); TALIBAN (60%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (50%) Company: NETFLIX INC (54%); AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (51%) Ticker: NFLX (NASDAQ) (54%); ALMUDON (KUW) (51%) Industry: NAICS532282 VIDEO TAPE & DISC RENTAL (54%); SIC7841 VIDEO TAPE RENTAL (54%); NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (51%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (51%); ACADEMY AWARDS (78%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (78%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (65%); MOTOR VEHICLES (61%) Geographic: RUSSIAN FEDERATION (93%); AFGHANISTAN (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
103 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); BADMINTON (73%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
104 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (96%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); FILM (88%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); TRIVIA (77%); EXTREME SPORTS (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%); BASKETBALL (72%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (72%); SKATEBOARDING (72%); BOARDSPORTS (70%); ANIMATION (69%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (68%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (93%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (93%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); STREAMING MEDIA (89%); FILM (88%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (72%); ANIMATION (69%); DOCUMENTARY FILMS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
105 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FAKE NEWS (77%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (57%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (57%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); WEBSITES & PORTALS (78%) Geographic: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (91%); TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); HUNGARY (87%); PAKISTAN (79%); BELARUS (73%); INDONESIA (51%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
106 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%) Company: ABHISHEK CORP LTD (92%) Industry: NAICS313110 FIBER, YARN & THREAD MILLS (92%); SIC2281 YARN SPINNING MILLS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
107 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BADMINTON (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); TENNIS (78%); TRENDS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (89%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (73%) Geographic: INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
108 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WRESTLING (77%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (74%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (59%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
109 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); RUNNING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOLF (77%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (78%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); UZBEKISTAN (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
111 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
112 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
113 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SELFIES (78%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SELFIES (78%); INTERNET VIDEO (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
114 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS (68%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%) Person: LYDIA KO (79%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KANTO, JAPAN (78%); CALIFORNIA, USA (56%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
116 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); WRESTLING (78%); TOURNAMENTS (71%); GOLF (65%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (79%); AUSTRALIA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
117 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); BOARDSPORTS (73%); EXTREME SPORTS (73%); GYMNASTICS (73%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
118 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SECONDARY SCHOOLS (50%) Industry: SECONDARY SCHOOLS (50%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
119 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FAMILY (77%); ISOLATION & QUARANTINE (77%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (77%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); GYMNASTICS (73%); BREASTFEEDING (64%); INFANTS & TODDLERS (62%); SWIMMING (60%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (88%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%); NETHERLANDS (79%); SPAIN (65%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
120 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); DIVING (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ADOLESCENTS (77%); EXTREME SPORTS (76%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (74%); BOARDSPORTS (71%); WATER SPORTS (71%); SKATEBOARDING (69%) Company: AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (90%) Ticker: ALMUDON (KUW) (90%) Industry: NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (90%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KUWAIT (90%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
121 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%); PAKISTAN (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
122 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ARCHERY (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); IRELAND (56%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
123 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); BADMINTON (89%); EMOTIONS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MURDER (65%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHINA (90%); TAIWAN (78%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
124 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (53%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
125 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); POP & ROCK (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (76%) Company: LAKSHMI ENERGY & FOODS LTD (85%) Ticker: LAKSHMIEFL (NSE) (85%) Industry: NAICS311212 RICE MILLING (85%); SIC2044 RICE MILLING (85%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (79%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
126 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (92%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
127 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); REGULATORY COMPLIANCE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SELF REGULATING ORGANIZATIONS (79%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (53%) Industry: MARKETING & ADVERTISING (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
128 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (90%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
129 Subject: TENNIS (99%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
130 Subject: GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%) Person: LYDIA KO (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
131 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); REGULATORY COMPLIANCE (89%); SELF REGULATING ORGANIZATIONS (79%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (54%) Industry: MARKETING & ADVERTISING (93%); CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
132 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (72%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); UKRAINE (55%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
133 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); VACCINES (76%) Industry: VACCINES (76%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (90%); FRANCE (79%); EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
134 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS FANS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (77%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (88%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
135 Subject: ANIMATION (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VISUAL ARTISTS (90%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (79%); FILM (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%); SPORTS & RECREATION (54%) Industry: ANIMATION (92%); VISUAL ARTISTS (90%); FILM (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
136 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (91%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (57%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); ARGENTINA (79%); BRAZIL (78%); GERMANY (78%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
137 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%); COLOMBIA (70%); BULGARIA (55%); KAZAKHSTAN (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
138 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (92%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); APPROVALS (75%) Geographic: INDIA (88%); AUSTRIA (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); NARI SPORTS (79%); BADMINTON (78%); RANKINGS (64%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (62%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (62%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (62%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (62%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (94%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
140 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Company: SONY CORP (93%) Ticker: SNE (NYSE) (93%); 6758 (TSE) (93%) Industry: NAICS512250 RECORD PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION (93%); NAICS339930 DOLL, TOY & GAME MANUFACTURING (93%); NAICS334310 AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (93%); SIC3651 HOUSEHOLD AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT (93%); STREAMING MEDIA (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (57%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
141 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (55%); ARGENTINA (95%); INDIA (94%); BRAZIL (79%); BELGIUM (73%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
142 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%); CABINET OFFICES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Industry: EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
143 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RANKINGS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (63%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (94%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
144 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (95%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CHILDREN (86%); ADOLESCENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (71%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
145 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CHILDREN (88%); MUSIC (87%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (71%) Industry: ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (71%) Geographic: JHARKHAND, INDIA (93%); INDIA (97%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
146 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (56%); ARGENTINA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); BRAZIL (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
147 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%) Industry: TELEVISION INDUSTRY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (94%); SOUTH AMERICA (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
148 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (98%); SOUTH AFRICA (92%); IRELAND (87%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
149 Subject: JUDGES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); BOXING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: CHINA (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
150 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
151 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
152 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (67%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
153 Subject: FAMILY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (88%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); WOMEN (74%); BASEBALL (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EMOTIONS (69%); ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (53%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
154 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BASKETBALL (76%); CYCLING (72%); SURFING (72%); VOLLEYBALL (72%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (70%); WATER SPORTS (64%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (67%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%); CHINA (93%); UNITED STATES (93%); BURKINA FASO (79%); TURKMENISTAN (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%); JORDAN (55%); KOSOVO (55%); PHILIPPINES (54%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
155 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HIGH SCHOOLS (72%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (70%); SINGLE SEX EDUCATION (65%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOLS (72%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (70%) Geographic: JHARKHAND, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
156 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: UNITED KINGDOM (90%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
157 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (91%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); MUSIC (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%); FILM (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: SINGERS & MUSICIANS (91%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%); FILM (77%); MUSIC INDUSTRY (77%) Geographic: ISRAEL (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
158 Subject: OLYMPICS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BACTERIA (83%); WOMEN (78%); DISEASE IMMUNITY (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (73%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (60%); VIRUSES (60%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (84%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (88%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
159 Subject: MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (73%) Industry: INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
160 Subject: WOMEN (91%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); MISOGYNY (78%); WOMEN WORKERS (78%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); MEN (76%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); FAMILY (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS (72%); LABOR FORCE (70%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (61%); INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS (50%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); GOA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (96%); BANGLADESH (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
161 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); DOGS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
162 Subject: RESIGNATIONS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EXECUTIVE MOVES (77%); TENNIS (77%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); CELEBRITIES (76%); MENTAL HEALTH (76%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (72%); ELECTIONS (72%); POLITICS (69%); SENIOR CITIZENS (68%); ANNIVERSARIES (67%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (67%); NATURAL DISASTERS (63%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (76%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%); NARENDRA MODI (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (88%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (94%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
163 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (73%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
164 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
165 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
166 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WRESTLING (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
167 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FAMILY (89%); WOMEN (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
168 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS FANS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEN (74%); WOMEN (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (58%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
169 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (86%); ATHLETES (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); EMOTIONS (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); JAPAN (79%); NEPAL (79%); ASIA (78%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
170 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (74%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (52%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (88%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
171 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
172 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); AFRICA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
173 Subject: ATHLETES (96%); GYMNASTICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (57%); BARCELONA, SPAIN (53%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (90%); UZBEKISTAN (70%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
174 Subject: OLYMPICS (96%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (92%); ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); MISOGYNY (89%); WOMEN (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (87%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET & WWW (87%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (87%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%) Geographic: KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (94%); ASIA (78%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
175 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (76%); ATHLETES (73%); CRICKET (73%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
176 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (69%) Industry: POWER FAILURES (89%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (77%); ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (94%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
177 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TENNIS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SWIMMING (70%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); ZIMBABWE (71%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
178 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BOXING (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (76%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (67%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (61%); SCANDALS (50%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
179 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HISTORY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
180 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (78%); FRANCE (77%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
181 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); FILM (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM (90%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
182 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); WOMEN (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DISCRIMINATION (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ETHICS (78%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (78%); POLITICAL & SOCIAL IDEOLOGIES (78%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); EQUAL PAY (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SOCCER (73%); TRENDS & EVENTS (73%); WAGE DISCRIMINATION (72%); CONSERVATISM (70%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (69%); NEGATIVE NEWS (67%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (58%) Industry: BUDGET CUTS (61%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (93%); CHINA (88%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
183 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (69%) Industry: ENERGY & UTILITIES (74%); POWER FAILURES (74%); ENERGY SHORTAGES (69%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (59%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
184 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (55%); CALIFORNIA, USA (73%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED STATES (78%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
185 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERVIEWS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); TALKS & MEETINGS (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (64%); DRAMA FILMS (60%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); COMPUTER NETWORKS (66%); INTERNET & WWW (66%); DRAMA FILMS (60%); MOVIE & VIDEO PRODUCTION (60%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
186 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (75%) Geographic: EAST CHINA (74%); INDIA (93%); ASIA (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
187 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SELFIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); MOVIE REVIEWS (68%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SELFIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); MOVIE REVIEWS (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
188 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); ATHLETES (73%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (73%); SELFIES (66%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SELFIES (66%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
189 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (76%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
190 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (76%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
191 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PANDEMICS (73%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); POLITICS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%) Industry: BUDGETS (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (98%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
192 Subject: CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); ARRESTS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
193 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (67%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (73%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); ODISHA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
194 Subject: ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (89%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (77%); POLICE MISCONDUCT (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); POLICE FORCES (69%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
195 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RUNNING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); LIVING CONDITIONS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); TRENDS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); NUTRITION (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); CELEBRITIES (66%) Industry: FRUITS & VEGETABLES (72%); CELEBRITIES (66%); PORK (66%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); KERALA, INDIA (90%); CALIFORNIA, USA (79%); INDIA (97%); UNITED STATES (90%); ROMANIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
196 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, SCREENING & TESTING (64%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (56%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (56%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%); SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
197 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HEAT STRESS DISORDERS (74%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (73%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (68%); UKRAINE (66%); JAPAN (58%); TAIWAN (52%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
198 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); DISCRIMINATION (79%); ATHLETES (78%); FAMILY (78%); RELIGION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION (73%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (70%); PRESS CONFERENCES (54%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (76%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
199 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, SCREENING & TESTING (64%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (56%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (56%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%); SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY MFG (50%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
200 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); NARI SPORTS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); STREAMING MEDIA (73%) Geographic: SRI LANKA (92%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
201 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (74%); SELFIES (74%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (74%); SELFIES (74%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
202 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (74%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
203 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); SOUTH AFRICA (91%); IRELAND (87%); UNITED KINGDOM (55%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
204 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (77%); HEAT STRESS DISORDERS (74%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (73%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (68%); UKRAINE (66%); JAPAN (58%); TAIWAN (52%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
205 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (91%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); POLICE FORCES (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
206 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); RUNNING (89%); WRESTLING (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (68%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (75%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
207 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); INTERNET TROLLING (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SEX OFFENSES (89%); SEXUAL ASSAULT (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (77%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (73%); MENTAL HEALTH (73%); CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (68%); SPORTS MEDICINE (68%); SENTENCING (67%); CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (62%) Industry: INTERNET TROLLING (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS MEDICINE (68%) Person: SIMONE BILES (93%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: ATLANTA, GA, USA (79%); UNITED STATES (95%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
208 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); POLITICS (87%); PRIME MINISTERS (87%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); TRENDS & EVENTS (75%); INTEREST RATES (67%); MONETARY POLICY (67%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (63%); CENTRAL BANKS (62%); ECONOMIC POLICY (62%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (61%) Company: RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (82%) Industry: NAICS521110 MONETARY AUTHORITIES - CENTRAL BANK (82%); SIC6011 FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS (82%); BANKING & FINANCE (67%); BANKING & FINANCE REGULATION & POLICY (67%); INTEREST RATES (67%); MONETARY POLICY (67%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (63%); CENTRAL BANKS (62%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
209 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); VACCINES (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EMOTIONS (73%) Industry: VACCINES (89%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); FRANCE (92%); GERMANY (91%); INDIA (90%); EUROPE (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
210 Subject: APPOINTMENTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); JOB CREATION (73%); POLICE FORCES (71%) Industry: TRAVEL TICKETS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
211 Subject: MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
212 Subject: CHILDREN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SCHOOL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); FAMILY (75%); HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); TEACHING & TEACHERS (73%); BOARDING SCHOOLS (72%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (72%); PARAEDUCATORS (72%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (72%); MIDDLE & JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (67%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (55%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); BOARDING SCHOOLS (72%); MIDDLE & JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (94%); BIHAR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
213 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CONSERVATISM (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LIBERALISM (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); MENTAL HEALTH (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); RACE & ETHNICITY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); LITIGATION (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); MENTAL ILLNESS (77%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (74%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (71%); SENTENCING (61%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (60%); JAIL SENTENCING (60%); SEX OFFENSES (60%) Company: GRAHAM HOLDINGS CO (56%) Ticker: GHC (NYSE) (56%) Industry: NAICS517311 WIRED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS (56%); NAICS515120 TELEVISION BROADCASTING (56%); NAICS511120 PERIODICAL PUBLISHERS (56%); NAICS511110 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS (56%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET BROADCASTING (74%); NETWORK TELEVISION (60%); PODCASTING (54%) Person: SIMONE BILES (94%); ALY RAISMAN (79%); MICHAEL PHELPS (79%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (94%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
214 Subject: ABUSE & NEGLECT (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BLACK LIVES MATTER (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (78%); RACE & ETHNICITY (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); ARRESTS (77%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (77%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (77%); OLYMPICS (77%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (73%); POLICE FORCES (71%); CRIMINAL LAW (53%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
215 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); OLYMPICS (76%); ATHLETES (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
216 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Person: JUSTIN BIEBER (90%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
217 Subject: NARI SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (65%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (64%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (64%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
218 Subject: DISCRIMINATION (90%); MEN (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
219 Subject: BOXING (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (77%) Person: MUHAMMAD ALI (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); ASSAM, INDIA (78%); MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
220 Subject: BOXING (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (75%) Person: MUHAMMAD ALI (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ASSAM, INDIA (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
221 Subject: ATHLETES (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GYMNASTICS (90%); HANDBALL (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); OLYMPICS (77%); FINES & PENALTIES (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (71%); BEACHES (68%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (78%) Geographic: GERMANY (92%); NORWAY (88%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
222 Subject: GRANDCHILDREN (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); GRANDPARENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); FAMILY (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (73%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
223 Subject: MEN (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); WOMEN (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); NARI SPORTS (70%) Industry: INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (69%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
224 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); FILM (73%); OLYMPICS (69%) Industry: FILM (73%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (90%); AUSTRALIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
225 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); PRESS CONFERENCES (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
226 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); ENGLAND (90%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
227 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CRICKET (73%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%); OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
228 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CRICKET (73%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%); OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
229 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (78%); DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%); MIDDLE AGED PERSONS (69%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (74%); LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
230 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (58%); ARGENTINA (98%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
231 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); FILM (72%) Industry: FILM (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (54%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (90%); AUSTRALIA (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
232 Subject: MARTIAL ARTS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); ENERGY DRINKS (79%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); BEVERAGE PRODUCTS (61%); SOFT DRINKS (61%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
233 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); ARRESTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); FAMILY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN (89%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); ATHLETES (78%); DISORDERLY CONDUCT (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RELIGION (55%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
234 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Company: ADAMS GOLF INC (59%) Industry: NAICS339920 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS MANUFACTURING (59%); SIC3949 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS, NEC (59%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (77%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
235 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
236 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); WOMEN (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (69%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
237 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); WOMEN (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (69%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
238 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (78%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
239 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); OLYMPICS (75%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (73%); NEGATIVE NEWS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (51%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (67%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
240 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); ATHLETES (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); RANKINGS (66%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (70%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
241 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (51%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
242 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: CAMERAS (60%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (68%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (68%); INDIA (90%); UKRAINE (88%); SPAIN (75%); AUSTRIA (55%); CUBA (53%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
243 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); RANKINGS (69%) Industry: CAMERAS (60%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (68%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (68%); INDIA (90%); UKRAINE (88%); SPAIN (75%); AUSTRIA (55%); CUBA (53%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
244 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WOMEN (89%); FAMILY (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); ATHLETES (71%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (60%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
245 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); GYMNASTICS (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); TALIBAN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ATHLETES (77%); OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (76%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); REBELLIONS & INSURGENCIES (76%); HANDBALL (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); TERRORISM (72%); WAR & CONFLICT (72%); ARMED FORCES (71%); TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (68%); FINES & PENALTIES (56%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (77%); ARMED FORCES (71%) Geographic: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (92%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (98%); AFGHANISTAN (95%); UNITED STATES (94%); PAKISTAN (92%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
246 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); GYMNASTICS (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); VOLLEYBALL (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (73%); HANDBALL (73%); WRESTLING (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SCANDALS (62%); FINES & PENALTIES (61%); MUSLIMS & ISLAM (50%); SEX SCANDALS (50%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (90%); SWIMWEAR (89%) Geographic: GERMANY (93%); INDIA (79%); NORWAY (78%); EUROPE (55%); UNITED STATES (53%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
247 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
248 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
249 Subject: BOXING (91%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ARCHERY (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); CROWDFUNDING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); BICYCLES (74%); BADMINTON (73%); CROWDSOURCING (73%) Industry: BICYCLES (74%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); TRIPURA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
250 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
251 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); DOGS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); NARI SPORTS (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
252 Subject: BOXING (94%); NARI SPORTS (92%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (72%); TOURNAMENTS (61%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); SIKKIM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
253 Subject: BOXING (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (72%); TOURNAMENTS (61%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); SIKKIM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
254 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
255 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); RANKINGS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (70%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
256 Subject: APPROVALS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POLICE FORCES (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); MANIPUR, INDIA (95%); NAGALAND, INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
257 Subject: COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); TRENDS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (79%); WOMEN (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (79%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
258 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
259 Subject: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (78%); SPYWARE (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); TAX LAW (73%); TAXES & TAXATION (72%); SPORTS AWARDS (68%); NARI SPORTS (68%); FIELD HOCKEY (63%); OLYMPICS (63%); SEXUAL ASSAULT (60%) Industry: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); SPYWARE (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
260 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%); BULGARIA (50%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
261 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%); BULGARIA (50%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
262 Subject: BOXING (93%); NARI SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (76%); TOURNAMENTS (64%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
263 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
264 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (88%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (76%); ARCHERY (73%); BLUE COLLAR WORKERS (71%); WAGES & SALARIES (71%); ECONOMIC CRISIS (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (76%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
265 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (66%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (50%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (71%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
266 Subject: TENNIS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); CELEBRITIES (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); RANKINGS (70%); PRESS CONFERENCES (68%) Company: NETFLIX INC (55%) Ticker: NFLX (NASDAQ) (55%) Industry: NAICS532282 VIDEO TAPE & DISC RENTAL (55%); SIC7841 VIDEO TAPE RENTAL (55%); CELEBRITIES (76%); STREAMING MEDIA (66%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (94%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (66%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
267 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
268 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); BELARUS (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
269 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (93%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); CZECH REPUBLIC (73%); JAPAN (73%); UNITED STATES (70%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
270 Subject: MEN (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
271 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
272 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
273 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (52%); ARGENTINA (93%); BRAZIL (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
274 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (78%); JAPAN (57%); HONG KONG (54%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
275 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
276 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (88%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
277 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
278 Subject: NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (91%); ARRESTS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); POLICE FORCES (74%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
279 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
280 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
281 Subject: ARRESTS (92%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (92%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); POLICE FORCES (73%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
282 Subject: MEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
283 Subject: BOXING (90%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); NARI SPORTS (72%); MONSOONS (71%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (90%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
284 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (77%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
285 Subject: GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Company: ADAMS GOLF INC (58%) Industry: NAICS339920 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3949 SPORTING & ATHLETIC GOODS, NEC (58%) Person: LYDIA KO (73%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); NEW ZEALAND (69%); UNITED STATES (55%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
286 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); WOMEN (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); EXECUTIVES (77%); UNITED NATIONS (54%) Company: GOOGLE LLC (52%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (52%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
287 Subject: CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); WOMEN (90%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (71%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (71%); ARRESTS (68%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
288 Subject: NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (88%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
289 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Industry: MANUFACTURING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); JEWELRY & SILVERWARE MFG (53%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
Classification
1 Women
2 Women
3 Women
4 Women
5 Women
6 Women
7 Women
8 Women
9 Women
10 Women
11 Women
12 Women
13 Women
14 Women
15 Women
16 Women
17 Women
18 Women
19 Women
20 Women
21 Women
22 Women
23 Women
24 Women
25 Women
26 Women
27 Women
28 Women
29 Women
30 Women
31 Women
32 Women
33 Women
34 Women
35 Women
36 Women
37 Women
38 Women
39 Women
40 Women
41 Women
42 Women
43 Women
44 Women
45 Women
46 Women
47 Women
48 Women
49 Women
50 Women
51 Women
52 Women
53 Women
54 Women
55 Women
56 Women
57 Women
58 Women
59 Women
60 Women
61 Women
62 Women
63 Women
64 Women
65 Women
66 Women
67 Women
68 Women
69 Women
70 Women
71 Women
72 Women
73 Women
74 Women
75 Women
76 Women
77 Women
78 Women
79 Women
80 Women
81 Women
82 Women
83 Women
84 Women
85 Women
86 Women
87 Women
88 Women
89 Women
90 Women
91 Women
92 Women
93 Women
94 Women
95 Women
96 Women
97 Women
98 Women
99 Women
100 Women
101 Women
102 Women
103 Women
104 Women
105 Women
106 Women
107 Women
108 Women
109 Women
110 Women
111 Women
112 Women
113 Women
114 Women
115 Women
116 Women
117 Women
118 Women
119 Women
120 Women
121 Women
122 Women
123 Women
124 Women
125 Women
126 Women
127 Women
128 Women
129 Women
130 Women
131 Women
132 Women
133 Women
134 Women
135 Women
136 Women
137 Women
138 Women
139 Women
140 Women
141 Women
142 Women
143 Women
144 Women
145 Women
146 Women
147 Women
148 Women
149 Women
150 Women
151 Women
152 Women
153 Women
154 Women
155 Women
156 Women
157 Women
158 Women
159 Women
160 Women
161 Women
162 Women
163 Women
164 Women
165 Women
166 Women
167 Women
168 Women
169 Women
170 Women
171 Women
172 Women
173 Women
174 Women
175 Women
176 Women
177 Women
178 Women
179 Women
180 Women
181 Women
182 Women
183 Women
184 Women
185 Women
186 Women
187 Women
188 Women
189 Women
190 Women
191 Women
192 Women
193 Women
194 Women
195 Women
196 Women
197 Women
198 Women
199 Women
200 Women
201 Women
202 Women
203 Women
204 Women
205 Women
206 Women
207 Women
208 Women
209 Women
210 Women
211 Women
212 Women
213 Women
214 Women
215 Women
216 Women
217 Women
218 Women
219 Women
220 Women
221 Women
222 Women
223 Women
224 Women
225 Women
226 Women
227 Women
228 Women
229 Women
230 Women
231 Women
232 Women
233 Women
234 Women
235 Women
236 Women
237 Women
238 Women
239 Women
240 Women
241 Women
242 Women
243 Women
244 Women
245 Women
246 Women
247 Women
248 Women
249 Women
250 Women
251 Women
252 Women
253 Women
254 Women
255 Women
256 Women
257 Women
258 Women
259 Women
260 Women
261 Women
262 Women
263 Women
264 Women
265 Women
266 Women
267 Women
268 Women
269 Women
270 Women
271 Women
272 Women
273 Women
274 Women
275 Women
276 Women
277 Women
278 Women
279 Women
280 Women
281 Women
282 Women
283 Women
284 Women
285 Women
286 Women
287 Women
288 Women
289 Womendim(wom1)[1] 289 5#Men's sports
men <- dfnews_edit %>%
filter(!grepl("NARI", Tags))%>%
filter(grepl("MEN'S", Tags))
men newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
2 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
3 MINT August 9, 2021
4 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
5 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
6 MINT August 1, 2021
7 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
8 MINT July 23, 2021
9 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
11 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
12 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
13 MINT August 3, 2021
14 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
15 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
16 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
18 MINT August 7, 2021
19 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
20 MINT August 8, 2021
21 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
22 MINT August 5, 2021
23 MINT July 23, 2021
24 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
25 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
26 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
27 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
28 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
29 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
30 MINT August 8, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
32 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
33 MINT August 9, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
35 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
36 MINT August 5, 2021
37 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
38 MINT August 3, 2021
39 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
40 MINT August 8, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
42 MINT August 9, 2021
43 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
44 MINT July 29, 2021
45 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
46 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
48 MINT August 8, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
51 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
52 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
53 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
54 MINT August 5, 2021
55 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
56 MINT August 3, 2021
57 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
58 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
59 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
60 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
61 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
62 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
63 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
64 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
65 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
66 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
67 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
68 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
69 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
70 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
71 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
72 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
73 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
74 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
75 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
76 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
77 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
78 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
79 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
80 MINT July 27, 2021
81 MINT July 29, 2021
82 The Hindu August 9, 2021
83 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
84 India Today Online August 3, 2021
85 India Today Online August 5, 2021
86 India Today Online August 9, 2021
87 Indian Express August 2, 2021
88 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
89 Indian Express August 7, 2021
90 DNA August 3, 2021
91 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
92 India Today Online August 5, 2021
93 Free Press Journal (India) July 22, 2021
94 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
95 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
96 DNA August 2, 2021
97 Indian Express August 5, 2021
98 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
99 India Today Online August 5, 2021
100 India Today Online August 5, 2021
101 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
102 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
103 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021
104 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
105 DNA July 26, 2021
106 DNA August 3, 2021
107 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
108 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
109 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
110 DNA August 7, 2021
111 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
112 DNA August 4, 2021
113 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
114 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021
115 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021
116 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
117 DNA August 1, 2021
118 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
119 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
120 DNA August 5, 2021
121 DNA August 7, 2021
122 The Telegraph (India) August 1, 2021
123 Indian Express July 29, 2021
124 DNA August 5, 2021
125 Indian Express July 30, 2021
126 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
127 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
128 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
129 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
130 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
131 DNA July 26, 2021
132 DNA August 5, 2021
133 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
134 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
135 The Hindu August 8, 2021
136 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
137 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 1, 2021
138 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
139 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
140 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
141 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021
142 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021
143 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021
144 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021
145 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021
146 Indian Express July 26, 2021
147 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
148 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
149 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
150 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021
151 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
152 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
153 Indian Express August 9, 2021
154 Indian Express August 6, 2021
155 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
156 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
157 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
158 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
159 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021
160 Indian Express August 6, 2021
161 Indian Express August 6, 2021
162 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021
163 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
164 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021
165 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021
166 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
167 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021
168 The Telegraph (India) August 7, 2021
169 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
170 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
171 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
172 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
173 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
174 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
175 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
176 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
177 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
178 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
179 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021
180 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
181 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021
182 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
183 The Hindu August 3, 2021
184 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
185 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
186 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021
187 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021
188 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021
189 Free Press Journal (India) July 24, 2021
190 The Telegraph (India) July 28, 2021
191 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021
192 The Telegraph (India) July 29, 2021
193 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
194 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021
195 Free Press Journal (India) July 26, 2021
196 The Hindu August 5, 2021
197 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
198 DNA August 5, 2021
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1 India's 41-year-long wait for an Olympic medal in hockey came to an end on Thursday when the men's hockey team beat Germany 5-4 to take the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. This was India's first podium finish in Olympics hockey after their gold-medal-winning run in 1980 Moscow Olympics. This was India's third bronze and 12th hockey medal overall at the Games. Here is a list of all the podium finishes in hockey that India have achieved so far in the quadrennial showpiece. The country is the most successful team in the Olympics. 1928 Amsterdam Olympics: GOLD India won their first medal in Olympic hockey by beating Netherlands 3-0 in the finals of the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. This was also India's first gold medal ever at the Olympics. 1932, Los Angeles: GOLD India defended their title four years later in Los Angeles and bagged consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. In the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, India defeated USA 24-1, which continuous to be biggest margin of victory in the history Olympics hockey. 1936, Berlin: GOLD The Dhyan Chand-led Indian side completed a hat-trick of golds in Olympics by beating Germany 8-1 - the biggest margin in Olympics hockey finals - in front of their home crowd in Berlin in 1936. 1948, London: GOLD India continued their domination in the Games despite the 1940 and 1944 getting cancelled due to the second World War. This was India's first medal in Olympics after independence and what made it sweeter was the fact that they had beaten Great Britain 4-0 in the finals. 1952, Helsinki: GOLD Balbir Singh Sr scored five goals in the Olympics final against Netherlands as India won their fifth straight gold medal at the mega event. 1956, Melbourne: GOLD In what marked as the beginning of the arch-rivals, India beat neighbours Pakistan 1-0 in the finals in Melbourne 1960, Rome: SILVER The 0-1 loss to Pakistan ended India's six straight Olympic gold-winning run in the Rome Olympics in 1960. The Indian men's hockey team had to be satisfied with a silver. 1964, Tokyo: GOLD India came back strongly in the next Olympics held in Tokyo and beat Pakistan in the finals to bag their seventh gold in the Olympics. 1968, Mexico City: BRONZE This was the first time that the Indian team failed to make the finals of an Olympic. They were beaten by Australia in the semi-final and had to be settled with a bronze after beating West Germany. 1972, Munich: BRONZE India once again failed to make it to the finals of the Olympics after they were beaten by Pakistan in the semifinals. India beat Netherlands to claim their second bronze. 1980, Moscow: GOLD In the Olympic Games played in a format which did not have semi-finals, India beat Spain in the finals to claim their 8th gold medal in Olympics. 2021, Tokyo: BRONZE India beat Germany 5-4 to bag their 12th medal in the Olympics - a bronze - after 41 years.
2 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday decided to celebrate India's most successful ever campaign at the Olympics by announcing cash rewards for all the medal winners at the Tokyo Games. the In a tweet, BCCI secretary Jay Shah also announced that Neeraj Chopra, India's first-ever gold medal winner in athletics - he won gold in men's javelin throw event - will get Rs.1 crore from the board. Rs.50 lakh each will be given to silver medallists -- weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya. "Our athletes have made the country proud by finishing on the podium at @Tokyo2020. The @BCCI acknowledges their stellar efforts and we are delighted to announce cash prizes for the medallists," Jay Shah tweeted. Mirabai Chanu won India's first weightlifting medal at the Games and Ravi Dahiya became only the second wrestler from the country to win a silver after Sushil Kumar (2012). The bronze medallists -- wrestler Bajrang Punia, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and shuttler P V Sindhu -- will get Rs.25 lakh each. Sindhu became the first Indian woman and the second athlete overall to win two Olympic medals. She had won silver five years ago at the Rio Olympics. The men's hockey team which won its first Olympic medal in 41 years will get Rs.1.25 crore. India beat Germany 5-4 to win their third bronze medal and take their overall medal tally in Olympics to 12. India finished Tokyo 2020 with seven medals, making it their most successful campaign at the Games. India bettered their tally of six medals at the London Olympics in 2012.
3 Indian athletes who won laurels for the nation at Tokyo Olympics were honoured in a grand ceremony in Delhi. Sport Minister Anurag Thakur and others welcomed the successful athletes and felicitated them. Seven medalists, namely Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain and the men's national hockey team, were felicitated during the ceremony. Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu couldn't attend the event as they had arrived earlier and are currently at their home bases. The man of the hour was Neeraj Chopra who won the first gold for India in athletics. "We all come from middle-class families and support of the families is essential," Chopra said after being felicitated by Thakur. While Chopra won the solo gold for India at Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya bagged the silver medals. The bronze medals, apart from the men's hockey team, were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, and wrestler Bajrang Punia. "It feels great, I would like to thank the government, SAI and IOA for helping us during our quarantine time. They gave us all the support," said men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh. "I am very happy to be back home. I knew India is very happy but after coming back here, to get this love first hand, it feels really nice. I would try to do my best for more such medals," Borgohain said. "I only tried to give my best," said Punia, who fought through his semifinals without any protective gear on his injured knee. Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the medal winners also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Sports) Ravi Mittal and Director-General of Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan. "Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world.even in sports," Thakur said. "The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around. Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence," he added. Tokyo Olympics marked many firsts for India, starting with the biggest ever contingent of 128 athletes. The seven Olympic medals - one gold, two silver and four bronze - was the highest India has ever won in any version of the Gamesw. Apart from the first Olympic gold medal in an athletics event, two successive medals in consecutive Games by Sindhu, and a medal by the Indian men's team in hockey after a gap of 41 years. Also, the women's hockey team achieved its best ever fourth place finish in the Games. So did golfer Aditi Ashok, who too finished fourth in women's golf. "We will continue to support our sports persons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse," Thakur said. Thakur's predecessor Rijiju praised the performances of all the athletes and reiterated that India will be a force to reckon with by the 2028 Olympics. "This is just the beginning because India's resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that by 2028 Olympics India will be a force to reckon with," Rijiju mentioned.
4 India vs Belgium Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics Live Streaming: The stage is set for an enthralling encounter as India men's hockey team will face off against the 2018 World Champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. India picked a solid win over Great Britian to book a semis spot after over four decades and they will be eager to cause an upset and go past the World Champions. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - LIVE! All you need to know about India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Tuesday (August 3rd). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
5 India vs Germany Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: After going down fighting to current world champions Belgium in the semi-final match, the Indian men's hockey team will fight for the bronze medal against Germany, who lost their semifinal to Australia. The last time India won a medal was way back in 1980 when they won gold. The men's hockey team now has a chance to get back to the podium after more than four decades. All you need to know about India vs Germany Hockey Men's Bronze Medal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Thursday (August 5th). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
6 Indian men's hockey team on Sunday defeated Great Britain in the quarterfinals 3-1. Now, the Indian team will face Belgium in semi-finals. This is historic as India has entered semifinals of Olympics Games after 49 years. The last time Indian team featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games. But they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. Today, the India team was ahead from the very beginning, with two goals in first two quarters. Great Britain tried to make a comeback but couldn't cross the solid defense by Indian goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh. In total, India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win against GB. Desperate Great Britain's only goal came in the 45th minute. The Men in Blue was up against Great Britain in quarterfinal after a long gap of 41 years. Before facing Great Britain, the Indians had won four of five matches to finish second in Pool A behind Australia. Great Britain, on the other hand, had finished third in Pool B with two wins, one loss and one draw. Before this game, India had played Great Britain eight times in the Olympics, winning four and losing as many games. However, India held an edge in terms of goals scored in the Olympics. On 30 July, the Indian team had defeated Japan 5-3 in the Tokyo Olympics. This was India's fourth win in the mega event. Japan scored three goals but the Indian boys were in the lead throughout the game and dominated proceedings. In Olympics, the Indian hockey team has so far scored eight gold medals, with the last one in the 1980 Moscow Games. However, since then, Indian hockey's performance dipped. The Indians registered their best finish - a fifth place - in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The team had failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games and finished last in the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, in the last five years, Indian hockey improved its performances, and climbed to the third place in the world rankings. Punjab announces Rs.2.25 cr each for state's hockey players on winning gold On 30 July, Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi announced that the hockey players from the state participating in the Tokyo Olympics would now get Rs.2.25 crore individually on winning a team gold medal. Earlier, an amount of Rs.2.25 crore was given to the entire team for winning a gold medal. Rana Sodhi said that "out of a total of 20 players from Punjab, 11 players are giving their best in the Indian hockey team competing in Tokyo Olympics". He expressed hope that the country will win 3 to 4 medals in the Olympics.
7 India Vs Great Britain Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: The stage is set for the India men's hockey team's next match. They take on the might Great Britain in the quarterfinals of Tokyo 2020. After starting on a winning note against New Zealand in Pool A, India suffered an embarrassing 1-7 defeat to Australia. However, the stars bounced back to win three on the trot to finish second in the Pool. On the other hand, the British team experienced a mixed bag of results in Pool B. After two wins and defeats each and one draw, they finished third in their group with 8 points from 5 matches. Can India move closer to the final on Sunday? (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 9 BLOG Where will India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 05:30 PM IST on Sunday (August 1). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
8 The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today roped in the Adani Group as a sponsor for the Indian contingent at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Games. The development was announced by IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta, who is in Tokyo. Taking to Twitter, Mehta wrote, "We are Happy to inform you about one more sponsorship which is confirmed by Adani Group to IOA for the Olympics since our last update to you on 16th July." "Adani has confirmed to us a good sponsorship association and support for future also," he added. Adani Sportsline also took to Twitter saying, "Proud to announce that we are now the Official Partner for Team India at the #TokyoOlympics. Let's roar together in support of our team and back them in conquering the Olympic games." The IOA had earlier entered into sponsorship deals with various private entities, including diary giant Amul, mobile gaming platform MPL Sports Foundation, JSW Sports among others. IOA had inked the deals after dropping Chinese sportswear brand Li Ning as the Indian team's official kit sponsor for the Tokyo Olympics and stating that the country's athletes will wear unbranded apparel during the Games. Mary Kom, Manpreet lead India's charge in Parade of Nations Five-time world champion Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh led the way as India made its way at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics on Friday here at the Japan National Stadium. Back home, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur was also seen waving the Indian flag as the Indian contingent made its way into the stadium. Twenty-five members from the Indian contingent attended the Opening Ceremony amid the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital. After much debate on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to the COVID-19 situation, the Games were finally declared open on Friday as fireworks kickstarted the Opening Ceremony here at the Japan National Stadium.
9 July 27 once again promises to be a positive day for the Indians as they hope the shooters to bring their campaign back on track with the mixed team events. Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma, Yashaswini Deswal would look to rise from the disappointments of the individual events and give India medals. Boxer Lovlina will start her campaign in the round of 16 while the men's hockey team will look to bounce back from the crushing 1-7 loss to Australia and get back on the winning ways against Spain. Paddler Sharath Kamal will carry India's hopes in table tennis when in his third round match. Here is India's schedule on Day 4 of the Tokyo Olympics Shooting *Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker and Yeshahswini Deswal/Abhishek Verma in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification: 05:30am IST followed by final. *Elavenil Valarivan/Divyansh Singh Panwar and Anjum Moudgil/Deepak Kumar in 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification: 9:45am IST followed by final. Hockey India vs Spain in Men's Pool A match: 6:30am IST Badminton Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Ben Lane/Sean Vendy (Great Britain) in Men's Doubles Group A Match: 8:30am IST. Boxing:*Lovlina Borgohain vs Nadine Apetz (Germany) in Women's 69kg Round of 16 Bout: 11:33am IST. Sailing *Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radial Race: 08:35am IST. *Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race: 08:45am IST. *KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in Men's Skiff 49er Race: 11:50am IST. Table Tennis *Achanta Sharath Kamal vs Ma Long (China) in Men's Singles Round 3 Match: 8:30am IST.
10 Tokyo Olympics Day 11 Full Schedule: The Tokyo Olympics enters its 11th day which promises full of action for the Indian fans. Javelin thrower Annu Rani will begin the day in women's Group A qualification. All eyes will be on the men's hockey team that made it to the semi-finals after 41 years. They will play the historic encounter against World Champions Belgium. Wrestler Sonam Malik will also be in action as she will compete in freestyle 62kg event. If she qualifies, Sonam is slated to play her semifinal match on the same day. Tajinderpal Singh Toor will compete in the men's shot put qualification round tomorrow. Here is India's schedule on Day 10 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: Athletics: 5:50 AM: Annu Rani in women's javelin throw Qualification Group A 3:45 AM: Tajinderpal Singh Toor in men's shot put Qualification Group A Hockey: 7:00 AM: India vs Belgium in men's semifinal: Wrestling: 8:30 AM: Sonam Malik vs Bolortuya Khurelkhuu (Mongolia) in women's 62kg If Sonam qualifies, then she will compete in the Women's freestyle 62 Kg semi-final. Match will start at 2:45 PM.
11 There's something about the recent battles between Novak Djokovic and Pablo Carreno Busta. They evoke drama. They produce emotions. They hold significance. In New York in September 2020, when the two met at the US Open, the Serb struck the line judge unintentionally with a ball in a moment of rage. He was disqualified. In Tokyo in July 2021, in multiple moments of frustration, he flung his racquet in the stands and also into the net. An exhausted Djokovic exited the Olympics with a defeat in the bronze medal match. The world No. 1 came to Tokyo eyeing a gold medal and a Golden Slam. He is leaving Tokyo without a medal of any kind and the confidence of completing a Calendar Slam slightly shaken. A racquet-smashing Djokovic lost to the Spaniard 4-6, 7-6(6), 3-6 in the men's singles bronze medal encounter on Saturday. Shortly after that, he pulled out of the mixed doubles bronze medal tie with partner Nina Stojanovic citing a shoulder injury. Australia's Ashley Barty and John Peers were awarded the medal. All of this came a day after Djokovic saw his year-long dream of becoming the first man to achieve the Golden Slam - winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold in the same year - turn into a nightmare from being a set and a break up against Alexander Zverev in the semi-final. The last time Djokovic lost two singles matches in a row was in November 2019 in the round robin stage of the ATP Finals. The last time Djokovic won a medal at the Olympics was a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, losing to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in London. In Rio he was out in the first round. In Tokyo, he also lost a significant volume of energy. In the taxing heat that forced the start of tennis matches to be pushed back, Djokovic also signed up to play mixed doubles. The 34-year-old played two matches on Wednesday, two on Thursday and two on Friday. Djokovic looked spent, emotionally and physically, towards the end of his match against Carreno Busta. The US Open - where Djokovic will bid to complete a Calendar Slam after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year - begins in less than a month. And his Tokyo experience has the potential to derail that as well. "The consequences physically, hopefully, will not create a problem for me for the US Open, but that's something that I'm not sure about right now," Djokovic told reporters after the match. After tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at 20 Grand Slams at Wimbledon, this was meant to be Djokovic's year. This was also meant to be Djokovic's Olympics, and it looked every bit like one. The Serb was the cynosure of all eyes in the Games Village - clicking selfies with athletes (ask most of the Indians), working on his splits with Belgian gymnasts, cheering the loudest for his fellow Serb competitors with the entire contingent watching together on TV. "I don't regret coming to (the) Olympics at all," Djokovic said.
12 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday scripted history by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics during the Tokyo Olympics. And if there is anyone who knows what it feels like to win an individual gold medal for India, it is none other than 2008 Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra. Fittingly enough, he had a special message for India's second individual gold medallist. In a thread on Twitter, Bindra congratulated Chopra, who won the top prize with a throw of 87.58m in the men's javelin throw event. The third tweet had video in which Bindra said: (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage > "Dearest Neeraj, I know how much effort and belief has gone into your quest to be the best and win that gold medal at your first Olympics. it is such an emotional moment for me as it was for every Indian. The world is your playground and your achievement will be a symbol of experience which we will always treasure. My sincerest congratulations and all my respect." In another tweet, Bindra uploaded a signed letter for the Tokyo 2020 men's javelin champion. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 15 BLOG Neeraj is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from independent India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Neeraj won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.58m in his second attempt. The only medal that India had won in track-and-field events was back in 1900 when British-Indian Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in Paris. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's medals to India though various research, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain. Neeraj Chopra's gold took India's medal count to seven at the Tokyo Olympics - the best ever, bettering the tally of six medals at the London Olympics in 2012. Chopra also became the sixth Indian athlete to win an individual medal at Tokyo 2020 joining weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, shuttler PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang Punia.
13 The Indian men's hockey team today was defeated by the Belgians in a closely contested semi-final match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Belgium defeated India 5-2 which saw the Belgium team creating chances with penalty corners and converting them into goals. Alexander Hendrickx scored three goals in the match for Belgium and helping his team qualify for the final. India will now play for the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics Belgium started on a strong note as it scored the first goal by Luypaert in the second minute of the play. However, Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal for India and also helped in equalising the scoreline. India took the lead by scoring the second goal which was scored by Mandeep but once again Belgium had scored the equaliser from a penalty corner scored by Hendrickx. Belgium broke the deadlock in the fourth quarter after their top scorer Hendrickx scored two goals and taking his tally to 13 goals in the tournament. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted,"I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best!" I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020 . Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best! - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2021
14 Be it on or off the pitch, PR Sreejesh is arguably the most animated character in the Indian men's hockey team. He was no different on Saturday as India took on New Zealand in their Tokyo Olympics opener at the Oi Hockey Stadium. As the game entered the final quarter, and the clock ticked towards the 60-minute mark, his shrieks also rose in volume with the seasoned goalkeeper constantly barking instructions to his teammates. These were crucial moments as India led 3-2 with New Zealand pushing for an equaliser. A win would kick-off India's Olympic campaign on a positive note while a draw or loss to their lower-ranked opponent would hinder their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals right at the start. The 33-year-old Sreejesh, now a three-time Olympian, is in the thick of action with the Black Sticks, desperately chasing a goal, ramping up attacks on the Indian goal. Sreejesh though stood like a rock between the New Zealand attacks and the goal in the last few minutes, and then seconds, making two match-winning saves from two back-to-back penalty corners, ensuring India took three points for the win. Despite the multiple saves throughout the game-four penalty corners in the last few minutes of the first quarter itself-the highlight was Sreejesh's save 18 seconds from the hooter when a full stretch and block with his left hand saved what could have been New Zealand's equaliser. It emphasised the value the India goalie attaches to the Tokyo Games campaign. "When I look back at my own career, I have a lot of FIH medals, medals almost in every tournament, but not one in World Cup or Olympics," Sreejesh had told PTI before leaving for Tokyo. From the disappointment of not winning a game at London 2012 to Belgium ousting India in the quarter-finals of Rio 2016, Sreejesh-who debuted for India in 2006-has been at the centre of previous frustrations and heartbreaks. "It can be my last Olympics, so for me it's about what more I can achieve as an athlete, what I can get from this Olympics? That can only be a medal. This is what is giving me extra energy. This is what is helping us to wake up from our bed every morning and work hard. This is a dream I am living for the last 15 years and willing to do so for the next 15 years," he had said. As he took off his helmet after the match, with the Tokyo temperature soaring to 33 degrees Celsius on a humid day, Sreejesh's face was etched in delight, the seasoned goalkeeper proud of his contribution. His heroics would be needed even more when India face the mighty Australia in the second Pool A game on Sunday. Australia beat Japan 5-3 on Saturday. India's goals came via drag-flickers Rupinder Pal Singh (10th min) and Harmanpreet Singh (26th, 33rd) while Kane Russell (6th) and Stephen Jenness (43rd) scored for New Zealand.
15 India men's hockey team lost their semifinal match against the 2018 world champions Belgium on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics, thus missing out on a chance to make their first Olympic final in over four decades. The last time India had played the men's hockey final at the Olympics was back in 1980 when the team had won the gold medal. This was India's first meeting against Belgium since their 2-3 defeat in the FIH Pro League match in February 2019. But India's campaign is still not over as they would compete in the Bronze medal match on Thursday where they will face the loser of the second semifinal between Australia and Germany. India got off to a nervy start, conceding an early penalty corner in the semifinal. Felix Denayer sent a ball inside the scoring circle, and the ball was deflected off by Rupinder Singh. Despite Alexander Hendrickx not being on the turf at that point, Luick Luypaert made the most of the opportunity and scored an early goal for Belgium in the second minute of the first quarter. It took India nine minutes to get things back to level pegging as Harmanpreet Singh smashed a powerful dragflick past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch after the World Champions conceded a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Amit Rohidas passed a ball to Mandeep Singh inside the circle, and the Indian forward turned a tomahawk shot into the nets to give India the lead. But Belgium came back strong in the 2nd quarter, getting as many as four penalty corners within a matter of minutes. Hendrickx scored his 12th goal of the Olympics from a penalty corner, getting things again back to level terms as both teams went into the halftime with two goals apiece. The third quarter was a cagey affair with neither of the two teams getting too many opportunities but India's inability to prevent penalty corners cost them in the final 15 minutes. Alexander Hendrickx scored two more goals, the fourth one coming from a penalty stroke. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India had won all their games so far, but could not surpass the Belgium test. (More details awaited)
16 India men's hockey team scripted history on Thursday as they defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The thrilling encounter between the two teams saw India come back from behind twice to push for the win. Simranjeet Singh scored twice, while Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and Hardik Singh scored one goal apiece, as India clinched the bronze medal. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since the gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 1980 in Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team in a tweet, in which he said that the nation is proud of the efforts put in by the hockey players in Tokyo. Highlights: How India won bronze medal in Tokyo "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian," PM Modi wrote. "Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team," he added. It was a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, and the 5-2 loss in the semifinal to the World Champions Belgium, India won all their games in Tokyo.
17 The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday announced an award of Rs. 1 crore for Varun Kumar after the Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Kumar, who hails from Dalhousie in Chamba district, will also be appointed as deputy superintendent of police, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said. "It is a matter of pride that the Indian team has won an Olympics medal in hockey after 41 years," said Thakur, adding that the government had increased the cash prize for Olympic gold medal winners to Rs.2 crore, Rs.1.20 crore for silver medal winners and Rs.1 crore for bronze medal winners. Senior Congress MLA from Dalhouse, Asha Kumari, urged the CM to build a sports complex in the region. She told the House that Kumar belongs to the Gaddi tribe of Chamba district and had won the Man of the Match award in the World Junior Hockey championship. She said that players have to go to Punjab for training and sport facilities should be developed in the state. Kumar's family had also moved to Jalandhar a few years ago. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Rakesh Pathania said the state government will avail Kumar's services in promoting Hockey in Himachal. He said a Rs.7-crore hockey astroturf was coming up at Nahan . "Hockey is popular in Nahan and Paonta Sahib and an international hockey centre is being setting up there," he said.
18 As India signs off with 7 medals from Tokyo Olympics, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced cash rewards for all the winners. Among the athletes who have bagged medals in this season for India are Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and Men's Hockey Team. BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced the cash rewards for the medallists via a tweet. These are as follows: - Rs.1 crore for gold medalist Neeraj Chopra - Rs.50 lakh each for silver medalists Mirabai Chanu & Ravi Kumar Dahiya - Rs.25 lakh each for bronze medalists PV Sidhu, Lovlina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia - Rs.1.25 crore to Hockey Men's Team for bronze medal With Neeraj Chopra's gold today in men's javelin throw, India's medal tally has gone up to 7 - highest so far in any Olympics. India now have one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. With 126 athletes across 18 sports disciplines, India had sent its biggest-ever contingent to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country. For India, first medal came in weightlifting, in which Mirabai Chanu won Silver. On the 7th day of the quadrennial event, Lovlina Borgohain secured the second medal for the country in boxing. She won Bronze. Ace shutter PV Sindhu, too, won Bronze by defeating Bing Jiao of China. This time, there were several notable firsts in terms of participation at Tokyo Olympics. For the first time in its history, a fencer from India (Bhavani Devi) had qualified for the Olympic Games.
19 India men's hockey team lost their semifinal match against the 2018 world champions Belgium on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics, thus missing out on a chance to make their first Olympic final in over four decades. The last time India had played the men's hockey final at the Olympics was back in 1980 when the team had won the gold medal. This was India's first meeting against Belgium since their 2-3 defeat in the FIH Pro League match in February 2019. But India's campaign is still not over as they would compete in the Bronze medal match on Thursday where they will face the loser of the second semifinal between Australia and Germany. Highlights: India vs Belgium Men's Hockey SF India got off to a nervy start, conceding an early penalty corner in the semifinal. Felix Denayer sent a ball inside the scoring circle, and the ball was deflected off by Rupinder Pal Singh. Despite Alexander Hendrickx not being on the turf at that point, Luick Luypaert made the most of the opportunity and scored an early goal for Belgium in the second minute of the first quarter. It took India nine minutes to get things back to level-pegging as Harmanpreet Singh smashed a powerful dragflick past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch after the World Champions conceded a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Amit Rohidas passed a ball to Mandeep Singh inside the circle, and the Indian forward turned a tomahawk shot into the nets to give India the lead. Tokyo Olympics Day 11 - LIVE! But Belgium came back strong in the 2nd quarter, getting as many as four penalty corners within a matter of minutes. Hendrickx scored his 12th goal of the Olympics from a penalty corner, getting things again back to level terms as both teams went into the halftime with two goals apiece. The third quarter was a cagey affair with neither of the two teams getting too many opportunities but India's inability to prevent penalty corners cost them in the final 15 minutes. Alexander Hendrickx scored two more goals, the fourth one coming from a penalty stroke. With India putting an extra attacker on the field, and PR Sreejesh not on the turf, Belgium veteran John-John Dohmen scored the fifth goal in the dying minutes. But by that point, it was a mere formality. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India had won all their games so far, but could not surpass the Belgium test. (More details awaited)
20 India capped off its best-ever performance at the Tokyo Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold. As a token of appreciation, Go First, previously known as GoAir, today announced free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. "A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021. We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners," Go First said in a tweet. A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021 . We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. #Tokyo2020 #GoFirst @mirabai_chanu @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai @BajrangPunia @Neeraj_chopra1 #RaviDahiya @TheHockeyIndia - GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) August 8, 2021 On Saturday, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. Budget carrier IndiGo has announced that it will offer unlimited free travel to 'Gold Medallist' Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021, till August 7, 2022. Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility, we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year. You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torchbearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj". India has now won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
21 Forty-five years ago, the Indian men's hockey team had suffered its worst loss at the Olympics. Less than a year after winning the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, the team hit its nadir when they were beaten 1-6 in the group stages of Montreal 1976 by Australia, who went on to claim silver. But the team had a compelling reason they could offer to explain the heavy defeat-Olympic hockey was being played on artificial turf for the first time. Masters of the sport on grass, the team could not adjust to the new, fast-paced surface. The batch of 2021 don't really have an excuse for the morale-shattering 1-7 hammering they got at the hands of Australia in Tokyo's Oi Hockey Stadium. Graham Reid's side had no response for the salvo of goals Australia, a team India had beaten via penalties in the Pro League last year, fired throughout the 60 minutes. The contest was reminiscent of the 2010 Commonwealth Games final here when the same opponent had thrashed India 8-0 in the final, silencing the capacity crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Despite penetrating Australia's circle 24 times, two more than Australia managed, India failed to convert their chances. Only Dilpreet Singh (34th minute) managed to breach Australia's watertight defence. The Manpreet Singh-led side wasted all five penalty corner opportunities with poor trapping and execution. The world No.1 outfit are top of Group A with six points from two games after a shaky 5-3 win over Japan on Saturday. Australia, who have medalled in six of the last seven Olympics, ripped apart India's defence with PR Sreejesh helpless in goal. It's still early days in the tournament with India fourth in the group of six, after their win over New Zealand on Saturday, with the top four making the quarter-finals. India are scheduled to play Spain (July 27), Argentina (July 29) and hosts Japan (July 30) next.
22 Indian men's hockey team today displayed a great game of counter-attacking play as it won defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal play-offs at the Tokyo Olympics today. Indian men's hockey team won an Olympic medal after a gap of 41 years. India's last of the eight Olympic golds came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. India came back from a two-goal deficit to take a two-goal lead at the end of the third quarter. Germany reduced the deficit as in the q4 when it scored a goal from the penalty corner. Earlier at the half-time, Team India who were1-3 down to equalising 3-3 level at the half-time break. Goalscorers for India Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for India. Germany's goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th). There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. "I think we should just forget about what happened in the semi-final and just put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge," said Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze medal play-off match. He further stated: "We have the entire country's support. We even had the Hono'ble Prime Minister call us and wish us after the semi-final loss. He asked us to not feel disappointed and just look forward to playing well on Thursday and that's what we plan to do. We are pumped up for the game."
23 On the Opening Ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "caught a few glimpses" of six-time world champion Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh who led India's charge. PM Narendra Modi wished the "dynamic" Indian contingent all the best as the athletes gear up to showcase their skills in the ongoing Summer Games. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "Come, let us all #Cheer4India! Caught a few glimpses of the @Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony. Wishing our dynamic contingent the very best. #Tokyo2020." Come, let us all #Cheer4India ! Caught a few glimpses of the @Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony. Wishing our dynamic contingent the very best. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/iYqrrhTgk0 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2021 Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said PM Modi is leading from the front in encouraging the athletes. "Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji leading from the front to cheer our Indian Olympic Contingent during the Opening Ceremony of the #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India," Rijiju tweeted. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur termed the opening ceremony a "moment of pride". A moment of pride and immense honour as @MangteC and @manpreetpawar07lead #TeamIndia as the official flag bearers at #Tokyo2020 Olympic Games!," Anurag tweeted. Mary Kom and Manpreet led the way as India made its way at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics on Friday at the Japan National Stadium. Back home, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur was also seen waving the Indian flag as the Indian contingent made its way into the stadium. Twenty-five members from the Indian contingent attended the Opening Ceremony amid the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital. Ankita Raina was added to the list of players who attended the event on Friday evening while Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal from the Table Tennis team did not attend the Ceremony. Amit, Ashish Kumar, Mary Kom were among the eight boxers who were present at the function along with six Indian officials. After much debate on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to the COVID-19 situation, the Games were finally declared open on Friday as fireworks kickstarted the Opening Ceremony here at the Japan National Stadium. With the emergence of COVID-19, many athletes had to train for the showpiece event in isolation and this was the highlight during the Opening Ceremony as performers showed how they have been connected by their hope and shared passion. After the fireworks and lighting show, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was welcomed on the stage. The IOC had decided that only six officials will be allowed per contingent. With agency inputs
24 Celebrations are on at the Kurukshetra residence of Surender Kumar -- a member of the India men's hockey team which has won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Relatives, neighbours and even politicians have been visiting the 28-year-old hockey player's residence in Sector 8 in Kurukshetra in Haryana as soon as the team defeated Germany 5-4 to win an Olympics medal after 41 years. "It is like a festival for us as Surender's hardwork has borne fruit," said Kumar's father Malkhan Singh. Malkhan, a farmer, said, "I have arranged everything for my children even though there were financial problems in my family. But Surender's hard work and dedication for hockey helped him play for the country." Surender's mother Neelam Devi also shared her happiness as she said, "Surender has turned my dream into a reality. I cannot express my happiness in words." "Today, I am happier than I was on my wedding day," she said. Kumar was also a part of the national team that participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics. He is currently posted as a manager with the Food Corporation of India at Delhi. He started playing hockey at the age of 10 and in 2010, he started playing for Haryana and helped the state team win gold in national competitions. His family credited Kumar's coach Gurvinder Singh with his success. Singh said, "It is a big achievement for the country. Surender's experience also helped the team as he was playing his second Olympics."
25 Moments after the India men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, celebrations broke out at Mithapur, the native village of captain Manpreet Singh and his teammates Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar, in Jalandhar district. Four of the 18-member Team India squad are from Jalandhar district, including Hardik Singh from Khursopur village. Former Olympian and Congress MLA Pargat Singh also belongs to Mithapur. Residents of Mithapur rushed to the houses of Manpreet, Mandeep and Varun to celebrate the much-awaited medal after 41 years. At Manpreet's house, people danced in joy to the beats of the dhol as his mother, Manjit Kaur, congratulated the captain on the historic win over a video call. Bronze equally precious, history made: Kin "Hard work of more than 12 years has finally borne fruit for Manpreet and his teammates. We were hopeful for the gold but the bronze medal is equally precious as history has been made. India will win the gold next time," Manjit said. She said Manpreet didn't call her up after losing the match to Australia. "He was upset but I motivated him to focus on the bronze medal match," she said. Player Mandeep Singh's father Ravinder Singh agreed that it's a historic occasion. "I'm proud of the boys, it's the biggest ever gift." Relatives and friends gathered at Varun's house as his father Bhrama Nand congratulated him on the victory. The families of the three players also paid obeisance at the local gurdwara. Hardik Singh's father, Varinderpreet Singh, is a superintendent of police at Batala. Residents of their native Khursopur village exchanged greetings with the family after the match.
26 India's historic bronze medal win in men's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday seems to have been the result of hard work and planning by many, including former India coach Harendra Singh, whose "junoon" (obsession) guided India to win their maiden Junior Men's World Cup in Lucknow in 2016. A member of the silver-medal winning Indian team at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, Harendra, who is now teaching the finer points of the game to the United States team, made a major contribution in building this "new and energetic side". Eight members of the current squad, including captain Manpreet Singh, were part of the gold-medal winning side in 2016. They were coached by Harendra then. "Many don't understand my madness and obsession for the game as even in my dreams I care for hockey, but it makes no difference to me. I know that such passion is required to build the future of Indian hockey,"he had said soon after India's thrilling 2-1 win against Belgium in the Junior World Cup final. Harendra's comment is still relevant now that India have ended their 41-year-old medal drought at the Olympics. The passion for a podium finish was at its highest among the Indian side though Harendra was removed in 2019 following a disappointing 2018 season. Harendra was given charge of the senior side after India's medal-less showing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, but was unable to change the team's fortunes. India were also below-par in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, settling for a bronze after going into the tournament as the defending champions. They ended the year with a quarterfinal loss in the World Cup in Bhubaneswar. "...what a incredible journey of these players A big big salute to boys in blue!" one of his tweets on Thursday read. In fact, Singh broke down after watching the historic win and didn't hide his emotions. "I am so excited that from 10 scorers for India, nine are from the 2016 core group. What more as a coach can I ask for?" Besides Manpreet, players like Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh and Simranjeet Singh were part of the 2016 World-Cup winning junior squad. He also said India's investment in junior programmes paid rich dividends. "I salute (chief coach) Graham Reid. I always said invest in youngsters and you will get the medal and he invested in youngsters and today we are on the podium." Terming the bronze medal win as one of the best moments in Indian hockey, he said the feat will inspire the new generation to pick up hockey sticks. "The journey has just started. It is just an appetizer, the main course is yet to come. It's just the beginning, many more to come. We need to be patient, give time to players and coaches. It's a process and needs time to produce results," he said. Hockey India's high performance and development committee chairman RP Singh too praised contributions by everyone, including the present and former coaches of both the junior and senior sides, for the team's bronze-medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. "Be it administrators, selectors, coaches, technical officials and many others, everyone is responsible for India's success at the Games, and I believe that real process for the better development of Indian hockey was re-started when Hockey India came into existence in 2009," said RP Singh.
27 An air of festivity was palpable as Uttar Pradesh shared the nation's joy on India ending its medal drought in hockey after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the Manpreet Singh-led men's hockey team on winning bronze and Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate announced a Rs.1 crore purse for the team's midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, who hails from Varanasi. "Today, the Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics with a historic performance. Today's success has added a golden chapter in the history of Indian Hockey. The whole nation is proud of this unforgettable achievement of Team India," Yogi Adityanath tweeted soon after India's thrilling 5-4 win against Germany at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo. While announcing Rs.1 crore for Lalit on behalf of the state government, UP's director sports RP Singh said the prize was according to the government's scheme for such achievements. "It's a historic win and we were all waiting this to happen since 1980 when India won a gold medal in hockey at the Moscow Olympics," he said. "The government has already announced Rs.12 lakh for all 10 Uttar Pradesh athletes who have gone to represent India at the Summer Olympics. If anyone wins gold, silver or bronze in an individual event, he or she will get Rs.6 crore, Rs.4 crore and Rs.2 crore respectively," he added. Hockey Olympians like Devesh Chauhan, Rahul Singh, Sujit Kumar, Ali Saeed, Danish Mujtaba, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Syed Ali Zafar Iqbal, Mohinder Pal Singh, Jagbir Singh and other hockey greats like Rajneesh Mishra, Arf Mohd Khan, Sanjay Bisht and Atif Idrish also praised the team. Zafar Iqbal, a key member of India's last Olympic gold medal winning team in the 1980 Moscow Games, said he had his heart in his mouth in the final few minutes of the match when Germany were attacking in search of the equaliser. "History has been made. We have broken the jinx. It's a miracle. It's going to have a big impact on the game. It will revive the sport in the country. It's a new beginning, a new dawn," he said. "Since my childhood, I have been hearing that India won gold medals at the Olympics eight times, but never got to see such an occasion in my lifetime. But today, it's like a dream come true and now I can say that I have seen India winning medals at the Olympics," former Indian hockey captain Rajneesh Mishra said. Former Junior India star Vijay Singh, senior coach SK Lahiri, Kanpur Hockey secretary TP Singh and UP Olympic Association secretary Anandeshwar Pandey too admired India's podium finish at the Games. "I watched the match and I can feel the joy that comes when your country wins after 40 years," Pandey said over the phone from Tokyo.
28 It was an emotional yet exciting moment for veteran hockey players in the city, as the Indian men's team defeated Germany in a thrilling match to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won gold in 1980. The players, who have seen the sport in all its glory and also the decline of its popularity, said they hope that the historic win encourages more players will take up the sport. Many hockey lovers also honoured former Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal at Sarabha Nagar. Meanwhile, Punjab Basketball Association general secretary Teja Singh Dhaliwal organised a special event to celebrate the occasion. Grewal said, "Many young players who used to play hockey shifted towards other sports amid decline of its popularity in the country. With this win, we hope to there is a wind of change and revival of the game. But, it is important to conserve the talent and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure." Veteran hockey player Jagbir Grewal said, "These players are going to inspire children to take up the game. This will create a pyramid of young talent, who will compete at the grassroots level. This has given us a glimpse of better future for hockey and we do not have to look back from here on." Former national-level player Satnam Singh, said, "It is heartening to see Indian hockey moving towards regaining its lost glory. This victory is no less than gold. One medal will prove to be catalyst of change and usher in fresh talent."
29 As soon as the final whistle was blown people gathered at the modest house of India hockey goalkeeper in Kizakambalam in Kerala's Ernakulam turned ecstatic. P R Sreejesh's father, P V Raveendran, led the celebration and distributed sweets. "It is a proud moment for us. A dream comes true for us. I am really happy my son Sreejesh played a key role in team India's success," he said. The 35-year-old goal keeper stood like a rock with many saves in the dying minutes of the bronze medal match which India won 5-4 against Germany -- a historic win after 41 years of medal drought in the sport. "We were a bit upset when we lost in the semi finals. But I was sure the team will win a medal," said Sreejesh's wife, Annesya. Married in 2012, the couple have two children. People celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and Kerala Hockey Federation has announced a reward of Rs.5 lakh for the goal keeper. The Kerala government has also decided to give a grand reception to him. One of the oldest players of the team, Sreejesh started taking sports seriously at the age of eight. Initially, he was a sprinter and volleyball player but turned to hockey at the age of 12 at the instance of his coach. Though the sport was not so popular in the state, and many advised him to change track, but he stood his ground. He made his debut in 2004 at the national junior team and got into the senior team two years later. Sreejesh played in three Olympics and the country honoured him with a Padma Shri in 2017.
30 India capped off its best-ever performance at the Tokyo Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold. As a token of appreciation, Go First, previously known as GoAir, today announced free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. "A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021. We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners," Go First said in a tweet. A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021 . We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. #Tokyo2020 #GoFirst @mirabai_chanu @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai @BajrangPunia @Neeraj_chopra1 #RaviDahiya @TheHockeyIndia - GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) August 8, 2021 In a statement, Go First said it is offering free travel to "all medal-winners for the next five years until 2025" to celebrate India's best-ever haul of seven medals at an Olympics. "The seven Olympics medallists Mirabai Chanu (weight-lifting), P.V.Sindhu (badminton), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), the men's hockey team, Ravi Kumar Dahiya (wrestling), Bajrang Punia (wrestling) and gold medallist Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw) will be provided free air travel for any Go First sectors for the next five years," Go First noted. Regional carrier Star Air congratulated all the Indian Olympic Champions of Tokyo 2020 and offered them a lifetime of free air travel. Star Air congratulates all the Indian Olympic Champions of Tokyo 2020. @neeraj_chopra1 @BajrangPunia @mirabai_chanu @ravidahiya60 @TheHockeyIndia @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai #OfficialStarAir #WeCare #ConnectingRealIndia #FlyNonStop #FlyWithStarAir #SGGRising pic.twitter.com/SqyAFd7y4M - Star Air (@OfficialStarAir) August 8, 2021 On Saturday, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. Budget carrier IndiGo has announced that it will offer unlimited free travel to 'Gold Medallist' Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021, till August 7, 2022. Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility, we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year. You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torchbearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj". India has now won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
31 The Indian men's hockey team has given the entire country a big reason to rejoice after they clinched bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics after a gap of 41 years. For residents of Prayagraj, especially those residing in Jhunsi area of the city, it is an equally special moment as one of the key members of the winning team has had a very long and strong connection with Sangam city. Assistant coach of the team, Piyush Dubey did his MA in Economics from Allahabad University and after getting diploma from NIS-Patiala, even coached students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, AFS-Manauri besides working as guest lecturer at department of Physical Education, AU. Speaking from Tokyo, Dubey shared many moments that shaped his career and which he would always cherish. "I was quite young when I started working at KV Manauri as a guest coach for training the hockey team of the school in 2004. Hearing that a new coach has come, around 130 students, both boys and girls, came on the field and I suddenly faced the challenge of having to select a final team from so many hopefuls. Although my first salary was around Rs.2800 per month at a time when my personal expenses were around Rs.15000, but the experience of teaching the basics and the exposure to work independently was far more than any monetary gains," said Dubey. He then coached AU's hockey team and later on was again on the grounds of KV Manauri when the then principal Shalini Dikshit selected him to coach the team. School's team won the nationals in 2004 and 2011. During this period, Dubey did BPEd and MPEd from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. In 2014, Piyush got selected in Sports Authority of India (SAI) and his first appointment was in Sonepat (Haryana). Piyush was also among the selected trainers who were sent by the Government of India to University of Birmingham in England in 2016. There he studied Sports Science and Coaching. More than 75 of his trainees have so far shown their mettle at national and international level tournaments. Piyush's family is originally from Mathura. His father Kunwar Garvendra Singh Dubey was a wrestler. He got the title of 'Singh' only because of his wrestling. "It so happened that my elder brother Shravan was also fond of wrestling and I used to go to the akhara at Jhunsi with him. On the way, a small ground was there where noted coach Prem Shankar Shukla used to teach hockey to kids. One day he handed me the stick and asked me to try my hands. He was very impressed to see my dribbling skills at an early age and asked me to concentrate on hockey only," shared Dubey over phone.
32 India men's hockey team lost the semifinal match to Belgium on Tuesday, thus failing to reach the final in Tokyo Olympics. The Manpreet Singh-led Indian team looked solid at the start of the match, taking a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. But the inability to prevent penalty corners against the 2018 world champions Belgium cost them the match, as they lost the encounter 2-5. India will still compete in the men's hockey bronze medal match where they will face off against either Germany or Australia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to applaud the efforts of the Indian team and wished them well for the bronze medal match. India vs Belgium Men's Hockey semifinal - Highlights "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts," PM Modi wrote on Twitter. "Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," he added. Alexander Hendrickx starred for Belgium in the match, scoring a hat-trick, two of the goals coming in the final quarter. India's Amit Rohitas was excellent in defence as he put his body on the line on numerous occasions to prevent a goal from a penalty corner. But in the end, the number of PC's that India conceded caught up to them, and they were unable to prevent the goals from going in.
33 The Indian athletes, who were in Tokyo for the closing ceremony of the showpiece event of the Olympics, returned home on Monday. "Athletics team is back from #Tokyo2020. Let's welcome them by sharing our #Cheer4India messages and encourage them for their future competitions," tweeted SAI Media. They were greeted by frenzy and chaos at the airport where supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of their sporting heroes. The athletes were welcomed by a Sports Authority of India (SAI) delegation headed by its director-ceneral Sandeep Pradhan, who was accompanied by the Athletics Federation of India head Adille Sumariwala. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tejasvi Surya met gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra at the Delhi international airport. #WATCH | #Olympics Gold medalist, javelin thrower #NeerajChopra received by a huge crowd of people at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/PEhVCoNt60 - ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021 Chopra on Saturday had become the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the Games. The most dramatic exit was made by bronze-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia, who was seen greeting and waving towards his supporters from the sunroof of an SUV, which had several fans clinging to it defying all traffic rules as it made its way out of the airport. #Tokyo2020 bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia receives grand welcome at Delhi airport on his arrival from Japan "It feels great to receive such kind of love and respect," Punia says pic.twitter.com/2rtgYyNzgW - ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021 "We will try to do better next time, I had a knee problem," Punia, who had entered the Games as a gold favourite, said. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. They were then whisked away for a felicitation function by sports minister Anurag Thakur later this evening. "It is the first time we are seeing a reception like this, it is very heartening," said race walker K T Irfan, who competed in the 20km race walk event. This year the Games were held with Covid-19 induced restrictions and all events were held behind closed doors. About 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries competed in Tokyo Olympics. India had sent a 228-strong contingent for the Games, including more than 120 athletes. The country recorded its best-ever haul at the Olympics with seven medals (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). Neeraj (gold), Bajrang (bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) won medals in the Tokyo Games.
34 With 10 of its players in the India men's hockey team that defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics, Punjab erupted in celebration on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold at Moscow in 1980. Terming it a proud and historic moment for the nation, Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh congratulated the team and tweeted: "A tremendous achievement to be finishing on the podium after 41 years. The hockey bronze is worth its weight in gold." In the 18-member squad, 10 players are from Punjab, namely captain Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh. Punjab sports minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi announced an award of Rs.1 crore for each of the 10 players from the state. "On this historic day, I'm delighted to announce the cash award of Rs.1 crore each. We await your return to celebrate the much deserving medal in the Olympics." Leaders from Punjab took to social media to shower appreciation on the team. "Four decades of wait finishes off with a thriller performance. Congratulations to the men in blue on winning the bronze in hockey," said state Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. "This victory is huge and will go a long way in re-energising the sport in the country," he tweeted.
35 India men's hockey team's bronze medal at the Olympics is special for a small village of Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh where people have just woken up to the sport as a career. Chandaun village is the home of Indian hockey team midfielder Vivek Sagar, 21, who is putting in extra effort to promote hockey. But there is a story behind this promotion. When Vivek started playing hockey in 2012, his father Rohit Prasad wasn't quite taken in by the idea. He asked Vivek to concentrate on his studies instead. "I asked him not to waste much time playing hockey...since I wasn't convinced, he could not even ask me for a new hockey stick. He would play with a damaged stick he borrowed from his friend," said Prasad. "He would go for practice without telling me. But once he started playing at state-level, I had to trust him. Today, I am so proud that my son took the right decision," he said. Vivek, who went on to lead the junior national team, now distributes hockey sticks with an amount of sponsorship. Vivek's brother Vidhyasagar, a software engineer, said, "Vivek wants to see hockey as popular as cricket in India and he is passionately working on it." Today, not just the Vivek's family, or his village, former Olympian Ashok Dhyanchand is also lauding his efforts. "I still remember when I saw his talent. Six years ago, I had gone to attend a hockey tournament as a guest. Vivek, who was representing the district team, impressed me with his skills. I chose him for MP Men's Hockey Academy in Bhopal. Before going to the academy, he stayed at my home for a few months and I helped him hone his skills. I am so happy that I chose the right player," he said. Former Olympian Jalalludin Rizvi said, "Vivek's presence in the medal-winning India team will revive hockey in MP, which was once known as nursery of hockey." Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced Rs.1 crore as prize money for Vivek Sagar and another player, Neelkantha Sharma, who was also in MP Academy.
36 After the victory of the Indian men's hockey team in the Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled a phone to captain Manpreet Singh extending wishes. In a 2:15 minutes video, Indian Hockey team captain Manpreet talked to PM Modi on call. The prime minister congratulated the player along with coach Graham Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey on phone. Watch video: #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi speaks to the India Hockey team Captain Manpreet Singh, coach Graham Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey after the team won #Bronze medal in men's hockey match against Germany #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/NguuwSISsV - ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2021 Additionally, PM Modi also took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote that this day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially the youth, Modi said, adding that India is proud of its hockey team. PM Modi tweeted, "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team." Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. �� - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2021 The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating a Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Games.
37 Indian cricketing fraternity joined millions of fans in celebrating India's first Olympic medal in hockey in 41 years. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer took to Twitter to congratulate the Indian men's hockey team for winning bronze in the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. India beat Germany 5-4 in a high-scoring thriller that went down to the wire to finish on the podium for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in which they had won gold. It is India's 12th hockey medal overall and the third bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. "Congratulations to each & every member of the hockey contingent on winning the #Bronze for India! A fantastic hard fought win.The penalty corner save by Sreejesh in the dying moments of the game was amazing. Entire India is immensely proud!" tweeted Sachin Tendulkar. "A landmark day for @TheHockeyIndia. After being down 3-1, INDIA fights back to win the bronze medal match 5-3, a first Olympic medal in #Hockey after 40 years," tweeted Virender Sehwag. "Congratulations India. Bronze in Hockey after 41 yrs . What a game. Proud of Indian Hockey," tweeted Harbhajan Singh. "Forget 1983, 2007 or 2011, this medal in Hockey is bigger than any World Cup!" wrote Gautam Gambhir. "The 16 who scripted history: Manpreet, Sreejesh, Harmanpreet, Rupinder, Surender, Amit, Birendra, Hardik, Vivek, Nilakanta, Sumit, Shamsher, Dilpreet, Gurjant, Lalit, Mandeep. Remember them, cherish them, tell your children about them. Let them inspire a generation," former Wasim Jaffer. In the final, Germany took an early lead in the goal-rich match through a second-minute goal by Timur Oruz, and posed a threat to eight-time Olympic hockey champions India in the first quarter. After Simranjeet Singh equalised with a backhand shot for India, Germany kept their cool, scoring two goals to take a 3-1 lead in the second quarter. But India pulled level late in that quarter thanks to goals by Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, making it 3-3 at the halftime break. India then took a 5-3 lead after Rupinder Pal Singh notched in a penalty stroke and Simranjeet Singh scored his second of the match not long into the second half. Germany came back a goal but was unable to force the equaliser, even after taking out its goalie to bring in an extra field player late in the game. (With agency inputs
38 The Indian men's hockey team today was defeated by the Belgians in a closely contested semi-final match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Belgium defeated India 5-2 which saw the Belgium team creating chances with penalty corners and converting them into goals. Alexander Hendrickx scored three goals in the match for Belgium and helping his team qualify for the final. John-John Domen of Belgium scored the fifth goal in the last few moments of the game. India will lock horns in the bronze medal match on Thursday with the loser of the game Australia and Germany. The Indian boys started well and looked to keep up the good work, but lost the tempo slightly in the last quarter and that is where the boys from Belgium capitalised. Belgium started on a strong note as it scored the first goal by Luypaert in the second minute of the play. However, Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal for India and also helped in equalising the scoreline. India took the lead by scoring the second goal which was scored by Mandeep but once again Belgium had scored the equaliser from a penalty corner scored by Hendrickx. Belgium broke the deadlock in the fourth quarter after their top scorer Hendrickx scored two goals and taking his tally to 14 goals in the tournament. The deadlock was not broken in the third quarter as well, and as a result, heading into the last 15 minutes of the game, both India and Belgium were highly tensed. In the fourth quarter, it was Belgium who struck first as Hendrickx scored his second goal of the match, giving Belgium a 3-2 lead with more than 11 minutes still left to play. A few minutes later, Hendrickx got his hat-trick as he converted from a penalty and hence, Belgium gained a 4-2 lead. In the end, Belgium managed to hang on and the side registered a victory, progressing ahead to the finals, their second successive final appearance. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. "Wins & losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best & that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match & their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after the game. "Wins & losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best & that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match & their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets.
39 The last time an Indian men's hockey team defeated the defending champions at the Olympics was when Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister, the country's cricket team was yet to win a Test series abroad and The Beatles were yet to release 'Let it be'. In the final of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, India beat arch-rivals and holders Pakistan 1-0 to claim gold-their seventh at the Olympics. In Tokyo on Thursday, Manpreet Singh and his men beat the 2016 Rio champions Argentina 3-1 to move into the quarter-finals. The win is significant, especially after the 1-7 debacle against Australia on Sunday, as it cements India's second position in Group A behind the world No.1 outfit, having secured wins against New Zealand and Spain earlier for a likely easier draw in the last-8 clash. "Feeling great after the win, but there's a lot of things to improve," defender Rupinder Pal Singh told Reuters. "The important games are coming in a few days." India proved that their back-to-back wins against Argentina in their own backyard in Buenos Aires in April was a reliable indicator of the level of hockey they are playing right now. India, now ranked No.3 in the world, were clearly the superior side at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday, enjoying 53 percent of possession and made 28 circle penetrations-compared to Argentina's meagre eight-and eight penalty corner opportunities to their opponent's two. India's intent to put Argentina under the pump from the start was evident: they kept possession and made multiple forays into the circle and had a shot on goal as early as the fourth minute. The midfield and forward line kept the Argentine defence busy throughout the game with the defence compact, so much so that Argentina's first real attempt at a goal came towards the end of the first half and was blocked by the ever-reliable PR Sreejesh. Yet, the goals refused to come. Some of it was because of solid goalkeeping from Argentina's Juan Manuel Vivaldi and some of it was just India's failure to put the finishing touch. But India were rewarded for their attacking intent (they created 14 chances to Argentina's 6) when Varun Kumar, playing his first match in Tokyo, scored in the 43rd minute from a penalty corner. Things got tense when, three minutes into the last quarter, Argentina equalised. India attacked with renewed intent and in a thrilling finish Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and drag-flick ace Harmanpreet Singh (59th) scored to take the match away. "Good performance today," said India chief coach Graham Reid. "This is what Argentina can do: they sit back in the game, and then all of a sudden they score a corner. You know these things can happen when you play a team like Argentina. We created enough (but wasted opportunities). What was good is that we didn't let that frustrate us, we stayed patient and stuck with the game plan." India will next play hosts and reigning Asian Games champions Japan, who are yet to win a game in the group stage. "I'm very happy, it can be a bit stressful too for me but we just now need to play well against our next opponent-Japan. We need to play it as though it is the quarter-finals and we will be keeping an eye on what happens in the other pool at the same time," added Reid. From Group B, world champions Belgium, Netherlands and Great Britain have qualified for the last eight.
40 Athlete Neeraj Chopra put in a stunning performance to win India's first Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin throw final. The 23-year-old from Panipat registered a best attempt of 87.58m to finish ahead of the Czech Republic duo of Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely. It was the country's first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. A little later on Saturday, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar burst into singing 'Mere Desh ki Dharti' from the 1967 film 'Upkar' along with fellow commentators of the India vs England Test series. The video soon went viral with nearly 3 lakh views and over 27,000 likes. See the video here: We all are Sunil Gavaskar at the moment �������� How did you react to India's golden moment? �� #HumHongeKamyab #Tokyo2020 #SirfSonyPeDikhega pic.twitter.com/vg8FmQ2fG9 - Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) August 7, 2021 Meanwhile, former Indian tennis star Somdev Devvarman found his own unique way to pay tribute to Chopra's historic achievement. The song, which Somdev sings alongside Gavaskar and others, was shared on Twitter by journalist Ayaz Memon. Gavaskar was posted the clip on Instagram. In the video, Somdev is seen playing the guitar as he sings alongside Gavaskar, Ashish Nehra and others. See the clip: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskarsunilofficial) Still processing this feeling, says Neeraj Chopra after winning gold The Javelin thrower said that he is still processing the feeling of winning gold for India at the Tokyo Olympics. "Still processing this feeling. To all of India and beyond, thank you so much for your support and blessings that have helped me reach this stage. This moment will live with me forever," Chopra tweeted. The country has won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
41 "I will come back with a medal for sure."This was the promise ace midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay made to his father Satish Kumar Upadhyay and coach Parmanand Mishra before India won a historic medal in hockey after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, defeating Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match. The promise didn't make the two relax at all. They couldn't sleep properly till the start of the match for the bronze medal at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday morning. There were altogether different scenes at Lalit's home at the Shivpur bypass in Varanasi and coach Mishra's house in Sarnath, located 10 km northeast of Varanasi.People from Lalit's village gathered at his house to watch the match live with his parents and his elder brother, whereas Mishra chose to watch it alone as he didn't want to be disturbed. "I watched the match all alone as I didn't want any disturbance. I even kept my family out of my room during the 60-minute clash. I couldn't pick my phone for a few minutes even after India's win as it was an emotional moment for me. I couldn't believe that my trainee Lalit kept his promise of a medal to me," said Mishra who trained Lalit at the Udai Pratap College in Varanasi under the Sports Authority of India's scheme. "This means a lot to me as well as to Varanasi, which has produced some great hockey players for India in the past like Mohd Shahid and Vivek Singh. India's success in hockey at the Tokyo Games is a great gift to Varanasi and it's a special occasion to celebrate in the month of Sawan as we all worship Lord Shiva," said Mishra, adding, "Lalit was one of the amazing kids we had in the lot of 10-11 boys under training. He (Lalit) never disobeyed my orders on the ground and was always disciplined." "I never found him missing his training sessions. His ability to bounce back, especially when he was trapped in a selection controversy, helped him a lot. Lalit's achievement will help attract many more Varanasi kids to hockey in the near future," said Mishra, 62. Lalit's father Satish, 61, too sounded emotional on his son's success. "I told him to stay focused even after India lost to Belgium in the semi-final. It was heartbreaking for all of us but I kept my cool and didn't let my son know my emotions," said the senior Upadhyay, still a private employee of a nationalised bank in Varanasi. "We celebrated all the goals scored by India today and my heart was almost in my mouth when Germany got a penalty corner in the last few seconds of the game. I still feel the goosebumps as controlling emotions at that time was quite difficult," he said. In Tokyo, the situation was no different for Lalit who was watching the match while sitting in the stands of the Oi Hockey Stadium after being injured in the previous match. "It's an emotional moment... can't understand what to say (after a pause). The way we played today was unique. It's a moment to celebrate, congratulate everyone," said Lalit on Thursday. "I came to Tokyo with Baba Bholenath's blessings, and was sure of winning a medal here as I had (made) this promise to my family and my coach in Varanasi. In today's game, our strong defence stopped the Germans. The last four minutes were heart-stopping as the opponents were scoring penalty corners one after the other. My heart came to a standstill for a while when Germany got a penalty corner in the last six seconds, but Anna (PR Sreejesh) stood like a rock at the goalpost and defended us." "This medal will act as a tonic for Indian hockey. After a long gap, this medal has increased our stature at the international level. The popularity of hockey will increase once again . A plan should be made to take this game to the villages." (With inputs from Sudhir Kumar in Varanasi)
42 Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, a Gulf-based Indian businessman on Monday announced Rs.1 crore cash award to hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh The goalies from Kerala emerged as one of the stars of the Indian men's hockey team's historic bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics as he played a crucial role in saving a penalty corner from Germany with last six seconds remaining in the game. "Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a crucial role in helping the Indian hockey team secure bronze at the Olympics. We acknowledge his contributions and are pleased to announce a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore for him", said Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, in a tweet. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a crucial role in helping the Indian hockey team secure bronze at the Olympics. We acknowledge his contributions and are pleased to announce a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore for him. @16Sreejesh pic.twitter.com/etJ63VmDwu - Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil (@drshamsheervp) August 9, 2021 The Indian hockey team rewrote history in the Tokyo Olympics as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge- of-the-seat play-off match held on August 5. Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has now been hailed as 'The Wall' after his brilliant effort in the last seconds of the match against Germany ensured India won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Sreejesh saved the 13th penalty corner of Germany in the final seconds of the bronze medal match as India defeated the Germans 5-4. "It's a rebirth. That's it. It's been 41 years. In 1980 we won the last medal and after that, nothing. Today when we won it, this gives a boost and gives energy to the youngsters to pick up hockey, play this game," Olympics.com quoted Sreejesh after the win. "This is a beautiful game. Now we are giving a reason for them to pick up hockey, play the game and make the country more proud than this," the three-time Olympian pointed.
43 Neeraj Chopra created history as he won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw final to bring India's first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the first ever for India in track & field discipline. Chopra, one of the favourites heading into the Games, lived up to the expectations, as his second throw of 87.58m proved to be the deal-breaker that made him an immortal part of Indian sports folklore. The historic moment by Chopra was celebrated by Indians all around the world, including the Indian broadcast panel of the India vs England Test series in Nottingham. As the entire panel lauded Chopra for his achievement for India, one celebration that stood out was that of Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain, one of the many glued to the TV watching Chopra script history, erupted in joy. What made it even more special was Gavaskar singing and dancing to the patriotic song 'Mere Desh Ki Dharti' from the 1967 film 'Upkar', starring Manoj Kumar and sung by late singer Mahendra Kapoor. The song is a classic and right up there in terms of the best patriotic songs ever produced in Bollywood. While Gavaskar could not stop himself from praising Chopra, former India batsman Ajay Jadeja and fast bowler Ashish Nehra were also spotted celebrating Chopra's colossal feat of becoming only the second individual gold medallist from India after Abhinav Bindra's pathbreaking achievement at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Chopra's gold was India's seventh of this Olympics, which is the country's best-ever medal haul, surpassing the six medals India won eight years nine years ago at the London Olympics in 2012. Chopra capped off another phenomenal day for India at the Olympics, which saw wrestler Bajrang Punia win a bronze medal in the men's 65kg freestyle wrestling. They join weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, shuttler PV Sindhu, wrestler Ravi Dahiya, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and the Indian men's hockey team as the medal winners from Tokyo games.
44 Industrialist Anand Mahindra hailed Indian archer Atanu Das' stunning win over South Korea's Jinhyek Oh in a nail-biting finish to make it to the 1/8 Elimination round in the men's individual archery event Tokyo at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field on Thursday. "We are accustomed to our sportspersons being criticised for not measuring up when it's crunch time. Energising to see Atanu prove otherwise. . He wasn't intimidated by his opponent's record. He actually thrived under the pressure..Dil Mange More!" he tweeted. We are accustomed to our sportspersons being criticised for not measuring up when it's crunch time. Energising to see Atanu prove otherwise. . He wasn't intimidated by his opponent's record. He actually thrived under the pressure..Dil Mange More! - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 29, 2021 The third-seed Korean started the match with a decent 8-9-9 and Das replied with 8-8-9, giving Jinhyek two points in the first set. Das came strongly in the second set with three 9s, Oh missed the chance to take the two points after hitting an 8 in the last arrow. The third set also had the same output with both archers sharing the points. Jinhyek 8-10-9 and Indian aimed 9-9-9. With his back against the wall, Atanu responded brilliantly and took the fourth set 8-9-10 and the Korean replied with 9-7-6 to force a decider. The fifth set tested the nerves of both archers as they both again shared the points and progressed into shoot-off. Aiming first in the shoot-off, Jinhyek shot a 9 to which Atanu replied with a brilliant 10 and sealed the match. With this win, he has cruised into the 1/8 eliminations round. Earlier in the day, Atanu defeated Chinese Taipei's Yu-Cheng Dang in the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics 6-4 in the 1/64 Elimination round.
45 After almost 12 months of delay due to the ongoing pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 is underway. There are several moments from the sporting event which have made their ways online and left people amazed. This incident between Badminton gold medal winner Viktor Axelsen and his opponent Chen Long is one such moment. An image of the moment shows them exchanging their jerseys after the game. The official Twitter handle of Olympics shared the image. In a follow up tweet, they also shared how this beautiful tradition came into existence. "During the men's singles badminton final last night, Olympic champion @ViktorAxelsen of Denmark traded shirts with silver medallist Chen Long of China as a symbol of respect to his opponent," they wrote while sharing the image. While talking about how the tradition started, they shared, "Take a look at the beginning of the tradition between legendary Malaysian Badminton player Lee Chong Wei, and double Olympic champion from China, Lin Dan. This post is complete with a video showcasing the incident. Take a look at the posts: People shared various appreciative comments while reacting to the posts. "This is the real Olympics spirit, they are competitors, but they respect each other. I am touched," wrote a Twitter user. "Legend," shared another. "Congratulations Viktor. Amazing game. Thank Chen, our Chinese athlete. Hope you both to keep going on. You both are the best badminton athletes. From a Chinese fan," expressed a third. What are your thoughts on the incident?
46 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 1 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. UNSC meeting under Indian presidency on Aug 6 to discuss Afghanistan situation The United Nations Security Council will meet under the Indian presidency on August 6 to assess the situation in Afghanistan against the backdrop of a massive campaign of violence and attacks by the Taliban to expand its influence to urban areas. Parliament: BJP hits out at Congress, says party doesn't want serious discussion The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday hit out at the Congress for disrupting Parliament and not allowing discussion on serious issues. Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra 'romancing' off-screen didn't impact Shershaah, says director Kiara Advani, speaking about her bond with rumoured boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra, said that she could really relate with her Shershaah character's 'commitment to love'. Olympics: India win bronze medal in Tokyo, first Olympic medal in hockey since 1980 India men's hockey team defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Say hello to Azani, India's very own electric supercar ready for rumble Supercars are the most ambitious projects in the automotive world. If the supercar is electrified, the appeal goes up. An Indian startup named Mean Metal Motors claims to have taken on one such project to buil Azani, India's first electric supercar.
47 If the bronze in Tokyo is an important step in the revival of hockey - a sport in which India is the most successful team in Olympics history with eight gold medals, one silver and three bronze - it is appropriate that 10 of the 18 players on the podium on Thursday were from Punjab. Through India's consecutive gold medals from 1928 to 1956 and after, Punjab was to men's hockey what Kenya's Rift Valley is to long distance running - an assembly line of talent. The story of hockey Olympians from Sansarpur, a village in the Jalandhar district, is well known. So many from Punjab had won gold that when Balbir Singh Kular returned with an Olympic bronze in 1968, he said people looked down on them. There were five in the 1968 Olympics team from Sansarpur which has a dozen Olympic hockey medallists. No place in India has as many. The success of Sansarpur spurred villages nearby to play hockey. One of them was Mithapur, also in Jalandhar district. Sarup Singh (1952), Kulwant Singh (1972) and the most famous of them all, Pargat Singh, India captain in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, are from Mithapur. This village sent three players to Tokyo: captain Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar. Hardik Singh, who scored India's second goal in the 5-4 win against Germany for the third-place playoff, is from Khusropur not far from Mithapur. "Hockey was a way of life for Punjab in the 1960s and 70s and the bar was set really high," said Kular, a decorated Army officer, who also won gold in the 1966 Asian Games. That changed in the 1980s when the state was rocked by militancy. It coincided with India's slide south in the men's game. Gold medallists in 1980, India were fifth in 1984 and slipped a notch in each of the next three Olympics. Punjab's resurgence as Indian hockey nerve-centre is another example of what happens when a state invests in sport. In 2005, chief minister Amrinder Singh appointed Pargat as director of sports, Punjab. Pargat got former international Sukhvir Singh, who had by then taken to coaching, involved. Punjab bought artificial pitches discarded by other states and set up coaching centres, first in Mohali, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The centres have now grown to 40. "We wanted to work at grassroots level. We organised state-wide clinics, we involved then India team coach Ric Charlesworth and physio Heath Mathews. Once we had sports scientists from Australia's Victoria University here," said Sukhvir. Barring Hardik, all players from Punjab in the men's squad in Tokyo were part of that grassroots programme that began in 2006, said Sukhvir. Coaches such as Avtar Singh and Gurdev Singh and the Surjit Hockey Academy too helped in fostering talent, he said. By 2013, Punjab had again become an important contributor to the India team. The 2013 junior World Cup squad had 12 Punjab players and the squad that won gold in 2016 had 11. The trend wasn't restricted to juniors. There were eight from Punjab in the 2014 World Cup squad, seven in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games that year. The number climbed to nine for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup in 2018. "Now we have to sustain and build this momentum. Our players who did well in the junior (World Cup winning) India team are now doing well in the senior team," said Sukhvir who coached India to the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy title. "I can proudly say the contribution of players from Punjab in the Tokyo Olympics has given a new start to Indian hockey," said Kular. The 10 from Punjab: Manpreet Singh (captain), Harmanpreet Singh (vice-captain), Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh.
48 Neeraj Chopra, a 23-year-old from Haryana, has scripted history after winning gold in the men's javelin throw event in Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. He became the first track and field athlete from the country to win a gold at the showpiece event. He has earned praises from all corners. Social media has been flooded with congratulatory messages for him. Ola Cabs founder and OLA Electric CEO Bhavish Agarwal took to Twitter to congratulate Chopra. "What an inspiration! This is the new India, the best in the world! Congrats@Neeraj_chopra1," he tweeted. What an inspiration! This is the new India, best in the world! Congrats @Neeraj_chopra1 ��❤️���� pic.twitter.com/2Nrtz5wtbe - Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) August 7, 2021 Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m at the Olympics to pick up the gold medal. With Neeraj's feat, India won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals
49 Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir hailed the performance of the Indian men's hockey team at the Olympics bigger than the three World Cup wins achieved by the Indian cricket team. India won the Prudential World Cup in 1983, followed by the T20 World Cup win in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011, the last two of which Gambhir was part of. But the former opening batsman, who played crucial knocks in the final of the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, believes what the Indian hockey team achieved on Thursday overshadows the rest. "Forget 1983, 2007 or 2011, this medal in Hockey is bigger than any World Cup! #IndianHockeyMyPride," tweeted Gambhir. The Indian men's hockey team defeated Germany 5-4 in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medal match to end a long wait for India. The Manpreet Singh-led side emerged victorious to take home a bronze medal, thus ending India's 41-year-long wait to win another medal in hockey at the Olympics. Prior to this, India had last won an Olympic medal back in the year 1980, when they had clinched gold at the Moscow Games. However, Gambhir's tweets did not go well with fans, as they took exception to the former India batsman's views. "Being the hero of 2007 and 2011 World Cup. Still u are saying this .... Why!!!!!!!," one user replied to gambhir's tweet. Another user said: "Sir, this looks more like a politician's tweet than a sportsperson's tweet. No need to demean other's achievement." "In a world where people don't even wanna compare different formats and eras Gambhir saab is comparing two different sports. Respect," another user responded. Below are some more replies to Gambhir's tweets "Why to demean other's achievement when we can celebrate both?" "This is too much now, that 1983 WC was a revolution for Indian Cricket, bigger than anything, the 2007 WC was the inaugural WC and India got crowned as the 1st ever champions, 2011 WC was a WC win after 28 years, meant alot." "Why this comparison?? Every win is big, be it in hockey or cricket.. why to make one sport more important than other.. this is the same mistake we might have done in 1983.. "forget olympic medals, cricket world cup win is bigger".. people of that era must have thought the same." Links to tweets
50 With 10 of its players in the India men's hockey team that defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics, Punjab erupted in celebration on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold at Moscow in 1980. Terming it a proud and historic moment for the nation, Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh congratulated the team and tweeted: "A tremendous achievement to be finishing on the podium after 41 years. The hockey bronze is worth its weight in gold." In the 18-member squad, 10 players are from Punjab, namely captain Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh. Punjab sports minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi announced an award of Rs.1 crore for each of the 10 players from the state. "On this historic day, I'm delighted to announce the cash award of Rs.1 crore each. We await your return to celebrate the much deserving medal in the Olympics." Leaders from Punjab took to social media to shower appreciation on the team. "Four decades of wait finishes off with a thriller performance. Congratulations to the men in blue on winning the bronze in hockey," said state Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. "This victory is huge and will go a long way in re-energising the sport in the country," he tweeted.
51 The third day of a golf tournament is called "moving day" for players to race up the leaderboard and set themselves up for a fourth-round charge. In European football, which begins in August, November is "Movember" (not just the charity, the time to get a move on). Wednesday and Thursday at Tokyo 2020 were India's moving days. PV Sindhu entered the quarterfinals in straight games. Boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Pooja Rani and Satish Kumar got themselves within one win of a medal. The Indian men's hockey team overcame an embarrassing 7-1 loss to Australia to first take down Spain and then Olympic champions Argentina. Shooter Manu Bhaker appeared to put her personal and professional travails behind her by placing fifth in the first half of her qualification stage for the 25m pistol (eight will go through after the second round). Golfer Anirban Lahiri shot a four-under in his opening round. Archer Deepika Kumari stayed in the hunt by entering the Round of 16. And Atanu Das (with Deepika screaming advice and encouragement at her husband from the stands) held his nerve in the tensest moment he would've experienced in his career to pull out a 10 from his quiver in the shoot-off against South Korea's Oh Jin-Hyek. Fair warning, it's possible that none of these athletes end up with medals, that there is heartbreak instead of joy - for such is the nature of sport, particularly at an Olympics. But isn't heartbreak, an emotion any sports follower should be well-acquainted with, so much better than indifference? Medals are only one way to measure the march of a sporting nation such as India, which, let's face it, still doesn't have a system or culture that promotes excellence on the field of play. A better, more crucial yardstick is whether more of our athletes are being able to get in contention. After Mirabai Chanu's silver got India up and running on Day 1, the Tokyo Olympics have been underwhelming, not because India did not win more medals but because enough athletes did not put themselves in positions from where they could. Positions from which we would care about their fate - from where a win was possible, and a loss would be devastating. The lifeblood that sustains sport is the joy of triumph and the sweet misery of defeat; its kryptonite is cold apathy and cutting sarcasm. The crucial shift effected by medals from Abhinav Bindra, Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Sushil Kumar (to name a few over the last three Olympics), and athletes such as Dipa Karmakar who swam against the current of history, was that they made us care about Olympic sport again. And it's important that this sentiment gets reinforced at every Games. It will, of course, take a lot more for India to occupy a more significant place on the global stage. A few years ago, Pullela Gopichand pulled me aside at an event for a show-and-tell on what fundamentally ails Indian sport. He drew an isosceles triangle, and then drew two horizontal lines to divide the triangle into three parts. The largest section at the base, he said, was the number of people playing sport; the middle represented those who played competitively; and the tip represented the elite athletes, the cream that rises to the top. The problem, he went on, is that we still focus on the tiny section at the top, not realising that the sections that need attention are the ones below it. His point was that if the base is large enough, there will be more people playing competitively, and more elite athletes will automatically emerge. The first step towards widening this base is for India to remain emotionally invested. At Tokyo 2020, we are back on track. Postscript: India's most valiant athlete went down swinging in the Round of 16 at her last Olympics. The TV commentator said it best: "Some sports have legends, women's boxing has Mary Kom."
52 It seems we won more medals than we did at the last Olympics. Personally, I was thrilled with how our sports people competed in different disciplines - win or lose - because it takes a tremendous amount of courage and resilience to perform at the top level, especially when you don't come from a nation where sports is a culture, and where performance is not an everyday attitude. Each performance was creditable, and each medal was a triumph against very difficult odds. Sports could lift many out of poverty and propel many others into the next level of economic existence, but the odds are heavily stacked against that in the absence of a significant and consistent investment at various levels of society, facilitated by a government spending on infrastructure. For a government to prioritise sports spending requires sustained demand from the media and citizens. I have lived in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Growing up, I spent three years (Grades 8-10) at the Union Academy School in Delhi in the 1980s and the biggest differentiator for a kid living in Delhi is the sports infrastructure and sports culture. And that infrastructure and culture starts with the school's coach and the physical training team. In those three years, I won a gold medal and certificate as part of the school's football team that won the Zonal U-16 football trophy. I also won silver and bronze medals at the Delhi interschool athletics and went up to the quarters and semis in consequent sub-junior national tournaments in table-tennis. My greatest pride came in cheering from the stands whenever our school's hockey team took the field. Our school was (and still is) famous for its outstanding hockey team, having produced several players who went on to play for the India men's team, as also players who became sports administrators and coaches. We had a city rivalry with Modern School Barakhamba road and DPS RK Puram. Our sports days used to be held at Shivaji Stadium in Connaught Place, which we considered our home ground, given our hockey credentials. Talkatora Stadium and pool was a venue frequented for the many interschool tournaments - my most memorable table-tennis matches were at Talkatora. My elder cousin was part of the Delhi U-19 cricket team, which meant we occasionally got to watch Test matches at Ferozshah Kotla. Visits to play and watch football games at Ambedkar Stadium were par for the course. Our school team qualified for the Subroto Cup one of those years, and though I was on the bench through all our draws and defeats, it was a great experience being run ragged by Madhyamgram High School (West Bengal) and a Russian school team. The city newspapers were of importance to school students because reporters regularly covered these tournaments and reported on local champions, competitive rivalries and school records. Not just as a tiny mention, but proper reports. They ran extensive articles asking questions on coaching and infrastructure. Their opinion mattered and influenced sports performance. After high school, I moved back to Mumbai where serious sports is more at club-level than school, but reasonably big on the college circuit. Again, local newspapers covered educational and club sports, though selectively, but the association with clubs kept the interest and performance going. Mumbai was geared to a professional career and enthusiasm for sports eventually used to wear down to a hobby, since infrastructure was not that great and when it was, it wasn't as easily accessible as in Delhi. Coaches were even harder to come by unless you were playing cricket. When I landed in Pune in 1996, I was struck by the local sports culture at the school level, including the availability of coaches and considerable coverage by all local newspapers. And after the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games, Balewadi stadium added the much-needed upgrade to facilities. Pune had a vibrant sports culture across many sports, mainly tennis, swimming, football, badminton and athletics. But, specially swimming. In the past decade, many schools have come up with really good sports infrastructure and with a globalisation of the curriculum, more schools talk sports and talk the importance of holistic education and organise their own sporting events. I am a parent, still very enthusiastic about playing and propagating sports. Our eldest swims and competes at the inter-school and district level tournaments, trying to improve his timings and has the advantage of a peer group at his swimming club. The younger ones are finding their sports. I can quite honestly say that it's an uphill task if left to the schools. Schools don't seem particularly interested in developing sporting talent, as much as they are in selling the idea that they have sports integrated into their curriculum. A lot of this comes from the fact that they are addressing their market, parents. And the bulk of the parents in any given school like their children playing, but come Grade 5, their focus shifts to academics. And that's what schools are focused on. Every school has a handful of parents who are focused on sports and who want their children to have the option of a sporting career, if talent indicates so. These are a minority. I remember groups of parents from different international schools who, not only took a keen interest, but also joined the parent committees to drive the school management to really walk the talk beyond infrastructure. All of them eventually gave up because they realised that schools don't listen to minority voices. Nations that do well consistently have multiple athletes in different sports capable of making the qualifying mark and most of them have a career in sports, with achievements going back to school days. The pressure of performance is shared by a peer group and it leads to healthy competition, unlike in developing nations where the pressure is usually on a handful of sports persons, who are built up by the media and then dropped till the next Olympics. I always used to wonder what happens to the great players and swimmers and athletes I used to see at the school level. I guess they all got caught up in the need to make a living and decided that sports wouldn't make them a living. Nowadays, I wonder, what is the point of schools having the physical infrastructure, but lacking the vision and desire to use it to develop talent that comes through to them. There is a great hope. The archers, and shooters, and athletes, will have their day. one day. Of all the medals we won, Sindhu's badminton bronze and the hockey bronze have sustainability significance because they represent a coming together of infrastructure, government support, individual performance and coaching excellence over decades. If more states adopted specific sports to develop like Odisha has stood by hockey, and if more schools across the country make sports a matter of achievement, a legacy would fall into place. And then, maybe, more parents would believe in the talent their children have, and a better sports culture will evolve.
53 Under the hot Tokyo sun, they lay on the glaring blue turf, their shirts soaked to the skin with sweat. A 41-year long wait had ended. India, once an invincible force that won six Olympic gold medals on the trot, last won an Olympic medal at Moscow 1980, and then appeared to simply fade away from the international game. On Thursday, they were back, having beaten Germany, medallists at the last four Olympics (champions in 2008 and 2012), in the bronze medal play-off. "Main toh wahin pe let gaya (I just lay down there). I had no words." With those not so famous lines, the Indian men's hockey captain, Manpreet Singh, described the feeling of having made history. The clash was one befitting the occasion - an attacking, furiously fast-paced game with end-to-end action. Germany took the lead early, in the second minute, and the pressure mounted. India scrambled up and down the pitch, looking frazzled but frenetic in defence. Then, in the 17th minute, Nilakanta Sharma received a ball in the midfield, swerved past two German players, and swept a defence-splitting pass to Simranjeet Singh, who scored with a breathtaking shot. It told the story of how far this team had come in the last two weeks that Simranjeet, who came to Tokyo as a standby player, was playing a starring role. Germany replied with two more quick goals, a minute apart. It was 3-1, and it seemed like the dream would be shattered. But here's where the Indians showed they deserved to be back among the world's elite. In the next eight minutes, they unleashed the kind of magic that changes matches and wins medals. Hardik Singh pounced on a rebound after a powerful drag-flick from Harmanpreet Singh struck the goalkeeper in the 27th minute, and slammed it home before any of the German defenders could react. Harmanpreet then slotted home a penalty corner in the 29th; Rupinderpal Singh drove the ball home off a penalty stroke in the 31st; and Simranjeet, in the right place at the right time, tapped in after a tearing run down the flank from Gurjant Singh in the 34th. From 1-3, it was 5-3, and there was nothing the Germans had been able to do about it. The game was from there on was open, flowing, full of verve, as Germany tried to hit back. They reduced the deficit to one in the 48th minute, and stepped up the pressure the last 12 minutes, forcing one penalty corner after another. Each time, Amit Rohidas came charging out at the shot; and if it went past him, PR Sreejesh was there, leaping to make saves. Here is another story that defines this team - Sreejesh, 33, a veteran of three Olympics, on the verge of retiring a few years back, rescuing India with preternatural reflexes throughout the Olympics. In this match, too, it eventually boiled down to Germany vs Sreejesh. With 6.8 seconds left on the clock, Germany got the last of their 13 penalty corners . When the shot came screaming at the goal, Sreejesh held a padded hand out and deflected the ball out. The Germans sank to the turf, realising it was over. The Indians ran wildly, shouting at the top of their lungs. Manpreet fell on his knees and broke down in tears. Rupinder ran to him, and the two long-time teammates hugged. "After we lost to Australia 7-1 (in the group stage), I was very sad that we lost by such a big margin," Manpreet said later. "But Bobby (Rupinder) came to me and said, 'wait till the 5th, we will return with a medal.' So when he came to me today I told him, 'Bobby what you told me has happened'. We didn't get a medal in the Olympics for so long. I can't express what I am feeling now." Sreejesh joined them, before perching himself on top of the goalpost. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time, I am alone in my goal and he (the goalpost) is my best buddy," Sreejesh said. "So it was my way of celebrating with my buddy." On Wednesday, the eve of their match, India's coach Graham Reid did something unusual. He organised a medal ceremony for the team. He asked each player to stand on a chair and imagine they were on the podium with a medal around their neck. It fired the team up. "I came here (to the stadium) thinking about that," said Sreejesh. When it was all over, the team got together in the customary huddle with Reid. Together, they offered a prayer of thanks. "Before the game I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens," Reid said. "For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well." Former players showered the team with praise for bringing Indian hockey back into the spotlight. "We are back where we belong. This is where we always were when we all played. We are back on the podium. This has given a lease of life once again to hockey in India." said Ajit Pal Singh, 1975 world cup winning captain. "It's done. The team showed today that we can win in modern hockey. The next generation or the youngsters, the team has sparked a new self-belief and confidence that we can win at the Olympics." said former India captain Dilip Tirkey. That's what it was -- a bogey off the back, and the start of something new.
54 The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics. PM Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian men's hockey team for bagging the bronze medal in the Olympic Games. "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. Field hockey stick and ball," tweeted PM Narendra. Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. �� - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2021 There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. "After 41 years wait..! A golden moment for Indian Hockey and Indian Sports! Finally, the long wait is over as India defeated Germany to win Hockey Men's Olympic Bronze medal at #Tokyo2020. India is in a complete celebration mood! Congratulations to our Hockey players !! #Cheer4India," tweeted Kirem Rijiju. After 41 years wait..! A golden moment for Indian Hockey and Indian Sports! Finally, long wait is over as India defeated Germany to win Hockey Men's Olympic Bronze medal at #Tokyo2020 India in complete celebration mood! Congratulations to our Hockey players !! #Cheer4India ���� pic.twitter.com/RmeGOnCpBn - Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 5, 2021 It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games
55 Under the hot Tokyo sun, they lay on the glaring blue turf, their shirts soaked to the skin with sweat. A 41-year long wait had ended. India, once an invincible force that won six Olympic gold medals on the trot, last won an Olympic medal at Moscow 1980, and then appeared to simply fade away from the international game. On Thursday, they were back, having beaten Germany, medallists at the last four Olympics (champions in 2008 and 2012), in the bronze medal play-off. "Main toh wahin pe let gaya (I just lay down there). I had no words." With those not so famous lines, the Indian men's hockey captain, Manpreet Singh, described the feeling of having made history. The clash was one befitting the occasion - an attacking, furiously fast-paced game with end-to-end action. Germany took the lead early, in the second minute, and the pressure mounted. India scrambled up and down the pitch, looking frazzled but frenetic in defence. Then, in the 17th minute, Nilakanta Sharma received a ball in the midfield, swerved past two German players, and swept a defence-splitting pass to Simranjeet Singh, who scored with a breathtaking shot. It told the story of how far this team had come in the last two weeks that Simranjeet, who came to Tokyo as a standby player, was playing a starring role. Germany replied with two more quick goals, a minute apart. It was 3-1, and it seemed like the dream would be shattered. But here's where the Indians showed they deserved to be back among the world's elite. In the next eight minutes, they unleashed the kind of magic that changes matches and wins medals. Hardik Singh pounced on a rebound after a powerful drag-flick from Harmanpreet Singh struck the goalkeeper in the 27th minute, and slammed it home before any of the German defenders could react. Harmanpreet then slotted home a penalty corner in the 29th; Rupinderpal Singh drove the ball home off a penalty stroke in the 31st; and Simranjeet, in the right place at the right time, tapped in after a tearing run down the flank from Gurjant Singh in the 34th. From 1-3, it was 5-3, and there was nothing the Germans had been able to do about it. The game was from there on was open, flowing, full of verve, as Germany tried to hit back. They reduced the deficit to one in the 48th minute, and stepped up the pressure the last 12 minutes, forcing one penalty corner after another. Each time, Amit Rohidas came charging out at the shot; and if it went past him, PR Sreejesh was there, leaping to make saves. Here is another story that defines this team - Sreejesh, 33, a veteran of three Olympics, on the verge of retiring a few years back, rescuing India with preternatural reflexes throughout the Olympics. In this match, too, it eventually boiled down to Germany vs Sreejesh. With 6.8 seconds left on the clock, Germany got the last of their 13 penalty corners . When the shot came screaming at the goal, Sreejesh held a padded hand out and deflected the ball out. The Germans sank to the turf, realising it was over. The Indians ran wildly, shouting at the top of their lungs. Manpreet fell on his knees and broke down in tears. Rupinder ran to him, and the two long-time teammates hugged. "After we lost to Australia 7-1 (in the group stage), I was very sad that we lost by such a big margin," Manpreet said later. "But Bobby (Rupinder) came to me and said, 'wait till the 5th, we will return with a medal.' So when he came to me today I told him, 'Bobby what you told me has happened'. We didn't get a medal in the Olympics for so long. I can't express what I am feeling now." Sreejesh joined them, before perching himself on top of the goalpost. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time, I am alone in my goal and he (the goalpost) is my best buddy," Sreejesh said. "So it was my way of celebrating with my buddy." On Wednesday, the eve of their match, India's coach Graham Reid did something unusual. He organised a medal ceremony for the team. He asked each player to stand on a chair and imagine they were on the podium with a medal around their neck. It fired the team up. "I came here (to the stadium) thinking about that," said Sreejesh. When it was all over, the team got together in the customary huddle with Reid. Together, they offered a prayer of thanks. "Before the game I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens," Reid said. "For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well." Former players showered the team with praise for bringing Indian hockey back into the spotlight. "We are back where we belong. This is where we always were when we all played. We are back on the podium. This has given a lease of life once again to hockey in India." said Ajit Pal Singh, 1975 world cup winning captain. "It's done. The team showed today that we can win in modern hockey. The next generation or the youngsters, the team has sparked a new self-belief and confidence that we can win at the Olympics." said former India captain Dilip Tirkey. That's what it was -- a bogey off the back, and the start of something new.
56 Just like the entire country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also tuned in to watch the ongoing men's hockey semi-final clash between India and Belgium in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. As he watches the ongoing semi-final, PM Modi said that he is already proud of what the team has managed to achieve in the Olympics so far. "I'm watching India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi-Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best," tweeted PM Modi on Tuesday. I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020 . Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best! - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2021 Loick Luypaert gave Belgium an early lead in the match as he registered a goal in the starting minutes of the first quarter and as a result, India was put on the back foot straight away. However, India struck back in the second half as Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored goals in quick succession, and as a result, India gained a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Belgium got the equaliser as Alexander Hendrickx successfully converted a penalty corner, and it brought the scoreline level to 2-2. Earlier, India had defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Sunday to enter the last four stage.
57 Actor Suniel Shetty has expressed his shock at Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya getting bit by his opponent during a match. Ravi Kumar won the match and qualified for the finals at the Tokyo Olympics. He lost in the finals to ROC's Zavur Uguev, winning a silver medal for India. Sharing pictures of Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev biting Ravi on his arm during a tight hold, Suniel wrote, "If what I see is true, then you have already won gold in our hearts! You are the true symbol of the Indian Sporting Spirit. #RaviKumarDahiya we are so proud of you!!" He had also shared another tweet about Ravi, writing, "How to turn a setback into a comeback, we should learn it from you Ravi Kumar Dahiya!! Superb match! Go for gold!!" Ravi complained about the bite after the match. A large imprint of Nurislam Sanayev's teeth can be seen on his arm in pictures and videos. Former India batsman Virender Sehwag took notice of this moment and he went on to label Sanayev's act as "disgraceful". "How unfair is this, couldn't hit our #RaviDahiya's spirit, so bit his hand. Disgraceful Kazakh loser Nurislam Sanayev. Ghazab Ravi, bahut seena chaunda kiya aapne #Wrestling," tweeted Sehwag. After his silver medal win, other film stars also praised Ravi. "It's a silver for our Ravi Dahiya," wrote Taapsee Pannu. Randeep Hooda also shared his congratulations. Suniel also congratulated the men's hockey team after their bronze medal win. "CONGRATULATIONS INDIAA!! A 41 year wait was ended by our boys!! So so proud of all of you. This victory will be cherished forever. @TheHockeyIndia #Tokyo2020 #TeamIndia." India has so far won five medals at the Tokyo Olympics. There are two silver medals and three bronze.
58 When asked about the reasons behind the team selection, during a virtual media call earlier this month, for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India men's hockey coach Graham Reid refrained from going into specific details. While on paper, India are entering the multi-sport event with one of the best looking defence line-ups, the front line appears to be a little inexperienced. Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh were included in the 16-man squad travelling to Tokyo, while Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, and Ramandeep Singh missing out. "I don't like to comment on specific selections," Reid said when asked about Akashdeep's absence. Tokyo 2020 Day 1 Live - Highlights The coach, though, did specify that the heat factor in Tokyo and the fitness levels of players were some of the important criteria that determined the team's selection. But can India go on further in the competition with this forward line? Former India captain Viren Rasquinha believes that Indian fans need to trust the judgement of the experienced coach. (Tokyo Olympics Full Coverage) "It's not easy to replace the combined experience of Akashdeep, SV Sunil, Ramandeep. Between the three of them, they have played 400 matches for India. That is a huge amount of experience and they have scored tons of goals," Rasquinha replied to a question posed by The Hindustan Times during a virtual media call organised by Sony Sports Network. "As I mentioned earlier, maybe the lack of experience in the forward line may be a bit of a problem. But knowing Graham Reid, he bases his team selection on current form, fitness, teamwork, and the ability to take a load of six-seven matches in 10-11 days. Also the ability of players to adapt to different players," he added. "So, I am sure he knows what he is doing. Graham has got the team that he wants. I am sure he must have seen players like Shamser playing, Gurjan, Mandeep, Dilpreet - they all deserve their places. They are playing for quite a while - very experienced, very strong. Maybe, Shamser Singh selection was one surprise. We have to trust the coach over here. Graham Reid is former Olympic coach himself, he has been an international coach for many years. He knows what is best for the team and we must trust the judgement of the coach," the former India midfielder said. Reid took over India's team as head coach after the sacking of Harendra Singh after India's exit from the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup, losing to The Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Since taking over, Reid has led the Indian team to wins over Belgium, Netherlands, Australia and Argentina. On being asked how the former Australian coach has changed the team, Rasquinha said that Reid has focused on both the defensive and attacking aspects of the game to create a more polished team. "Graham Reid is a very experienced coach. He has coached some of the top teams in world hockey. He has coached the Australian men's national team. He understands what modern hockey is all about. He is an Olympics medal winner himself as a player. He is one of the world-class coaches in the game at the moment," he said. "He has done a good job with the team - understanding the team spirit, playing the bond which we play, we play as a team - in a proper structure. The players understand the structure, focusing on a lot of strong defence and midfield. Ensuring we have numbers in defence, and also throwing numbers in attack. "He was a part of the Australian set-up where they continue attacking, but understand that they need to come back to get numbers in defence. Graham understands the importance of goalscoring in modern hockey. If you look at Australia at their peak, they were always scoring 2-3 goals, but were conceding 4-5. So, Graham is of the philosophy, it's always good to attack but also equally important to defend. He has done good job, so it will be interesting to see how it works out at the Olympics," he signed off.
59 They say that in hockey, the tournament starts in the quarter-finals. If that is the case, let's get the news out of the way-India will play Great Britain on Sunday for a last four spot, something that has not been achieved since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which they eventually won for their eighth and last gold. Now to Friday's match. Already through to the last eight by cementing the second spot in Group A, India downed hosts and 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 5-3 in their fifth and final pool match at Tokyo's Oi Hockey Stadium. The game was inconsequential but gave India the opportunity to build on their winning momentum, especially after the 1-7 humiliation-their worst loss in the Olympics-against world No.1 Australia. India have regrouped to win three back-to-back matches, even dominating defending champions Argentina. "It's been a phenomenal recovery after that dreadful game (vs Australia)," said former goalkeeper Ashish Ballal, a key member of India's victorious 1998 Asian Games squad. Skipper Manpreet Singh and the players have quickly regained the winning spirit. "It's fantastic to see a spirited team playing all out. They look fresh," Ballal said over the phone from Bengaluru. Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India. With 61% possession, Graham Reid's boys made 32 penetrations to Japan's 10, though they converted only five of their 17 shots, a familiar story in the tournament. Missing the finishing touch has often hurt India. It did even against Australia, though they have a young forward line. India chief coach Graham Reid said: "Better performance tonight. First-quarter was pretty good. We lost a little bit after they scored. In the second half, we came out and regained control. We really tried playing at a much higher tempo, to (a level) we are going to need on Sunday. We mixed that up pretty well and played a controlled game. Good to get a couple of field goals... we still need to get better at those outcomes in the circle." Sreejesh's role Despite Japan scoring through Kenta Tanaka (19th min), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th) on Friday, India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has been a sensation in the goal. Sreejesh, playing in his third Olympics, has been an outstanding motivator, constantly sending out instructions to the players, screaming to communicate during the game. Some of his saves, especially against Spain, were crucial because if those had been been converted, the team's morale would have been crushed. "Sreejesh plays like a youngster, I'm happy he's contributing so much," said Ballal. "He's present when the team needs him. He's a strong personality, such a motivating factor." Next up are Great Britain, who finished third in Group B but significantly drew 2-2 against favourites and world champions Belgium on Friday. Also, the knockouts are a different ball game where a single mistake inside the circle can be punished. India will have to make sure they don't concede penalty corners, stay sharp and make systematic attacks to up the conversion rate. It will be vital for India to play a percentage game against the 1988 Seoul champions. Women win too For the first time since 1980 Moscow, India women's hockey team won a match at the Olympic Games, a stunning 1-0 verdict against Ireland, the 2018 World Cup runners-up. After losing their first three Group A matches, to Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, Navneet Kaur's 57th minute deflection of skipper Rani Rampal's reverse shot clinched their first win of Tokyo 2020, keeping hopes alive for the quarter-finals. India will need to beat South Africa on Saturday in their fifth and final pool match to keep alive any hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
60 The Indian men's hockey team broke a four-decade long shackle to put themselves in contention for an Olympic medal on Sunday. The scenes at the Oi hockey stadium when the final hooter went off were steeped in relief, euphoria, and tears. India had crossed the quarterfinals hurdle at the Olympics with a convincing 3-1 victory against Great Britain. They play world champions Belgium in the semis on Tuesday. For Indian hockey, this victory has a meaning far deeper than the victory on the field. Once the undefeated giants of the game-winning six Olympic titles in a row, and then two more later-Indian hockey had not seen an Olympic medal since the last of those golds in Moscow 1980. Forget medals, the team had not reached a semi-final since 1972 (in 1980, the top two teams after the group stage directly played the final). If people had given up hope of witnessing an Olympic medal in hockey from India, that desire has been rekindled, at least for a few days. The reaction of the team was emotional-Harmanpreet Singh collapsed on the turf, tears streaming down his face. Mandeep Singh raised his stick like a warrior raising a sword, captain Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh hugged each other in a tight embrace. It was made more poignant by the fact that all of this was happening in an empty stadium. India's coach Graham Reid joined them in the middle and redirected their emotions. He called for a huddle and said, "this is your moment, celebrate it and start afresh. The job is yet to be done." That job will progress another step if they can beat Belgium on Tuesday, a team they had lost to in the quarterfinals in Rio 2016. For Reid's men, this was also a remarkable display of grit, picking themselves up and playing at their best after being scorched by Australia 7-1 in the second group stage match. But even on that day, as they trooped out of the turf, they were not down. "We are not out of competition. We will bounce back," captain Manpreet had said after being swamped with questions on their worst defeat in the Olympics. And they did. Emphatic wins against Spain (3-0), Argentina (3-1) and Japan (5-3) followed. The fight and resilience in the side filled with youngsters- Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh-shone on the humid night. They played fearlessly, with the intrepid Dilpreet showing the way with excellent ball control, before shooting through the goalkeeper's legs in the 7th minute. It started with a defensive error. A casual effort from the Britain defender allowed Simranjeet Singh to put out his stick and steal the ball. He passed it to an unmarked Dilpreet and the youngster scored his second goal in Tokyo. Gurjant added to the lead one minute into the second quarter. Britain, desperate for a comeback, scaled up its attack. In the third and fourth quarter, India had to endure sustained pressure. As many as seven penalty corners came Britain's way. From one, in the 45th minute, Britain pulled one back. Minutes later, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, as he has done so often already in this tournament, made a string of fine saves to protect India's lead. In the middle of this siege, captain Manpreet was sent off with a yellow card (10 minutes time out) with seven minutes remaining in the match. Then came the moment of the match in the 57th. After his fine assist to Gurjant for India's second goal, Hardik made a dazzling solo run, covering more than half the field, dribbling past two British players. He took a hard shot at goal, but the goalkeeper made a save. Two defenders in a line could not trap the rebound and Hardik, following up, slung the ball into the corner of the goal. In fact, if there is one connection with the 1980 Olympics gold medal winning team and the current side, it is Hardik. His aunt is married to Gurmail Singh, a member of 1980 squad. "Our job is not finished. We have come here for the gold medal. After 42 years we have reached the semi-finals but we will take a medal home," said Hardik. "When I see my uncle (Gurmail), I feel inspired. Nobody can take that away from him. I have come here to return home with a medal." Captain Manpreet Singh said there is still a lot to play for. "We knew that we would come back after that loss to Australia. The morale was not down. The Australia match was in fact a wake up call for us."
61 The Indian men's hockey team broke a four-decade long shackle to put themselves in contention for an Olympic medal on Sunday. The scenes at the Oi hockey stadium when the final hooter went off were steeped in relief, euphoria, and tears. India had crossed the quarterfinals hurdle at the Olympics with a convincing 3-1 victory against Great Britain. They play world champions Belgium in the semis on Tuesday. For Indian hockey, this victory has a meaning far deeper than the victory on the field. Once the undefeated giants of the game - winning six Olympic titles in a row, and then two more later - Indian hockey had not seen an Olympic medal since the last of those golds in Moscow 1980. Forget medals, the team had not reached a semi-final since 1972 (in 1980, the top two teams after the group stage directly played the final). If people had given up hope of witnessing an Olympic medal in hockey from India, that desire has been rekindled, at least for a few days. The reaction of the team was emotional - Harmanpreet Singh collapsed on the turf, tears streaming down his face. Mandeep Singh raised his stick like a warrior raising a sword, captain Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh hugged each other in a tight embrace. It was made more poignant by the fact that all of this was happening in an empty stadium. India's coach Graham Reid joined them in the middle and redirected their emotions. He called for a huddle and said, "this is your moment, celebrate it and start afresh. The job is yet to be done." That job will progress another step if they can beat Belgium on Tuesday, a team they had lost to in the quarterfinals in Rio 2016. For Reid's men, this was also a remarkable display of grit, picking themselves up and playing at their best after being scorched by Australia 7-1 in the second group stage match. But even on that day, as they trooped out of the turf, they were not down. "We are not out of competition. We will bounce back," captain Manpreet had said after being swamped with questions on their worst defeat in the Olympics. And they did. Emphatic wins against Spain (3-0), Argentina (3-1) and Japan (5-3) followed. The fight and resilience in the side filled with youngsters - Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh - shone on the humid night today. They played fearlessly, with the intrepid Dilpreet showing the way with excellent ball control, before shooting through the goalkeeper's legs in the 7th minute. It was his second goal in Tokyo. Gurjant added to the lead one minute into the second quarter. Britain, desperate for a comeback, scaled up its attack. In the third and quarter, India had to endure sustained pressure. As many as seven penalty corners came Britain's way. From one, in the 45th minute, Britain pulled one back. Minutes later, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, as he has done so often already in this tournament, made a string of fine saves to protect India's lead. In the middle of this siege, captain Manpreet was sent off with a yellow card (10 minutes time out) with seven minutes remaining in the match. Then came the moment of the match in the 57th. After his fine assist to Gurjant for India's second goal, Hardik made a dazzling solo run, covering more than half the field, dribbling past two British players. He took a hard shot at goal, but the goalkeeper made a save. Two defenders in a line could not trap the rebound and Hardik, following up, slung the ball into the corner of the goal. In fact, if there is one connection with the 1980 Olympics gold medal winning team and the current side, it is Hardik. His aunt is married to Gurmail Singh, a member of 1980 squad "Our job is not finished. We have come here for the gold medal. After 42 years we have reached the semi-finals but we will take a medal home," said Hardik. "When I see my uncle (Gurmail), I feel inspired. Nobody can take that away from him. I have come here to return home with a medal." Captain Manpreet Singh said there is still a lot to play for. "We knew that we would come back after that loss to Australia. The morale was not down. The Australia match was in fact a wake up call for us."
62 After their worst loss in the Olympics --- a 1-7 defeat to Australia --- India needed a confidence booster. And men's hockey team led by Manpreet Singh got exactly that with a 3-0 win against Spain, who are world No. 9, at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. With the win, India jumped to second position-behind Australia but above New Zealand, Argentina, Japan and Spain-in Group A with six points (two wins) from three games. In the day's other games in the group, Australia thrashed defending champions Argentina 5-2 and hosts Japan drew 2-2 with New Zealand. Forward Simranjeet Singh (14th) scored his first goal at the Olympics to get India off the mark. That was followed by a brace from drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh (15th, 51st)-one via a stroke and the next through a penalty corner. India started aggressively, dominating possession and creating goalscoring opportunities. They forged ahead through Simranjeet's quickfire field goal following a pass from the right flank. One minute later, India won back-to-back penalty corners, resulting in a stroke which Rupinder converted easily. The second and third quarters went goalless with India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh denying Spain a number of times. India downed hatches in the initial minutes of the final quarter but soon pressed forward to earn a short corner which was duly converted by Rupinder to make it 3-0. "Better result today but a lot of things to work on from an improvement perspective," said India coach Graham Reid. "The fact that we gave too many corners, that's always a concern when that happens. But the team did really well in terms of defending the PC. "The first quarter was very well, we could move the ball and it was what we planned to do. 2-0 is the worst score in hockey because after that we were relaxed and we struggled a bit in the second and third quarter to get back in the game. We managed to do that in the fourth quarter and tried to play simple hockey and that's what we ended up doing," he said.
63 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Tripura health workers cross hurdles to vaccinate people in remote areas Sanjay Urang, a multipurpose worker, covers long distances every day on foot, including crossing a rivulet, to reach the remote areas in Tripura carrying vaccines to vaccinate the people who are still unaware of the necessity of the vaccination. 'Plan to instigate and defame': SKM cautions farmers against Haryana BJP's Tiranga Yatra Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday urged farmers of Haryana to not oppose the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "Tiranga Yatra," which, the body claimed, is a "devious plan to instigate and defame farmers." Will nasal vaccines offer maximum protection against Covid-19? What we know Nasal vaccines, which are under trial across the world, are believed to be more effective than intramuscular vaccines as nasal vaccines are supposed to provide mucosal immunity in the nose -- one of the entry points of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Will US see more lockdowns in future? Dr Anthony Fauci says no but warns 'things are going to get worse' US President Joe Biden's top medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci on Sunday said that while the US is not likely to see more lockdowns, "some pain and suffering" still lie ahead due to the growing number of infections. Tokyo Olympics: India men's hockey team enters semifinal with 3-1 win over Great Britain India defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the men's hockey quarter-final to earn a spot in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. The Manpreet Singh-led side will face off against the 2018 world champions Belgium. Anushka Sharma makes Virat Kohli go 'wow', break into song and dance as he praises her beauty. Watch Actor Anushka Sharma left her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, smitten in a new advertisement for a soap brand that they featured in together. In the video, he was awestruck by her and broke into an impromptu song about her beauty as he danced with her. Royal Enfield sells 39,290 units in domestic market in July Royal Enfield on Sunday informed it had sold a total of 44,038 motorcycles in the month of July, up around nine per cent from the same period in 2020.
64 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh was on its way to becoming a powerhouse, fuelling the country's growth that had continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic. "People always knew and said that the road to power at Delhi passes through Uttar Pradesh but earlier, none thought it fit to think that the state could also fuel the country's growth. UP's identity that was previously limited to politics, is changing now as big ticket infra projects, industries and investments have started coming to the state," he said. After speaking with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing on Thursday, Modi showered praise on chief minister Yogi Adityanath, describing him both as "Yogi and Karmyogi (saint and doer)" while seeking the blessings of the common man to let him continue the work for "Dalits, backwards, the poor and the marginalised". Under PM-GKAY, the state has provided free ration to an estimated 15 crore poor so far. "I am going to continue this scheme till Diwali," the PM told one of the five beneficiaries shortlisted for interaction with him. Launching a statewide awareness campaign on the food security scheme, PM Modi said it was a matter of immense satisfaction that every grain sent to the state was reaching the beneficiaries. Adityanath welcomed the Prime Minister from Ayodhya, reminding the PM that last year on the same date (August 5), he was in the temple town for the bhoomi pujan (foundation stone laying) function of the Ram temple and how his government was developing a "nayi Ayodhya (new Ayodhya)." Mentioning the significance of August 5, the PM referred to the scrapping of Article 370 two years ago on this day and the bhoomi pujan (foundation stone laying) function of the Ram temple in Ayodhya last year. He said, "The day has become even more significant with the men's hockey team winning a medal in the Olympics after decades." Referring to Covid-19 as a once-in-century pandemic, he said, "Can you even think what would have happened in UP had Covid-19 happened five years ago? But today, nearly 5.15 crore [51.5 million] vaccination doses have been given in the state." Hitting out at the Opposition, he said, "Politics is changing...Ab pad nahi padak (Not post, medals), parivar nahi parisharm (not dynastic politics but hard work) is becoming the main criteria." Apart from the Olympics, Modi also talked of an upcoming landmark of 500 milliion vaccination doses, record GST collection of Rs.116,000 crore in July, signalling a new momentum in the economy. The Prime Minister also talked of the trial of the first Made in India aircraft carrier Vikrant, completion of construction of the highest motorable road in the world in Ladakh and launch of e-Rupi.
65 Neeraj Chopra made history as he ended India's wait by winning the elusive Olympic gold medal in athletics. In men's javelin throw in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020 he won the medal by sending the spear to a distance of 87.58m. Since his win, people from various walks of life have taken to social media to congratulate him on his big win, including union minister Smriti Irani. Taking to Instagram, she shared a special message for the Olympian. "The Nation proudly celebrates Olympic Gold Medalist Subedar @neeraj____chopra. Confident , diligent, he symbolises a New India! His victory will surely fire up many an ambition in Indian athletics. Congratulations, well done!" she wrote. Along with the caption she also shared a video that showcases Neeraj Chopra's thrown that gave India it's gold medal. Since being posted nearly 14 hours ago, the video has gathered more than 2.5 lakh views and the numbers are only increasing. The share has also prompted people to post various kinds of comments. One of the individual who commented on Smriti Irani's post was actor Neena Gupta. "Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara," she wrote. "He knew it and didn't even look," shared another while talking about the Chopra's immediate reaction after throwing the spear. "Wow," expressed a third. Many shared fire emoticons to express their reactions. What are your thoughts on the post shared by Smriti Irani on Neeraj Chopra's win?
66 A look at the men's hockey results so far in the Tokyo Olympics has one major blot - the 1-7 defeat at the hands of World No.1 Australia. Other than that, it has been a breeze for coach Graham Reid's side in Tokyo. The first encounter against New Zealand was close, but India was the better team in the first half going forward, and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was on top form in the latter stages of the match. India came back from the Australia defeat to pull a solid 3-0 win over Spain to showcase their mental tenacity. The game against Argentina on Thursday had a cagey start, but Manpreet Singh & co. managed to break the South American team's defence and won it 3-1 to confirm a spot in the quarterfinals. Now, with knockout stages set to begin from Sunday (India still have Japan to play in the Group stage Friday), former India captain MM Somaya, who led the team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and was part of the Indian squad that had won the gold in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, spoke to Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat on the team's performance so far in Tokyo 2020. Somaya highlighted the key areas where Reid's side can improve upon as they gear up for the knockout matches, and explained how India's young brigade can go from being good to "unbeatable". EXCERPTS India men's team have reached the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Argentina. What do you have to say about the team's performance so far in Tokyo? Right from the beginning I have said, this is the fittest Indian team that has touched our shores. Barring that one match against Australia, they have played very close to their potential. A little more confidence with the forward line, like they showed today against Argentina, in the first three quarters, would make it even better. And if the forward line is gradually able to play to their potential, we would almost be unbeatable. That's my view. Most goals have come from the set-pieces, would there be a concern about fewer field goals going into the knockouts? With big tournaments like the Olympics, they (the players in the front line) have taken a few days to settle down. But both against Spain, in the first half, and today against Argentina, I thought they equipped themselves well. There was a lot of penetrative thrust in these two matches. But I feel that we have to be a little more consistent. We are scoring from penalty corners. That is an asset. But of course, we should be able to have a double threat, both through penalty corners, and field goals. What areas do you think the team can improve upon? The team plays with plan A which is to play with a blistering pace right through the game. As I said, this team is extremely fit. And they use this to play a very, very quick game. The transition from attack to defence, and from defence to attack is very fast. But when plan A fails, as it did against Australia, they need to look at a plan B where they slow down a bit. Conserve energy and break the rhythm of the opposition. So, a mid-game assessment how their plan is working out and modify it accordingly is one of the areas. Secondly, the midfield pushes up too much and exposes the deep defence, at times. I think in deep defence, we have one or two players who are slightly not at their peak at this point. So, they require a little more protection. Like they have done in these last two games. Once they play a compact game, vis-a-vis defenders, it will help us in the tough games in knockout stages. Where do you think India went wrong in the 1-7 loss against Australia? One is trying to defeat Australia at their own game of fast-paced hockey, you played toe-to-toe with them. It was not working. If you are doing that, you have to score. But they were not scoring either. The second is, that they put too many midfielders up - Rupinder and Birendra Lakra - were looking to counter-attack, but it was working against them. These were the two main areas. There was a lot of chatter on the team selection before, especially the forward line. With Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh scoring majority of goals. would you say India are missing Akashdeep, Raman, Sunil in the front line? No, not at all. The selection does not happen only because a player is experienced. A selection happens because a player is fit to play in a tournament where you are going to play eight gruelling matches in sweltering conditions. All the players you take have to be in top physical shape. So, that is one important factor, that was considered by the coach and the selectors. The second I feel is the present form. You and I have seen these guys players play two years ago. So, we would not know what their present form is. So, the coach has gone strictly on fitness and present form. Just to look at the other way, in the game against Australia, where we did not play well, did our experienced players play well? If one is saying that only the experienced players play well, I can point out quite a few experienced players who did not play well in that game, though I do not wish to do that. Experience players also can have a bad day. So, although I am a big fan of Sunil and these players, you cannot say that if these players were selected, we would have played better. The coach has selected the team with certain plans in mind. What is the formation they want to play, how they want to play... so we need to respect that and back that game right through the tournament. From Group B, there will most likely be Belgium, Netherlands, Great Britain who will reach the knockouts - what realistic chance do you think India have against these strong teams? In all likelihood, Great Britain may finish third from Group B. So, we may either get the Netherlands or Great Britain next. So, I am extremely confident because India have learnt from their experience against Australia that they need to play plan A always. And they need to have plan B sometimes and even plan C. And they are much more confident now, after four league matches. And they would be a very big threat as they are peaking at the right time.
67 While the country soaks up the lustre of the men hockey team's hard-earned bronze medal during the Tokyo Olympics, the local hockey stadium with its slippery turf, overgrown vegetation, and crumbling infrastructure stands in stark contrast and speaks of the authorities' indifference to the sport. Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU's) hockey stadium, which has been named after the "king of short corner" Prithipal Singh, in its present dilapidated state does the legendary Olympian a great disservice as it can no longer facilitate budding hockey players in the region. The AstroTurf, which was recently laid, is slippery at many places, the goalposts are missing in the practice arena and the ground is uneven. The wildly growing vegetation around the stadium gives the venue a rather gloomy look. The stench emanating from the bathrooms have rendered them unfit for use and the main office doubles as a store with gunny bags containing cement stored there. Many windows are broken, adding to the shabbiness of the building. Former hockey coach HS Bhullar said, "The stadium stands as a testimony of sports authorities' indifference and neglect. We have been urging authorities to repair the stadium for a long time, to no avail." "Is this the way to treat our national sport?" asks Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal, while lamenting over the sad state of the hockey stadium stated. "That the talented youth of our country has managed to create history despite the sad state of hockey infrastructure is an absolute miracle," he said. "We need more coaches and well-maintained infrastructure. Toilet hygiene is a far cry when there is no potable water. We do not give the players any facilities, but expect them to bag medals for the nation. How is this fair?" he asked. Veteran hockey player Jagbir Singh Grewal also shared the same grouse. "For three years, players have been running pillar to post over maintenance of the hockey stadium. However, the Indian hockey teams historic win has given us an opportunity to highlight the sorry state of the hockey infrastructure." Despite repeated attempts, PAU dean student welfare (DSW) Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal remained unavailable for comment. District sport officer (DSO) Ravinder Singh, however, says the turf is in good condition. "The hockey academy was closed due to the pandemic. Now, with resumption of classroom teaching, the academy will also be resumed."
68 With exceptional performances at major international tournaments under his belt, Haryana-born Amit Panghal, who is competing in the 52kg men's boxing category at the Tokyo Games, is one of India's biggest medal hopes. And his father, Vijender Singh Panghal feels his younger son's efforts and elder son's sacrifice will pay off. The 25-year-old pugilist is in Tokyo for his maiden Olympic appearance, and his family in Mayna village in Haryana's Rohtak is praying for his good health. "Amit has worked very hard, with the help of his coach, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Of course, there is a pandemic and we are worried for his health. We are praying for him, and every one in Tokyo, that they participate and return hale and hearty. We are just waiting to receive Amit with garlands. Our whole village awaits his return," says Vijender. "Main sadharan kisan hu (I am a simple farmer), and our whole family is excited to see Amit compete in the Olympics. It's a matter of great pride for us. Humari umeed hai ki vo apne desh ka, apne gaon ka naam roshan karega (We hope he will make his country and his village proud)," says Panghal as he narrates his son's journey from his village in Haryana to the stadium in Tokyo. "It's surprising that I originally did not want him to take up boxing (laughs). When Amit was 10, a boxing academy opened in our village, where my elder son Ajay would go to train because in Haryana there is a charm around boxing and wrestling. Looking at him, Amit joined too. But eventually, we did not have the funds to train both of them. Ajay decided to give up boxing and support the family, so that Amit could take up the sport professionally," recalls the father, adding, "Things were hard for a few years. I had to take loans from friends, and was in debt for a while till Ajay joined the Army. We are better placed now, and hope that both our sons can serve the country." Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
69 A festive mood was in the air in four villages of Amritsar districts that have four of their sons in the Indian men's hockey contingent which defeated Germany to win the bronze medal to end the country's 41-year wait for an Olympic medal in the national game. The proud families of the players - Shamsher Singh (24) of Attari, Dilpreet Singh (20) of Butala, Gurjant Singh (26) of Khaliara and Harmandeep Singh (26) of Timmowal village - dedicated the win to every Indian. Residents of these villages were seen bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Also, politicians queued up to the players' houses to congratulate their families. Barring Dilpreet, whose father is a hockey coach who played in the nationals from 1990 to 1996, all three are sons of farmers. Shamsher, a graduate, started playing hockey when he was only 10. "He was inclined towards hockey since his childhood. He used to play on the local ground with other children of the village. His interest in the game increased as he grew up," said Samsher's father Hardev Singh said. Shamsher's mother Harpeet Kaur is a housewife. Gurjant, also a graduate, was inspired by his uncle (mother's brother) Hardev Singh Chahal who was a hockey player. He started playing hockey when he was studying in class 5. "It was my son's dream to do something for the country," said his father Balvir Singh. Gurjant's mother is a housewife and he has two sisters. Harmandeep's father Sarabjit Singh, a farmer and a former kabbaddi player, said, "I congratulate all members of the Indian hockey team. My son worked hard and made it to the national team." Dilpreet, who is pursuing his graduation from a Jalandhar-based private university, was inspired none other than his father Balwinder Singh. "He was nearly 5-year-old when I started training him. He has fulfilled my dream. The entire village is celebrating the win. There is a wedding-like scene at our home," said Balwinder. Dilpreet's mother Sukhwant Kaur is also a housewife.
70 A second Olympic medal for PV Sindhu. The Indian hockey team in the Olympic semi-finals for the first time since Munich 1972. For India, this was a super Sunday at Tokyo 2020. With Sindhu's medal, which she won beating China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match, India also surpassed its Rio 2016 tally of two. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver on Day 1 of Tokyo 2020 while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is also assured a medal (colour yet to be decided) after storming into the semis. Sindhu's name will now unquestionably be taken among the greatest ever sportspersons from the country after becoming only the second Indian-and first woman-after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals, having claimed a silver five years ago in Rio. The 26-year-old also has five World Championship medals-including the gold she won in 2019. Sindhu's efforts ensured that badminton became only the second sport after hockey to bring medals from three consecutive Olympics. Saina Nehwal had won the bronze in London 2012. Barely half an hour after Sindhu's dominating straight games win, the Indian men's hockey team clinched their most significant match in 41 years to enter the semi-finals-the first on artificial turf. In 1972, India won the bronze. India won gold in Moscow 1980, but then the top two from the league phase directly played the final. Manpreet Singh and his men beat three-time champions Great Britain 3-1 in the quarter-final at the Oi Hockey Staidum with the Singhs-Dilpreet, Hardik and Gurjant-scoring a goal apiece to take India to the cusp of a hockey medal for the first time in more than four decades. India face world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning in the semis. Now back to Sindhu. Since she played the Rio 2016 final, the lanky shuttler from Hyderabad has reached the final of every World Championship-an incredible run. That Sindhu is a player transformed when it comes to major tournaments is well known, but on Sunday, she had a different challenge to overcome. Just the day before, after storming through to the semis without dropping a game in Tokyo, she found herself at the receiving end, being dominated by Tai Tzu Ying in the semis. The straight games loss could have been demoralising for her. Instead she came out all guns firing for the bronze playoff, an unusual place for her to be in on the big stage. "I had a lot of emotions going through me-should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final. But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," Sindhu said. Sindhu closed off the match 21-15, 21-13 in 52 minutes to better her record to 7-9 against the Chinese. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years," Sindhu said. "It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country." Sindhu knew well that Bing Jiao prefers close net play, a slow game and long rallies. Using the drift to her advantage, Sindhu ensured that Bing Jiao got few opportunities to bring the play to the net, dictated the pace with her hard smashes and made the Chinese run around trying to retrieve steeply angled cross court shots. When the rallies were long, she not only held her nerve, but played freely and aggressively. "There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm," she said. "Even though I was leading, I did not relax." A great fighter, Sindhu lost the lead of the match only once-that too for just a point-in the first game and was sensational in returns throughout the second, including smashes aimed at the body. With twelve match points in hand, Sindhu ended the match with a shot that has defined her game in Tokyo--a cross court back hand return hit hard with the flick of the wrist. She let out a victory cry, raising both arms. "I'm on cloud nine," she said. "I'm going to enjoy this moment. My family has worked hard for me and put in a lot of effort, so I'm very thankful. A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I'm very thankful to each and every one of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses."
71 A second Olympic medal for PV Sindhu. The Indian hockey team in the Olympic semi-finals for the first time since Munich 1972. For India, this was a super Sunday at Tokyo 2020. With Sindhu's medal, which she won beating China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match, India also surpassed its Rio 2016 tally of two. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver on Day 1 of Tokyo 2020 while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is also assured a medal (colour yet to be decided) after storming into the semis. Sindhu's name will now unquestionably be taken among the greatest ever sportspersons from the country after becoming only the second Indian - and first woman - after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals, having claimed a silver five years ago in Rio. The 26-year-old also has five World Championship medals - including the gold she won in 2019. Sindhu's efforts ensured that badminton became only the second sport after hockey to bring medals from three consecutive Olympics. Saina Nehwal had won the bronze in London 2012. Barely half an hour after Sindhu's dominating straight games win, the Indian men's hockey team clinched their most significant match in 41 years to enter the semi-finals - the first on artificial turf. In 1972, India won the bronze. India won gold in Moscow 1980, but then the top two from the league phase directly played the final. Manpreet Singh and his men beat three-time champions Great Britain 3-1 in the quarter-final at the Oi Hockey Staidum with the Singhs - Dilpreet, Hardik and Gurjant - scoring a goal apiece to take India to the cusp of a hockey medal for the first time in more than four decades. India face world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning in the semis. Now back to Sindhu. Since she played the Rio 2016 final, the lanky shuttler from Hyderabad has reached the final of every World Championship - an incredible run. That Sindhu is a player transformed when it comes to major tournaments is well known, but on Sunday, she had a different challenge to overcome. Just the day before, after storming through to the semis without dropping a game in Tokyo, she found herself on the receiving end, being dominated by Tai Tzu Ying in the semis. The straight games loss could have been demoralizing for her. Instead, she came out all guns firing for the bronze playoff, an unusual place for her to be in on the big stage. "I had a lot of emotions going through me - should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final. But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," Sindhu said. Sindhu closed off the match 21-15, 21-13 in 52 minutes to better her record to 7-9 against the Chinese. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years," Sindhu said. "It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country." Sindhu knew well that Bing Jiao prefers close net play, a slow game and long rallies. Using the drift to her advantage, Sindhu ensured that Bing Jiao got few opportunities to bring the play to the net, dictated the pace with her hard smashes and made the Chinese run around trying to retrieve steeply angled cross court shots. When the rallies were long, she not only held her nerve, but played freely and aggressively. "There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm," she said. "Even though I was leading, I did not relax." A great fighter, Sindhu lost the lead of the match only once - that too for just a point - in the first game and was sensational in returns throughout the second, including smashes aimed at the body. With twelve match points in hand, Sindhu ended the match with a shot that has defined her game in Tokyo - a cross court back hand return hit hard with the flick of the wrist. She let out a victory cry, raising both arms above her. "I'm on cloud nine," she said. "I'm going to enjoy this moment. My family has worked hard for me and put in a lot of effort so I'm very thankful. A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I'm very thankful to each and every one of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses."
72 One of the pioneers of Indian badminton and the first Indian player (and Punekar) to win an international title, Nandu Natekar, 88, passed away at his residence here on Wednesday. Natekar - who won over 100 national and international titles over the course of his career - succumbed to age-related ailments. He is survived by his son Gaurav and two daughters. "He passed away peacefully at home and we were all with him. He was ailing for the last three months but breathed his last peacefully," said Gaurav over a phone call. In a message, the Natekar family said, "With the deepest sorrow, we would like to inform you that our beloved father Nandu Natekar passed away on July 28, 2021. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 guidelines, we will not be having a condolence meeting. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers." After the news of Nandu Natekar's passing broke, dignitaries, fans and followers sent condolence messages over social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet, "Shri Nandu Natekar has a special place in India's sporting history. He was an outstanding badminton player and a great mentor. His success continues to motivate budding athletes. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti!" Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol in a tweet said, "A heartfelt tribute on behalf of all the people of Pune to the Arjuna Award winner, the hero of Indian sports, the great badminton hero, Nandu Natekar." Om Prakash Bakoria, sports commissioner, Maharashtra, said in his tweet, "Extremely saddened to know about the sad demise of six-time 'Men's Singles National Badminton Champion' and the first Arjuna Awardee (1961), Nandu Natekar. His passing away is a loss to the world of sports. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers." Ranjeet Natu, honorary secretary, Pune District Metropolitan Badminton Association (PDMBA), said, "Nandu Natekar was known as 'Nandu Kaka' in Pune. Not only did he contribute to the game as a player but also as a coach, organiser and official. Till 1997, he used to come to the PDMBA court and train us. Along with being a great singles' player, he would share excellent tips for performing in the doubles and mixed doubles matches." Natu recalled that when PDMBA hosted the senior nationals badminton in 1997, Nandu Natekar was the head of the organising committee and that he learned a lot of things from him. Back in 1986 when the Maharashtra Badminton Association was going through troubled times owing to a dispute among its management, Nandu Natekar went ahead and continued as president for four years to bring stability to the body. "In every role, he was perfect and was always open to new ideas, whether they came from a peon or a top official. He liked listening to people," Natu remembered fondly. Nikhil Kanetkar, who represented India in the 2004 Summer Olympics, said, "It is sad news for the sports fraternity across the country and my condolences to Nandu Natekar's family. I was fortunate to be trained under him when I was just 12 years' old at the PDMBA. Whenever he stepped on the court, it was a treat to watch him play." In 1954, Nandu Natekar made it to the quarterfinals of the prestigious All England Championships and in 1956, he became the first Indian player to win an international event when he claimed the Sellanger International in Malaysia. He won 12 out of 16 singles' matches and 8 out of 16 doubles as part of the Indian team at the Thomas Cup held between 1951 and 1963. He led the country in tournaments in 1959, 1961 and 1963. He also represented India at the 1965 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. Before appearing on the world badminton stage from 1950 to 1970, Nandu Natekar was also fond of playing tennis and cricket. In 1960, he was offered a Brylcreem advertisement for which he wasn't paid any money but given free packets of Brylcreem every month.
73 The Union government renamed the country's highest sports award, the Khel Ratna, after hockey legend Dhyan Chand on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting that the decision was taken on popular demand, a day after the Indian men's hockey team won a bronze at Tokyo 2020, the country's first Olympic medal in 41 years. The award was established in 1991-92 and named the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, after the former prime minister who was killed during an election rally in May 1991. Dhyan Chand is revered as a hockey wizard in India for his stick work and dribbling skills and spearheaded India's Olympic wins in 1928, 1932 and 1936. "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind," Modi tweeted on Friday. "Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he further tweeted. The Khel Ratna award comprises a medallion, certificate and a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh. Union finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, welcomed the announcement. "Honouring the popular sentiment, a timely decision by Hon. @PMOIndia Khel Ratna Award shall now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. #motivation #TeamIndia," she tweeted. Assam chief minister and Badminton Association of India president, Himanta Biswa Sarma, too hailed the move. "Heartily welcome the decision taken by Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodiji to rename the Khel Ratna Award after India's legendary sports icon Major Dhyan Chand. This decision will go a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of a #NewIndia, which recognises its real heroes," Sarma tweeted. The Congress welcomed the renaming of the sporting honour but accused Modi of playing "myopic politics" in the name of sportspersons. "Congress welcomes that the Khel Ratna Puraskar has been named after the one of the most celebrated sportspersons and hockey wizard Dhyan Chand...we sincerely hope that Modi ji should not have used his myopic political motives to drag the name of a celebrated player like Major Dhyan Chand," said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. "Modi ji, you reduced the sports budget by Rs 230 crores in an Olympic year and now you are trying to be myopic and also deflect attention from core and fundamental issues..." he added. Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh criticised the decision. "Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he led the country into the 21st century. He encouraged sports, youth. This government wants to saffronise and that's why they gave another name," he said.
74 The family of 30-year-old drag flick specialist, Rupinder Pal Singh, who scored a goal from a penalty stroke, was on cloud nine as the Indian men's hockey team clinched an Olympic bronze medal. Rupinder's family members along with neighbours gathered at his house in Faridkot to watch the match. The moment India won the match, it was an emotional moment for his family, especially for his mother Sukhwinder Kaur. They celebrated the proud moment by distributing "laddoos". Rupinder comes from a humble background. His family owns a small house, while his younger brother Amarbir Singh runs a small business in the city. Rupinder's father Harinder Singh said his son has brought laurels to the country. "Rupinder was just six when he started playing hockey and never looked back. I always knew that one day he will do us and the nation proud, said the elated father. Amarbir said the financial condition of their family was not good. "Despite this, my father always supported Rupinder for the game," he said. Rupinder's mother said: "Kids have done a lot of hard work to achieve this, but I am thankful to God with whose blessings they were able to pull this," she added. Later, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu visited Rupinder's house to congratulate the family . "Proud of the Indian hockey team. Rupinder scored a goal to confirm bronze for India and to achieve a long-awaited victory," he said.
75 LUCKNOW UP's sports fraternity welcomed the government's decision to rechristen the Khel Ratna Award in the honour of Major Dhyan Chand, saying that the country's highest sports honour was now named after India's greatest hockey player. Dhyan Chand's three gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games in 1928, 1932 and 1936 were still the best-ever by any Indian sportsperson in the world. Ashok Kumar, son of Dhyan Chand, welcomed the government's move, saying: "Dhyan Chand belongs to the whole country and hockey is our national game. Sports awards should be named after sportspersons. This Khel Ratna was first named after honourable Rajiv Gandhi but it's better to name these awards after sportspersons connected with it. Our country and our Prime Minister took notice of this today, because of the increasing popularity of hockey now." There celebrations in Prayagraj, where Dhyan Chand was born on August 29 in 1905; Jhansi and Lucknow, where he spent his playing days. His fans distributed sweets to mark the renaming of the award. Khel Ratna awardees get a prize of Rs.25 lakh. Ashok Kumar also showered praise on the Indian hockey teams at the Tokyo Games. "Our men's team won a medal and the women's side won hearts. The entire country is celebrating their performances. It's a big occasion for all of us," he said. He thanked the nation for keeping Dhyan Chand's name alive. "There is no doubt that athletes and sports fans have kept Major Dhyan Chand's name alive even today. And now this Khel Ratna award will take that legacy forward. He (Dhyan Chand) is still alive in our hearts." Uttar Pradesh Hockey, the official unit of the Games' governing body, Hockey India, too welcomed the PM's announcement to rename the award after Major Dhyan Chand. "It's a great moment for Uttar Pradesh Hockey as we all grew up hearing the tales of Dhyan Chand Ji on the hockey field. He has been the ideal of all hockey players in India. In our playing days, we all wanted to play like him," said RP Singh, who also happens to be a former India hockey captain. "Most of our hockey astro turf stadiums in UP (14) are already named after Major Dhyan Chand. The stadium in his name at the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College here has witnessed many big events like 2016 Junior Men's Hockey World Cup and Gold Cup Tournament in the past," he said. "It's a golden double for UP, as after the success of hockey players like Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Vandana Katariya at the Tokyo Games, we got to see the government renaming the sports award in the name of Major Dhyand Chand," added Singh, who is also UP's sports director.
76 India defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the Men's Hockey quarterfinal to earn a spot in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics. Tokyo 2020 Highlights: India vs Great Britain Quarterfinal This is the first time since the 1972 Munich Olympics that the eight-time Olympic Champions would be playing in the semifinals of men's hockey in the multi-sport event. In 1972, India had lost to Pakistan in the semis. While India had won the gold medal defeating Spain in the final in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, there were no semifinals at that time and the two teams from the round robin stage had competed in the final. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), and Argentina (3-1) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India have won all their games so far.
77 The members of Indian men's hockey team in Tokyo etched their names in the history books after they led the team to a bronze medal win at the 2020 Olympics. India had to win an intense, thrilling, and grueling encounter against Germany that went right down to the wire. But in the end, despite trailing on two separate occasions in the match, India managed to pull off a stunning comeback 5-4 win to go past Germany and earn a podium finish. Here are the names of all the players who were a part of India's squad at the Tokyo Olympics: Head Coach: Graham Reid Dilpreet Singh Rupinder Pal Singh Surender Kumar Manpreet Singh (Captain) Hardik Singh Gurjant Singh Mandeep Singh Simranjeet Singh Mandeep Singh Lalit Kumar Upadhyay Harmanpreet Singh PR Sreejesh (Goalkeeper) Sumit Kumar Nilakanta Sharma Shamsher Singh Varun Kumar Birendra Lakra Amit Rohidas Vivek Sagar Prasad
78 Eleven students from the Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, are part of the Indian contingent representing the country in Tokyo Olympics. In a release, LPU claimed this is the highest number of students to get selected to any Indian Olympic contingent from a private university. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing MA in public administration at the university, para-athlete Nishad Kumar (BA), javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra (BA) and sprinter Amoj Jacob (BPEd) are part of the Indian contingent, according to the press release. Seven players, including captain Manpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, all students of MBA, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, pursuing graduation, of the Indian men's hockey team are LPU students. Chancellor, LPU Ashok Mittal said: "We feel proud that near 10% of the Indian Olympic participants LPU students."
79 India men's hockey team made it to the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics. This will be the first time in over four decades that India's men's hockey team will play in the Olympics in a semifinal match. Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, and Hardik Singh scored as India defeated Great Britain 3-1 to achieve the historic feat. Twitterati celebrated India's big moment as Indian players indulged in emotional celebrations on the turf after winning the match. Here is a look at some of the reactions on Twitter: India will face off against 2018 World Champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. It will be their first meeting since FIH Pro League clash between the two teams in February 2019.
80 Drubbed 1-7 by Australia in their last match, the Indian men's hockey team defeated Spain 3-0 to register its second win at the Tokyo Olympics here on Tuesday. India produced a spirited performance against world No.9 Spain and scored through Simranjeet Singh (14th minute) and Rupinder Pal Singh (15th and 51st) to record a comfortable win in their third Pool A match at the OI Hockey Stadium. India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opening fixture. Spain, on the other hand, are yet to register a win in the competition. Spain drew 1-1 against Argentina before losing 3-4 to New Zealand. The Indians will next play reigning Olympic champions Argentina on Thursday.
81 The Indian men's hockey team stormed into the Olympic Games quarterfinal with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in its penultimate pool match here on Thursday. After goalless first two quarters, India broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through Varun Kumar before Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and Harmanpreet Singh (59th) struck in the closing minutes of the match to seal the contest. Argentina's lone goal came from a penalty corner conversion by Schuth Casella in the 48th minute. By virtue of this win, India have consolidated their position in the second spot of Pool A with three wins and one loss out of four games, behind Australia. Argentina are struggling at the fifth spot in the six-team pool and need to beat New Zealand in their final preliminary match on Friday to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. The top-four make the last-eight stage from each group. India will play hosts Japan in their final pool match on Friday.
82 After the best-ever performance at the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics, India shall look at breaking into the top 10 at the earliest possible, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday as the House lauded medal winners and the gritty losers in close finishes. In an unusually long speech, Mr. Naidu termed the Indian contingent's performance at the Tokyo Olympics as, "the first moment of national awakening in sports". "The Tokyo Games turned out to be the best Olympic moment for our nation in the last 121 years of its Olympic journey," he said. "It took such a long time to script a 'We too can do it' moment, erasing the memories of desperation, despondency, dejection and disbelief, compounded by poor medal performance every four years," Mr. Naidu added. India finished at 47 in the Tokyo medal tally, far improved from 67 in the last Games in Rio. "Four gold medals would have placed us at around 20 and another four among the top 10 in the medals tally," he said. "It is to be much higher on the medals table given the feasibility as revealed from our Tokyo performances. Our mission shall be in the top 10 at the earliest possible." Members thumped their desks when the reference was read out. Mr. Naidu said that the Tokyo Olympics did not just give the highest-ever tally of seven medals but also demonstrated grit in terms of quite a few close finishes and a large number of athletes entering medal-winning rounds of the competition. "Tokyo Olympics heralded resurgence, renaissance and national awakening in sports in our country by restoring the depleting confidence and self-esteem," he said. Of the 120 members in the Indian contingent for Tokyo, 55 contested in the quarter-finals and above, marking the highest-ever penetration into medal rounds of the competition. For the first time, five Indian athletes fought for gold and over 40 made it to the semi-finals. "This is quite significant as it indicates the scope for substantially improving medal harvest in the near future as our sportspersons set their eyes on the Paris Olympics in 2024 with newfound confidence," he said. Mr. Naidu remarked that Neeraj Chopra had done the nation proud with his gold-fetching javelin throw, bringing down the curtains on "decades of despair and heralded a new era of confidence and hope." "His feat helps in healing the festering wound of recurrent despair and waning hope with every lost opportunity," he said as he went on to praise all the other medal winners - Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu, Lovelin Borgohain, P V Sindhu and Bajrang Punia. The men's hockey team entered the semi-finals after 49 long years and fought valiantly to win a medal after 41 years. The women bravehearts, having made their Olympics debut in 1980, made it to the semi-final after 41 years and only in their third appearance. "These stellar performances are harbingers of rejuvenation of interest in sports in general and in hockey in particular, in our country," he said. "This august House is further happy to take note of the spectacular emergence of our women athletes in the international sports arena and their coming to the fore as medal winners." In the 2016 Rio games, both the medal winners were women. In Tokyo, three of the seven medal winners were women. "The golden record of our men's hockey team till 1980 and rare good performances by some individual athletes notwithstanding, India had "come to lose self-esteem, confidence, morale and hope in the domain of sports further to poor performances in the Olympics arena over the years", Mr. Naidu said. "No nation can hold it's head high in any domain with such lack of confidence and low self-esteem," he said. "More so, when Olympic medals add to the global perception of emerging economies with the level of sports being an important element of soft power." "In addition, excepting some rare noteworthy performances, our nation has come to be used to early exits from competitions in various events in the Olympics and meek surrenders that made our people drop their heads in frustration and agony," he added. Out of its 24 Olympic appearances till Rio Olympics in 2016, India did not win even a single medal in six appearances, fetched a single medal each in 13 appearances, two medals in three Olympics, three medals in the Beijing Games in 2008 and the highest of six medals in the London Games in 2012. The first individual gold medal was secured only in the Beijing Games in 2008 while the first female medal winner in the Olympics came only in the Sydney Games in 2000. "Not even a single medal in track and field events for 120 years," Mr. Naidu pointed out.
83 Mirabai Chanu, who won silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics games expressed joy after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the Olympics contingent to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "It is a matter of great joy that we have been honoured by PM as he has invited us on such a big day. We will get a chance to meet PM over dinner at his residence. It will be a big day for me", Chanu said. On 15th August, as India celebrates Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Olympics contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Aside from the programme, he will also be inviting them to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "This time, the highest number of players from India have qualified in the Olympics. Remember, this has been done while battling the biggest disaster of 100 years. There are many games in which we have qualified for the first time. Not only qualified but also giving tough competition. The zeal, passion and spirit of Indian players are at the highest level," Modi said during a virtual address earlier today. India has been represented by a 228-strong contingent, including over 120 athletes, at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Over the last few days, as the delayed Games began, the Prime Minister has followed the events alongside much of the nation. Early on Tuesday morning for example, he had taken to Twitter cheering on the Indian men's hockey team as they took on Belgium in the semifinal match.
84 On August 1, the Indian men's hockey team defeated Great Britain to secure a place in the last four of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The performance by Manpreet Singh and his men has taken social media by storm. Several congratulated the Indian hockey team and claimed, "Chakde!India. Finally, after 41 years, team India reaches the semis of the Olympics. One of the greatest moments indeed. #Tokyo2020 #india #Olympics". Embed:/ plugins/video.php?height=314& href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww. facebook.com% 2FMondalhimadri14%2Fvideos% 2F224036536273782%2F&show_ text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow: hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true">iframe> India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be misleading. In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, India had won the gold medal. But it did not play the quarter final or semifinal in that tournament and qualified for the finals directly from the group stage. In the 1972 Munich Olympics, India had lost the semifinal to Pakistan. Posts with similar claims are saved , , , . India's golden run Several claim that the Indian hockey team would compete in an Olympic semifinal after 49 years. It means that while some are claiming that India had played the semifinal during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, others are claiming that India entered the Olympics semifinal for the last time in the 1972 Munich games. We first conducted a keyword search to find out reports on Indian men's hockey team during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. On July 17, 2012, " " had published an article that gives an insight on the Indian team's performance in that Olympics. The article says that protesting against several nations had decided to boycott the games and the men's hockey tournament got reduced to just six teams. India had played six matches in the tournament five in the group stage, and the final. Just before the Tokyo Olympics, "Hockey India" had published a series of articles on its website. The series carried interviews of former Indian players who shared their experiences of different Olympics. In MM Somaya, member of the 1980 Olympics squad was quoted saying, "In the end when we had to play our final Pool match against Soviet Union, we had to win to qualify for the Final." Between 1972 and 1980 Olympics, India went on to play the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and in the hockey tournament. To further confirm the claim, we got in touch with MM Somaya. "In that tournament (1980), the format was different. We reached the final directly after the Round Robin league. However, that was the last time when India had won the Olympic medal in hockey," he said. Confirming the development, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam told AFWA, "Yes, there's this confusion that needs to be be clarified. In 1980, there was no quarter final or semifinal and the first two teams in the league table directly played the final. Before that, India played the semifinal in 1972. So technically, we should say that India would play Olympic semifinal after 49 years." Therefore, we can conclude that the Indian men's hockey team reached the Olympics semifinal in Tokyo after 49 years. Graphic Fact Check: Why some people think India reached Olympics men's hockey semis after 41 years
85 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday assured a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh and a suitable job for Nilakanta Sharma, who was a part of the Indian men's hockey team that won the bronze medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. After to secure a podium finish in this year's Olympics, the Manipur Chief Minister spoke to Nilakanta Sharma for congratulating the entire men's hockey team. During their conversation, N Biren Singh asked Nilakanta Sharma, who is currently a 'Senior Ticket Collector' in Indian Railways, what he expected from the government. To which, the Olympics medalist, said, "I want to get a job in Manipur. A job related to sports is all I wanted." Also Read: N Biren Singh then assured him, saying, "As you have become an Olympics medalist, I won't keep you as a ticket collector. Like I told Mirabai (Chanu) the last time, I won't keep you as a ticket collector. Moreover, the state government will provide you a suitable job. So be ready." It was delightful to speak to Nilakanta Sharma, Midfielder Indian Men's Hockey team today. I congratulated the Indian Men's Hockey team for their historic win of bronze medal at - N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) N Biren Singh later told Nilakantna Sharma that he would also be offered a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh whenever he returns to Manipur. On Thursday, India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at the Tokyo Olympics. They beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match on Thursday to win their first Games medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Also Read | Also Read | Graphic Tokyo Olympics: Manipur CM assures Rs 75 lakh cash award, govt job to hockey player Nilakanta Sharma
86 Xiaomi on Sunday announced that it will gift a unit of its flagship smartphone Mi 11 Ultra to each Indian athlete who won a medal in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020. The announcement was made by Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain through his Twitter handle. Manu tweeted that the smartphone maker values the grit and dedication that it takes to win an Olympics medal. He added that as a gesture of thanks Xiaomi will "humbly gift a Mi 11 Ultra to all the Indian Olympic medal winners. Super phone for Super Heroes." The Tokyo Olympics saw the best ever performance from the Indian contingent. The nation won a total of seven medals its highest ever surpassing the six medals in 2012 Olympics. The performance was led by Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won a Gold on the last day of Olympics 2020. This was India's first ever Gold in athletics in the history of Olympic Games. Apart from Neeraj, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia were the other atheletes to win medals at Tokyo. Xiaomi will give a Mi 11 Ultra unit to all of these athletes. Manu confirmed that each member of the Indian men's hockey team will also get a smartphone, albeit the Mi 11X. The Indian hockey team won a Bronze medal at the games the first in this sport since 1980. The Government of India as well as different state governments have also announced prizes for the athletes that did well in the Tokyo Olympics. The Mi 11 Ultra is Xiaomi's flagship smartphone for 2021. It comes with top of the line features like Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, 6.67-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display supports 120Hz and one of the largest sensors on a smartphone camera. The Mi 11 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup which consists of a 50-megapixel 1/1.12-inch primary camera sensor, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 120x zoom. One of the highlights of the phone is an additional 1.1-inch AMOLED display which sits next to the rear camera module. This can be used to check date, time and notifications. It can also double up as the viewfinder for the rear camera, allowing you click selfies with it. The smartphone packs a 5000 mAh battery with 67W fast charging support. The smartphone ships with a 55W fast charger inside the box though. Graphic Xiaomi to gift Mi 11 Ultra to each Indian athlete who won a medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020
87 Taapsee Pannu called PV Sindhu "one of a kind" while Samantha Akkineni was all praise for her "hardwork and dedication." PV Sindhu bagged broze at Olympics 2020, became the first Indian female Olympian to win two medals. India's star shuttler PV Sindhu has won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. On Sunday, Sindhu defeated China's He Bingjiao to win her second consecutive medal. With this win, Sindhu became the first Indian female sportsperson to win two medals at Olympics and second Indian Olympian with two medals after wrestler Sushil Kumar. As soon as she won, celebrities took to their respective social media handles to congratulate Sindhu. Samantha Akkineni, Sara Ali Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Taapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan, Varun Dhawan, Deepika Padukone and others shared their reactions to PV Sindhu's win. Samantha Akkineni said she respects PV Sindhu's "hardwork" and called her "special." On Instagram stories, she mentioned, "And she does it again. I can't imagine what this takes. We absolutely love you and respect your hardwork and dedication. You are so special." Dulquer Salmaan congratulated PV Sindhu and wrote, "Always making India proud." Taapsee Pannu, who celebrates her birthday today, celebrated PV Sindhu's win. "Our girl is getting home the bronze! She did it! One colour at a time I say! Come on champ @Pvsindhu1. This calls for a celebration! You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU!" she tweeted. Abhishek Bachchan also tweeted congratulatory message for Sindhu. "Congratulations on winning the bronze and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud," Junior Bachchan's tweet read. "It's the Indian Women showing us the way.. Bravo #PVSindhu !! 1s Indian Woman Olympian to win 2 individual medal at the #OlympicGames #Bronze Champion," Randeep Hooda mentioned via Twitter. Here are all the reactions to PV Sindhu's win: Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze @Pvsindhu1! Immensely happy and proud!! #Tokyo2020 - Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) August 1, 2021 An amazing win & a historical moment! Congratulations @Pvsindhu1!!! - Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) August 1, 2021 So the only team who defeated the Gold Medal winners in Tokyo 2020 men's doubles badminton are our boys ! I would like to see the glass half full. We have a bright future with @Shettychirag04 and @satwiksairaj And congratulations Chinese Taipei pair, see u next Olympics :) - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) July 31, 2021 Dearest @Pvsindhu1!! Congratulations and thank you. #ProudIndian - Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) August 1, 2021 We love India congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on winning the bronze medal in @Tokyo2020 Olympics and making the nation proud.#Cheer4India #Pvsindhu - BANDLA GANESH. (@ganeshbandla) August 1, 2021 Proud of you @Pvsindhu1 First Indian woman to win #Olympics Medal Twice...!! Making India and Indians proud. #PVSindhu#Bronze #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 - Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) August 1, 2021 Congratulations Champion @Pvsindhu1Proud, as always. #Tokyo2020 - Sudheer Babu (@isudheerbabu) August 1, 2021 The game had everything! From utter court dominantion to perfectly timed smashes. @Pvsindhu1 bags home the bronze! She's done it again : Reuters / Leonhard Foeger - Sonali Bendre Behl (@iamsonalibendre) August 1, 2021 Ive never seen an Indian sportsperson displaying such phenomenal skills . With two Olympic medals, @Pvsindhu1 you are not only the Badminton World Champion but the best ever athlete from India in individual sports. Congratulations !!! - R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) August 1, 2021 Indian women continue to shine at the Olympics!! Congratulations @pvsindhu1 ! You go girl#Tokoyo2020 - Rakul Singh (@Rakulpreet) August 1, 2021 Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan and others also shared their reaction to PV Sindhu's win. Sindhu won a silver medal at Rio Olympics. This is India's second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver in women's 49kg weightlifting on July 24, the first official day of action at the Games.
88 Belgium overpowered India with skill and power in the Olympic Games hockey semi-final on Tuesday. However, India should be proud of their performance. The 5-2 scoreline may look embarrassing but Manpreet Singh and Co. were in the match throughout. It's just that they were up against a very superior and clinical side. Belgium also did their homework regarding PR Sreejesh. The India goalkeeper, who is amongst the best in the business, is not comfortable dealing with groundballs. Belgium capitalised on that. Of the five goals they scored, three came from penalty corners. As I said in my last column, Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes) became the decisive factor netting a hat-trick. His goal tally in the Tokyo Olympics now reads 14! That's the most any player has scored in the men's Olympic hockey tournament since Juan Amat netted 16 goals for Spain at the 1980 Olympics. The ace drag-flicker scored two off penalty corners and the last from a penalty stroke. It will be a deserving final between the two top teams. Belgium, who are in the final for the second successive time, and Australia are the two best teams and I am eager to see them clash. India will play Germany, who lost to 1-3 to Australia, and to me we have a 50-50 chance. Yes, I do not think Germany will be easy prey for Graham Reid's men for they are very compact defensively. The Belgians play a very open game. So it was not surprising that they put the Indian defence under pressure. Fourteen penalty corners bore testimony to that. Their game plan was clear from the onset. Enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Loick Luypaert, who scored the first goal off a penalty corner, in their ranks. But India refused to bow down without a fight. At one point in time India were leading 2-1, thanks to strikes from Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh. It was nice to see Mandeep's name on the scoresheet for he needed this goal to boost his confidence. India were in the match for three quarters but in the last 15 minutes conceded as many as three goals. They did not have any answer to the Belgian onslaught. The women's semi-final between India and Argentina is slated for Wednesday afternoon. India are on a high after their upset 1-0 win over Australia but the Argentines are no pushovers. India will have to play the way they turned up against Australians... not yielding even an inch to their rivals. A lot will depend on Savita Punia, the classy goalkeeper who was brilliant the other day. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. In that edition, women's hockey made its debut in the Olympics and was played in a round-robin format. The top two teams qualified for the final. On Wednesday, Rani Rampal and her gang will have a chance to better that. It will be a historic moment. A former India captain, Gurbux Singh was amember of the 1964gold medal-winninghockey team
89 Celebrities shared congratulatory messages for Bajrang Punia and heaped praise on his comprehensive win. Celebrities from all over India took to social media to celebrate Bajrang Punia's win at Tokyo Olympics. Punia, who was competing in men's freestyle 65kg category, defeated Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov by 8-0 to bag the bronze medal. Celebrities shared congratulatory messages for the sportsman and heaped praise on his comprehensive win. Ali Fazal tweeted, "Bajrang !!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A MATCH #Tokyo2020." Congratulations @BajrangPunia! What a debut at the #Olympics. You have made us proud! #TeamIndia #Wrestling #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 - Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) August 7, 2021 Nivin Pauly wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations @BajrangPunia! What a debut at the #Olympics. You have made us proud! #TeamIndia #Wrestling #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020." Rajeev Khandelwal posted on Twitter, "What a win! #BajrangPunia and what a display of humility at the end. A true Indian spirit." Rahul Ravindran shared on Twitter, "Yessssss! Bajrangbali ki jai! Bajrang Punia Olympic Medalist!!!" !!! And probably Christ too (the coach kissing his talisman) - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 7, 2021 Randeep Hooda tweeted, " !!! And probably Christ too (the coach kissing his talisman) , A Gold Medal player who just has one bad bout and got a #Bronze #BajrangPunia @BajrangPunia #Olympics #wrestling." Neha Dhupia also hailed Bajrang Punia's victory. "Congratulations #BajrangPunia .... This is glorious .... Up next #NeerajChopra #ftw," she wrote on Twitter. Madhur Bhandarkar posted on Twitter, "Heartiest congratulations to @BajrangPunia on winning Bronze Sports medal in Men's freestyle Wrestling 65 kg category. Super proud of you. #JaiHind."
90 India's players are showing their strength in the Tokyo Olympics, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has planned a special surprise for them. According to the information, on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Indian Olympic contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Not only this, but the PM will also personally meet the Olympic team. It may be recalled that PM Modi had talked to the players going to the Tokyo Olympics and encouraged them on July 13. Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian men's hockey team faced defeat in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics against world champions Belgium. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has took to Twitter and encouraged the team, stressing that victory and defeat are part of life and India takes pride in its players. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," the PM tweeted. In another tweet, the PM said, "There is a rising spirit of self-confidence in India and we are seeing glimpses of this at #Tokyo2020, where our athletes are putting up spirited performances and making 130 crore Indians proud."
91 On 15th August, as India celebrates Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Olympics contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Aside from the programme, he will also be inviting them to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "This time, the highest number of players from India have qualified in the Olympics. Remember, this has been done while battling the biggest disaster of 100 years. There are many games in which we have qualified for the first time. Not only qualified but also giving tough competition. The zeal, passion and spirit of Indian players are at the highest level," Modi said during a virtual address earlier today. India has been represented by a 228-strong contingent, including over 120 athletes, at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Over the last few days, as the delayed Games began, the Prime Minister has followed the events alongside much of the nation. Early on Tuesday morning for example, he had taken to Twitter cheering on the Indian men's hockey team as they took on Belgium in the semifinal match. Videos shared online over the last week have also shown the prime minister watching the events on television. And as the players won and lost, he had also tweeted congratulatory and supportive messages to mark their efforts. Further details awaited.
92 The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday announced Rs 1 crore awards for both Nilakanta Sharma and Vivek Sagar after the at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian men's by defeating Germany 5-4 in a nail-biting match and winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. While hockey player Vivek Sagar is from Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, his teammate Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the Rs 1 crore awards via Twitter on Thursday. He wrote, "Indian men's hockey team has defeated one of the best teams at Tokyo 2020. Vivek Sagar of Itarsi is part of the team and Nilakanta Sharma trained at Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy. The Madhya Pradesh government will provide an honour fund of one crore rupees each to these two players." , - - Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic MP govt announces Rs 1 crore award for 2 players of men's hockey team after Olympics bronze
93 Boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh will be the country's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics to be held on Friday in view of the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital, the Indian Olympic Association announced on Monday. Manika Batra, Sharath Kamal, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and G Sathiyan from the Table Tennis team will attend the ceremony. Amit, Ashish Kumar along Kom are among the eight boxers who will be present at the function. Six Indian officials will take part in the opening ceremony. In a first, India is having two flag-bearers - one male and one female - at the upcoming Tokyo Games to ensure "gender parity". This was recently informed by IOA chief chief Narinder Batra. "I am truly honoured to get this opportunity of leading the team out during the opening ceremony and I thank the sports ministry and IOA for naming me. It would be added motivation for me. I promise to do my best for a medal", Mary Kokm told PTI after being named as one of the flag bearers. "This is amazing, and I am speechless. I think it's a huge honour to be named the Flag Bearer for the opening ceremony alongside the incredible Mary Kom," Manpreet was quoted as saying in a Hockey India release. In the ceremony, India is at serial number 21 in the march past. The sequence of march past is as per the Japanese alphabet and only six officials can participate from each participating nation. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines from India are participating in Olympics. This is the biggest-ever contingent India is sending to any Olympics. The 69 cumulative events across the 18 sport disciplines that India will participate in are also the highest ever for the country.
94 Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya on Thursday lost in the final to ROC's Zavur Uguev in the men's wrestling freestyle 57kg category in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. However, he bagged the silver, taking India's medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to five (two silver, three gold). Meanwhile, he became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games. There were expectations that the 23-year Dahiya would become India's youngest Olympic champion but the reigning world champion Zavur Uguev defended well to win comfortably. Dahiya lost 4-7 in the finals. He had lost to Uguev at the 2019 World Championship also. The wrestler from Nahri village in Haryana had outclassed Colombia's Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he erased a massive 2-9 deficit to pin Nurislam Sanayev. Sushil Kumar, who is now in jail on charges of a murder, is the only other Indian wrestler to have made the final at Olympics. He had won a silver at the 2012 London Games, where Yogeshwar Dutt also won a bronze. Sushil had won a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. KD Jadhav had won a bronze in the 1952 Helsinki Games. Sakshi Malik had become the first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she clinched a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya's "fighting spirit and tenacity". "Ravi Kumar Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler! His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding. Congratulations to him for winning the Silver Medal at #Tokyo2020. India takes great pride in his accomplishments," PM Modi tweeted.
95 A historical day when, after 41 years, India won bronze in men's hockey after beating Germany 5-4. It is, indeed, time to be euphoric. If we do it right, the next Olympics could bring in more medals. And, if we don't, it could be another 41 years before we saw another. Negi said, "No one could sleep on Wednesday night. It was a big day for India and it panned out better than we imagined." Negi recounted the day as follows: From zero chance to teary-eyed win: As the game started, Germany started with high intensity. Their power clearly showed the Indian team they did not stand a chance. Germany got an early lead with Timur Oruz scoring within two minutes of the match. Germany troubled Indian defence in the first quarter. But India came back with the will to win at any cost. In the second quarter, India saw Simranjeet Singh scoring from a well-executed tomahawk shot, but defensive errors led to Germany scoring two more goals within two minutes. Just when it looked India might be in trouble, two penalty corners for India yielded results as Hardik Singh scored on the rebound from the first one, while Harmanpreet Singh scored another with a superb dragflick on to the back of the nets. The last few minutes...: The entire country had goosebumps and tears in their eyes looking at India's comeback. PR Sreejesh saved the last goal and had everyone break out in tears of happiness. "Hockey is in our veins. We held this close to our hearts for many years. We should celebrate it," Negi rounds off.
96 Indian men' hockey team will take on Belgium in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics after they defeated Great Britain in quarter-final. The Indian men's hockey team created history after they defeated Great Britain 3-1 in a quarter-final match to qualify for the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics Games. India scored three field goals courtesy of Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th), and Hardik Singh (57th). India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals had come way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Games. They had lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will India vs Belgium men's hockey semi-final match start? TheIndia vs Belgium men's hockey semi-final match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Tuesday, August 3. Where will India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match be played? TheIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match? TheIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of the India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
97 Indian men's hockey team clinched a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympic 2021 on Thursday. Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Reema Kagti, among others, shared congratulatory messages for the winning team. India cheered as one as Team India brought home the first Olympic medal in hockey in 41 years on Thursday. Indian men's hockey team defeated Germany by 5-4 points to clinch the bronze medal. The pulsating match during Tokyo Olympics 2021 saw tense moments before it came India's way. Bollywood celebrities also took to social media to congratulate the team and celebrate the win. From Shah Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar to Ranveer Singh, celebs posted about the historic win on their social media handles. Shah Rukh Khan, who played a hockey coach in Chak De India, shared via Twitter, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Akshay Kumar, a dedicated sports fan, tweeted, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020." Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonu Sood, and Anushka Sharma also congratulated the team. Filmmaker Reema Kagti took to Twitter to post, "An Olympic medal for Indian hockey after 41 years! Yay! Well played to the entire team bringing the bronze home."Ranveer Singh wrote on Twitter, "Historic. Heroic. Humongous. The wait is finally over! Indian Men's #Hockey Team wins #Bronze at #Tokyo2020. The entire nation is proud! @TheHockeyIndia@WeAreTeamIndia #Olympics #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #IND." Actor Rajeev Khandelwal tweeted, "No words..only emotions! #MensHockeyTeam." Ashwin Mushran shared via Twitter, "Sometimes a #Bronze is worth it's weight in Gold... Pulled through those last 5 minutes. Well done #ind #Hockey #Olympics." See all reactions on Indian men's hockey team winning bronze at Tokyo Olympic 2021: #VineshPhogat#Wrestling - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 5, 2021 Congratulations to the Real Heroes of India Our Indian Men's Hockey Team, Today they made every Indian proud #TokyoOlympics2020 #MensHockeyTeam - sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 5, 2021 Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 5, 2021 Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020 - Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 5, 2021 Historic. Heroic. Humongous. The wait is finally over! Indian Men's #Hockey Team wins #Bronze at #Tokyo2020. The entire nation is proud!@TheHockeyIndia @WeAreTeamIndia #Olympics #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #IND - 83 (@83thefilm) August 5, 2021 An Olympic medal for Indian hockey after 41 years! Yay! Well played to the entire team bringing the bronze home. - Reema Kagti (@kagtireema) August 5, 2021 Sometimes a #Bronze is worth it's weight in Gold... Pulled through those last 5 minutes. Well done #ind #Hockey #Olympics - Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) August 5, 2021 No words..only emotions! #MensHockeyTeam - Rajeev Khandelwal (@RK1610IsMe) August 5, 2021 Just Historic, MEDAL in hockey after 41 years.#HockeyIndiaTeam the entire nation is extremely proud of you'll. Congratulations and Thank you!#Hockey - Ankit Tiwari (@officiallyAnkit) August 5, 2021 So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) August 5, 2021 - Kritika Kamra (@Kritika_Kamra) August 5, 2021 Earlier Mirabai Chanu Saikhom won a silver medal in weightlifting, PV Sindhu won a bronze in badminton and boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal in boxing.
98 The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor. She said such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but violations of the council's guidelines are treated as violation of government's rules. Indian athletes, like weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, have won medals, while the hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. On Thursday, the men's hockey team defeated Germany to claim the bronze-medal match, which many brands and corporate chief executives said “felt like a gold”. Team captain Manpreet Singh dedicating the medal to Covid-19 warriors too became a trend. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOn-Wheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma.
99 After a long 41-year wait, India's men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. India played against Germany on Thursday (August 5). Samantha, Sarathkumr, Anil Ravipudi and several other south celebrities took to social media to congratulate the men in blue for bringing glory to the country. This is India's first win since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. SAMANTHA, SARATHKUMAR CONGRATULATE MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM . It has been 41 years since the Indian hockey team registered a win at the Olympic games. Samantha, Sarathkumar, Pranitha Subhash and several other stars took to social media to congratulate the team. Samantha took to Instagram stories to share a photo of the Indian's team and wrote, "After 41 years (sic)," with three folded-hands emojis. Here's the post: Veteran actor Sarathkumar took to Twitter and wrote, "Indian Hockey Men create HISTORY!! A medal at Olympic after 41 years!! What a stupendous performance!! Entire nation Proud of you boys and it's a bronze medal for Indian Hockey team. Congratulations men in Blue! #Hockey #Olympics 5-4 (sic)." Indian Hockey Men create HISTORY!! A medal at Olympic after 41 years!! What a stupendous performance!! Entire nation Proud of you boys and it's a bronze medal for Indian Hockey team. Congratulations men in Blue! 5-4 - R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) OTHER CELEBS WHO WISHED THE INDIAN MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Rahul Ravindran, director Bobby, Anil Ravipudi, Pranitha Subhash and many celebrities took their time out to congratulate the Indian team on their monumental win. Here are some tweets: Really emotional this no words to describe it. Our national sport the most successful hockey nation in the history of the Olympics and then decades and decades of hurt and gloom all gone Manpreet and boys thank you - Rahul Ravindran (@23_rahulr) Proud moment for India Congratulations to our team History re written - Shanthnu Buddy (@imKBRshanthnu) At some level, I feel guilty too. Before today if you had asked me to name our hockey stars, I would've probably said Dhanraj Pillai and Dhyan Chand & stopped. Talent is nothing if it isn't recognised. The onus is also on us citizens to celebrate and encourage our hockey stars - Danish Sait (@DanishSait) After 41 long years we bring home a medal in Hockey. congratulations!! - KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) Congratulations on winning at after 41 years. Played like a Champion team till the end We are proud of you, Jai hind! - Bobby (@dirbobby) We Did It! Indian Hockey Team Wins Bronze Medal against Germany after 41 Years in Olympics. Well Done Boys!!! - Anil Ravipudi (@AnilRavipudi) A for our at the after 4 decades! So proud! - Pranitha Subhash (@pranitasubhash) Congratulations are pouring in for the Indian men's hockey team from all quarters. ALSO SEE | ALSO SEE | Graphic Samantha to Sarathkumar, South stars cheer men's hockey team for Olympic bronze win
100 It's a historic day for Indian hockey and the entire nation as the Indian men's hockey team has won the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. . From Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, Bollywood celebrities are elated about the win and took to social media to shower their love on the players and congratulate them for achieving this feat. It's after 41 years that the Indian hockey team has won a medal at the Olympics. SHAH RUKH KHAN SAYS RESILIENCE AND SKILL AT ITS PEAK Shah Rukh Khan is among the first ones who took to social media to shower praise on the Indian men's hockey team for their Olympic bronze medal. The actor wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match (sic)." Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) AKSHAY KUMAR CONGRATULATES TEAM ON REWRITING HISTORY Akshay Kumar, who had been closely watching the Indian men's hockey team's performance during the Tokyo Olympics, watched the match for the bronze medal from start to finish. Congratulating the team on their bronze medal win, he shared a photo of the team with the Indian National Flag on his Instagram story and wrote, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020 (sic)." BOLLYWOOD SAYS INCREDIBLE Many other Bollywood celebrities also extended their wishes to the men's hockey team. Nimrat Kaur called the win incredible and wrote, "Huge congratulations to the men's hockey team!!! Absolutely incredible #Olympics (sic)." Huge congratulations to the men's hockey team!!! Absolutely incredible - Nimrat Kaur (@NimratOfficial) Tamannaah Bhatia shared a photo of the winning team and wrote, "A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team. Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India #Olympics #Cheer4India #BackTheBlue (sic)." A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India - Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) Kunal Kapoor wrote that he was proud of the team. He added, "Historic! What an incredible match! Such incredible spirit and determination! So proud of y'all! Jai Hind!! #Tokyo2020 #IndianHockey (sic)." Historic! What an incredible match! Such incredible spirit and determination! So proud of y'all! Jai Hind!! - Kunal Kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also congratulated the team on social media. He wrote, "Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. #TeamIndia #Nationalpride #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. - Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020. They beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match to win their first Games medal since the 1980 Moscow. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, celebs congratulate men's hockey team for Olympic bronze
101 Debutant Pravin Jadhav finished ahead of the experienced Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai as India managed ninth-place finishes in both the men's team and mixed team rankings of the Games archery competition at the Yumenoshima Park in Tokyo on Friday. Chasing an elusive Olympic medal in archery, India braces for some tough challenges ahead as both men's team and mixed pair are likely to face Korea in the quarterfinals. The Indian mixed team will open its campaign against eighth-ranked Chinese Taipei, and should it overcome the first-round hurdle, top-seed Korea would be waiting in the last-eight. Likewise, the Indian men's team might run into top-seed Korea, who got a bye into the quarters, should they beat eighth-ranked Kazakhstan in the opening round. In the individual rankings, all the three Indian male archers finished out of top-30. Jadhav was ahead of Das on number of X counts at the halfway mark where both had scores of 329 before the Maharashtra archer nosed ahead in the final six sets to finish 31st with 656 points out of a maximum 720. Das had a 35th place finish, while former Asian Games silver-medalist Rai, in his third Olympics appearance, took the 37th spot among 64 archers. Taking Jadhav's tally into account with Deepika's 663 in the women's event, India ranked ninth in the mixed team competition where the country has the best-ever medal hope. Deepika had finished ninth in the women's ranking round earlier in the day. Despite Jadhav's top finish among the Indians, the country would field it's 'power couple' Deepika and Das for the mixed pair competition that is set for an Olympics debut here on Saturday. "It's a team call and the decision has to be made within 45 minutes today," a World Archery official said. The men's trio's combined performance was just enough to finish inside top-10 as they totalled 1961 for a ninth place finish in their first Olympic appearance since London 2012. The Indian men's team had failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Games and Das was the only male competitor in the individual section. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Korean phenomenon Kim Je Deok, who has been labelled as the greatest talent in 100 years, missed the Olympic record by two points en route to topping the men's ranking round with 688 points, six ahead of world No.1 Brady Ellison. Ellison, the 2012 Olympic Champion, and 39-year-old veteran Oh Jin Hyek finished third. Hyek's compatriot Kim Woojin had a fourth place finish as defending champions Korea topped the ranking round in the men's team event.
102 Minutes after the Indian men's Hockey team won the bronze medal on Thursday, several Bollywood celebrities congratulated the team on rewriting history. The team claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter and lauded the players for their resilience and skills. "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match," he tweeted. Superstar Akshay Kumar shared a picture of the team with the tricolour and tweeted, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020." Reacting to the news on Twitter, actress Taapsee Pannu wrote, "And it's a bronze." "We won !!!! What a great victory. Kudos to our team. Bronze medal to our Indian Men's hockey team," actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol wrote on Twitter. Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour. There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.
103 Mumbai: It is said a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. And we Indians are with the last, as Indian athletes campaign at the Tokyo Games have left the 140 crore people living in hope for medals at this biggest sports extravaganza of the globe. India's success in this Olympics, winning medals, and the people cheering and rooting for their athletes, is slowly drifting away, as most of our best bets in shooting, archery and boxing are vanishing into the wilderness. And these kind of things are working negatively for a country with a population of over 140 crore. FPJ spoke to former medal winner to know why there is a drought of medals. "I don't know what is going wrong?" Is what the 2012 London Games, 10m pistol shooter Gagan Narang has to say. "Yes, these are the initial days and let us hope we win medals in days to come," is the positive note the Hyderabadi shooter hopes for. One wonders whether the chaotic run-up to the Olympics due to the pandemic could be one of the reasons. The expert feels positive about the notion. "Could be, but he goes on to say, "We have done well at the international events prior to the Games, which is a good sign". The two Indian pairs participating in the 10m air rifle mixed team event crashed out in the first qualification stage, missing out on yet another final after an outing that left a lot to be desired in the Tokyo Games. The duo of Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar finished 12th with a total of 626.5 across three series each, while Anjum Moudgil and Deepak Kumar ended 18th out of 29 pairs with an aggregate score of 623.8 at the Asaka Range. The mixed events are making their Olympic debut. And so did the pair of Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker 10m air pistol mixed team event. The duo finished seventh in Qualification II after topping the first phase with 582 at the Asaka Range. They lost the plot completely when the top eight teams battled it out in the second phase. The duo totalled 380 across two series each in the second phase of the qualification. However, every Indian had high hopes on the shooters to win medals, and so does Narang as he says, "Let's hope for the best in days to come". Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) entered the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games, defeating Germany's Nadine Apetz 3-2 and with the Indian men's hockey overcoming a demoralising defeat in the previous match to cruise past Spain 3-0 and register its second win, leaves Indians not losing hope.
104 India on Thursday scripted history with the Indian men's hockey team securing the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Over the last few hours as congratulations poured in from all quarters, Prime Minister and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had interacted (separately) with the winning team. Speaking to the team via telephone, Patnaik congratulated the team on their historic win and wishing them the best for their future. "Many congratulations to our hockey team. The whole of India is so excited as well as Odisha of course. We are all behind you and we wish you the very best and we are looking forward to receiving our Indian Olympics hockey team in Bhubaneswar on August 16," he was quoted as saying. But as a video of the Odisha CM virtually interacting with the players made the rounds on social media, many have pointed out his contributions to Indian hockey go much beyond this. The Odisha government is presently the sponsor for the Indian hockey teams, having taken over the role from Sahara in February 2018. The name of the state adorns the players' jerseys, and reportedly the deal was estimated to be around Rs. 150 crore. Over the last few years, the state has also partnered with Hockey India to conduct major hockey tournaments in Bhubaneswar including the Men's World Cup, World League, Pro-League, Olympic qualifiers etc. The only state to sponsor a national team, Odisha also has several hockey players who are part of the Olympic men and women's squads.
105 Japanese teenager Momiji Nishiya won a gold medal in women's street skateboarding while Kuwait's Abdullah Al-Rashidi won a bronze medal in shooting. The Olympics continued to produce its magic on Monday in Tokyo as a 13-year old and a 57-year old went on the podium on the same day to receive their medals in respective events proving that age is just a number. Japan's Momiji Nishiya, aged 13 years and 330 days became one of the youngest athletes to win Olympic gold. Momiji Nishiya won thewomen's street skateboarding competition leaving behind Brazil teenager Rayssa Leal and Japan's 16-year old Funa Nakayama. Nishiya stumbled on her landings in the first two but produced absolute perfect landings in the last three to finish just over her Brazilian opponent. Similarly, the 57-year old young Abdullah Al-Rashidi, who competed as an independent athlete in the 2016 Rio Olympics after Kuwait was banned by IOC, repeated his feat of winning bronze medal five years later in 2021 in the Tokyo Games on Monday. This was Al-Rashidi's second bronze medal, but first for his country, Kuwait. In 2016, the 52-year old wearing an Arsenal jersey stole the limelight and later won a bronze medal in the men's skeet shooting event. Five years later, Al-Rashidi returned a little older, more experienced and now representing his country. Al-Rashidi finished at third place with 46 points behind the USA's Vincent Hancock, who set an Olympic record with 59 points to win the gold medal while Denmark's Jesper Hansen scored 55 points and claimed silver. Indian rifle shooter and Olympic medal winner Gagan Narang couldn't hold his feelings as he expressed his joy for the 57-year old, and taking to Twitter, he wrote, "Al rashidi winning skeet bronze at 57 years of age .. Take a Bow... Age is just a number."
106 India still has a chance at the medal as they will play for the bronze on Thursday. The Indian men's hockey team, who had created history and entering the semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics saw them lose 2-5 against Belgium at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Japan. With this loss, World No. 2 Belgium progress to the final and will play for the gold but India still have a chance at the medal as they will play for the bronze. The clash for third place will take place on Thursday India have scored 2 goals while Belgium are on the lead with five goals to their name.India had conceded their fourth through a penalty stroke by Alexander Hendrickx, who also completed a hat-trick. Earlier, Belgium had equalised in the second quarter to make it 2:2. Indian had ended the first quarter as they turned it around with two goals after conceding an early strike. Loick Luypaert had scored for Belgium through a penalty corner while Mandeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh got the required goals for India. As India men's hockey team suffered a defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is proud of what Manpreet and his boys have been able to achieve. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," tweeted Modi. They had earlier defeated Great Britain 3-1 in a quarter-final match to qualify for the semifinals. India scored three field goals courtesy of Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th), and Hardik Singh (57th). India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals had come way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Games. They had lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan.
107 Atanu Das drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in win over Kazakhstan at the Yumenoshima Park The Indian men's archery team of Pravin Jadhav, Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai downed Kazakhstan 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash against heavyweights Korea at the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo on Monday. The Indians were strong, especially Atanu Das who drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win at the Yumenoshima Park. The Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev showed flashes of brilliance. They took the third set with one point margin. Das made all the difference by hitting six perfect 10s including two Xs to make up for some inconsistent show by the Army duo of Rai and Jadhav. The Guatemala City World Cup gold medallist Das looked calm and composed and showed tremendous resilience to bounce back after finishing a lowly 35th, four places behind Olympic debutant Jadhav, in the ranking round on the opening day. The poor finish had resulted in Das' removal from the mixed team where his wife Deepika Kumari paired up with Jadhav and made a quarterfinal exit following defeat against Korea on Saturday. Trailing by two points at the halfway mark of the first set, Jadhav and Das finished with two superb arrows, drilling in X each to edge out their Kazakhstan rivals by one point. There were gusts of wind in the second set and the Army duo of three-time Olympian Rai and debutant Jadhav were wobbly picking 8 and 7 each, but Das made up for it with a perfect 10 and a 9 to give the side a commanding 4-0 lead. It was some high class shooting in the third set after the Kazakhstan team stepped it up with three perfect 10s as the Indians too matched them riding on two 10s by Das but an 8 by Rai cost them the set. The Kazakh team showed intent to bring the match on an even keel but the Indian trio did not concede an inch and sealed the issue with two 10s from Jadhav and Das.
108 Indian archers faltered at crucial moments against the mighty Koreans to make a quarterfinal exit from the men's team event at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. After beating Kazakhstan 6-2, the Indian trio of Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai lost in straight sets against the top seeds at the Yumenoshima Park. The Korean team of Kim Je Deok, Oh Jin Hyek and Kim Woojin were on song in the first two sets, shooting 10 perfect 10s out of 12 to apply early pressure. The Indians, who won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, responded well in the second set with a series of four 10s but Das faltered with an 8 in the last arrow, as Koreans looked on a roll. India were let down by Guatemala City World Cup gold medallist Das who failed to repeat his brilliant show earlier against Kazakhstan. He could not find a single 10 in three sets. Olympic debutant Jadhav on the other hand was brilliant with five 10s, while veteran Rai in his third Games appearance also stepped it up with three 10s, but that was simply not enough. Earlier, Das had drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win 6-2 win over Kazakhstan in their opening round. India's hope for their first ever medal in archery in the Olympics will now rest in the individual section where the men's trio along with world number one Deepika Kumari will take to the field on Wednesday. Against Kazakhstan, the Indians were strong, especially Das who drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win. The Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev showed flashes of brilliance. They took the third set with one point margin. Das made all the difference by hitting six perfect 10s including two Xs to make up for some inconsistent show by the Army duo of Rai and Jadhav. Das showed tremendous resilience to bounce back after finishing a lowly 35th, four places behind Olympic debutant Jadhav, in the ranking round on the opening day. The poor finish had resulted in Das' removal from the mixed team where his wife Deepika Kumari paired up with Jadhav and made a quarterfinal exit following defeat against Korea on Saturday. Trailing by two points at the halfway mark of the first set, Jadhav and Das finished with two superb arrows, drilling in X each to edge out their Kazakhstan rivals by one point. There were gusts of wind in the second set and the Army duo of three-time Olympian Rai and debutant Jadhav were wobbly picking 8 and 7 each, but Das made up for it with a perfect 10 and a 9 to give the side a commanding 4-0 lead. It was some high class shooting in the third set after the Kazakhstan team stepped it up with three perfect 10s as the Indians too matched them riding on two 10s by Das but an 8 by Rai cost them the set. The Kazakh team showed intent to bring the match on an even keel but the Indian trio did not concede an inch and sealed the issue with two 10s from Jadhav and Das.
109 The Indian men's hockey team's dream of entering the Olympics final after 41-years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last-four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games here on Tuesday. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. Meanwhile, Indians back home, who were glued to their screens cheering for the players felt mighty disappointed. Since, we love our hockey team, all the frustration was removed virtually on the referee of the match. Indians made memes about the penalties to deal with the loss. So, if you are sad about the loss too, then these memes might make you laugh! Here you go!
110 Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia will be fighting in the bronze medal match after losing his semi-final bout against Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev. Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has one more bite at the cherry as he features in the bronze medal match after losing his semi-final bout in the 65kg category of men's wrestling in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. Bajrang, who made his debut in Olympic Games this year has won almost everywhere he has played, three medals in the World Championships, a Gold medal in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2018, a couple of gold medals at Commonwealth Championships and two more as Asian Championships. At 27, Bajrang has won more than he has lost and he will be hoping to increase his medal tally by winning one in his debut at the Games. Bajrang was one of the pre-tournament medal hopes for India and played his first two rounds like a champion he is, after overcoming a slow start. He first defeated Kyrgyztan'sErnazar Akmataliev on the count of the high-scoring move as the bout ended on a 3-3 all scoreline. Bajrang needed just that little luck to show what he is really capable of as the 'Bajrang' everyone knows was on show in the quarter-final. Facing Iran'sMorteza Cheka Ghiasi, Bajrang was trailing his opponent for the most part and was even put twice on the activity clock where the wrestler has to score a point in 30 seconds. But as the bout was in its dying stages, Bajrang overpowered Ghiasi, and won the bout by fall, thereby qualifying for the semi-finals. However, it wasn't to be for Bajrang in the semis as he lost to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev on points 5-12. The bout was close in the first round especially but the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was just too good on the day for Punia. Bajrang Punia will now face either Senegal'sAdama Diatta or Kazakhstan'sDaulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match. Here are the details: When will Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match start? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match will begin at 4.08 PM IST on Saturday, August 7. Where will Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match be played? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match will be played on mat B of the Makuhari Messe Hall. Which TV channels will broadcast Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of Bajrang Punia's bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
111 A 41-year wait for medal ended on Thursday as the Indian Men's hockey team won their match against Germany to secure the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, congratulatory messages have taken over social media platforms, with politicians, actors, sportspeople and countless other netizens cheering vociferously. And soon after the win, the euphoric team captain and coach had a surprise caller lauding their performance. In a video that has since gone viral, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be heard speaking to Indian Hockey team Captain Manpreet Singh, Head Coach Graham Reid and Assistant Coach Piyush Dubey. The clip shows the group thanking the PM as he congratulates their performance via speakerphone. "You have scripted history," the Prime Minister told them, adding that their hard work had paid off. Modi urged Singh to wish the entire team on is behalf, telling the Captain that the "entire country is filled with joy". During the conversation, Modi also remarked that today Singh's voice was loud and clear as compared with the other day when India had lost to Belgium in the semi-finals. The Indian team captain for his part thanked the PM for his constant encouragement to the team. Earlier on Thursday, Modi had hailed the win, insisting that this day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. ""Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team," he had tweeted.
112 Despite the loss against Belgium, the Manpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team still have a medal to play for. The side will face Germany for the bronze medal on August 5. The Indian men's cricket team will seek their first Olympics medal in 41 years. Belgium had defeated India 5-2 in the semi-final and will face the winner of the second semi-final Germany. India have scored 20 goals and conceded 19 while Germany are slightly ahead with 23 goals and 14 conceded. Both have played seven matches each. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will Germany vs India men's hockey bronze medal match start? Germany vs India men's hockey bronze medal match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Thursday, August 4. Where will Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match be played? Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match? Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of the Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theGermany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
113 It was an early Diwali yesterday, so what if India's greatest festival is still a few months away. The nation forgot Covid and the lockdown for a day, probably for a few days to come, as Indian men's hockey team rewrote history, claiming an Olympic medal after 41 years. These brave men defeated a plucky German side 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the Tokyo Games. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. Their bronze, which is worth its weight in gold for the sheer emotion and nostalgia that hockey invokes in the country, became India's fifth medal at the ongoing Games. Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal-getters for world No.3 India. Germany's goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th). Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour after being 1-3 down thanks to some defensive lapses. There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. In all, the country now has 12 Olympic medals, eight of them gold, making it the most successful at the showpiece. As the final whistle was sounded, celebrations broke out across the country. The Prime Minister was on the phone congratulating the players, while sportspersons across disciplines, including the Indian cricket stars in England, tweeted congratulatory messages. "It was a proud moment for us," said defender Harmanpreet Singh. "It's a big thing to win an Olympic medal and we have made a lot of sacrifices. We were in Bengaluru for one-and-a-half years and there was lockdown. We focussed on staying strong mentally," he said.
114 Angad Vir Singh Bajwa missed two targets out of 75, to be placed 11th on countback in Men's Skeet and has a top-six finals spot well in sight. Competing at the Asaka Shooting range on Sunday, Angad had scores of 25,24,24 in the first three series and will come back on Monday to shoot the final two series in qualifying. Compatriot Mairaj Ahmad Khan shot 71 to be in placed 25th out of the 30 shooters in the fray. Men's Skeet is the only event with Indian interest in shooting in Tokyo Olympics on Monday and the finals are scheduled for 12.20 pm IST. Earlier on Sunday, India's ace shooters Deepak Kumar and Divyansh Singh Panwar failed to qualify for the medal round in the Men's 10m Air Rifle Qualification after finishing 26th and 32nd respectively, here at the Asaka Shooting Range. Deepak Kumar accumulated 624.7 points at an average of 10.412 after shooting 60 shots on target while Divyansh Singh Panwar gathered 622.8 points in the qualifications, which in the end was just not good enough to make it to the 8-player final. Earlier, Manu Bhaker and Yashaswini Singh Deswal also failed to qualify for the medal round after finishing 12th and 13th respectively in the Women's 10m Air Pistol Qualification. The world number two Manu Bhaker amassed 575 points at an average of 9.583 after shooting 60 shots on target while the world number one Yashaswini Singh Deswal gathered 574 in the qualifications.
115 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra on Monday returned to India from Japan and received a warm welcome at the Delhi Airport. The javelin thower was welcomed by a huge crowd outside the premises of airport. After landing from Tokyo, the gold medalist was first welcomed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya and was felicilated with flowers. As soon as Neeraj stepped outside the airport, a huge crowd had already assembled to cheer up the 23-year-old athlete. The police officials tried to control the crowd as they were trying to pounce on the athlete to congratulate him. There was loud cheering by euphoric fans, family members, and some local political leaders as returning athletes made their way through a massive crowd both inside and outside the airport. People danced, sang and screamed their lungs out to show their appreciation for the medal winners. The huge gathering meant that social distancing norms went for a toss as several, quite a lot of them without masks, rushed in to catch a glimpse of the stars. Some were even seen doing push-ups and planks just outside the airport in their enthusiasm. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. However, Chopra was escorted till his vehicle and then left from the airport. Apart from Neeraj other Indian athletes too returned to the country today and was greeted by frenzy and chaos at the airport where supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of their new sporting heroes. While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya. The bronze medals were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, the men's hockey team and wrestler Bajrang Punia. The spotlight, however, is bound to target Chopra, whose gold was India's first in 13 years overall and the first ever in the track and field events.
116 Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the men's hockey team's Olympic bronze medal win on Thursday as “historic” for restoring the country's pride in a sport synonymous with national identity. The PM told wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who won a silver after losing the gold medal bout in a tough contest, that India is proud of him and that his success inspires the entire nation. Modi said he looks forward to personally congratulating him on August 15. “Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler. His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding,” Modi said. He also spoke to Dahiya's coach Anil Maan. “Today, the pride of hockey, which is our national identity, has been established after four decades,” he said, while speaking to the team members and coach Graham Reid in Tokyo. A video of the interaction at the players' end showed the players and Reid thanking the PM for his call. Reid said Modi's conversation with the team after its semi-final loss to Belgium had helped him motivate the players. After India's win, Modi tweeted the day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. “Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team.” Modi told captain Manpreet Singh, “You have scripted history”. He also spoke to Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey.
117 Indian men' hockey team will take on Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics after they won four out of five games in the group stage India men's hockey team recovered admirably from the 1-7 humbling against Australia to win three games in a row and qualify for the quarter-finals of the event. India, by the virtue of winning four out of their five games in Pool A advanced to the next stage. India started their campaign with a win against New Zealand, but a mauling against Australia in the next game threatened to bring down their campaign down. But it wasn't to be as they came back hard and every other side in their way in Pool A was blown away in their storm, whether it was Argentina, Spain or the hosts Japan. Can Indian men make their historical journey of reaching the quarter-finals after 41 years more special? Here are the details of the game: When will India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match start? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match will begin at 5.30 PM IST on Sunday, August 1. Where will India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match be played? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
118 Efforts by the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha to support hockey bore fruit on Thursday when the Indian men's team bagged bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. The Odisha government is the official sponsor of the Indian hockey teams (both men and women) since 2018. It is contracted to sponsor the teams till 2023 in a deal worth over Rs 100 crore. Congratulating the players, Naveen, who himself played hockey in his schooldays as a goalkeeper, said: "Many congratulations to our hockey team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best. We are looking forward to receiving our Indian Olympic hockey team in Bhubaneswar on the 16th of this month. All the very best for all of you for the future. All the best." Naveen also tweeted: "Brilliant in Blue. Congratulations Indian Men's Hockey team on the spectacular victory to give us an Olympic medal after 41 long years. This historic win at Tokyo 2020 will inspire generation of sportspersons. All the very best for the future." Brilliant in Blue Congratulations Indian Men's #Hockey Team on the spectacular victory to give us an Olympic medal after 41 long years. This historic win at #Tokyo2020 will inspire generation of sportspersons. All the very best for future. #Cheer4India @thehockeyindia Showering praise on Naveen for his support, men's team captain Manpreet Singh said: "It's a special moment for all of us. We finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the Hon'ble chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaikji, who has supported us throughout this journey. "His vision for hockey and encouragement has helped us achieve this remarkable feat for the country. While everyone was supporting cricket, the Hon'ble CM chose hockey and today you can see the result of the vision. I would like to say thank you so much, Sir." The chief minister spoke to the family members of two Odisha players - Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas - who are part of the team. Official sources said the Odisha government was planning to organise a grand welcome for the Indian contingent when it arrives in Bhubaneswar on August 16. "When no one came forward to sponsor hockey, chief minister Naveen Patnaik took the responsibility upon himself. Today is a proud moment for India. When we talk about Chak De! India, the leadership and vision of Naveen Patnaik is reflected through hockey," said BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra. In 2018, then official sponsor Sahara had backed out, putting the future of Indian hockey in jeopardy. Odisha sports minister Tusharkanti Behera said on Thursday: "To promote hockey, we worked on a two-fold strategy - to build infrastructure and to groom and encourage talent. When other states had declined to host the (men's) hockey World Cup, Odisha came forward to organise it. Kalinga Stadium was refurbished in record time. A second astroturf was also laid in no time...." Sources said nearly Rs 450 crore was spent. "Money has never been a constraint in promoting sports. We are now building a world-class hockey stadium at Rourkela for the upcoming Men's Hockey World Cup. For 2020-21, we have earmarked over Rs 300 crore for building sports infrastructure. Besides, we are channelling money from the district mineral fund to build the infrastructure," the minister said. The new stadium at Rourkela, which is being built at a cost of around Rs 100 crore, will have a capacity to hold 20,000 spectators. "Now we are laying astroturfs in 17 blocks in Sundergarh, considered the home of hockey in Odisha," said Behera. To give the best possible grooming to players, the Odisha government, along with Tata Steel and Tata Trusts, set up the Naval Tata Hockey Academy on the premises of Kalinga Stadium in 2019. "The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre here is currently grooming 61 players and the number will reach 80 by September. We have brought in raw talent from the rural belt through various programmes and worked with them to ensure that they reach the next level. With training on astroturf, we are now on a par with western players in terms of speed and resilience," Rajiv Seth, project director of the centre, said.
119 Indian men's hockey team on Sunday beat Great Britain to enter semifinals for first time in 49 years. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end. Even though India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams participated in the event. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games where they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. India will take on world champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. Belgium defeated Spain 3-1 in another quarterfinal to seal their place in the last four round. The other semifinal of the men's hockey competition will be played between Australia and Germany.Indian men's hockey team on Sunday beat Great Britain to enter semifinals for first time in 49 years. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end.
120 The Indian men's cricket team will seek their first Olympics medal in 41 years. Manpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team still have a medal to play for. The side will face Germany for the bronze medal on August 5. Belgium had defeated India 5-2 in the semi-final and will face the winner of the second semi-final Germany. India have scored 20 goals and conceded 19 while Germany are slightly ahead with 23 goals and 14 conceded. Both have played seven matches each. The clash begins at Oi Hockey Stadium. It's a GOAL for Germany. Just in the first minute of the first quarter -an early goal from Germany. It was a reverse hit from Herzbruch in front of the goal and it was struck in by Timur Oruz. Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh had made the first save, but then he was hit on the rebound. Penalty corner after penalty corner - that was what was on after the hooter for the end of the first half was heard. While the Germans were trying to convert them into goals, Sreejesh stood like a rock along with his defence. It's 1-1 and the game is leveled. What a comeback by India in the second quarter.It was some clever passing from the midfield and Simranjeet ended it by dishing out a speedy reverse flick shot at goal. India's defence fell weak after the equaliser as Germany score twice in the span of two minutes. Germany's counter-attack, as Ruhrer finds a way to send the ball inside. Wellen scored to put Germany in lead. The next goal came as Germany double-team against Surender Kumar. Furk scores the third. Indians convert their penalty into GOAL. Trailing by a goal, but the Indians are doing all they can. Harmanpreet's drag flick was saved by the German goalkeeper, but Hardik Singh scores on the rebound. Another Goal for India.Harmanpreet Singh makes sure to level the goals as he scores from the penalty corner. PENALTY and converted! India's Mandeep Singh was tripped inside the circle and Germany asked for a referral. Windfeder had said there was no contact, but replays show otherwise. And what a goal it was as India have now scored three goals in about six minutes to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. And again they make sure to take a better lead.Gurjant Singh was seen screaming down the right, and the dribble helps him cut in and pick out Simranjeet perfectly. The forward flicks it in.
121 Neeraj Chopra was also the first Indian athlete to win gold in both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018 in Javelin throw Neeraj Chopra got India its first Gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the men's javelin throw event, also a first in the category of Track and Field. It was an evening of joy and honour for Indians who sat back and could only dream of what had become a reality on Saturday (August 7). Neeraj has become the second person to win an individual Gold medal for India, before him Abhinav Bindra had won a gold in shooting in 2008. This was also India's 7th medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, one of the best medals hauls for the country. Now, let's talk about the sport that got us a Gold medal. The history of Javelin throw The art of throwing a Javelin far and with precision was widely practised in ancient Greece and slowly evolved from an everyday hunting and warfare activity and was eventually added to the Ancient Olympic Games as part of the pentathlon in 708 BC. It consisted of the participation of both men and women. Modern Olympics Games programme had initiated the javelin throw for men in 1908 and women in 1932. How does the Javelin throw work? The sport of javelin throw requires quite a lot of strength, power, precision and above everything, it requires the most amount of determination.The athlete is required to throw a metal-tipped javelin as far as possible. The javelin must be held by a corded grip with the athlete's little finger closest to the tip. The player is supposed to run towards a defined area to gain momentum before throwing the javelin. While throwing the javelin, the athlete must not turn his back towards the landing area at any given time between their approach and throw. The javelin must be thrown from above the upper part of their throwing arm and must not cross the foul or scratch line at any cost. For the throw to be measured, the javelin must land tip first. In a competition, athletes usually throw the javelin three to six times. IF there happens to be a tie, then the athlete with the next best effort will be declared the winner. There are different standards for men and women in the sport, where men's javelin must weight a minimum of 800g and be 2.6m-2.7m long, women's javelin can weigh a minimum of 600g and be 2.2m-2.3m long. About Neeraj Chopra The 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra hails from Haryana is a Subedar with 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army. Neeraj took up the sport of Javelin throw in 2011 and was the first Indian to claim gold at the World Junior Championship in 2016 in Poland. He also became the first Indian athlete to win gold in both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018. The Haryana government has announced to honour the athlete with Rs 6 crore for his win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
122 Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, the pugilist lost 0-5 but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance A bruised Satish Kumar (+91kg) put up a gutsy performance against reigning world champion Bakhodir Jalolov but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek as the Indian boxer made a quarterfinal exit from the Olympic Games on Sunday. Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, Satish lost 0-5 but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance. Satish sustained two cuts during his pre-quarterfinal showdown against Jamaica's Ricardo Brown. The 32-year-old Army man stood his ground, occasionally managed to land a shot with his right hand but Jalolov dominated the proceedings all through, relying on his imposing demeanour and excellent counter-attacking game to sail through. Satish's forehead cut expectedly opened up during the third round but he fought through even with that. Jalolov, a 27-year-old footballer-turned-boxer, acknowledged his rival's bravery at the end of the bout after securing his maiden Olympic Games medal. Satish had earlier scripted history by just qualifying for the Games as he was the first super heavyweight from India to achieve the feat. Jalolov is also a three-time Asian champion, all those gold medals coming in succession to him since 2017. With this the Indian men's boxing campaign came to an end in the Games. Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) remains the lone pugilist in fray after having made made the semifinals to secure India's first and only boxing medal of the ongoing edition. On Saturday, it was a major disappointment for India when world number one Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the event following a 1-4 loss to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez of Colombia.
123 If one ignores the margin of defeat against Australia, results of the men's team have been on expected lines. They won a close encounter against New Zealand to begin with, and beat Spain in convincing fashion. Despite the thrashing at the hands of Australia, men remain in the race but could face one of the European heavyweights in the last-8. Indian women have it tougher. If one ignores the margin of defeat against Australia, India's results have been on expected lines. They won a close encounter against New Zealand to begin with, and beat Spain in convincing fashion. Sandwiched between them was the 1-7 thrashing at the hands of Australia, which brought back memories of similar hammerings in years gone by. The top four teams from a pool of six go through to the quarterfinals and barring a complete meltdown, India should get there easily without the goal difference setback against Australia coming into the equation. India face defending gold medallists Argentina on Thursday, followed by hosts Japan on Friday. The South Americans were surprise champions at Rio 2016, and going by their results in Tokyo, India should be confident going into the encounter. The Argentines have only had a 2-1 victory over winless Japan and were beaten 5-2 by the Aussies. They drew 1-1 with Spain, whom India dispatched 3-0. Japan are a much improved team in recent times, and are Asian Games gold medallists for a reason. But playing at home in front of empty stands is not much of an advantage, even though they will be familiar with conditions. They have a solitary point from a 2-2 draw with New Zealand. India should be aiming for two convincing victories to enter the knockout stages with high confidence. Going by early form, the Australians seem on a mission. They will be hard to catch at the top, so India should realistically target second place in the Pool A. However, finishing second to fourth may not make much difference to the difficulty factor. In cross-over quarterfinals, the top finisher in one group will play the fourth-placed team in the other. The second-placed team in one pool will face the side finishing third in the other. Pool B is inundated with top European teams. As of now, world champions Belgium are on top, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain. Barring any major upsets in Pool B, India will be up against one of these powerhouses. These teams have regularly been involved at the business end of big tournaments, and frequently finish on the podium. There will be no scope for any error on India's part in the quarter-finals. The scheduling has not been kind to Rani & Co. They faced the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain - the three medallists from the Rio Olympics - in their first three matches. Not only have India lost all three games, they have a negative goal difference of nine. Under Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian team has improved a lot and are much fitter and stronger, but there is still a significant gap to be bridged before they match the best sides in the world on a regular basis. Does the Indian women's team still have a realistic chance of making the knockouts? India are currently in fifth spot in Pool A and realistically, can only target fourth place. Their two remaining matches are against Ireland and South Africa. The latter, like India, have lost their first three matches and are below India on the points table only on goal difference (-10 to -9). Ireland, however, are no pushovers. They were the runners-up at the most recent World Cup in 2018, where they defeated India twice - 1-0 in the pool stage and in the quarterfinals via a penalty shootout. Not only will India have to win both their remaining matches, they will have to redress their abysmal goal difference too. The top team in the other group, at the moment, is Australia after three consecutive wins, with Argentina there as well. Things are much closer there as it seems any of the top four sides - including New Zealand and Spain - can beat each other on any given day. New Zealand beat Argentina, considered a powerhouse in women's hockey, 3-0 but lost 2-1 to Spain. In the unlikely scenario of India advancing, they will most likely face the Aussies.
124 Argentina's Myles Amine beat India's Deepak Punia in the last few moments of the bronze medal match of 86kg men's freestyle wrestling. Indian wrestler Deepak Punia lost the bronze medal match to Argentina'sMyles Amine in the dying moments. Deepak Punia was leading the scoreline just by a sniff for the majority part of the game unless the last 30 seconds where the Argentine wrestler came back to pin Deepak down and gain a two-pointer and hence a bronze medal in men's 86kg freestyle wrestling. Punia eventually suffered a 2-4 defeat as he lost one point of unsuccessful referral and the two-pointer as he gave away a one-point lead and eventually the match. Punia started the match with a 2-0 lead in the first round and maintained his lead for five and a half minutes of the game but Myles Amine gained the decisive lead and beat Punia. Earlier, Ravi Kumar Dahiya couldn't go beyond silver in the final of the 57kg category in men's wrestling after he lost toRussia's Zavur Uguev. Russian wrestler's strong defence kept Ravi Kumar at bay as the latter tried his level best to break his defence and pin him down for the two-pointers. Uguev took an early lead, first with sliding Ravi out of the circle and then the two-pointer but Ravi stormed back and the match hanged in the balance and went into the second round.In the second round too, Uguev's defence remained decisively strong as he didn't let Ravi have any points from the same and despite another two-pointer for the Indian wrestler, the Russian had a three-point lead and he won the gold medal on points, thereby handing silver medal to India.
125 London Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom, 38, told reporters after her loss to Colombian Ingrit Lorena on Thursday that she has the desire to continue boxing. However, the Manipuri pugilist will not be able to compete at Paris 2024 because of age restrictions. The International Olympic Committee has no age restriction on participants, but boxing's world governing body AIBA, post the 2012 London Olympics, said that only boxers in the age bracket of 18 to 40 can compete at the national and international levels. The multiple world champion has repeatedly got the better of younger boxers - Nikhat Zareen, Pinki Jangra and Jyoti Guliain - in her category. So despite her age, she may not find it tough to make it to the India squad. With the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July and Hangzhou Asian Games in September next year, Mary, who turns 40 in November, is likely to be seen at these international meets. While boxing sees an age limit of 18-40, football at the Olympics is one of the sports featuring under-23 players, with the exception of three players above that age per team. Similarly, gymnasts must turn 16 during the year of the Olympics while golf sets the limit of 50 years for professionals who compete on various tours in the sport. Shooting too sees an age restriction imposed by some national federations with the younger limit fixed at 12 to 16 years in some countries. While Syrian table tennis player Hend Zaza is the youngest competitor at Tokyo at the age of 12 years and 204 days, Australian equestrian player Mary Hanna is the oldest at the age of 66 years. She became the second oldest competitor in Olympics history and is participating in her sixth Games. Her compatriot Andrew Hoy, who is competing in his record eighth Olympics, is 62 years old. Norwegian equestrian player Geir Gulliksen, 61, too is competing in Tokyo as is 59-year-old Moroccan rider Abdelkebid Ouaddar. While Santiago Raul Large of Argentina will be competing in sailing in his sixth Olympics at the age of 59 years, 52-year-old shooter Nino Salukvadze from Georgia competed at her ninth Olympics with her first coming under the Soviet Union flag in 1988. The Georgian finished 31st in women's 10m air pistol event and is competing in the 25m pistol event too. Earlier this week, Uzbek Oksana Chusovitina became the oldest woman to compete in Olympics gymnastics in Olympics when she participated in the vault event, where she failed to qualify for the final. Shooter Abdullah Al-Rashidi of UAE, 57, won the bronze medal in men's skeet earlier this week. As per Olympics history, Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundran was the youngest known medallist in Olympics history at the age of 10 years and 218 days. He was part of the team which finished third in the parallel bars at the 1896 Games. Oscar Swan of Sweden happens to be the oldest competitor in the history of Olympics at 72, when he won the silver medal in the team double-shot event at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
126 Several students from Indian universities are participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Of these, 11 are from Lovely Professional University, they are with the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled between July 23 and August 8. Manpreet Singh, the Hockey team captain and MBA student, was India's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing a master's in Public Administration at LPU, has been selected for wrestling (61 Kgs). Indian paraathlete, Nishad Kumar, a BA student, has been picked for the Paralympics high jump. Amoj Jacob (BEd), the Indian sprinter specialising in the 400 meters and the 800 meters, has been selected for the 4x400 mt relay race for men. Seven players of the Indian Men's Hockey Team are also LPU students. “We have been investing extensively in building world-class sports infrastructure and hiring top trainers to ensure our students bring laurels to the country. We are confident that many more students will follow the path of superstars like Manju Rani, Unnati Sharma, Amoj, Neeraj and Nishad and make us proud in the years to come”, says Ashok Mittal, chancellor, Lovely Professional University. Three students from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar are part of Indian contingent in Tokyo this year. They are CA Bhavani Devi, Dutee Chand, and Shivpal Singh. Devi is reportedly the first Indian fencer to represent the country in the Olympics. Her college mate Shivpal Singh, who has qualified for javelin throw, is a first-year BBA student at KIIT. Another participant from KIIT, is Dr Sudeep Satpathy of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), he has been selected as the doctor of the Indian Men's Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics 2020. Talking about the students, founder of KIIT, educationist Achyuta Samanta says, “We are very happy and proud that three students from our university are at the Tokyo Olympics. It's a big thing for us. In the past 15 months, during Covid period, Dutee stayed in Bhubaneswar and she was given nutritious food in the guest house. We fulfilled whatever she needed for her practice. We have been giving her financial support as well. Bhavani Devi and Shivpal Singh are the pride of India, we try to facilitate whatever they require for their sport.” Two students from Alva's Education Foundation will be participating in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Dhanalakshmi S and Shubha V had joined the Alva's through sports quota. They would represent India in 4X400 mixed relay competition in the games. Kendriya Vidyalaya Alumnus Sreeshankar, who graduated from KV Kanjikode, is going to represent India in the long jump event. “Proud moment for Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan,” read a tweet from the Sangathan's Twitter handle, congratulating and passing on the best wishes to Sreeshankar. Shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar, a student of Khalsa College, Amritsar is also a part of Indian contingent in Tokyo. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sunidhi Chauhan from Guru Nanak Dev University, GNDU, will also compete in 50m 3P event. Indian students' contribution to the Tokyo Olympics is not restricted to sports, artworks made by Chitkara University students and faculty have also been selected for display at a virtual art exhibition titled 'Olympia.' It will be on display till August 8 in Japan..
127 Several students from Indian universities are participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Of these, 11 are from Lovely Professional University, they are with the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled between July 23 and August 8. Manpreet Singh, the Hockey team captain and MBA student, was India's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing a master's in Public Administration at LPU, has been selected for wrestling (61 Kgs). Indian para-athlete, Nishad Kumar, a BA student, has been picked for the Paralympics high jump. Amoj Jacob (BEd), the Indian sprinter specialising in the 400 meters and the 800 meters, has been selected for the 4x400 mt relay race for men. Seven players of the Indian Men's Hockey Team are also LPU students. “We have been investing extensively in building worldclass sports infrastructure and hiring top trainers to ensure our students bring laurels to the country. We are confident that many more students will follow the path of superstars like Manju Rani, Unnati Sharma, Amoj, Neeraj and Nishad and make us proud in the years to come”, says Ashok Mittal, chancellor, Lovely Professional University. Three students from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar are part of Indian contingent in Tokyo this year. They are CA Bhavani Devi, Dutee Chand, and Shivpal Singh. Devi is reportedly the first Indian fencer to represent the country in the Olympics. Her college mate Shivpal Singh, who has qualified for javelin throw, is a first-year BBA student at KIIT. Another participant from KIIT, is Dr Sudeep Satpathy of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), he has been selected as the doctor of the Indian Men's Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics 2021. Talking about the students, founder of KIIT, educationist Achyuta Samanta says, “We are very happy and proud that three students from our university are at the Tokyo Olympics. It's a big thing for us. In the past 15 months, during Covid period, Dutee stayed in Bhubaneswar and she was given nutritious food in the guest house. We fulfilled whatever she needed for her practice. We have been giving her financial support as well. Bhavani Devi and Shivpal Singh are the pride of India, we try to facilitate all that they require.” Two students from Alva's Education Foundation will be participating in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Dhanalakshmi S and Shubha V had joined the Alva's through sports quota. They would represent India in the 4X400 mixed relay competition in the games. Kendriya Vidyalaya Alumnus Sreeshankar, who graduated from KV Kanjikode, is going to represent India in the long jump event. “Proud moment for Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan,” read a tweet from the Sangathan's Twitter handle, congratulating and passing on the best wishes to Sreeshankar. Chandigarh University student Aruna Tanwar will be representing India at Paralympics Tokyo 2021. Ranked world number 4, Tanwar is pursuing BPEd from CU. She had earlier won medals in Asian Para Taekwondo Championship and World Para-Taekwondo Championship that took place in 2019. Shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar, a student of Khalsa College, Amritsar is also a part of Indian contingent in Tokyo. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sunidhi Chauhan from Guru Nanak Dev University, GNDU, will also compete in 50m 3P event. Indian students' contribution to the Tokyo Olympics is not restricted to sports, artworks made by Chitkara University students and faculty have also been selected for display at a virtual art exhibition titled 'Olympia.' Among the exhibition's 52 participants, seven are from Chitkara University including its dean of Design School, Ranjan Kumar Mallik, whose work titled 'Me and My Olympic 2021' is being featured in the exhibition. Conceptualised by Indian Contemporary Artist Association, the art show's video reel will be displayed at Tokyo Olympics Memorial Gallery, Chuo-ku, till August 8.
128 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
129 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
130 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
131 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women's 49kg category after lifting a combined weight of 202 kg. Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who made her country proud by winning the silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020, might have a chance of winning the Gold medal in the 49kg women's category. Mirabai, who lifted a combined weight of 202 kg, fell short by just 8kg from the Gold medal winner China's Zhizhi Hou, who lifted 210 kg and created a new record. Zhizhi Hou has been asked by the anti-doping authorities to stay back for a dope test. If she fails to clear the dope test, Mirabai Chanu will be awarded the Gold medal. Speaking to ANI, a source close to the development said,"She has been asked to stay in Tokyo and the test will be done. The test is definitely happening." The rules of the games clearly state that if an athlete fails to clear the dope test, the one who has won the silver medal would be awarded gold. Mirabai had lifted a total of 202 kgs - 87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk - thereby opening India's account in the medal tally in the Olympics this year. Mirabai Chanu became only the second Indian athlete to bag a medal in the Olympics in weightlifting after Karnam Malleswari's bronze medal win in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 69kg category. Apart from Mirabai, it has been a disappointing show from the Indian athletes as Manika Batra, Sumit Nagal, Sutirtha Mukherjee all crashed out of the Olympics after their respective losses. Indian men's hockey team lost to Australia while the shooters crumbled under pressure. Men's archery team too lost to South Korea, in the quarter-finals.
132 Following a thrilling victory over Germany, India's men's team won bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Madhur Bhandarkar, and a few more well-known names in the industry took to social media to congratulate the team. Taking to his Twitter account, SRK wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match" Akshay Kumar also showed his excitement and took to his Instagram, sharing a photo of the team, he wrote "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020". Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also congratulated them on his Twitter account. He wrote, "Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. #TeamIndia #Nationalpride #Tokyo2020" Tamannaah Bhatia shared a photo of the team on her Twitter handle and wrote, "A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team. Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India #Olympics #Cheer4India #BackTheBlue" Sharing a photo of the team, Kamal Haasan wrote, "After 41 years, our Indian men's hockey team script history by bringing home a medal. I congratulate our guys who have reignited our national sport with this victory." For the unversed, the Indian Men's team defeated Germany 5-4 to clinch the first medal in 41 years in hockey at the games.
133 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated Hoshangabad's hockey player Vivek Sagar for his outstanding performance at the Olympics. In a telephonic conversation with Vivek, the chief minister on Monday wished him luck for his future performances. Congratulating Sagar for scoring a goal in the match against Argentina that had ensured India's place in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, Chouhan said, "Play and emerge victorious. People of Madhya Pradesh are with you." "Congratulations and all the very best to you and the Indian Hockey team for a great performance in the Tokyo Olympics. I am proud of you and have faith that the Indian team will keep succeeding. Play and win. Congratulations from the side of the entire Madhya Pradesh," official sources quoted Chouhan. Chouhan has expressed his confidence in Vivek and the entire team that they will keep up their winning streak and bring home a medal. He said Vivek has made Madhya Pradesh proud by his performance. Vivek had scored the winning goal against the defending champions Argentina during the last two minutes of the game. The team has now reached the semifinals. Indian men's hockey team had scored a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in its penultimate pool match in Tokyo on Thursday.
134 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Ashok Dhyanchand, son of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, has welcomed the Central Government's move to rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after his late father. The title, launched in 1991-92, is the highest sports honour one gets in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced rechristening Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna on Friday, a day after Indian men claimed bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. Ashok Kumar said that it was the right time to take a decision as the nation had celebrated the achievements of the men's and that of the women's in the Olympics. Ashok said, "Sportspersons sacrifice a lot to carry forward the legacy of a game and to make a mark. Rajiv Gandhi was an excellent Prime Minister. It is always suitable to name the sports awards after the players." "The decision should have been taken long before. Perhaps, the increasing popularity of hockey because of the historic performance of the men's team and that of the women brought this to PM's notice," he said. Ashok said, "Every person in India knows Major Dhyan Chand. The kids study him in their course books. Naming the highest honour in sports after his father has made him more memorable." "I have always believed that my father should have been honoured with Bharat Ratna. I believe now is the time," added Ashok. Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of India. Dhyan Chand played an important role in getting the gold for India at the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
135 While the nation basks in the glory of the Indian hockey team scripting history at Tokyo Olympics by winning a medal (bronze) after 41 years, absence of even a single player from Kodagu in the current team has become a talking point among sports aficionados in the State. Kodagu has a legacy of producing outstanding hockey players who have played for India in the World Cup and the Olympics and they include M.P. Ganesh, B.P. Govinda, Arjun Halappa, A.B. Subbaiah, M.M. Somaiah, and Len Aiyappa, to name a few. It is rare for the country's hockey team not to have a player from Kodagu, as it was during this Olympics. Experts say that a series of factors are at work as a result of which there is a decline in the number of players from Kodagu breaking into the national team. Focus on academics Mr. Ganesh, who played for India in the World Cup, Olympics, and Asian Games, said the shift in focus from sports to academics was a factor for this decline though both sports and academic are not mutually exclusive. Though Karnataka in general and Kodagu sportspersons perform well at the junior levels, parents do not allow children to pursue sports beyond a certain age. Their intention is to get children admitted to professional courses through the sports quota, he added. "Karnataka has reserved 91 seats in various professional courses for sportspersons. But once they secure admission, we don't see them in the national camps as the focus shifts to academics," said Mr. Ganesh. Besides, the drive to excel in sports has waned to an extent due to the fact that many among the new generation of Kodavas are not given to hard work, said the Arjuna award winner. "During our times, we had to walk 5 to 6 km daily to reach our schools and hence, physical fitness was a natural attribute but it is not so in the present generation," he added. A unique hockey festival The Kodava Hockey Festival, held every year since 1997, draws nearly 300 teams which is a record for any tournament. This is testimony to the continued though latent interest in the sport. But veteran B.J. Cariappa says it is not competitive enough for budding players to break into national team. For that, players have to work harder, have to be coached better, and be exposed to national-level tournaments where the competition is more stringent, he added. B.J. Cariappa, hockey coach for junior men's team, faulted the system run by officials which, he said, was not accountable. Apart from creating additional facilities and infrastructure which was the need of the hour, there was a lack of accountability among officials and coaches, according to Mr. Cariappa. "I have visited a few training centres where trainees were not attentive and the coach wasn't serious," he added, pointing out that in one such centre the sole reason the coach was in Kodagu was for its pleasant weather.
136 It was a 'Chak de' moment for the country when the Indian men's hockey team stormed into the semifinals in the Olympics after 41 years. While sports-lovers from Gujarat celebrated the occasion, very few know that the state has only one Olympic medal to its name. And that is in hockey. In the last seven decades, Gujarat has got only one Olympic medal that was won by Govindrao Sawant, a Barodian. Sawant was a part of the Indian hockey team that participated in the1960 Rome Olympics. “We played the final against Pakistan and lost. As a member of the team, Sawant earned a silver medal,” said Laxman Karanjgaonkar, secretary of Gujarat State Athletics Association. “After that, Gujarat has not won any Olympic medal in team or individual games,” Karanjgaonkar, who is executive member of Athletic Federation of India, added. Sawant, who was born in a humble middle-class family in erstwhile Baroda state on November 25, 1935, took to hockey at a very young age. He used to play for the Bombay province before Gujarat and Maharashtra were carved out as different states in1960. “He played in the Rangaswamy Cup, a senior national hockey tournament, for the first time in 1951 where he represented Bombay province. Sawant used to play in the left-half position,” said Vikas Prajapati, assistant director, physical education department, MS University. Sawant was also offered a job by the state reserve police (SRP) and he retired as a deputy superintendent of police (DySP). After retiring from hockey in early 1970s, Sawant played a key role in the Baroda District Hockey Association and began coaching aspiring players. Despite being an Olympian medal winner, Sawant was meted out a shabby treatment by the state government that didn't recognize his achievement. In 2001, he underwent a knee replacement surgery at SSG Hospital as he didn't have enough money. Sawant died in the same year within months of the surgery. The Baroda District Hockey Association had started a tournament in his name later.
137 It was a heartbreak. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (20) and Chirag Shetty (24) had just beaten Great Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in their last group match to finish with two wins in three games. But there was little to celebrate for the Indian men's doubles pair as the disappointment of missing out on quarterfinals hung heavy on their side of the court. As things stood, three teams — India, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia — won two matches each at the end of group stage but the Taipei (5-3) and Indonesian (5-2) team had better win-loss ratio than India (4-3) and they made it to the quarterfinals from Group A. Despite the group-stage exit, Satwik and Chirag gave a good account of themselves and left Tokyo having beaten third-seed Chinese Taipei. The duo spoke to ET Sportabout their Olympic campaign, learnings and more. Excerpts: How would you sum up your campaign in Tokyo? It's kind of a mixed feeling. The moment we came out of the court it was like we won the match, but we still weren't going through to the quarterfinals. Before coming to the Olympics we wanted to win these two matches that we won and we thought we would enter the quarter-finals. But unfortunately three teams won two matches each. So it's kind of a mixed feeling, but I'm really happy with the way we played. Unfortunate that we couldn't go till the very end of the tournament. Yea. It was very disappointing. Like before entering the final, we knew that we were not going to the quarters. While warming up we saw them (Indonesian pair) losing to the Chinese Taipei. We said, 'OK, this will be our last Olympic match this year'. So, we thought we should finish it off in style, with a win. Disappointed but happy with the way we played. Personally I feel like it was our best performance while playing with Chinese Taipei players. At the time of draw, when you found out that you have world No. 1 and world No. 3 in your group, some even called it 'group of death', did you expect to be in such a close contest at the end of it? I thought draw would be favorable to us, but it wasn't. But, good thing was we played three good matches in a top event, so that's a good point for us. Yes, I knew for a fact that it will be a close contest. Mathias Boe (2012 Olympics silver medallist and their coach) had told us that even if we lose the first match (vs Taipei), there's a chance to win the other ones, and you won't be out. So, it was always going to be tough. I knew for a fact that it will go down to the wire, but I didn't know three of us will be having the same number of points.. How was the experience of staying in the Olympics village? So many good things, like sharing the village with lots of top players, like seeing Novak Djokovic on the second day itself, we saw so many good players. There are many inspirations for us. Even in the Indian team, you are talking to all the top players as well. Their experiences are really useful for us. I was talking with Sharath Kamal, this was his fourth Olympics, and he shared so many of his experiences with us. We have many good friends in the Indian team, in other sports, so it's been a really good experience talking to them, having dinner together, so it's really nice to mingle with other players. It was a great experience being in the same village with all the top athletes in the world. Training with them in the gym… you know that you're training with the fittest, smartest and strongest athletes, so that feeling I think cannot be matched. How helpful the presence of Mathias Boe was for you two? Chirag had worked with Mathias because he was there in the PBL. When Mathias came in (as doubles coach), I saw his planning for the schedule and all. It changed everything. We have become more professional. From practice schedule to training, everything has changed since he came. Earlier, we used to practice at least three hours in the morning and two-anda-half hours in the evening. Now, we do smaller session but high intensity. It has made a big difference in our game. He treats us like his brothers. It's been great having him with us. He's been a tremendous help. In January, I think, I had sent this proposal to TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) through BAI (Badminton Association of India). It hardly took 15-20 days for it to get approved and by February Mathias was working with us. We didn't have a coach before that, so it was really important for us to have one before the Olympics and we couldn't have asked for something better. It was the single most important thing that we wanted before going into Olympic training. He has been exceptionally helpful and he really wanted us to win a medal. Unfortunately, we could not, but he's been phenomenal with us. What did he say when you guys won the last match but couldn't qualify? He couldn't say anything. He was in tears actually. He was profusely crying. He got very emotional. Personally, I was happy that we won our last match, but they (Chirag and Mathias) were sad. And after seeing him (Boe), I also started crying. He didn't say anything, it was not in our hands. He wanted us to win a medal. What role did the association, BAI, play in your growth as players? For us, BAI is our backbone. Whatever we want, they are always there for us. Even when I was down with Covid, secretary sir called me personally and asked, 'beta, kaisa hai? He was taking personal interest in the care I was getting. We are told to call immediately if we have any problems. 'Kisi ko bolo nahi, direct call karo.'We have a WhatsApp group. If you share your problems or requirements there, they will be resolved in 1-2 days. If there is no BAI, there will be no badminton players from India, I feel. As I already said, the one single thing that was really important for us was Mathias Boe. So that was really commendable (of BAI). I think it was right after Thailand Open, we had a talk with secretary sir (Ajay Singhania) and he asked us what we really wanted, and I said, 'sir, we need a coach badly at this point. And if we want to go for a shot at the medal, we need someone to guide us at the Olympics.' And like I said, 15 days or 20 days maximum, we had Mathias in Hyderabad. Out of 10, how much would you give to each other for the performance in the Olympics? To chirag. I will give 20 out of 10 (laughs). The same, but as a pair, I would give 9. There's always room for improvement even if we win an Olympic gold (laughs).
138 They called it the Olympics like no other and India would agree as debutant javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra shattered several glass ceilings to become the country's first gold-medallist in 13 years, his stupendous show making it the best-ever Games for a nation starved for success at the grandest sporting extravaganza. With the addition of Chopra's gold on the last day of their competitive schedule, India signed off with seven medals in all, including two silver and four bronze, the last of which was delivered by superstar wrestler Bajrang Punia. In shoring up India's performance, Chopra achieved several firsts. He became the youngest Indian to win an Olympic gold, the first in track-and-field to do so and the only one to do it in his debut Games. At 23, he joined Abhinav Bindra in the select gold club but beat him on age as the latter was 25 when he claimed the top prize in the 20008 Beijing Games. With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games where there was no gold. It was also the first time that India picked up medals across so many varied disciplines. There were weightlifting and wrestling silver medals through Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya, respectively. And the four bronze medals came from badminton star P V Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, Punia and the men's hockey team, which finished on the podium for the first time in 41 years. Chopra saved the best moment for the last. The 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second-round throw of 87.58m in the finals, which nobody in a field of 12 could come anywhere close to. Brimming with confidence with hardly any nerves on display and just the way he did it in the qualification round three days back, Chopra began with a bang by sending the spear to a distance of 87.03m and then improved it to 87.58m, his best of the day. "It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won a gold in athletics, so I feel very good. We have just one gold here in other sports," he said after the triumph that would immortalise him as a great. "This is our first Olympic medal for a very long time, and in athletics it is the first time we have gold, so it's a proud moment for me and my country." On the wrestling mat, Punia pulled off a bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men's freestyle 65kg play-off. The medal-winning performance saved the 27-year-old and the Indian wrestling contingent from embarrassment since the wrestlers had entered Tokyo with high expectations. "I am not happy. This is not the result I had set out to achieve. Winning an Olympic medal is no mean achievement, but I can't jump with joy with bronze," Bajrang told PTI. The country also raised a toast to golfer Aditi Ashok, who came agonisingly close to a podium finish before ending fourth. She pulled off the best performance by an Indian golfer in the Olympics, but Aditi could not clinch the eagerly-anticipated medal despite spending a majority of the four rounds in contention for a podium finish. The 23-year-old Bengalurean ended two strokes off the pace with a total of 15-under 269, which was just one stroke below the medal bracket. In the final round, she managed a 3-under 68. It was a heartbreaking end to Aditi's campaign considering she started the day in sole second position. But it was nonetheless a massive improvement as she had finished tied 41st in the 2016 edition where golf made a comeback to the Olympics after over 100 years. "I think I gave it my 100 per cent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals, kind of sucks. In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it's hard to be happy with fourth place. I played good and gave it my 100 per cent," she said. But Chopra's performance washed away all the heartbreak as he provided a brilliant finale to the campaign which had looked wobbly in the first week when several medal contenders made early exits and the fancied shooting and archery teams fired blanks.
139 It's Coming Home,' got an Indian makeover on Sunday. Old world spirit and a new age women's rising gave it a wholly homespun flavour. Here's how. The Indian hockey team, first, which was rekindling long-forgotten Olympic nostalgia by making the semi-finals after nearly half a century, when a major chunk of our current population was not even born. Coming, somewhat fittingly, at the expense of our former imperial masters, Great Britain, the fluent 3-1 victory tells us that India is a win away from reclaiming a corner of the Olympic field that was once our living room, complete with wicker sofa-set, black and white TV behind a crochet cover and medals in the shelf above. Then, equally significantly, if not more, PV Sindhu was staking claim to being India's greatest-ever individual Olympian — across gender, and possibly generations too. Her face a strange mix of quiet grit and menace, on Sunday, Sindhu was in a mood to take no prisoners, demolishing China's bewildered-looking He Bing Jiao in less than an hour for her second Olympic medal, an equally precious bronze this time that followed her Rio silver. “I'm on Cloud Nine,” she would exclaim later, but would also speak of undying ambition, “I had a lot of emotions going through me — should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final?” As an individual doublemedallist, the tall, easy-smiling Sindhu was emulating the Olympic feats of Sushil Kumar. The once-ace wrestler is currently lodged in Tihar jail and was allowed a TV to watch the Olympics only after a special request to the authorities. Sushil had the world at his feet, he let it slip. Something tells you, the Indian sportswomen, constantly aware of their struggles, the ever-rising glass ceilings, the institutionalized patriarchy that they have to overcome on an everyday basis, will treasure their status more. Medals now won by Indian women at the Olympics are eight, three coming at Tokyo alone. Wrestler Vinesh Phoghat is yet to take the mat. There was a time when an Indian hockey team in the medal rounds at the Olympics was as much a given as current-day Chinese domination across sporting arena. There was a time when India's winners were men, and our women, the also-rans. With Indian women now clearly calling the shots it makes good sense for us to follow in the way they show us. As for the hockey, let Manpreet Singh and his band of fighting stickmen not be weighed down by the crushing burden of history. Thankfully, they, like all those who came in late, are oblivious of when we were kings.
140 It's Coming Home,' got an Indian makeover on Sunday. Old world spirit and a new age women's rising gave it a wholly homespun flavour. Here's how. The Indian hockey team, first, which was rekindling long-forgotten Olympic nostalgia by making the semi-finals after nearly half a century, when a major chunk of our current population was not even born. Coming, somewhat fittingly, at the expense of our former imperial masters, Great Britain, the fluent 3-1 victory tells us that India is a win away from reclaiming a corner of the Olympic field that was once our living room, complete with wicker sofa-set, black and white TV under a crochet cover and medals in the shelf above. Then, equally significantly, if not more, PV Sindhu was staking claim to being India's greatest-ever individual Olympian—across gender, and possibly generations too. Her face a strange mix of quiet grit and menace, on Sunday, Sindhu was in a mood to take no prisoners, demolishing China's bewildered-looking He Bing Jiao in less than an hour for her second Olympic medal, an equally precious bronze this time that followed her Rio silver. “I'm on Cloud Nine,” she would exclaim later, but would also speak of undying ambition. “I had a lot of emotions going through me—should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final?” As an individual doublemedallist, Sindhu was emulating the Olympic feats of Sushil Kumar. The once-ace wrestler is currently lodged in Tihar jail and was allowed a TV to watch the Olympics only after a special request. Sushil had the world at his feet, he let it slip. Something tells you, the Indian sportswomen, aware of their struggles, the glass ceilings, the institutionalised patriarchy that they have to overcome daily, will treasure their status more. Medals now won by Indian women at the Olympics are eight, three coming at Tokyo alone. Wrestler Vinesh Phoghat is yet to take the mat. There was a time when an Indian hockey team in the medal rounds at the Olympics was as much a given as current-day Chinese domination across sporting arena. There was a time when India's winners were men, our women, the also-rans. With Indian women now clearly calling the shots, it makes good sense for us to follow in the way they show us. As for hockey, let Manpreet Singh and his band of fighting stickmen not be weighed down by the crushing burden of history. Thankfully, they, like all those who came in late, are oblivious of when we were kings.
141 Divij Sharan has lamented the International Tennis Federation tweaking its Olympic Qualification rules, due to which he missed out on a men's doubles entry with Rohan Bopanna for the Tokyo Games. “The circumstances under which Rohan and I missed the Olympics cut were very disheartening. Based purely on combined rankings, we would have been the 29th out of the 32 teams to make the men's doubles,” Sharan, currently in Mexico to compete in an ATP Tour event, told TOI. “Due to Covid related circumstances, ITF changed the rules this year to cut off teams at the 24th spot, and thereafter pick singles players for the remaining spots. “As it is players could already enter doubles using their singles or doubles ranking. So I believe it's unfair to then give priority to lower ranked singles players. “This rule has taken away the opportunity for some committed doubles players to represent their country at the Olympics in their own event. “It has been a dream for me to be able to play and try to win a medal for India at the Olympics and if they hadn't changed the rules we would have been in Tokyo right now.” Sharan, 35, had mixed feeling about the manner in which the ITF handled the situation. He was also upset by the lack of communication from All India Tennis Federation (AITA) over the supposed change in nomination. “At the beginning there was little clarity from ITF about the acceptance list. However when I contacted ITF directly they did respond to my questions,” the World No. 82 said. “The bigger disappointment was with AITA. I'd been in constant touch with them from UK and Germany, making sure that everything was organized with regard to the kit, accreditation, testing etc, well in time, in case we made the cut by 16th July. “So I was really surprised when I read in the news that my name had been withdrawn by AITA at the 11th hour, without any communication with me. It was so disheartening, to say the least.”
142 1 DAY TO GO TOKYO 2020 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Gamesrelated officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-de-mission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and bio-secure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
143 1 DAY TO GO TOKYO 221 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Gamesrelated officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-de-mission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and bio-secure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
144 1 DAYS TO GO TOKYO 2020 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Games-related officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-demission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and biosecure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
145 Indian wrestler Banjrang Punia after bagging bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics on Monday returned to India from Japan and received a warm welcome at the Delhi Airport. The wrestler was welcomed by a huge crowd outside the premises of airport. Not just him but the entire Indian contigent today arrived from Japan however the most dramatic exit was made by wrestler Bajrang Punia, who was seen greeting and waving towards his supporters from the sunroof of an SUV, which had several fans clinging to it defying all traffic rules as it made its way out of the airport. "It feels great to receive such kind of love and respect," Punia said after witnessing a grand welcome. "We will try to do better next time, I had a knee problem," Punia added. Punia then left from the airport and reached at the hotel where a felicitation ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics medal winners will be held shortly. There was loud cheering by euphoric fans, family members, and some local political leaders as returning athletes made their way through a massive crowd both inside and outside the airport. People danced, sang and screamed their lungs out to show their appreciation for the medal winners. The huge gathering meant that social distancing norms went for a toss as several, quite a lot of them without masks, rushed in to catch a glimpse of the stars. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. The bronze medals were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, the men's hockey team apart from wrestler Bajrang Punia. The spotlight, however, is bound to target Neeraj Chopra, whose gold was India's first in 13 years overall and the first ever in the track and field events.
146 It took 16 years for the giants to fall, but it happened again. The United States Men's basketball team succumbed to France 83-76 in an Olympic group stage match, triggering memories of that fateful loss in the semi-finals at 2004 Athens. But for those who have closely followed USA basketball as well as the NBA, the end of a 25-game win streak at the Olympics is not a surprising result. Rather, it was one that was bound to happen and has been coming for a while. Historical superiority The USA basketball team has always been based on how their game is played nationally - where individual brilliance and skill takes precedence over teamwork and cohesion, qualities that are facets of the European game. It is no surprise that in 1992 the Dream Team, led by players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Larry Bird were considered the favourites and swatted aside every country on their path to the gold medal. But there is also a concurrent school of thought that believes that if the Soviet Union wasn't disbanded and the Yugoslavians could field their best players, then the Dream Team would have received the backs-to-the-wall competition it deserved. Instead, what the Americans got was Croatia in the final, with Drazen Petrovic, a brilliant shooter who had a brief career in the NBA that was cut short by his death after a car accident in 1993. And Toni Kukoc, a power forward who later helped the Chicago Bulls in their second three-peat from 1996-98. What they were missing was Vlade Divac, a Serbian centre who played for the Sacramento Kings, was part of the Yugoslavian team. There was individual brilliance in that Yugoslavian team that never got their chance to go up against a team that, to this day, is considered the assembly of some of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. The aura of USA basketball Since 1992 Barcelona, the course of history for basketball has been diverted to North America. In subsequent Olympics' the Americans were always the favorites and by some margin. NBA stars would be the apple of the eye in Games villages across continents. They were not just expected to win, but to do so in style. Highlights of games featuring the US Olympic basketball teams continue to be plastered across social media to this date. Whether it is Vince Carter's monstrous dunk on French player Frederick Weis, which is infamously called 'the dunk of death', or the national team beating Nigeria 156-73 at the London Games - the United States have been invincible for a while now. But no more. How American basketball has changed Over this past decade American basketball has changed in many ways. The game has transitioned further out to the three-point line. Team defense is more on the rise but individual defense, where one player locks up the best player of the opposing team, is clearly starting to fade away. Many defensive players in the NBA complain about how the game has transitioned to favoring the capabilities of teams to score. A major part of this is how NBA referees are calling fouls. Some of the best players in the NBA find different ways of scoring and one of the best ways to do so is to play for a foul and head to the free throw line. An average NBA game can see anywhere between 30-45 fouls per game - which has become a great way for teams to score more. How FIBA rules bring Team USA down to earth While NBA players enjoy the benefits of easy foul calls that can lead to fruitful trips to the free throw line, the same rules get tossed out of the window when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules kick in. With more of an emphasis on team, as well as individual defence, Fiba rules have been a real eye opener for Team USA basketball stars. Players used to six fouls before being hauled out of the game, are now realising that Fiba has a five-foul limit. Some USA players were in disbelief when a goaltending call was given in favour of the rival team, since goaltending is legal according to Fiba rules. "As the game goes on, as we continue to go through this process, we're figuring out the difference between the international game and the game we play," U.S. guard Damian Lillard said. "There's been moments where we're all looking around saying 'what's going on?' We're learning on the fly." The learning on the fly includes how backcourt fouls are officiated and what a 'travel' in Fiba rules is. It has essentially brought the scoring capabilities of this USA team down. That along with the game being for 40 minutes, with a 10-minute quarter, rather than the usual 48-minute game with 12-minute quarters that NBA stars are used to, has contributed to low scores and a lack of understanding of when to push pedal to the metal and when to defend every play. USA coach Gregg Popovich also reiterated that NBA players can no longer have a bad quarter, something they can get away with nationally. In the Olympics, all quarters are important, but none more so than the final eight minutes, where the USA's talents of individual brilliance can best be activated - something that has not happened until now. The international player divide In the 90s and the 2000s, the NBA as a league started to invite more and more international players. It wasn't that there weren't international players before, just that the rate of their arrival became exponentially higher. The Euro league also developed into the second-best league in the world and was a factory of players that have now started to migrate to the NBA. The results can be seen in today's NBA. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NBA is Nikola Jokic, a Serbian center who plays for the Denver Nuggets. The Finals MVP is Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Greek center who took the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title this season since 1971. The defensive player of the year is Rudy Gobert, who won this honour for the third time. The 2021 All-NBA First Team was Giannis (Greece), Jokic (Serbia), Kawhi Leonard (USA), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Steph Curry (USA) - a three to two ratio in favour of Europeans. The Europeans are here and they are dominating the NBA and are no longer pushovers at the Olympics. Does this mean Team USA is not winning gold at Tokyo? This American team might not be as fine-tuned for international basketball as they would like, but it doesn't mean they are not a force to be reckoned with. Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard are two Top 10 NBA players who can score at will. Draymond Green and Bam Adebayo can raise any team's defense at any given point. Minor adjustments, coupled with when to score and where to pull out some defensive stops can go a long way for this team. That being said, this is a weakened American squad. No LeBron James, or Steph Curry or Anthony Davis has impacted the team. In their five practice games, they slumped to three losses and have now lost against a French team that has five of their 12 players playing in the NBA, including the DPOY in Gobert. For a variety of reasons, some of their top players have also foregone the Olympics this time. A quick start to the previous season because of Covid meant that American players never really got an extended break between two seasons last year. Participating in the Olympics would mean the risk of going two seasons without a sustained break, something that could easily result in injuries. All of these factors make the USA winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics a tougher task than it has been in decades. But that doesn't mean they still aren't favorites.
147 World No.1 Deepika Kumari shot her career-best ranking score in Olympics, but still could not find place in the top half of the qualification draw. She has been seeded ninth with a score of 663. Deepika had shot 662 in London 2012 and 640 at Rio 2016. The lone Indian archer in the women's category, she was as inconsistent as the wind in Tokyo on Friday morning. The Jharkhand girl was sitting pretty at the fourth place after the first half of the round, having shot 334 out of 360. However, two 53s in the eighth and penultimate shots saw her slip. A seven in the last pushed Deepika further down by two places, from seventh to ninth. “The performance was good and bad, a little in between I would say,” Deepika was quoted as saying after struggling to cope with the wind. Things didn't go well for the men's trio of Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav too, with Olympic debutant Jadhav ending up as the best with 656 points for a 31st place finish, three points ahead of Das who was placed 35th. Rai, in his third Olympics appearance, took the 37th spot among 64 archers. India had identical rankings of ninth in both men's team and mixed pair competitions. The men, appearing in their first Olympic team event since London 2012, totalled 1961 points. Jhadav pipped Das with better scores in the rankings round and will now partner Deepika in the mixed team elimination round on Saturday. India earned a ninth place seeding on the basis of combined scores (1319) of Jhadav and Deepika.
148 As fans erupted in joy after Indian hockey team's thrilling 5-4 victory over Germany in the bronze medal play-off match, ending the 41-year drought in hockey at the Olympics, oldtimers said both the historic matches – Thursday's win in Tokyo and the 'golden moment' of 1980 against Spain – had the common Kashi connection. While Varanasi's legendary dribbler, Padma Shri late Mohd Shahid, was a part of the Indian squad in 1980 in Moscow, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay of Kashi's Bhagatpur village was the lone player in the Indian hockey team from Uttar Pradesh this time around. After Thursday's feat, India became the most successful team in men's hockey at the Olympics with 12 medals, including eight gold, one silver and three bronze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the member of parliament from Varanasi, posted a tweet congratulating Lalit for the team's success. Lalit's family remained glued to the television set as soon as the match began on Thursday. His father, Satish Upadhyay, had performed special rituals at a local temple to pray for team India's victory. Though Lalit was not a part of the 'playing eleven', cheering for India was what mattered to the family. And when the winning moment arrived, the family jumped with joy. “It was a great show by the Indian team. The boys had played well in the semifinal too but lost in the last 15 minutes. This time, they held their nerves till the last moment.” Satish said. “There can be nothing more valuable than a father being recognised by the name of his son. Today, wherever I go, people identify me as Lalit's father. I have two sons, Lalit and Amit. They have never demanded anything from me and always focussed on their goals. Lalit doesn't talk much but shares everything with his mother,” he added. Lalit's mother, Rita Upadhyay, got emotional while watching the match. “He has to stay away from home most of the time. But whenever he is around, he shares everything about his game and friends,” she said. Lalit's sister Anjali said, “It is great to see India winning an Olympic medal after decades. I am happy that my brother is a part of this team.” “I am proud of my brother. He has brought honour to the family and his hometown,” Lalit's brother, Amit Upadhyay, said. Lalit started his journey from UP College in Varanasi under coach Parmanand Mishra and went on to become a part of the national hockey squad as a centre forward. “We all are emotional right now as Lalit has faced a lot of hardships in the past. But we don't want to talk about it today as he has proved his mettle and made us all extremely proud,” coach Parmanand Mishra said. People were seen celebrating the success in various parts of the city. Keshav Prasad Yadav, a sweet shop owner, came out on the streets and distributed sweets among passersby. Sportspersons also gathered at the Olympian Vivek Singh Academy, Sampurnanand Sports Stadium and Lalpur hockey stadium to cheer for India. “After winning gold in the 1980 Olympics, when Shahid Bhai was in the team, we had been facing a long drought of medals. It is a coincidence that we won a medal when another local boy was in the team,” international hockey player, Pravin Singh, said. Hockey patron Gauri Shankar Singh, who is the father of another Olympian, late Vivek Singh, said: “After being defeated by Australia, Indian team bounced back well in time and created history.”
149 It was 5am in India on Thursday. Manjit Kaur, mother of Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, received a phone call at her residence in Punjab's Mithapur village (about 6 kilometres from Jalandhar). It was her son's call. It was surprising for the mother since Manpreet seldom calls two hours before a big match. That too a match in which an Olympic medal for the country is at stake. In a brief conversation, Manpreet told his mother, “ Medal pakka laauga, tussi ardaas karo (I will win the medal, you pray to God for our success)”. Pray she did! For the next three hours and little more, Kaur prayed for India's triumph. “I asked him (Manpreet) to come back with a medal and he has fulfilled my wish,” she told TOI. “The hard work put in by Manpreet and his teammates for more than 12 years has finally borne fruit. When the Olympics started, we were hopeful of a gold medal, but the bronze is equally precious as history has been made. I am sure India will win the gold medal next time,” she said. Over the next few weeks, Manpreet will be getting several accolades and monetary rewards. But his mother has a simple but cherished prize in store for him. “My son is very fond of aloo ka parathas and aloo ki sabzi made by me. That will be his reward from me.” “Though I was in constant touch with him over video calls during the Olympics, I am waiting to hug him with the medal around his neck,” she added. Kaur watched the entire match between India and Germany while holding a hockey stick. “This stick is one with which he started playing the sport. It is due to this stick that Manpreet has reached where he is today, one mustn't forget his roots and remain grounded,” she said. Manpreet's mother has been a pillar of strength for her son, toiling hard to support his dreams of becoming a successful hockey player. “My mother is the biggest inspiration of my life. If she was not there I would be nothing. She is the motivation behind what I am today. I owe everything that I have earned in my career to her,” Manpreet had said before leaving for Tokyo. She used to take up odd jobs to support the family after Manpreet's father was pulled down by mental health issues. His father died in 2016 while Manpreet was competing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. “My mother has seen a lot of hardships. She raised me single-handedly from childhood after my father developed mental health issues,” he had said.
150 PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian challenge as badminton begins on Saturday. Five years after her silver at the Rio Olympics, Sindhu is now considered a gold medal prospect. The Hyderabadi has earned the tag of 'big tournament player' with five World championship medals, including a gold, and aims to become the first Indian woman to win back-to-back medals at the Olympics. The men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin the Indian campaign early on Saturday, when Sai Praneeth will also be in action against Misha Zilberman of Israel. Sindhu's first match against Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong is scheduled for 6.40 am on Sunday. The world champion is expected to top Group J, which also has Israel's world No. 58 Ksenia Polikarpova. Only one player from each group goes to the next round in singles, while two doubles teams make the quarterfinals from group stage. Sindhu is likely to face Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the round of 16, and will be the clear Sindhu. However, she will not have coach Pullela Gopichand in her corner. She has been training with Park Tae Sang of South Korea for the past two years. Sindhu's first real challenge is likely to be a quarterfinal with Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. She may run into world No.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the semis. In the other half of the draw, China's Chen Yufei, Japan's Nozomi Okuhara and Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon will battle to reach the final. In men's singles, Sai has a challenging task of getting past Mark Caljouw of The Netherlands in the group stage. He may face Kento Momota of Japan in the quarterfinals. Satwik-Chirag are in Group A with world No.1 Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya and world No.3 Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin. They will begin against Lee-Wang on Saturday.
151 As the country erupted in joy over the bronze medal win of the mens' hockey team at the Olympics, prime minister Narendra Modi juxtaposed the win to the opposition's stalling of parliament proceedings that peaked on Thursday with the youth Congress organising a 'Sansad Gherao' protest in Delhi under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's watch. Modi said at a time the country was setting new standards, "people" were stalling the parliament. Modi was interacting with beneficiaries of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in UP during which he also outlined the various achievements of the state government as well as slammed earlier governments for reducing the state to a mere "hub of politics", and not making any efforts to link it with the country's economic growth- a feat he said has been possible in recent years only when the state has developed the confidence of becoming the "powerhouse" of India's "growth engine". "Today, at the Olympics, our youth have taken a big leap forward in bringing back the glory of Hockey. After 40 years we have gotten to face this glorious occasion," Modi said. "On one hand , our country and youth are registering newer wins goal after goal. On the other hand, in the same country there are also some people who , driven by selfish political interests, are indulging in such activities that almost amount to a self goal." "They are not interested in what the country wants, what it's achieving and how it's changing. They are hell bent on hurting the country 's time and sentiments "For their political interests, they are continuously insulting the parliament- which is the pious centre for expression of public views," Modi said. "Today, the entire country is putting in effort to battle a once in a century crisis that has befallen mankind and these people instead are trying to win at how to disrupt works of nation building. But this grand country and its people cannot become hostage to such selfish and anti-national politics,' said Modi. Modi laid down recent achievements by the countryhow the country is at the threshold of achieving 50 crore vaccinations, July GST collections pointing to an economic recovery as well as exports value exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh crore for the first time in any month after independence. He also spoke of the trial of Make in India aircraft carrier Vikrant. "People who are only concerned about their own pad (position) cannot stop the country. New India is winning laurels not through pads but padaks (medals). Slipping into campaign mode for the 2022 polls, Modi said, "For decades , UP was always seen from behind the lens of politics.”
152 They are out of the summit clash, but still in for podium finish. The Indian men's hockey team's dream of Olympic gold after 41 years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last four stages but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games here on Tuesday. Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes), the tournament's highest goal-getter, scored a hat-trick while Loick Luypaert (2nd minute) and John-John Dohmen (60th) also struck to hand the reigning silver-medallists their second successive entry into the final of the Olympics. India's goals came from Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Mandeep Singh (8th). The Indians still have a chance to secure an elusive medal from the Olympics as they will feature in the bronze medal match on Thursday against Germany, who lost 1-3 to Australia in their semifinal clash. India's last appearance in the final of the Olympics came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, where they went on to win their last of the eight gold medals. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. The Indians started slowly as Belgium had the initial burst of the match, controlling the proceedings for the first five minutes which also yielded them a goal. Belgium scored from their first attack, earning a penalty corner which was converted by Luypaert with a powerful flick in the second minute. The Indians came back strongly and changed the course of the match in a span of two minutes with two goals. India secured two penalty corners in the seventh minute, the second of which was beautifully converted by Harmanpreet for his fifth goal of the tournament. A minute later, Mandeep, who has been under pressure for his underwhelming form so far, gave India the lead with a fine field goal. Mandeep beautifully received a Amit Rohidas cross from the right, turned over and found the back of the net with a fierce reverse hit past Vincent Vanasch in front of the Belgium goal. India got another chance in the first quarter in the form of a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh's effort this time was saved by Vanasch. Trailing by a goal, the Red Lions came out stronger in the second quarter and pressed hard on the Indian defence which wilted under pressure, conceding as many as four penalty corners, the last of which was converted by Hendrickx to level the scores. Minutes later Sreejesh pulled of a reflex save to deny Dockier. Belgium secured their sixth penalty corner of the match soon but it was well defended by the Indians. A minute from halftime, India were awarded a penalty corner and the effort by Harmanpreet this time was wide off the target. The Belgians dominated in terms of circle penetrations after the change of ends but India defended stoutly with numbers to thwart any danger to their citadel. The Indians got another golden chance to take the lead, earning their fifth penalty corner in the 38th minute but Belgium, this time, defended well. With both the teams locked at two goals apiece after the third quarter, the stakes were high in the fourth and final quarter and it was the Red Lions who came out on top by breaching the Indian citadel thrice. Belgium went on the offensive and secured three consecutive penalty corners in the 49th minute and again it was Hendrickx, who rose to the occasion for his side to hand them a 3-2 lead. With a goal upfront, the Belgians kept up the pressure on the Indian defence, which was guilty of conceding three more penalty corners in quick succession, resulting in a penalty stroke for the world champions which was duly put into the goal by Hendrickx for his third goal of the match. Trailing by two goals, a desperate India withdrew goalkeeper Sreejesh for an extra player but the move backfired as Dohmen slammed home in an empty net from a counter to shatter India's hopes.
153 The podium has place for only the athletes who perform in front of the world. But there's always guiding hands and wise counsel that show the right path to a medal. The seven medals India won at Tokyo too owe a lot to the coaches who worked behind the scenes to ensure their wards succeeded on the biggest stage. Uwe Hohn (Head Coach) & Dr Klaus Bartonietz (Biomechanical Expert) Country: Germany Athlete: Neeraj Chopra Event: Javelin Throw Medal: Gold The javelin thrower's body is like a bow and the javelin an arrow. This is Dr Bartonietz's philosophy and it worked like a charm for Chopra. Bartonietz has immense knowledge about the intricacies of the event and is credited with making Chopra stronger, yet more elastic, in his movements. He was part of the core team which developed javelin-specific work-out machines German throwers swear by. UWE HOHN, the only man to throw the spear over 100 metres, coached Chopra when he won the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals in 2018. He roped in Bartonietz for his expertise in early 2019. Both Germans had worked with the Chinese national team earlier. Vijay Sharma (Chief National Coach) Country: India Athlete: Mirabai Chanu Discipline: Weightlifting 49kg Medal: Silver MIRABAI Chanu came under the guidance of Sharma, a former national champion, in 2014, the same year he took charge of the men's team for the Commonwealth Games. Sharma's own career as a weightlifter was curtailed because of a wrist injury. He has been a constant during the highs and lows faced by Chanu. After she failed to produce one legal lift in the clean and jerk at the 2016 Rio Olympic, it was Sharma, along with her mother, who coaxed her out of thoughts about retirement. Sharma joined the national camp in 2012 after UP, the state he coached, became national champions. Kamal Malikov Country: Russia Athlete: Ravi Dahiya Event: 57kg freestyle wrestling Medal: Silver Brought in to prepare Sushil Kumar for Tokyo Olympics' qualification, Malikov was meant to be a fitness trainer, a sparring partner and observer for India's two-time medallist. But once that was no longer feasible, Malikov was employed from April 2021 under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to help Dahiya. For the Indian wrestler, Malikov was able to procure prime sparring partners in Vladikavkaz (Russia). The 23-year old's defeat in the gold medal match at the Poland Open would prompt the 34-year-old coach and student to work harder at improving reaction times and the speed of counters. Dahiya is a product of wrestling coach Satpal Singh and the set-up at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. Shako Bentinidis Country: Georgia Athlete: Bajrang Punia Event: 65kg freestyle wrestling Medal: Bronze Bajrang's rise to become one of the top wrestlers in the 65kg category occurred after Bentinidis took over the reins of the 26-year-old. An animated coach, Bentinidis has facilitated sparring partners for Bajrang from the United States and Russia. The wrestler from Haryana, thus, travelled across the world looking for wrestlers who can attack him with speed. The goal - to improve his leg defence, an aspect that continues to be a weakness, and his reaction times. While still not perfect, the influence of Bentinidis has led to improvements in Bajrang's arsenal and an Olympic bronze medal to boot. Raffaele Bergamasco (High Performance Director) Country: Italy Athlete: Lovlina Borgohain Event: Women's welterweight boxing Medal: Bronze Son of an Olympian, Bergamasco was a five-time national champion and took part in the Beijing, London and Rio Olympics as a coach. After guiding the Italian women's team from 2001 to 2007, he took over their senior and junior men's sides and contributed to six Olympic medals. He was let go after a barren run in Rio, and found his way to India in 2017, orchestrating the country's best ever medal haul at Youth Boxing Championships (five gold, two bronze) that November. A month later, he was promoted to high performance director for senior women. Park Tae-Sang Country: South Korea Athlete: PV Sindhu Event: Women's singles badminton Medal: bronze Sindhu's game was based on strength and impressive hand speed, and she often overpowers opponents. But she needed more variety and dimensions to win consistently against the best players in the world. Enter Korean coach Park, who had chiselled into shape players like Sung Ji-Hyun, whose on-court movement had the smoothness of a swan in still water. Park not only gave Sindhu assurance in her stride, but importantly, worked long quality hours on her defence - always a target owing to her rangy frame. He would also inject confidence in Sindhu's game at the net. Where she would earlier swat at the shuttle and lift copiously to move the battle away from the forecourt, in Tokyo Sindhu expertly engaged with Akane Yamaguchi and didn't shy away from the dribbles. The smash-tap forced opponents to dig deep, and that mostly worked in the Indian's favour. Park was also animated - something Sindhu draws great energy from. Graham Reid Country: Australia Team: Men's hockey Medal: Bronze The stint with the Indian team was a shot at redemption for Reid, who was at the helm with Australia when they crashed out of the Rio Olympics in the quarterfinals with a 4-0 thrashing against the Netherlands. He has changed the team's psyche, making them less prone to making costly errors at inopportune moments. After the loss to Belgium in the semifinal, it was Reid's job to pick the team up for the bronze-medal playoff against Germany, and India gave one of their most rousing performances in a long time. Earlier in the tournament, after the 7-1 hammering against Australia, Reid ensured the team didn't panic and fought on level terms with all teams. He has toughened the team and history will record that he was in charge when India climbed the Olympic podium in hockey after a gap of 41 years.
154 "It was 2005 when I saw first Gurjant in Gurdaspur while he was taking trials for the Chandigarh Hockey Academy. He impressed me in no time with his agility and speed, and I knew that one day he would play for India," said Gurminder Singh, Coach of Gurjant Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh, players of the Men's Indian Hockey team, which grabbed the Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2021. Gurjant Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh had been training at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy under Coach Gurminder Singh. While Rupinder joined the Chandigarh academy in 2002 and remained there till 2008, Gurjant joined the academy in 2005 and trained there till 2011. Both players had later joined India Junior National Camp, said the Coach. Gurminder Singh's phone has been ringing since morning. "I have received countless calls today. This is a dream come true for all of us," he said gleefully. Speaking to The Indian Express about Gurjant, Coach Gurminder Singh said, "Since the beginning Gurjant had the speed in the game. After he joined the Chandigarh Academy, he further improved on speed and agility and later became the fastest goal scorer in India." He further said, "We held the trials at Gurdaspur (Punjab) in 2005, and I could see that Gurjant was very quick. He has worked hard on the game and made his country proud!" Talking about Rupinder, the Coach said, "Rupinder is a natural talent of hockey. His athletic physique, sporting attitude and other characteristics are the essential requirements which a defender in a Hockey team needs. Rupinder, who joined the first batch of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy in 2002, has brought several laurels to his state team as well." Known as 'Bob' among teammates, Rupinder has always been notorious, and would bunk school to train in the field, the coach said, adding that Gurjant had been a shy guy, who remained calm in school and in the field. Talking about their food habits, the Coach said that between training, both Rupinder and Gurjant did not have much time to go out. Their love for food remained limited to the hostel mess where they could eat anything that was served, while the rest of their diet was usually provided at the field. Speaking of their match Olympic match against Germany, the Coach said, "They were confident and had no pressure on them before the match. I had a word with Gurjant before the match, and he looked very relaxed. Both of them played outstandingly." Talking about the players currently training under him at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy, Coach Singh said, "I am hopeful that in the next Olympics apart from Gurjant, there will be at least four more players from the present batch." At a press conference on Thursday evening, Tejbir Singh Saini, Director, Chandigarh Sports Department, said that at present, many children are performing well in the Academy, adding that they will bring laurels to the place in the coming future. The hockey academy was conceived by late Punjab Governor Kt Gen J F R Jacob who had fondly hoped that it would one day become a cradle for future Olympians. The academy was set up to select and groom raw talent from villages.
155 Hockey in India is not just a sport; it is an emotion. And watching India at the Olympic Games is not for the fainthearted. The quarterfinal contest against Great Britain on Sunday was no exception. One needed steel to stay glued to the action. India's search for an elusive medal in its national sport has stretched to a painful 41 years. After winning the gold at the 1980 Moscow Games, the team met with disappointment at every Olympics since. On Sunday night at the Oi hockey stadium, the Men in Blue took a giant step to reverse the trend. Led by Manpreet Singh, India showed grit and determination to see off Great Britain's challenge with a 3-1 victory. The win marks a new beginning as it is India's first semifinal appearance in 49 years — if one were to exclude the competition at the 1980 Games which was played in the round-robin format. Prior to that, India qualified for the last-four at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where they finished with the bronze medal. India will face Belgium, who got past Spain 3-1. For India, the quarterfinal was in many ways the coming of age of the team, both mentally and game wise. They started the match with aggression and intent and when the tide turned against them at a crucial juncture, they soaked up pressure and did not stray from their strategy. The fact that Manpreet picked up a yellow card with six minutes on the clock did not unsettle the team. Also, the match was won on the strength of field goals as there were no penalty corners to take. India's game plan suggested they were going in for the attack but they did so at their pace, playing the waiting game to near perfection. They played hard and deep, covering their bases and controlling the proceedings even when ball possession was lost. The Indian forwardline has been under scrutiny for its lack of experience and execution in the last touch. But the forwards redeemed themselves on the day. In the 7th minute, Simranjeet Singh relayed a pass from the top of the circle for an unmarked Dilpreet Singh to rifle past goalkeeper Ollie Payne's legs. India could have stretched the lead in the quarter but failed to convert their chances. They accelerated at the beginning of the second quarter and it took Gurjant Singh just a minute to stretch India's lead. With Britain making inroads subsequently, India ensured a midfield game for the last 10 minutes before half-time. Having earned three consecutive penalty corners, Britain pulled one back off their last attempt through Samuel Ward in the third quarter. The goal added fire to Britain's challenge and they relentlessly attacked the Indian circle but the defence did not wilt. It also took some outstanding effort from the dependable PR Sreejesh to thwart the opposition. With Hardik Singh slotting home a Nilakanta Sharma pass on the counter, India had a 3-1 cushion with three minutes to go and they kept that intact. On the other side, Germany, who knocked out holders Argentina with a 3-1 scoreline, will face Australia, a team which came through 3-0 in penalties against the Netherlands after the match was tied at 2-all at regulation time.
156 Remember the day. The bronze that Indian men's hockey team won with a fighting, brave, heart-stopping 5-4 win over Germany will resonate in the annals of Indian hockey — no, Indian sport — for a long time to come. It will speak of not just turning a corner, but of a lifetime rolling over, as if in deep slumber all these four decades. What Manpreet Singh and his gritty men achieved on a muggy morning at the Oi stadium in Tokyo was not just to correct years of dejection by finally capturing an elusive medal at the Olympics. Crucially, what they were achieving was the affirmation of why hockey is still the national sport of the country. What's all the fuss about, the millennial Indian might ask? After all, over 70% of India's population wasn't even born when it last stood on the hockey podium – Moscow1980, for gold. Truth is, the game has changed in the last four decades, unrecognizable from when we were lords and masters of a sport that demanded grace and oozed class. On Thursday, we were winning bronze in Tokyo, in a new sport wrapped in an older idea. It was a medal as much needed to rejuvenate a sport as it was perhaps to shake off perceptions of old. Hockey was always India's first love, nothing united us like this sport of sticks and guile. Maybe it was its inherent trickery, the accent on control, speed and skill and the accompanying egalitarian ethos that won over everybody – the Sikh, the north-easterner, Anglo-Indian, south Indian, Adivasi, and north Indian, all nurtured a soft spot for the sport and that's why the disappointments of the past 40 years always hurt so much more.
157 South Korea proved to be India's nemesis for the second time at the Tokyo Olympics as the men's recurve team of Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav succumbed to the archery powerhouse 0-6 in the quarterfinals at Yumenoshima Park on Monday. Earlier, the mixed team of Jadhav and Deepika Kumari was ousted, going down to their S Korean rivals. They went on to pick the gold medal in both events. The men's team, however, began the day well getting past Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev 6-2 in the first round of the elimination stage. But they made a shaky start against the S Korean team of London 2012 champion Oh Jin Hyek, Kim Woojin and the youngest archer at Tokyo Olympic, 17-year-old Kim Je Deok, when Das opened for India with an 8. Although Jhadav and Rai backed up well hitting 10s, none of the Indians could hit a 10 in the second round, which led South Korea to win the first set 59-54. India did make some improvement getting 57 in the second set, but that was not enough as the Koreans repeated their score of 59. India faltered again in the third set managing just 54 in spite of their rivals shooting well below par at 56. Bengal boy Das was totally off colour as he failed to hit even a single 10 in three sets in the quarters. Just hours earlier, he led from the front finding six 10s to take India past Kazakhstan. His teammates did provide him good support with Jhadav hitting four 10s and veteran Rai, in his third Games appearance, getting three 10s. But a single error proved costly. Overall while the S Koreans shot 13 10s, India could manage only 7. On the other hand while 8 was S Korea's lowest shot, which they hit once, India had four such scores.
158 The celebration over men's hockey team winning bronze is not just an Indian thing. The world is rejoicing the comeback of the once-dominant force to the podium and foreign experts associated with Indian hockey are no different. Australian great Ric Charlesworth, who was Indian hockey's technical director, expressed his joy after the Manpreet Singh-led side defeated Germany in the bronze-medal match in Tokyo on Thursday. “What a wonderful result by India. The medal is well deserved and well earned,” the Australian, who has coached the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos to many big trophies. Charlesworth said India's win is good not only for the country but also for the sport itself. “Of course, I think it's great for the game and for India. For hockey this is a wonderful outcome… now it is women's turn to beat Great Britain (for bronze),” he said. Charlesworth said he was delighted to see how Indian players responded to coach Graham Reid's plans. “I recommended Graham for the job and believe the players showed great resilience. I'm delighted,” he said. Former coach Jose Brasa of Spain, who was not just instrumental in introducing scientific training methods to Indian hockey but bringing goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to the mix, said the world watched India's comeback to the podium. “I am very happy to see India win today. If they can carry on the momentum, they will once again start winning gold at the Olympics,” Brasa, who coached the Indian team ahead of the 2010 World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. According to Brasa, Indian team's fitness has been the X-factor. “They are as fit as any other top team like Australia, Germany or Belgium. Although Indian players always had skills, they looked polished here and had great control over ball possession in most of the matches. Their fitness was outstanding,” the Spaniard said. “Also, it was great to see Sreejesh guiding players in the defence. He displayed immense grit at the goal.”
159 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covidappropriate behaviour, including maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks every time they venture out in the Village, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their countries. Some athletes posing for photographs and recording videos in the Village had removed their masks, while others, simply taking a stroll in the Village Park after their evening meals, had their masks on their chins. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Tokyo has hit another six-month high in coronavirus cases, one day before the Olympics. The 1,979 new cases on Thursday is the highest since 2,044 cases were recorded on Jan. 15. About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the Olympic competitions on Saturday. The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
160 Anxious moments spent glued to the television gave way to ecstatic celebrations Thursday morning in Jalandhar's Mithapur and Khusropur, the villages of four players including the captain of the Indian men's hockey team, as it beat Germany in the Tokyo Olympics and bagged a bronze medal. This is India's first hockey medal in over four decades. Captain Manpreet Singh and players Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar hail from Mithapur, which is no stranger to producing hockey greats. Former Indian team captain Pargat Singh, now Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, is from the same village. Hardik Singh, who scored the crucial goal on Thursday, is from Khusropur. Though Hardik's family was in Batala where his father, Superintendent of Police Virenderpreet Singh is currently posted, villagers left no stone unturned to celebrate the victory of the "village's son". In Mithapur, Mandeep's father Ravinder Singh played the dhol as the villagers burst crackers and handed out sweets. Manpreet and Mandeep's mothers were seen dancing alongwith hockey sticks. The celebrations went on for hours. The Indian captain's mother, Manjit Kaur, teared up, saying: "Over 12 years of his hard work has paid off today. I had told him to bring gold but I am happy that our team got a medal. My happiness has no limit today. When they lost in the semi-final my health deteriorated but I could muster the courage today to watch the match and see them win." Varun's father Brahma Nanad, who was a truck driver, said his son had seen many tough days during his hockey career. The families of the three players went to the village gurdwara to pay obeisance. "My heart was beating fast throughout the match but it went out of control in the last few seconds. I can never forget this moment in my lifetime," said SP Virenderpreet Singh, who himself was a hockey player. Hardik's mother said: "He was very upset after the semi-final. I told him to turn this defeat into victory in the next match and they did it. I had stopped watching the match when India was behind in the beginning and went to another room where I started praying and then my younger son came at the end of the match and told me they had won."
161 HOURS AFTER the Indian men's hockey team won their first Olympic medal in 40 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the victory to target opposition parties, saying while the country's youths were scoring goals on field, some with selfish political interests were scoring "self-goals" and disrespecting Parliament. Addressing beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojna (PM-GKAY) from Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing, the Prime Minister also termed August 5 as a date of achievements - abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, laying of foundation stone for Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2020 and Thursday's Olympic medal in hockey. "It was August 5 when two years ago the country strengthened the feeling of One India-Better India by removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. It was the same August 5 when last year we took our first step towards a grand Ram Temple. The work of Ram Temple is going on at great speed in Ayodhya. Also today, in the Olympic field, the youths of India took a big leap... in hockey. This golden moment came back after four decades," he said. "On one hand, our country is scoring goal after goal of victory, and on the other, some people, due to political self-interest, are doing things which make it seem that they are scoring self-goals." "These people have no interest in what the country wants, what he country is achieving and how the country is changing. They are wasting time and hurting feelings of the country. They are continuously disrespecting Parliament... The country is involved in fighting a massive pandemic, but they are competing to find ways to stop public welfare work," he said, targeting the Opposition for disrupting Parliament over the Pegasus issue. The country will not be held hostage by such selfish politics, Modi said, adding that some are trying to stop Parliament, but the people will not let them do that. He said the country is progressing rapidly on every front, as he listed India's performance at the Olympics, the recently achieved 50-crore Covid vaccination mark, GST collection figures, agricultural exports, the e-RUPI initiative and the launch of trials of indigenously built aircraft carrier Vikrant. Accepting that there is a major challenge of inflation at a time when the entire world is troubled, he assured the poor and middle-class that efforts were being made and inflation will be kept in check. Praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who participated in the event from Ayodhya, as both Yogi and Karmayogi, Modi said: "For the first time in the history of UP, there is fear in the mind of criminals and those oppressing poor and threatening the weak. The system which was once addicted to corruption and nepotism is now changing." Adityanath, who was in Ayodhya for the first anniversary of the bhoomi pujan of the Ram Temple, said the Prime Minister's dream of a new Ayodhya is being realised. "After a wait of more than 500 years, the construction of a grand Ram Temple started in Ayodhya on this very day last year, and the construction work is going on at full swing," he said.
162 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour, including maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks every time they venture out in the Village, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their respective countries. Some athletes posing for photographs and recording videos in the Village had removed their masks, while others, simply taking a stroll in the Village Park after their evening meals, had their masks on their chins. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Tokyo has hit another six-month high in coronavirus cases, one day before the Olympics. The 1,979 new cases on Thursday is the highest since 2,044 cases were recorded on Jan. 15. Earlier, on Wednesday night, panic gripped the Indian contingent after it was revealed that two IOA officials who have travelled to Tokyo for the Games, including IOA's secretary general Rajeev Mehta and Assam Olympic Association's (AOA) secretary Lakhya Konwar, and archery coach Gurung Mim had tested positive for Covid. However, it was later informed that they had put wrong entries in updating their health record on the organising committee's health monitoring app, which led to the false alarm. About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the Olympic competitions on Saturday. The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
163 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart. Beniwal now teaches hockey at the Roshnabad Stadium where another Olympic star, Vandana Katariya, first got introduced to the sport.
164 After Denis Istomin's backhand went out and wide, Sumit Nagal threw his hands up, looked up to the sky and then put his face in his hands, trying to hide away his tears. The reaction was understandable. Nagal's 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4 win was the first in men's singles for India at the Summer Games since Leander Paes defeated Brazilian Fernando Meligeni for the bronze medal at 1996 Atlanta. An overwhelmed Nagal said he wasn't sure, given the tough conditions, if he would have managed to pull off the win if not for the fact that he was representing India at sport's biggest stage. “I am representing my country, playing in the Olympics for the first time, first win,” Nagal said after his match. “I was leading in the second set, serving for the match at 5-3. And then to lose the set from there, then come back and win when the weather is especially like this, it is super tough. “But playing for my country and having the name 'India' on it gave me the push, kept me alive in the match. If I was playing a Challenger I am not sure what I would have done, to be honest. “So, I am very happy with the result. That's why there was a bit of emotion as you could see.” The 34-year-old Istomin, who had earned his Olympic spot by clinching the Asian Games singles gold two year back, has two ATP Tour titles under his belt. A former world No. 33, the Uzbek had knocked out then defending champion Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Australian Open in 2017. He brought all his experience into play as he fought back from the brink of defeat and pushed the match into the decider. But Nagal's young legs eventually bailed him out in “hot and humid” conditions. “There was a bit of nerves, it was normal, I was expecting it,” the 23-year-old Indian said. “Two-three points … I didn't play them the right way, and ended up paying for it. At 4-5 he served well and then I might have had a chance in the tie-break but maybe I was a bit too aggressive.” Next up for the World No. 160 is Russian star Daniil Medvedev, who beat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik 6-4, 7-6. “I am very excited for this match, to play the world No. 2 on a big court. Can't ask for more. This is what we play tennis for, to live for these moments. I am going to enjoy it the most,” Nagal said. Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev called on organisers to delay the start times of Olympic tennis matches as players laboured in the sweltering Tokyo summer heat on the opening day of the tournament. World No.1 Djokovic asked why they can't start the matches at 3pm, reports AFP.
165 Sharath Kamal is now the last man standing for India in table tennis in Tokyo. The veteran, who received a bye in the first round, began his singles campaign with a 4-2 (2-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9) win over Portugal's Tiago Apolonia on Monday. But it was curtains for Indian women as both Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who lost their third and second-round clashes respectively. Manika —- who had shocked World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska on Sunday --- couldn't continue her good run as she went down to 10th seed Sofia Polcanova 0-4 (8-11, 2-11, 5-11, 7-11). Sutirtha, too, was no match for Portuguese Yu Fu, losing 0-4 (3-11, 3-11, 5-11, 5-11). Sathiyan, the India No. 2 in men's singles had lost earlier. Sharath, despite his win, will know that he has an uphill task ahead of him, because current Olympic champion Ma Long awaits him in the third round. The 39-year-old Indian even looked rusty in the opening game on Monday and one can be rest assured that Long will pounce on such lapses. “I don't know what happened in the first game. I could not connect bat with ball and was all over the place. From there, I was able to lift myself up,” Sharath said after the match. After going down in the opening game 2-11, Sharath found his rhythm to win the next two --- 11-8, 11-5. Tiago hit back by winning the fourth but Sharath closed out the 49-minute contest by pocketing the next two games. Eight-time former national champion Kamlesh Mehta felt Sharath looked more solid and grew in confidence as the game progressed. “Sharath has certainly worked hard on his game. He was more of a forehand player earlier but at the Olympics he has looked sharp with his backhand too,” Kamlesh told TOI on Monday. A much-improved backhand game allowed Sharath to attack from both flanks and that caused problems for Tiago. “My opponent expected a different Sharath but I surprised him with my backhand which was fantastic. All the work I have done on my backhand for the last six months paid off,” said Sharath. The Chennai man, though, has to raise his game by a few notches to be competitive against Long. Kamlesh believes Sharath should approach it as any other match. “Ma Long is an alltime great, and Sharath will be an underdog heading into the match. Sharath has nothing to lose and must take the match shot by shot. Sharath will have to bring in all his experience on Tuesday,” Mehta pointed out.
166 Here are the top 5 news updates of August 5, 2021: 1. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian men's hockey team clinch bronze, win medal after 41 years A resolute Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games today. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for world no.3 India. Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour. 2. Prashant Kishor quits as Punjab chief minister's principal advisor Poll strategist Prashant Kishor today resigned as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's principal advisor, saying he was taking "a temporary break from active role in public life". Kishor's move comes with assembly polls in Punjab less than a year away. "Since I am yet to decide on my future course of action, I write to request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility. I take this opportunity to thank you for considering me for this position," he wrote in the letter. Kishor had managed the Congress' successful campaign in the 2017 polls and devised programmes such as "Punjab Da Captain" and "Coffee with Captain" to drum up support for the party during the polls. 3. Pegasus row: Allegations of snooping, if correct, are serious, says SC Allegations of Pegasus related snooping are "serious in nature" if reports on them are correct, the Supreme Court said today and asked the petitioners seeking probe into the Israeli spyware matter whether they have made any efforts to file criminal complaint on this. A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant stopped short of issuing notice on the pleas and took exception that one of the petitions has made individuals (Prime Minister and Union Home Minister) as parties. The apex court, which asked the petitioners to serve the copies of the pleas to the Centre so that somebody from the government is present before it on August 10 to accept notice, also questioned why the matter has suddenly cropped up now when it had come to light way back in 2019. 4. Sushant Singh Rajput case: A year on, Maha Congress questions CBI's 'silence' over probe into death of actor The Maharashtra Congress today questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation's "silence" over the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a year after it took over the probe into the case."It's been a year today since CBI took over the investigation of the unfortunate death of Sushant Singh Rajput from Bihar police. Registration of FIR by Bihar police was against article 177 of CRPC. Supreme court also had expressed satisfaction in the overall investigation by Mumbai Police," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted. He said it has been more than 300 days now since the AIIMS panel ruled out murder. "CBI is maintaining deliberate silence. This mockery of investigation by national investigation agencies is an apt example of how these agencies are being used by Modi government for their political agenda," he alleged in a tweet. 5. Sensex, Nifty scale fresh lifetime highs Extending its winning streak to the fourth straight session, equity benchmark Sensex ended 123.07 points higher at a fresh record today amid gains in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ITC. After scaling its lifetime peak of 54,717.24 during the day, the 30-share index settled 123.07 points or 0.23 per cent higher at its record high of 54,492.84. In similar movement, the broader NSE Nifty rose 35.80 points or 0.22 per cent to an all-time peak of 16,294.60. It touched an intra-day record of 16,349.45.
167 The 32-inch rectangular TV in Amravati-based archery coach Praful Dange's house could have passed for a circular target board on Wednesday as around 13 pairs of eyes fixated on it between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm. The wordless attention of his archery students towards the progress of Dange's former student, Satara's Pravin Jadhav, at the individual men's recurve archery rounds in the Tokyo Olympics was interrupted only by connectivity issues when their gaze darted from the TV to the three mobile phones in the room that were streaming the match simultaneously. Cheers that had shot up in the room like arrows during the first round when 25-yearold Jadhav knocked out World Number 2 Galsan Bazarzhapov from Russian Olympic Committee in straight sets became deflated verbal darts in the second round when Jadhav went down to United States' World Number 1 Brady Ellison without a fight. Ellison wasn't at his finest, but Jadhav's misses tilted the eliminations round in favour of the American who won with an easy 6-0. As one of many coaches who shaped Jadhav's journey from undernourished child sprinter to Maharashtra's first Olympian archer, Dange couldn't help but blame himself, too, for the poor show. “I'm not exactly sure what happened,” said Dange, who could not recognise his studious, calm ex-pupil in the archer on screen who seemed to flounder momentarily before firing arrows in the match against Ellison. The difficult weather conditions in the range would be a flimsy excuse, felt the coach. “Yes, it was windy, but then both the players are subject to the same conditions. We fell short in our preparation,” said an apologetic Dange, who recalled Jadhav's confident tone during their video call earlier that day. “He said he would play with all his heart.” Besides this assurance, what had filled Dange with hope that Jadhav could beat the American was the memory of an earlier contest from the pre-Covid times between Ellison and Jadhav that had ended in a tie-breaker. Though Jadhav had lost that match, “Ellison was in awe,” recalled Dange. Back in Phaltan taluka in Jadhav's hometown Satara, Vikas Bhujbal—the sports teacher who had prescribed athletics to 10-year-old Jadhav as an escape from his destiny as a wage labourer and who had seen the Tokyobound Jadhav off at Pune's international airport--was sorting gunny sacks of rice meant for mid-day meals even as his prodigy's match was on. “I can never get myself to watch any of his games. I'm a sports teacher but my heart is not that strong,” said a heartbroken Bhujbal, who couldn't recover from the fact that Jadhav lost the first set to Ellison 27-28, “by just one point”. “Luck wasn't on his side,” said Bhujbal. Dange, on his part, turned off the TV only after reading both respect and relief in the expression that ensued on the World Number One archer Ellison's face after his win on Wednesday. “It was the expression of someone who had dismissed a tough competitor.”
168 Some people questioned the way Narendra Modi's image dominated a congratulatory graphic put out by the BJP with the hockey legend pushed to a corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced on Twitter that the country's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, "will hereby be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" after the hockey legend. While many welcomed the renaming, several of them asked whether the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi would now be renamed after sportspersons too. Some questioned the way Modi's image dominated a congratulatory graphic put out by the BJP with Dhyan Chand pushed to a corner. "Puzzle of the day: Find #MajorDhyanChand in the picture below," a Twitter user posted. Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, who lauded the renaming of the award, tweeted: "Now I hope they can rename Narendra Modi Stadium and Jaitley Stadium also. Remove all politician names." Great decision by Modi Govt to rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Now I hope they can rename Narendra Modi Stadium and Jaitley Stadium also. Remove all politician names. While the renaming decision is in line with the Modi administration's knack for erasing the names of Nehru-Gandhi family Prime Ministers from government showpieces, its timing appears to have been carefully chosen. The move comes a day after the Indian men's hockey team won bronze at Tokyo - the country's first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years - refocusing national spotlight on the game. Modi said the decision had come under public pressure. "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views," he tweeted in the afternoon, without naming Rajiv Gandhi. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!" Dhyan Chand (1905-79), known as the "wizard of hockey", was part of India's gold-winning teams at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Union ministers and BJP politicians rushed to laud the decision, with cricketer turned parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir telling reporters: "Awards for sportspersons should be named after sportspersons." Fact-checking portal Boomlive reported that some ministers and news outlets shared the image of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry award, as that of the Khel Ratna Award. Modi had come under fire when the world's largest cricket stadium, in Gujarat, was renamed as the Narendra Modi Stadium last February after a refurbishment. The stadium was originally named after the country's first home minister, Vallabhbhai Patel. The BJP had justified the renaming on the ground that the Modi stadium was only a part of the larger Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave. In 2019, Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium was renamed after the late Union minister Arun Jaitley, who had been Delhi cricket chief - a decision opposed by former sportspersons like Bishan Singh Bedi. With Friday's government decision, the country now has two national sporting awards in Dhyan Chand's name, the other being the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games. The Khel Ratna is handed out for outstanding performance over the four years immediately preceding the award. The Congress said it welcomed any attempt to honour Dhyan Chand but advised the government not to use his name for petty "politicking" and suggested the renaming decision was a ploy to divert attention from the Pegasus snooping allegations and the farmers' agitation. "Dhyan Chand was a magician of hockey.... We welcome any attempt to honour him, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not have used his name in politicking, to serve his petty political interests," party communications chief Randeep Surjewala said. In June 2017, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had questioned the Modi's administration's systematic renaming - mostly after Sangh parivar icons - of government schemes that bore the names of former Congress Prime Ministers. Tharoor had in a tweet listed 23 of the Modi government's schemes and contended they were merely renamed versions of programmes launched by previous Congress or Congress-led governments. "Why we in @INCIndia insist this is a name-changing government, not a game-changing one!" Tharoor had said. For instance, the Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana was renamed as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
169 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart.
170 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart.
171 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts and strict sense of discipline,” said Beniwal.
172 A head of his semifinal clash, Alexander Zverev pointed out that Novak Djokovic could be beaten. He had done it twice already. On Friday, at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, the German demonstrated his point, derailing the world No.1's charge to a historic Golden Slam. Disbelief was writ large on the 24-year-old's face after he came back from a 1-6, 2-3 deficit to claim ten of the next 11 games to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory that put him into the Olympic final where he faces Karen Khachanov.Djokovic, who showed great heart in returning to the court for the mixed doubles semifinal, said, “I feel terrible. My game fell apart. I was leading (by) a set and a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves. I missed a lot of first serves from 3-2 in the second set.” Zverev apologized to Djokovic as the two men embraced at the net. The Serb's third semifinal run at the Games ended in defeat yet again. The 2008 bronze medallist will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta for a second bronze medal. Zverev credited a more aggressive approach for turning the match around. He clocked 44 winners while conceding 14 unforced errors on the day. “I needed to change something,” Zverev said. “I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, I tried to dominate that way.” The No. 4 seed, bidding to become Germany's first ever men's singles gold medallist, added, “It's an amazing feeling, knowing that you're going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany.” It wasn't Djokovic's day as he and Nina Stojanovic fell 6-7 (4), 5-7 to Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev. Earlier Khachanov produced a dominant display to move past Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Croatia's best-ever performance in tennis at the Olympic Games finished with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic clinching the men's doubles gold, with countrymen Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig forced to settle for silver. The top seeds fended off a late rally from Dodig and Cilic to win 6-4, 3-6 (10-6).
173 Ahead of his semifinal clash, Alexander Zverev pointed out that Novak Djokovic could be beaten. He had done it twice already. On Friday, at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, the German demonstrated his point, derailing the world No.1's charge to a historic Golden Slam. Disbelief was writ large on the 24-year-old's face after he came back from a 1-6, 2-3 deficit to claim ten of the next 11 games to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory that put him into the Olympic final where he faces Karen Khachanov.Djokovic, who showed great heart in returning to the court for the mixed doubles semifinal, said, “I feel terrible. My game fell apart. I was leading (by) a set and a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves. I missed a lot of first serves from 3-2 in the second set.” Zverev apologized to Djokovic as the two men embraced at the net. The Serb's third semifinal run at the Games ended in defeat yet again. The 2008 bronze medallist will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta for a second bronze medal. Zverev credited a more aggressive approach for turning the match around. He clocked 44 winners while conceding 14 unforced errors on the day. “I needed to change something,” Zverev said. “I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, I tried to dominate that way.” The No. 4 seed, bidding to become Germany's first ever men's singles gold medallist, added, “It's an amazing feeling, knowing that you're going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany.” It wasn't Djokovic's day as he and Nina Stojanovic fell 6-7 (4), 5-7 to Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev. Earlier Khachanov produced a dominant display to move past Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Croatia's best-ever performance in tennis at the Olympic Games finished with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic clinching the men's doubles gold, with countrymen Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig forced to settle for silver. The top seeds fended off a late rally from Dodig and Cilic to win 6-4, 3-6 (10-6).
174 PM Modi termed the men's hockey team's Olympic bronze medal win on Thursday “historic” for restoring the country's pride in a sport synonymous with national identity. The PM told wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who won a silver after losing the gold medal bout in a tough contest, that India is proud of him and that his success inspires the entire nation. Modi said he looks forward to personally congratulating him on August 15. “Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler. His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding,” Modi said. He also spoke to Dahiya's coach Anil Maan. “Today, the pride of hockey, which is our national identity, has been established after four decades,” he said, while speaking to the team members and coach Graham Reid in Tokyo. A video of the interaction at the players' end showed the players and Reid thanking the PM for his call. Reid said Modi's conversation with the team after its semi-final loss to Belgium had helped him motivate the players. After India's win, Modi tweeted the day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. “Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team.” Modi told captain Manpreet Singh, “You have scripted history”.
175 Life is often about regretting wasted opportunities. The grit and determination notwithstanding, the Indian men's hockey team passed up on the opportunity of winning the Olympic gold medal when they lost their semifinal match against Belgium 2-5. But they have another shot at glory left at the world's biggest sporting stage. A bronze medal which will help them climb the podium after an agonising 41-year wait. One team – Germany – stands in the way. The mood in the Indian camp is, “Bring on the Germans.” “I think we should forget about what happened in the semifinal and put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge,” said skipper Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze-medal playoff. Germany, who lost to Australia 1-3 in the semifinals, too will be hungry to redeem themselves. With possession hockey — which can wear down the best of oppositions — being their hallmark, they are bound to give India a tough fight for the medal. Both teams have been battlehardened over the last fortnight. Germany had four wins in the group stage and put out defending champions Argentina in 3-1 in the quarterfinals before going down to Australia. India ended their Pool matches with four wins and beat Great Britain 3-1 in the last-8 match before stumbling against Belgium. Both teams will go in to the match well acquainted with each other's individual and team strategies. The two teams last met in February this year, during one of India's rare overseas outings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In their two-match face-off India had beaten the Germans 6-1 in the opening fixture before being held to a 1-all draw.
176 Life is often about regretting wasted opportunities. The grit and determination notwithstanding, the Indian men's hockey team passed up on the opportunity of winning the Olympic gold medal when they lost their semifinal match against Belgium 2-5. But they have another shot at glory left at the world's biggest sporting stage. A bronze medal which will help them climb the podium after an agonising 41-year wait. One team – Germany – stands in the way. The mood in the Indian camp is, “Bring on the Germans.” “I think we should forget about what happened in the semifinal and put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge,” said skipper Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze-medal playoff. Germany, who lost to Australia 1-3 in the semifinals, too will be hungry to redeem themselves. With possession hockey — which can wear down the best of oppositions — being their hallmark, they are bound to give India a tough fight for the medal. Both teams have been battlehardened over the last fortnight. Germany had four wins in the group stage and put out defending champions Argentina in 3-1 in the quarterfinals before going down to Australia. India ended their Pool matches with four wins and beat Great Britain 3-1 in the last-8 match before stumbling against Belgium. Both teams will go in to the match well acquainted with each other's individual and team strategies. The two teams last met in February this year, during one of India's rare overseas outings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In their two-match face-off India had beaten the Germans 6-1 in the opening fixture before being held to a 1-all draw.
177 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bikas told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bikas said.
178 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bicky told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bicky said.
179 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bicky told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bicky said.
180 Calm! This was the word written on top of the match board as the Indian men's hockey team came back into their dressing room at half time leading 5-3 in their bronzemedal match against Germany in Tokyo on Thursday. 30 minutes later though, the team, like the rest of the country, was anything but calm as they finally won an Olympic medal after a long gap of 41 years. It's so long that when they last won a medal, none of the current players were born. And cricket wasn't the most-watched game in the country as India's first World Cup triumph was still three years away. The wait was finally over when the ever-reliable PR Sreejesh remained 'calm' and kept it Germany's penalty corner in the dying seconds of the bronze-medal match. Chief coach Graham Reid said after the match that he had shown the team a picture of the bronze medal before the match and asked them to imagine what it would look on their neck. Not only did they imagine it, they eventually achieved it. “In the morning we spoke about the task at hand and what we have to do to achieve that. And when you eventually do that it's a very special feeling,” Reid said during the virtual press conference on Thursday. Things, however, didn't start too well for India as they conceded early and the coach believes the team was 'asleep'. But like true champions, they roared back into the match and earned the win. “We spoke about it that there will be times in matches like these that we will be in trouble and things will not go our way. So we needed to find another level and we all saw them do that. We saw them digging deep and playing fast, aggressive and attacking hockey and it all paid off,” he added. Harmanpreet Singh, one of the vicecaptains of the team and scorer of one of the five goals, meanwhile credited the team being together during the pandemic for their achievement. “It was a dream to win a medal and for this we have made a lot of sacrifices in the past one and a half years. But all this time we remained together as a family,” he said. As for Simranjeet Singh, who scored two goals, it couldn't have been more dreamlike. He wasn't even part of the main squad but added on later as a substitute. “There are 11 players on the field and the goal can go to any one of us. Every player makes a contribution. I just executed the finishing touches today. The goals belong to the entire team's effort,” he said.
181 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their respective countries. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Panic over false Covid alarm Earlier, on Wednesday night, panic gripped the Indian contingent after it was revealed that two IOA officials who have travelled to Tokyo for the Games, including IOA's secretary general Rajeev Mehta and Assam Olympic Association's (AOA) secretary Lakhya Konwar, and archery coach Gurung Mim had tested positive for Covid. However, it was later informed that they had put wrong entries in updating their health record on the organising committee's health monitoring app. 20 athletes, six officials for opening ceremony About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer MC Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the competitions on Saturday. IOA announces cash awards The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
182 'Ah, I did not see that question coming! but yes, that's the plan' Speaking exclusively to t2, the multitalented Somdev Devvarman shares his take on the GOAT debate, his plans for a music album, his love for egg rolls, and much more! What motivated you to move to the United States as a teenager and what impact did it have on your tennis and your personality? When I was 18, I was the best junior in the country (India). At that age, it was difficult to find an exact pathway to becoming a professional tennis player. I found it pretty challenging to do that from India. One is because most tournaments are in parts of Europe and America, and it is very expensive to travel. To do so without a coach is also hard. How does an 18 or 19-year-old self-reflect after every match? When I joined college at the University of Virginia, the pool was really strong. I got a degree and a scholarship. But I also got to evolve as a person and as a player. I had three coaches, eight or 10 teammates. If we got injured, we had experts to make sure we were fine and back on court. It was the most important part of my tennis life. Those four years really gave me the opportunity to grow, to mature, and become a better player. Tennis is a lonely sport, but to have teammates and be working towards a common goal can work wonders for young people. Earlier this month, Novak Djokovic levelled Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's singles Grand Slam honours list. You have played against all three. Who was the hardest to face and can you give us a definitive pick in the GOAT debate? All three of them play very differently. They pose different challenges, beat you in different ways. Roger attacks more than the other two, he has the ability to mesmerise you on court. Rafa beats you with brute force, Novak is tactically much better than you, he does not miss out on any opportunity. In terms of Grand Slams, you would imagine that Novak is the favourite right now. It is safe to say that Roger is past his prime. With Rafa, he is still up there among the top two players on clay, but with the other surfaces, he is more vulnerable than Novak to the next generation. I think Novak has the opportunity to hit 25 or 27 Slams, it does not look like he is slowing down. Novak is willing to do things with himself and his game that nobody else is willing to do. But each of these three is a giant of the game, everyone else is just along for the ride. I am just happy I got to be a part of the same era, that I got the chance to not just watch them, but play against them. In the recent past, you have spoken out against police brutality and racism. Are you disappointed that more Indian athletes do not take a stance on issues of social justice? There is no reason to be disappointed. To each their own. The first thing is to understand that everyone has their own problems in life. I certainly do not expect everyone to see things the way I do, but as long as I have the freedom to see things my way, I am happy enough with that. Probably, the more athletes start becoming self-sufficient in how they want to move their careers forward, the more they might want to be speaking out. Also, keep in mind that these things can be distractions. Professional sport is hard enough without the distractions, which take away your training routine, take away the mindset you need for success. At the same time, as a nation, I do believe it is important for the youth to speak up for what they believe is right. It is not a crime to speak your mind, right? As long as you do it respectfully. Over the last few years, we have seen you write, perform, and release a series of songs. Do you have any plans of releasing an album anytime soon? Ah, I did not see that question coming! But yes, that (releasing an album) is the plan. I am in no rush to do it, to be honest. I have spent a lot of time in the studio, but I have not spent enough time. I want to get my sound right, and I want to figure out exactly how I want to do it. An album is in the making, I have to just get a bunch of the musicians together, probably get a good producer on board, and then see what happens. You spent the early part of your childhood in Calcutta before moving to Chennai. What are your fondest memories of Calcutta and what do you love the most about the city? I love the egg rolls, the chaat... food basically. I did leave when I was eight years old, so probably too young to have clear memories. But those were happy times for me. I remember playing a lot of sports, kicking the ball around or playing cricket. I actually did not play tennis at all. But I like the culture over there, just the general vibe of Calcutta has always been really nice. As a man of many talents, what does the future hold for you? Where do you see yourself in five years' time? I have a hard time looking beyond three weeks! But five years... I will not go there because five years ago I would not have imagined that we would be here. But I hope that I have released at least two albums (in the next five years). And in terms of the other stuff- tennis, coaching, media- who knows! No idea. Watch Live action of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, on SONY SIX, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3 channels FACT FILE Just two years after turning pro, Devvarman enjoyed a splendid calendar year of 2010, winning the gold medal both at the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Games (in both singles and doubles) In 2011, Devvarman was honoured with the Arjuna Award, the same year in which he went on to achieve his highest ATP singles ranking of 62 Devvarman's best Grand Slam finish also came in 2011, when he reached the third round of the men's doubles (with Treat Conrad Huey) at the US Open Devvarman won the Delhi Open in both 2014 and 2015, before announcing his retirement from professional tennis aged 31 in January 2017 In 2018, Devvarman was felicitated with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award Your favourite film: Good Will Hunting Your favourite musician: Cat Stevens The funniest player on tour during your playing days: Andy Roddick Your favourite holiday destination: The last one I went to, Sri Lanka. I loved it Your favourite food: Egg rolls The one thing you cannot travel without: My guitar
183 After the Indian men's hockey team lost to Belgium in the Olympics semi-final, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, August 2, 2021, said wins and losses are a part of life and India is proud of its players. The Indian men's hockey team's dream of entering the Olympics final after 41-years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last-four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts," Mr. Modi tweeted. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours, he said, adding that "India is proud of our players". When the match was in progress, Mr. Modi tweeted, "I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best!" The Indians still have a chance to secure an elusive medal from the Olympics as they will feature in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
184 The lone goal for Manpreet Singh's side came from Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute The Indian men's hockey team was thrashed 1-7 by world no.1 Australia in its second Pool A match of the Tokyo Olympics here on Sunday. Australia looked dominant from the onset and scored through Daniel Beale (10th minute), Joshua Beltz (26th), Andrew Flynn Ogilvie (23rd), Jeremy Hayward (21st), Blake Govers (40th, 42nd) and Tim Brand (51st) to post their second consecutive win at the Games. India's lone goal came from Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute. India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opening fixture on Saturday. The Manpreet Singh-led side will next play Spain on Tuesday.
185 Veteran Indian table tennis player A Sharath Kamal overcame a sluggish start to beat Portugal's Tiago Polonia in the second round to set up a clash with defending champion Ma Long in the Olympics on Monday. The 39-year-old struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11 11-8 11-5 9-11 11-6 11-9 in the 49-minute second-round contest. The Indian paddler now has a tough match ahead as he takes on the legendary Long, who is also the reigning world champion. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Long has won every singles title in the sport. Sharath's compatriot G Sathiyan had lost his men's singles second round from an advantageous position on Sunday to exit the competition. In the women's draw, Manika Batra moved to the third round with an upset win over world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine on Sunday.
186 The quarter-final draws will be clear once the group stage matches are over The Indian men's hockey team registered a comprehensive 5-3 win over hosts Japan to cement its quarterfinal spot with a second-place finish in Pool A at the Olympics on Friday. Already assured of a quarterfinal berth going into the match, India scored through Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) to register their third consecutive win at the Oi Hockey Stadium. By virtue of this win, India finished second in Pool A behind Australia with four victories out of five Games. The Kookaburras ended their pool engagements on top with four wins and a draw. India's lone defeat -- a 1-7 drubbing -- came at the hands of Australia. The top four teams from each pool of six qualify for the quarterfinals.
187 Full schedule of India at Tokyo Olympics on July 27 Shooting 10m air pistol mixed team qualification stage 1 - Manu Bhaker & Saurabh Chaudhary, Yashaswini Deswal & Abhishek Verma - 5:30 10m air pistol mixed team qualification stage 2 - 6:15 10m air pistol mixed team bronze medal match 7:30 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match - 8:07 10m air rifle mixed team qualification stage 1 - Anjum Moudgil & Deepak Kumar, Elavenil Valarivan & Divyansh Singh Panwar - 9:45 10m air rifle mixed team qualification stage 2 - 10:30 10m air rifle mixed team bronze medal match - 11:45 10m air rifle mixed team gold medal match - 12:22 Table tennis Men's singles third Round 3 - A. Sharath Kamal vs Ma Long (China) - 8:30 Badminton Men's doubles Group A - Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty vs Ben Lane & Sean Vendy - 8:30 Boxing Round of 16 - Lovlina Borgohain vs Nadine Apetz - 10:57 Hockey Pool A India Men vs Spain - 6:30 Sailing Women's laser radial Race 05, 06 - Nethra Kumanan - 8:35 onwards Men's laser Race 04, 05, 06 - Vishnu Sarvanan - 8:45 onwards Men's 49er Race 01, 02, 03 - K. C. Ganapathy & Varun Thakkar - 11:20 onwards All timings are in IST
188 India's men's hockey team lost 1-7 against Australia in their second Pool A match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. Dilpreet Singh scored a solitary goal for in the 12th minute of the 3rd quarter. Both teams won their opening games and will be looking to consolidate their position on top of their group with a win at the Oi Hockey Stadium. India beat New Zealand 3-2 in a closely contested encounter on Saturday. Australia come into the match on the back of a 5-3 win against hosts Japan. Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace for India against New Zealand and will be looking to add to his tally. Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh also starred, making some big saves towards the end of the match.
189 Indian men's hockey team defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their Tokyo Olympics opener on Saturday. Kane Russell opened the scoring for New Zealand in 6' before Rupinder Pal Singh equalised in the 10'. Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals through penalty corner in the 26' and 33' respectively. Stephen Jenness scored New Zealand's second goal just before the end of third quarter in 43rd minute to set up an intense finish. India's tight defence and some good saves by Srijesh ensured India save their lead till the end of the match to defeat the Black Sticks. Over at the Oi Hockey Stadium, Australia held off a comeback by hosts Japan for a 5-3 win in men's hockey Pool A. The Aussies took a 2-0 lead before the hosts struck back to edge ahead 3-2, with a goal each in the third and fourth quarters sealing the victory.
190 The star India table tennis player fought tooth and nail to take the second game from Long but eventually lost the men's singles contest 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11 Star India table tennis player Sharath Kamal said tactical preparation and mental toughness helped him put up a brave fight in a third-round match against China's Ma Long, the reigning Olympic and world champion, in Tokyo on Tuesday. Sharath fought tooth and nail to take the second game from Long but eventually lost the men's singles contest 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11. "My body language unnerved him. My message was you could be Ma Long but I will not give you the match on a platter. The third game was crucial. Had I won that it could have been a different story. Today everyone saw what I am capable of," Sharath told The Telegraph from Tokyo. "We (national coach Soumyadeep Roy and Sharath) did our homework well. We went through a lot of Ma Long's videos and broke down his style of play. You can't face him just like that."
191 I think it was one of the best matches I have played: Sharath India's Sharath Kamal overcame a sluggish start to beat Portugal's Tiago Apolonia in the men's table tennis singles second round at the Tokyo Games on Monday. The 39-year-old - the only Indian left in the fray - struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 in 49 minutes to set up a clash with defending champion Ma Long of China on Tuesday. Arguably the greatest table tennis player of all time, Ma Long has won every singles title in the sport, and is also the reigning world champion. However, with the way the 32-ranked Sharath played against his 59th-ranked opponent, it has given him immense confidence going into the round of 32 match against the mighty Chinese. "I think it was one of the best matches I have played. The first game I don't know what happened, I could not connect bat with ball. From there I could lift myself up," Sharath said. All timings in IST
192 Varun Kumar, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Harmanpreet Singh strike; Schuth Casella lone scorer for the South Americans The Indian men's hockey team stormed into the Tokyo Olympic quarterfinals with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in their penultimate pool match on Thursday. After goalless first two quarters, India broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through Varun Kumar before Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and Harmanpreet Singh (59th) struck in the closing minutes of the match to seal the contest. Argentina's lone goal came from a penalty corner conversion by Schuth Casella in the 48th minute. By virtue of this win, India have consolidated their position in the second spot of Pool A with three wins and one loss out of four games, behind Australia. Argentina are struggling at the fifth spot in the six-team pool and need to beat New Zealand in their final preliminary match on Friday to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. The top-four make the last-eight stage from each group. India will play hosts Japan in their final pool match on Friday.
193 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Indian men's hockey team for winning an Olympic Medal after a gap of 41-years. Indian Men's hockey team won bronze medal, defeating Germany with 5-4 goals at Tokyo Olympic on Thursday morning. Chief minister Shivraj Singh tweeted, "Team India, you beaut! You did it after 41 years! Heartiest congratulations to Men's Hockey team as they have made India proud by bagging Bronze. Great show of grit, determination and perseverance. This team will inspire our generations to come. Cheers4India, #Tokyo2020 #Olympics." Notably, Madhya Pradesh's hockey star Vivek Prasad is also part of bronze medalist.
194 With a much-improved performance, India's men hockey team have pulled back a much-needed deficit of goal difference on points table with a 3-0 win against Spain at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday. India came into the match after getting hammered 1-7 by Australia. A clean sheet in this important pool A match helps India's cause of progressing from this round. Rupinder Pal Singh striked twice, once in 1st quarter through penalty stroke and second time in 4th quarter when the Spanish came forward to pull one back. Simranjeet opened the scoring for India in the first quarter as India finish first quarter with a 2-0 lead. After conceding seven against Australia, India's defence appeared to be tighter and won back some confidence that this Indian team can end India's long wait for a medal in hockey. Before the match against Spain, India had defeated New Zealand but lost to Australia.
195 The Indian trio of Pravin Jadhav, Atanu Das, and Tarundeep Rai failed to rise to the tough challenge against South Korea in the quarter-final of the men's archery team event here at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field on Monday. The South Korean team comprising of Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, and Oh Jinhyek defeated the Indian team 6-0 to reach the semis. The Koreans put immense pressure on India from the first arrow as they shot 10-10-9 for a 29 and India responded with 8-10-10. Korea then proceeded to shoot 10-10-10 to capture 2 points. In the second set, India responded well as they started with 9-10-10 and 10-10 but an 8 from Das on the last arrow handed another 2 points to the Koreans. The Koreans gathered two 59s in two sets. The Koreans kept their cool and captured the third set with ease as they scored 56 even though they did hit the first 8 of the game. But in the end, it was enough as the Indian trio had filled their sheet with 8s and 9s and lacked consistency. Earlier, the Indian team had defeated the Kazakhstani team of Abdullin Ilfat, Gankin Denis, and Mussayev Sanzhar 6-2 to reach the quarters.
196 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, spoke to the men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, head coach Graham Reid and Assistant Coach Piyush Dubey, congratulating the team on their bronze medal win in the Tokyo Olympics. Speaking to Mr. Singh over a phone call, the PM said "you have scripted history". During the conversation, the Prime Minister also remarked that Mr. Singh's voice wasloud and clear as compared to the day when India had lost to Belgium in the semi-finals. The Indian team captain thanked the Prime Minister for his constant encouragement. Hailing the Indian men's hockey team's win as historic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet said, "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team." The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze medal at the ongoing Games on Thursday.
197 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Rs 1 crore cash reward for Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Indian Hockey Team members Vivek Sagar Prasad and Neelakant Sharma. He also announced that all Indian team players would be honoured. While Vivek belongs to Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Neelakanta Sharma had joined Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in 2011. Sharma played for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy for many years. He left the academy only after getting job in Petroleum Sports Promotion Board. The Indian Men's Hockey Team won the bronze medal defeating Germany with 5-4 goals at Tokyo Olympic on Thursday. "Today, the entire country is celebrating the victory. Our team played fantastic throughout the tournament. They defeated strong teams like Argentina, Germany, Japana etc. It is re-birth of Indian Hockey," Chouhan said. He further said that Rs 1 crore would be given to Vivek Sagar Prasad, who belonged to Itarsi Madhya Pradesh and Neelakant Sharma, who played for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.
198 THE.WAIT.HAS.ENDED. The men's hockey team did what every Indian has been dreaming off - winning an Olympic medal. The Indian side defeatedGermany 5-4 on August 5 at Oi Hockey Stadium to win the bronze medal. The stadium saw mixed emotions from the two sides as India won a medal after 41 years.Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and his men kept Germany at bay after taking the lead to take India on the podium. Soon after the win, netizens took to Twitter to express their happiness on winning the medal. As for the Indian men's hockey team, while Simranjeet Singh scored two goals for India along with Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh also added their names on the scoresheet.
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5 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (95%); MEN'S SPORTS (95%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); GERMANY (94%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); BELGIUM (58%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
6 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (88%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); JAPAN (89%); AUSTRALIA (79%); PAKISTAN (73%); BELGIUM (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
7 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (94%); MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (67%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
8 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTING GOODS (75%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); MOBILE GAMES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%) Company: ADANI ENTERPRISES LTD (92%) Ticker: ADANIENT (NSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS523130 COMMODITY CONTRACTS DEALING (92%); SIC5051 METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES (92%); SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (75%); CLOTHING BY FUNCTION (75%); SPORTING GOODS (75%); MOBILE MEDIA (73%); MOBILE GAMES (72%); CLOTHING LABELS (67%); FASHION INDUSTRY (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
9 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%); BADMINTON (77%); BOXING (77%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (69%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
10 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (71%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
11 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (77%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (72%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (52%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (90%); RAFAEL NADAL (58%); ROGER FEDERER (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); NEW YORK, USA (79%); AUSTRALIA (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
12 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); AWARDS & PRIZES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); BOXING (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WRESTLING (73%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); INDIA (97%); UNITED KINGDOM (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
13 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (52%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); BELGIUM (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
14 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ANIMATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: ANIMATION (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (91%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
15 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); BELGIUM (90%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (56%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
16 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (71%); JAPAN (58%); SPAIN (56%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
17 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); POLICE FORCES (71%) Organization: ASHA (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
19 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); BELGIUM (90%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (56%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
20 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); AIR FARES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (68%); EXECUTIVES (66%) Company: INTERGLOBE AVIATION LTD (91%) Ticker: INDIGO (NSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS481111 SCHEDULED PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORTATION (91%); SIC4512 AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED (91%); AIRLINES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); AIR FARES (77%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
21 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (58%); AUSTRALIA (97%); INDIA (95%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
22 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (94%); MEXICO (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
23 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (67%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (67%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); FIREWORKS (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
24 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN (77%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FOOD INDUSTRY (76%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (89%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
25 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
26 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (67%); DIVIDENDS (62%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (99%); INDONESIA (72%); UNITED STATES (72%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
27 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (99%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
28 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); BASKETBALL (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (59%); INDIA (79%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
29 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); VOLLEYBALL (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: KERALA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
30 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); AIR FARES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (66%); EXECUTIVES (60%) Industry: AIRLINES (89%); AIR FARES (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
31 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ECONOMICS (75%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (75%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (52%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%); ENGLAND (67%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
32 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
33 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RACEWALKING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (65%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: AIRPORTS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (78%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
34 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); MEN (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
35 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPONSORSHIP (78%); COMPUTER SOFTWARE (66%) Geographic: MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
36 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
37 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (91%); MEXICO (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
38 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Company: PERFECTION AS (61%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); BELGIUM (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
39 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); RANKINGS (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (58%); ARGENTINA (97%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); PAKISTAN (73%); SPAIN (73%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
40 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); JOURNALISM (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (73%); TENNIS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); CRICKET (70%); WRITERS (64%) Industry: VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (73%); WRITERS (64%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); CZECH REPUBLIC (58%); ENGLAND (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
41 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Industry: CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (72%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
42 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); KERALA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
43 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BOXING (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); FOLKLORE (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); DANCE (71%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (67%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (67%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (96%); ENGLAND (79%); CHINA (68%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
44 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); ATHLETES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (52%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
45 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BADMINTON (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); CHINA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); TALIBAN (77%); UNITED NATIONS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (71%); TERRORIST ATTACKS (71%); UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS (57%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (77%); AFGHANISTAN (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
47 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); RUNNING (73%); APPOINTMENTS (66%); ARMIES (52%) Industry: ARMIES (52%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); PUNJAB, INDIA (94%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); KENYA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
48 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
49 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
50 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); MEN (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
51 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SOCCER (72%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (78%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
52 Subject: SCHOOL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); GLOBALIZATION (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (75%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (75%); CONSTRUCTION SPENDING (73%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (72%); NEGATIVE NEWS (72%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (72%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (72%); CRICKET (70%); PUBLIC FINANCE (70%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (65%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (55%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE (74%); CONSTRUCTION SPENDING (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
53 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (72%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
54 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (93%); MEXICO (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
55 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (72%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
56 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); BELGIUM (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
57 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); FILM (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%) Industry: FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); KAZAKHSTAN (88%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (77%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); NETHERLANDS (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); BELGIUM (65%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
59 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
60 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (72%); SPAIN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (72%); JAPAN (58%); SPAIN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
62 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (91%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (90%); SPAIN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (73%); JAPAN (72%); AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
63 Subject: VACCINES (94%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (86%); OLYMPICS (86%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); RESPIRATORY DISORDERS & INJURIES (78%); CORONAVIRUSES (77%); DISEASE IMMUNITY (77%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (77%); DEFAMATION (75%); US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 2016 (65%); US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 2020 (65%) Industry: VACCINES (94%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (77%); FARMERS & RANCHERS (76%); MOTOR VEHICLES (50%) Person: ANTHONY FAUCI (92%); JOE BIDEN (74%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TRIPURA, INDIA (93%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
64 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); PANDEMICS (89%); POLITICS (89%); VACCINES (78%); DIWALI (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); FOOD SECURITY (72%); THIS DAY IN HISTORY (67%); OLYMPICS (65%); MEN'S SPORTS (60%) Industry: VACCINES (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
65 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
66 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%); ARGENTINA (94%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (73%); JAPAN (58%); SOUTH AMERICA (56%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
67 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (76%); WATER RESOURCES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
68 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); HARYANA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
69 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); CHILDREN (76%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (50%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
70 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
71 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
72 Subject: DEATH NOTICES & OBITUARIES (92%); BADMINTON (90%); DEATH & DYING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS COMMISSIONERS (78%); TENNIS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (77%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (76%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (54%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (54%); PRIME MINISTERS (52%) Company: METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP (52%) Ticker: MCB (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (52%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (52%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
73 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); POLITICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PUBLIC FINANCE (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (72%); BADMINTON (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
74 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); EMOTIONS (72%); SMALL BUSINESS (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
75 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (92%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
76 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); PAKISTAN (59%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
77 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
78 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PARALYMPICS (78%); STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (73%); WHEELCHAIR & DISABILITY SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
79 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); EMOTIONS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (56%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
80 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (90%); SPAIN (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (73%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
81 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POOL & BILLIARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (78%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
82 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
84 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); FAKE NEWS (72%); NEGATIVE NEWS (72%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (60%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (58%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (58%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (87%); INDIA (95%); PAKISTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (79%); AFGHANISTAN (70%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
85 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
86 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SELFIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (64%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (64%) Company: XIAOMI INC (90%); QUALCOMM INC (53%) Ticker: 01810 (HKSE) (90%); QCOM (NASDAQ) (53%) Industry: NAICS334111 ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MANUFACTURING (90%); SIC3571 ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS (90%); NAICS334413 SEMICONDUCTOR & RELATED DEVICE MANUFACTURING (53%); NAICS334220 RADIO & TELEVISION BROADCASTING & WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (53%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (91%); SMARTPHONES (90%); CAMERAS (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SELFIES (78%); CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MFG (73%); TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT MFG (73%); LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (67%); MONITORS & DISPLAYS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
87 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (77%); BADMINTON (77%); CELEBRITIES (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (72%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
88 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (94%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (92%); BELGIUM (91%); GERMANY (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
89 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); KAZAKHSTAN (57%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
90 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
91 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%); INTERNET VIDEO (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
92 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); ATHLETES (72%) Geographic: MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
93 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (57%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (57%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
94 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); WRESTLING (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); MURDER (67%); PRIME MINISTERS (64%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); HELSINKI, FINLAND (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); COLOMBIA (79%); BULGARIA (53%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
95 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
96 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (65%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); JAPAN (58%); PAKISTAN (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
97 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (92%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
98 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); CONSUMERS (74%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); EXECUTIVES (67%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (52%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (51%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
99 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN (89%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (72%); EMOTIONS (67%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (72%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (92%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
100 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (90%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
101 Subject: ARCHERY (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); RANKINGS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (77%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (76%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
102 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (90%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); MEXICO (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
103 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); BOXING (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); ARCHERY (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
104 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (68%) Industry: SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); ODISHA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
105 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOARDSPORTS (90%); EXTREME SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SKATEBOARDING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (72%); EMOTIONS (67%) Company: AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (90%) Ticker: ALMUDON (KUW) (90%) Industry: NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (90%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); JAPAN (90%); KUWAIT (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
106 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); PRIME MINISTERS (51%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (90%); PAKISTAN (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (74%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
107 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); KAZAKHSTAN (94%); GUATEMALA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
108 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (93%); GUATEMALA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
109 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (90%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Company: PERFECTION AS (66%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (60%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (77%); KYRGYZSTAN (77%); AZERBAIJAN (73%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (54%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
111 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); VIRAL VIDEOS (77%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); VIRAL VIDEOS (77%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
112 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CRICKET (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (91%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%); BELGIUM (73%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
113 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); CRICKET (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (90%); ENGLAND (79%); MEXICO (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
114 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (94%); FIREARMS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CROWD CONTROL (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (70%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (68%); POLICE FORCES (56%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
116 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
117 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
118 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
119 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (70%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
120 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CRICKET (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (95%); BELGIUM (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
121 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); TRACK & FIELD (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (75%); ANCIENT HISTORY (73%); CLASSICS (73%); ARMIES (50%) Industry: ARMIES (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); POLAND (50%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
122 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); CONTUSIONS (78%); FACIAL INJURIES (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
123 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); ARGENTINA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); JAPAN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); NETHERLANDS (88%); BELGIUM (79%); SOUTH AMERICA (55%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
124 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
125 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); ATHLETES (91%); BOXING (91%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); LONDON, ENGLAND (74%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
126 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PARALYMPICS (90%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BUSINESS EDUCATION (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (68%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (63%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); ODISHA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
127 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (91%); ATHLETES (90%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PARALYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BUSINESS EDUCATION (79%); CELEBRITIES (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); WHEELCHAIR & DISABILITY SPORTS (73%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (68%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (63%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%) Industry: EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (90%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (90%); CELEBRITIES (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
128 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
129 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
130 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
131 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DRUG TESTING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); ARCHERY (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (53%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
132 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%); AKSHAY KUMAR (88%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
133 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (70%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
134 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (89%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
135 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); CHILDREN (87%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (72%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (66%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
136 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (68%); ORTHOPEDICS (67%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (65%) Industry: ORTHOPEDICS (67%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (95%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); WEST INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
137 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (67%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (91%); TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); INDONESIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
138 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); WRESTLING (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); AWARDS & PRIZES (76%); CELEBRITIES (75%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (65%); WEIGHTLIFTING (51%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (75%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
140 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
141 Subject: TENNIS (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACCREDITATION (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); GERMANY (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
142 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
143 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
144 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
145 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (66%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (53%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
146 Subject: BASKETBALL (95%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); DEATH & DYING (71%); ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (64%); TRAFFIC FATALITIES (64%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (50%) Industry: TRAFFIC FATALITIES (64%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (50%) Person: MICHAEL JORDAN (79%) Geographic: SACRAMENTO, CA, USA (79%); CHICAGO, IL, USA (54%); UNITED STATES (96%); CROATIA (79%); NORTH AMERICA (79%); SERBIA (79%); FRANCE (78%); NIGERIA (66%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
147 Subject: RANKINGS (93%); ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTINGS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
148 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (68%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (79%); SPAIN (57%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
149 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (62%); MENTAL HEALTH (60%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
150 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (68%); JAPAN (86%); CHINA (71%); HONG KONG (71%); THAILAND (53%); NETHERLANDS (52%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
151 Subject: ELECTIONS & POLITICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); POLITICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); ECONOMIC CONDITIONS (89%); EMERGING MARKETS (88%); ECONOMIC RECOVERY (79%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (79%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); BUSINESS NEWS (74%); ECONOMIC GROWTH (74%); ECONOMY & ECONOMIC INDICATORS (74%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (74%); VACCINES (50%) Industry: VACCINES (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
152 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Company: PERFECTION AS (65%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%); BELGIUM (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
153 Subject: TRACK & FIELD (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); WRESTLING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (73%); BIOMECHANICS (71%); ATHLETES (69%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (91%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
154 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); CHILDREN (72%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (91%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
155 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); EMOTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (79%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); MEN (73%); TRENDS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%); BELGIUM (73%); SPAIN (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
156 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (73%) Company: TALLGRASS ENERGY CORP (51%) Industry: NAICS211130 NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION (51%); NAICS211120 CRUDE PETROLEUM EXTRACTION (51%); SIC1321 NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS (51%); SIC1311 CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (51%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
157 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (90%); KAZAKHSTAN (71%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
158 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
159 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); VIRUSES (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
160 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); FAMILY (74%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (71%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
161 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POLITICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (72%); VACCINES (64%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (63%); HOSTAGE TAKING (62%); CORRUPTION (60%); AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS & IMPORTS (50%); ANNIVERSARIES (50%) Industry: VACCINES (64%); AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS & IMPORTS (50%); AGRICULTURE (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
162 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); ARCHERY (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%); VIRUSES (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (65%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
163 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
164 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (73%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (89%) Geographic: ATLANTA, GA, USA (57%); AUSTRALIA (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (78%); UZBEKISTAN (76%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
165 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
166 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (87%); PETITIONS (86%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); RESIGNATIONS (71%); LITIGATION (66%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (61%); SPYWARE (61%); LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (60%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); SUPREME COURTS (60%) Industry: SPYWARE (61%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
167 Subject: ARCHERY (93%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (71%); WEATHER (68%); MALNUTRITION (66%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (55%) Geographic: MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (56%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
168 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); POLITICS (77%); FACT CHECKING (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (72%); CRICKET (69%); OLYMPICS (69%); WINTER OLYMPICS (63%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (95%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
169 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
170 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
171 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
172 Subject: TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (88%); SPAIN (55%); CROATIA (52%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
173 Subject: TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (88%); SPAIN (55%); CROATIA (52%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
174 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (91%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
175 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (62%) Geographic: GERMANY (96%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
176 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (62%) Geographic: GERMANY (96%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
177 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
178 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
179 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
180 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
181 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
182 Subject: TENNIS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (76%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); STUDENT EXPENSES & FINANCING (74%); TOURNAMENTS (69%) Organization: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (56%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%); RAFAEL NADAL (75%); ROGER FEDERER (75%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED STATES (90%); EUROPE (77%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
183 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (88%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
184 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (90%); NEW ZEALAND (57%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
185 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: UKRAINE (52%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
186 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (72%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
187 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
188 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MEN (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (90%); NEW ZEALAND (88%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
189 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (91%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
190 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
191 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
192 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POOL & BILLIARDS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (78%); NEW ZEALAND (72%); JAPAN (58%); SOUTH AMERICA (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
193 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
194 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (91%); SPAIN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND (57%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
195 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
196 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); PRIME MINISTERS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
197 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
198 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: GERMANY (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021men1<-men%>%
mutate(Classification="Men")
men1 newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
2 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
3 MINT August 9, 2021
4 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
5 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
6 MINT August 1, 2021
7 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
8 MINT July 23, 2021
9 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
11 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
12 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
13 MINT August 3, 2021
14 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
15 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
16 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
18 MINT August 7, 2021
19 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
20 MINT August 8, 2021
21 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
22 MINT August 5, 2021
23 MINT July 23, 2021
24 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
25 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
26 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
27 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
28 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
29 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
30 MINT August 8, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
32 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
33 MINT August 9, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
35 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
36 MINT August 5, 2021
37 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
38 MINT August 3, 2021
39 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
40 MINT August 8, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
42 MINT August 9, 2021
43 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
44 MINT July 29, 2021
45 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
46 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
48 MINT August 8, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
51 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
52 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
53 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
54 MINT August 5, 2021
55 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
56 MINT August 3, 2021
57 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
58 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
59 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
60 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
61 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
62 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
63 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
64 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
65 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
66 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
67 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
68 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
69 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
70 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
71 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
72 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
73 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
74 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
75 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
76 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
77 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
78 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
79 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
80 MINT July 27, 2021
81 MINT July 29, 2021
82 The Hindu August 9, 2021
83 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
84 India Today Online August 3, 2021
85 India Today Online August 5, 2021
86 India Today Online August 9, 2021
87 Indian Express August 2, 2021
88 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021
89 Indian Express August 7, 2021
90 DNA August 3, 2021
91 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
92 India Today Online August 5, 2021
93 Free Press Journal (India) July 22, 2021
94 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
95 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
96 DNA August 2, 2021
97 Indian Express August 5, 2021
98 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
99 India Today Online August 5, 2021
100 India Today Online August 5, 2021
101 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
102 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
103 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021
104 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
105 DNA July 26, 2021
106 DNA August 3, 2021
107 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
108 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
109 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021
110 DNA August 7, 2021
111 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
112 DNA August 4, 2021
113 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
114 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021
115 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021
116 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
117 DNA August 1, 2021
118 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
119 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
120 DNA August 5, 2021
121 DNA August 7, 2021
122 The Telegraph (India) August 1, 2021
123 Indian Express July 29, 2021
124 DNA August 5, 2021
125 Indian Express July 30, 2021
126 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
127 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021
128 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
129 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
130 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021
131 DNA July 26, 2021
132 DNA August 5, 2021
133 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
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1 India's 41-year-long wait for an Olympic medal in hockey came to an end on Thursday when the men's hockey team beat Germany 5-4 to take the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. This was India's first podium finish in Olympics hockey after their gold-medal-winning run in 1980 Moscow Olympics. This was India's third bronze and 12th hockey medal overall at the Games. Here is a list of all the podium finishes in hockey that India have achieved so far in the quadrennial showpiece. The country is the most successful team in the Olympics. 1928 Amsterdam Olympics: GOLD India won their first medal in Olympic hockey by beating Netherlands 3-0 in the finals of the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. This was also India's first gold medal ever at the Olympics. 1932, Los Angeles: GOLD India defended their title four years later in Los Angeles and bagged consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. In the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, India defeated USA 24-1, which continuous to be biggest margin of victory in the history Olympics hockey. 1936, Berlin: GOLD The Dhyan Chand-led Indian side completed a hat-trick of golds in Olympics by beating Germany 8-1 - the biggest margin in Olympics hockey finals - in front of their home crowd in Berlin in 1936. 1948, London: GOLD India continued their domination in the Games despite the 1940 and 1944 getting cancelled due to the second World War. This was India's first medal in Olympics after independence and what made it sweeter was the fact that they had beaten Great Britain 4-0 in the finals. 1952, Helsinki: GOLD Balbir Singh Sr scored five goals in the Olympics final against Netherlands as India won their fifth straight gold medal at the mega event. 1956, Melbourne: GOLD In what marked as the beginning of the arch-rivals, India beat neighbours Pakistan 1-0 in the finals in Melbourne 1960, Rome: SILVER The 0-1 loss to Pakistan ended India's six straight Olympic gold-winning run in the Rome Olympics in 1960. The Indian men's hockey team had to be satisfied with a silver. 1964, Tokyo: GOLD India came back strongly in the next Olympics held in Tokyo and beat Pakistan in the finals to bag their seventh gold in the Olympics. 1968, Mexico City: BRONZE This was the first time that the Indian team failed to make the finals of an Olympic. They were beaten by Australia in the semi-final and had to be settled with a bronze after beating West Germany. 1972, Munich: BRONZE India once again failed to make it to the finals of the Olympics after they were beaten by Pakistan in the semifinals. India beat Netherlands to claim their second bronze. 1980, Moscow: GOLD In the Olympic Games played in a format which did not have semi-finals, India beat Spain in the finals to claim their 8th gold medal in Olympics. 2021, Tokyo: BRONZE India beat Germany 5-4 to bag their 12th medal in the Olympics - a bronze - after 41 years.
2 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday decided to celebrate India's most successful ever campaign at the Olympics by announcing cash rewards for all the medal winners at the Tokyo Games. the In a tweet, BCCI secretary Jay Shah also announced that Neeraj Chopra, India's first-ever gold medal winner in athletics - he won gold in men's javelin throw event - will get Rs.1 crore from the board. Rs.50 lakh each will be given to silver medallists -- weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya. "Our athletes have made the country proud by finishing on the podium at @Tokyo2020. The @BCCI acknowledges their stellar efforts and we are delighted to announce cash prizes for the medallists," Jay Shah tweeted. Mirabai Chanu won India's first weightlifting medal at the Games and Ravi Dahiya became only the second wrestler from the country to win a silver after Sushil Kumar (2012). The bronze medallists -- wrestler Bajrang Punia, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and shuttler P V Sindhu -- will get Rs.25 lakh each. Sindhu became the first Indian woman and the second athlete overall to win two Olympic medals. She had won silver five years ago at the Rio Olympics. The men's hockey team which won its first Olympic medal in 41 years will get Rs.1.25 crore. India beat Germany 5-4 to win their third bronze medal and take their overall medal tally in Olympics to 12. India finished Tokyo 2020 with seven medals, making it their most successful campaign at the Games. India bettered their tally of six medals at the London Olympics in 2012.
3 Indian athletes who won laurels for the nation at Tokyo Olympics were honoured in a grand ceremony in Delhi. Sport Minister Anurag Thakur and others welcomed the successful athletes and felicitated them. Seven medalists, namely Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain and the men's national hockey team, were felicitated during the ceremony. Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu couldn't attend the event as they had arrived earlier and are currently at their home bases. The man of the hour was Neeraj Chopra who won the first gold for India in athletics. "We all come from middle-class families and support of the families is essential," Chopra said after being felicitated by Thakur. While Chopra won the solo gold for India at Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya bagged the silver medals. The bronze medals, apart from the men's hockey team, were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, and wrestler Bajrang Punia. "It feels great, I would like to thank the government, SAI and IOA for helping us during our quarantine time. They gave us all the support," said men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh. "I am very happy to be back home. I knew India is very happy but after coming back here, to get this love first hand, it feels really nice. I would try to do my best for more such medals," Borgohain said. "I only tried to give my best," said Punia, who fought through his semifinals without any protective gear on his injured knee. Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the medal winners also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Sports) Ravi Mittal and Director-General of Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan. "Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world.even in sports," Thakur said. "The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around. Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence," he added. Tokyo Olympics marked many firsts for India, starting with the biggest ever contingent of 128 athletes. The seven Olympic medals - one gold, two silver and four bronze - was the highest India has ever won in any version of the Gamesw. Apart from the first Olympic gold medal in an athletics event, two successive medals in consecutive Games by Sindhu, and a medal by the Indian men's team in hockey after a gap of 41 years. Also, the women's hockey team achieved its best ever fourth place finish in the Games. So did golfer Aditi Ashok, who too finished fourth in women's golf. "We will continue to support our sports persons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse," Thakur said. Thakur's predecessor Rijiju praised the performances of all the athletes and reiterated that India will be a force to reckon with by the 2028 Olympics. "This is just the beginning because India's resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that by 2028 Olympics India will be a force to reckon with," Rijiju mentioned.
4 India vs Belgium Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics Live Streaming: The stage is set for an enthralling encounter as India men's hockey team will face off against the 2018 World Champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. India picked a solid win over Great Britian to book a semis spot after over four decades and they will be eager to cause an upset and go past the World Champions. Tokyo Olympics Day 10 - LIVE! All you need to know about India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Tuesday (August 3rd). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semifinal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
5 India vs Germany Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: After going down fighting to current world champions Belgium in the semi-final match, the Indian men's hockey team will fight for the bronze medal against Germany, who lost their semifinal to Australia. The last time India won a medal was way back in 1980 when they won gold. The men's hockey team now has a chance to get back to the podium after more than four decades. All you need to know about India vs Germany Hockey Men's Bronze Medal Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where will India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 07:00 AM IST on Thursday (August 5th). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020 and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Germany hockey men's bronze medal match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
6 Indian men's hockey team on Sunday defeated Great Britain in the quarterfinals 3-1. Now, the Indian team will face Belgium in semi-finals. This is historic as India has entered semifinals of Olympics Games after 49 years. The last time Indian team featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games. But they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. Today, the India team was ahead from the very beginning, with two goals in first two quarters. Great Britain tried to make a comeback but couldn't cross the solid defense by Indian goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh. In total, India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win against GB. Desperate Great Britain's only goal came in the 45th minute. The Men in Blue was up against Great Britain in quarterfinal after a long gap of 41 years. Before facing Great Britain, the Indians had won four of five matches to finish second in Pool A behind Australia. Great Britain, on the other hand, had finished third in Pool B with two wins, one loss and one draw. Before this game, India had played Great Britain eight times in the Olympics, winning four and losing as many games. However, India held an edge in terms of goals scored in the Olympics. On 30 July, the Indian team had defeated Japan 5-3 in the Tokyo Olympics. This was India's fourth win in the mega event. Japan scored three goals but the Indian boys were in the lead throughout the game and dominated proceedings. In Olympics, the Indian hockey team has so far scored eight gold medals, with the last one in the 1980 Moscow Games. However, since then, Indian hockey's performance dipped. The Indians registered their best finish - a fifth place - in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The team had failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games and finished last in the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, in the last five years, Indian hockey improved its performances, and climbed to the third place in the world rankings. Punjab announces Rs.2.25 cr each for state's hockey players on winning gold On 30 July, Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi announced that the hockey players from the state participating in the Tokyo Olympics would now get Rs.2.25 crore individually on winning a team gold medal. Earlier, an amount of Rs.2.25 crore was given to the entire team for winning a gold medal. Rana Sodhi said that "out of a total of 20 players from Punjab, 11 players are giving their best in the Indian hockey team competing in Tokyo Olympics". He expressed hope that the country will win 3 to 4 medals in the Olympics.
7 India Vs Great Britain Hockey Match Live Streaming, Tokyo Olympics: The stage is set for the India men's hockey team's next match. They take on the might Great Britain in the quarterfinals of Tokyo 2020. After starting on a winning note against New Zealand in Pool A, India suffered an embarrassing 1-7 defeat to Australia. However, the stars bounced back to win three on the trot to finish second in the Pool. On the other hand, the British team experienced a mixed bag of results in Pool B. After two wins and defeats each and one draw, they finished third in their group with 8 points from 5 matches. Can India move closer to the final on Sunday? (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) All you need to know about India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020: TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 9 BLOG Where will India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 take place? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will take place at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo, Japan. At what time does India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 begin? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will begin at 05:30 PM IST on Sunday (August 1). Where and how to watch live coverage of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020? India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 online and mobile? The online streaming of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary, scorecard, and latest updates of India vs Great Britain Hockey Men's Quarter Final Match, Tokyo Olympics 2020 on .
8 The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today roped in the Adani Group as a sponsor for the Indian contingent at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Games. The development was announced by IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta, who is in Tokyo. Taking to Twitter, Mehta wrote, "We are Happy to inform you about one more sponsorship which is confirmed by Adani Group to IOA for the Olympics since our last update to you on 16th July." "Adani has confirmed to us a good sponsorship association and support for future also," he added. Adani Sportsline also took to Twitter saying, "Proud to announce that we are now the Official Partner for Team India at the #TokyoOlympics. Let's roar together in support of our team and back them in conquering the Olympic games." The IOA had earlier entered into sponsorship deals with various private entities, including diary giant Amul, mobile gaming platform MPL Sports Foundation, JSW Sports among others. IOA had inked the deals after dropping Chinese sportswear brand Li Ning as the Indian team's official kit sponsor for the Tokyo Olympics and stating that the country's athletes will wear unbranded apparel during the Games. Mary Kom, Manpreet lead India's charge in Parade of Nations Five-time world champion Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh led the way as India made its way at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics on Friday here at the Japan National Stadium. Back home, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur was also seen waving the Indian flag as the Indian contingent made its way into the stadium. Twenty-five members from the Indian contingent attended the Opening Ceremony amid the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital. After much debate on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to the COVID-19 situation, the Games were finally declared open on Friday as fireworks kickstarted the Opening Ceremony here at the Japan National Stadium.
9 July 27 once again promises to be a positive day for the Indians as they hope the shooters to bring their campaign back on track with the mixed team events. Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma, Yashaswini Deswal would look to rise from the disappointments of the individual events and give India medals. Boxer Lovlina will start her campaign in the round of 16 while the men's hockey team will look to bounce back from the crushing 1-7 loss to Australia and get back on the winning ways against Spain. Paddler Sharath Kamal will carry India's hopes in table tennis when in his third round match. Here is India's schedule on Day 4 of the Tokyo Olympics Shooting *Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker and Yeshahswini Deswal/Abhishek Verma in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification: 05:30am IST followed by final. *Elavenil Valarivan/Divyansh Singh Panwar and Anjum Moudgil/Deepak Kumar in 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification: 9:45am IST followed by final. Hockey India vs Spain in Men's Pool A match: 6:30am IST Badminton Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Ben Lane/Sean Vendy (Great Britain) in Men's Doubles Group A Match: 8:30am IST. Boxing:*Lovlina Borgohain vs Nadine Apetz (Germany) in Women's 69kg Round of 16 Bout: 11:33am IST. Sailing *Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radial Race: 08:35am IST. *Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race: 08:45am IST. *KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in Men's Skiff 49er Race: 11:50am IST. Table Tennis *Achanta Sharath Kamal vs Ma Long (China) in Men's Singles Round 3 Match: 8:30am IST.
10 Tokyo Olympics Day 11 Full Schedule: The Tokyo Olympics enters its 11th day which promises full of action for the Indian fans. Javelin thrower Annu Rani will begin the day in women's Group A qualification. All eyes will be on the men's hockey team that made it to the semi-finals after 41 years. They will play the historic encounter against World Champions Belgium. Wrestler Sonam Malik will also be in action as she will compete in freestyle 62kg event. If she qualifies, Sonam is slated to play her semifinal match on the same day. Tajinderpal Singh Toor will compete in the men's shot put qualification round tomorrow. Here is India's schedule on Day 10 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: Athletics: 5:50 AM: Annu Rani in women's javelin throw Qualification Group A 3:45 AM: Tajinderpal Singh Toor in men's shot put Qualification Group A Hockey: 7:00 AM: India vs Belgium in men's semifinal: Wrestling: 8:30 AM: Sonam Malik vs Bolortuya Khurelkhuu (Mongolia) in women's 62kg If Sonam qualifies, then she will compete in the Women's freestyle 62 Kg semi-final. Match will start at 2:45 PM.
11 There's something about the recent battles between Novak Djokovic and Pablo Carreno Busta. They evoke drama. They produce emotions. They hold significance. In New York in September 2020, when the two met at the US Open, the Serb struck the line judge unintentionally with a ball in a moment of rage. He was disqualified. In Tokyo in July 2021, in multiple moments of frustration, he flung his racquet in the stands and also into the net. An exhausted Djokovic exited the Olympics with a defeat in the bronze medal match. The world No. 1 came to Tokyo eyeing a gold medal and a Golden Slam. He is leaving Tokyo without a medal of any kind and the confidence of completing a Calendar Slam slightly shaken. A racquet-smashing Djokovic lost to the Spaniard 4-6, 7-6(6), 3-6 in the men's singles bronze medal encounter on Saturday. Shortly after that, he pulled out of the mixed doubles bronze medal tie with partner Nina Stojanovic citing a shoulder injury. Australia's Ashley Barty and John Peers were awarded the medal. All of this came a day after Djokovic saw his year-long dream of becoming the first man to achieve the Golden Slam - winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold in the same year - turn into a nightmare from being a set and a break up against Alexander Zverev in the semi-final. The last time Djokovic lost two singles matches in a row was in November 2019 in the round robin stage of the ATP Finals. The last time Djokovic won a medal at the Olympics was a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, losing to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in London. In Rio he was out in the first round. In Tokyo, he also lost a significant volume of energy. In the taxing heat that forced the start of tennis matches to be pushed back, Djokovic also signed up to play mixed doubles. The 34-year-old played two matches on Wednesday, two on Thursday and two on Friday. Djokovic looked spent, emotionally and physically, towards the end of his match against Carreno Busta. The US Open - where Djokovic will bid to complete a Calendar Slam after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year - begins in less than a month. And his Tokyo experience has the potential to derail that as well. "The consequences physically, hopefully, will not create a problem for me for the US Open, but that's something that I'm not sure about right now," Djokovic told reporters after the match. After tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at 20 Grand Slams at Wimbledon, this was meant to be Djokovic's year. This was also meant to be Djokovic's Olympics, and it looked every bit like one. The Serb was the cynosure of all eyes in the Games Village - clicking selfies with athletes (ask most of the Indians), working on his splits with Belgian gymnasts, cheering the loudest for his fellow Serb competitors with the entire contingent watching together on TV. "I don't regret coming to (the) Olympics at all," Djokovic said.
12 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday scripted history by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics during the Tokyo Olympics. And if there is anyone who knows what it feels like to win an individual gold medal for India, it is none other than 2008 Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra. Fittingly enough, he had a special message for India's second individual gold medallist. In a thread on Twitter, Bindra congratulated Chopra, who won the top prize with a throw of 87.58m in the men's javelin throw event. The third tweet had video in which Bindra said: (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage > "Dearest Neeraj, I know how much effort and belief has gone into your quest to be the best and win that gold medal at your first Olympics. it is such an emotional moment for me as it was for every Indian. The world is your playground and your achievement will be a symbol of experience which we will always treasure. My sincerest congratulations and all my respect." In another tweet, Bindra uploaded a signed letter for the Tokyo 2020 men's javelin champion. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 15 BLOG Neeraj is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from independent India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Neeraj won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.58m in his second attempt. The only medal that India had won in track-and-field events was back in 1900 when British-Indian Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in Paris. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's medals to India though various research, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain. Neeraj Chopra's gold took India's medal count to seven at the Tokyo Olympics - the best ever, bettering the tally of six medals at the London Olympics in 2012. Chopra also became the sixth Indian athlete to win an individual medal at Tokyo 2020 joining weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, shuttler PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang Punia.
13 The Indian men's hockey team today was defeated by the Belgians in a closely contested semi-final match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Belgium defeated India 5-2 which saw the Belgium team creating chances with penalty corners and converting them into goals. Alexander Hendrickx scored three goals in the match for Belgium and helping his team qualify for the final. India will now play for the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics Belgium started on a strong note as it scored the first goal by Luypaert in the second minute of the play. However, Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal for India and also helped in equalising the scoreline. India took the lead by scoring the second goal which was scored by Mandeep but once again Belgium had scored the equaliser from a penalty corner scored by Hendrickx. Belgium broke the deadlock in the fourth quarter after their top scorer Hendrickx scored two goals and taking his tally to 13 goals in the tournament. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted,"I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best!" I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020 . Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best! - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2021
14 Be it on or off the pitch, PR Sreejesh is arguably the most animated character in the Indian men's hockey team. He was no different on Saturday as India took on New Zealand in their Tokyo Olympics opener at the Oi Hockey Stadium. As the game entered the final quarter, and the clock ticked towards the 60-minute mark, his shrieks also rose in volume with the seasoned goalkeeper constantly barking instructions to his teammates. These were crucial moments as India led 3-2 with New Zealand pushing for an equaliser. A win would kick-off India's Olympic campaign on a positive note while a draw or loss to their lower-ranked opponent would hinder their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals right at the start. The 33-year-old Sreejesh, now a three-time Olympian, is in the thick of action with the Black Sticks, desperately chasing a goal, ramping up attacks on the Indian goal. Sreejesh though stood like a rock between the New Zealand attacks and the goal in the last few minutes, and then seconds, making two match-winning saves from two back-to-back penalty corners, ensuring India took three points for the win. Despite the multiple saves throughout the game-four penalty corners in the last few minutes of the first quarter itself-the highlight was Sreejesh's save 18 seconds from the hooter when a full stretch and block with his left hand saved what could have been New Zealand's equaliser. It emphasised the value the India goalie attaches to the Tokyo Games campaign. "When I look back at my own career, I have a lot of FIH medals, medals almost in every tournament, but not one in World Cup or Olympics," Sreejesh had told PTI before leaving for Tokyo. From the disappointment of not winning a game at London 2012 to Belgium ousting India in the quarter-finals of Rio 2016, Sreejesh-who debuted for India in 2006-has been at the centre of previous frustrations and heartbreaks. "It can be my last Olympics, so for me it's about what more I can achieve as an athlete, what I can get from this Olympics? That can only be a medal. This is what is giving me extra energy. This is what is helping us to wake up from our bed every morning and work hard. This is a dream I am living for the last 15 years and willing to do so for the next 15 years," he had said. As he took off his helmet after the match, with the Tokyo temperature soaring to 33 degrees Celsius on a humid day, Sreejesh's face was etched in delight, the seasoned goalkeeper proud of his contribution. His heroics would be needed even more when India face the mighty Australia in the second Pool A game on Sunday. Australia beat Japan 5-3 on Saturday. India's goals came via drag-flickers Rupinder Pal Singh (10th min) and Harmanpreet Singh (26th, 33rd) while Kane Russell (6th) and Stephen Jenness (43rd) scored for New Zealand.
15 India men's hockey team lost their semifinal match against the 2018 world champions Belgium on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics, thus missing out on a chance to make their first Olympic final in over four decades. The last time India had played the men's hockey final at the Olympics was back in 1980 when the team had won the gold medal. This was India's first meeting against Belgium since their 2-3 defeat in the FIH Pro League match in February 2019. But India's campaign is still not over as they would compete in the Bronze medal match on Thursday where they will face the loser of the second semifinal between Australia and Germany. India got off to a nervy start, conceding an early penalty corner in the semifinal. Felix Denayer sent a ball inside the scoring circle, and the ball was deflected off by Rupinder Singh. Despite Alexander Hendrickx not being on the turf at that point, Luick Luypaert made the most of the opportunity and scored an early goal for Belgium in the second minute of the first quarter. It took India nine minutes to get things back to level pegging as Harmanpreet Singh smashed a powerful dragflick past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch after the World Champions conceded a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Amit Rohidas passed a ball to Mandeep Singh inside the circle, and the Indian forward turned a tomahawk shot into the nets to give India the lead. But Belgium came back strong in the 2nd quarter, getting as many as four penalty corners within a matter of minutes. Hendrickx scored his 12th goal of the Olympics from a penalty corner, getting things again back to level terms as both teams went into the halftime with two goals apiece. The third quarter was a cagey affair with neither of the two teams getting too many opportunities but India's inability to prevent penalty corners cost them in the final 15 minutes. Alexander Hendrickx scored two more goals, the fourth one coming from a penalty stroke. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India had won all their games so far, but could not surpass the Belgium test. (More details awaited)
16 India men's hockey team scripted history on Thursday as they defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The thrilling encounter between the two teams saw India come back from behind twice to push for the win. Simranjeet Singh scored twice, while Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and Hardik Singh scored one goal apiece, as India clinched the bronze medal. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since the gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 1980 in Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team in a tweet, in which he said that the nation is proud of the efforts put in by the hockey players in Tokyo. Highlights: How India won bronze medal in Tokyo "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian," PM Modi wrote. "Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team," he added. It was a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, and the 5-2 loss in the semifinal to the World Champions Belgium, India won all their games in Tokyo.
17 The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday announced an award of Rs. 1 crore for Varun Kumar after the Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Kumar, who hails from Dalhousie in Chamba district, will also be appointed as deputy superintendent of police, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said. "It is a matter of pride that the Indian team has won an Olympics medal in hockey after 41 years," said Thakur, adding that the government had increased the cash prize for Olympic gold medal winners to Rs.2 crore, Rs.1.20 crore for silver medal winners and Rs.1 crore for bronze medal winners. Senior Congress MLA from Dalhouse, Asha Kumari, urged the CM to build a sports complex in the region. She told the House that Kumar belongs to the Gaddi tribe of Chamba district and had won the Man of the Match award in the World Junior Hockey championship. She said that players have to go to Punjab for training and sport facilities should be developed in the state. Kumar's family had also moved to Jalandhar a few years ago. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Rakesh Pathania said the state government will avail Kumar's services in promoting Hockey in Himachal. He said a Rs.7-crore hockey astroturf was coming up at Nahan . "Hockey is popular in Nahan and Paonta Sahib and an international hockey centre is being setting up there," he said.
18 As India signs off with 7 medals from Tokyo Olympics, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced cash rewards for all the winners. Among the athletes who have bagged medals in this season for India are Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and Men's Hockey Team. BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced the cash rewards for the medallists via a tweet. These are as follows: - Rs.1 crore for gold medalist Neeraj Chopra - Rs.50 lakh each for silver medalists Mirabai Chanu & Ravi Kumar Dahiya - Rs.25 lakh each for bronze medalists PV Sidhu, Lovlina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia - Rs.1.25 crore to Hockey Men's Team for bronze medal With Neeraj Chopra's gold today in men's javelin throw, India's medal tally has gone up to 7 - highest so far in any Olympics. India now have one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. With 126 athletes across 18 sports disciplines, India had sent its biggest-ever contingent to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country. For India, first medal came in weightlifting, in which Mirabai Chanu won Silver. On the 7th day of the quadrennial event, Lovlina Borgohain secured the second medal for the country in boxing. She won Bronze. Ace shutter PV Sindhu, too, won Bronze by defeating Bing Jiao of China. This time, there were several notable firsts in terms of participation at Tokyo Olympics. For the first time in its history, a fencer from India (Bhavani Devi) had qualified for the Olympic Games.
19 India men's hockey team lost their semifinal match against the 2018 world champions Belgium on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics, thus missing out on a chance to make their first Olympic final in over four decades. The last time India had played the men's hockey final at the Olympics was back in 1980 when the team had won the gold medal. This was India's first meeting against Belgium since their 2-3 defeat in the FIH Pro League match in February 2019. But India's campaign is still not over as they would compete in the Bronze medal match on Thursday where they will face the loser of the second semifinal between Australia and Germany. Highlights: India vs Belgium Men's Hockey SF India got off to a nervy start, conceding an early penalty corner in the semifinal. Felix Denayer sent a ball inside the scoring circle, and the ball was deflected off by Rupinder Pal Singh. Despite Alexander Hendrickx not being on the turf at that point, Luick Luypaert made the most of the opportunity and scored an early goal for Belgium in the second minute of the first quarter. It took India nine minutes to get things back to level-pegging as Harmanpreet Singh smashed a powerful dragflick past Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch after the World Champions conceded a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Amit Rohidas passed a ball to Mandeep Singh inside the circle, and the Indian forward turned a tomahawk shot into the nets to give India the lead. Tokyo Olympics Day 11 - LIVE! But Belgium came back strong in the 2nd quarter, getting as many as four penalty corners within a matter of minutes. Hendrickx scored his 12th goal of the Olympics from a penalty corner, getting things again back to level terms as both teams went into the halftime with two goals apiece. The third quarter was a cagey affair with neither of the two teams getting too many opportunities but India's inability to prevent penalty corners cost them in the final 15 minutes. Alexander Hendrickx scored two more goals, the fourth one coming from a penalty stroke. With India putting an extra attacker on the field, and PR Sreejesh not on the turf, Belgium veteran John-John Dohmen scored the fifth goal in the dying minutes. But by that point, it was a mere formality. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India had won all their games so far, but could not surpass the Belgium test. (More details awaited)
20 India capped off its best-ever performance at the Tokyo Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold. As a token of appreciation, Go First, previously known as GoAir, today announced free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. "A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021. We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners," Go First said in a tweet. A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021 . We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. #Tokyo2020 #GoFirst @mirabai_chanu @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai @BajrangPunia @Neeraj_chopra1 #RaviDahiya @TheHockeyIndia - GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) August 8, 2021 On Saturday, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. Budget carrier IndiGo has announced that it will offer unlimited free travel to 'Gold Medallist' Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021, till August 7, 2022. Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility, we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year. You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torchbearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj". India has now won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
21 Forty-five years ago, the Indian men's hockey team had suffered its worst loss at the Olympics. Less than a year after winning the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, the team hit its nadir when they were beaten 1-6 in the group stages of Montreal 1976 by Australia, who went on to claim silver. But the team had a compelling reason they could offer to explain the heavy defeat-Olympic hockey was being played on artificial turf for the first time. Masters of the sport on grass, the team could not adjust to the new, fast-paced surface. The batch of 2021 don't really have an excuse for the morale-shattering 1-7 hammering they got at the hands of Australia in Tokyo's Oi Hockey Stadium. Graham Reid's side had no response for the salvo of goals Australia, a team India had beaten via penalties in the Pro League last year, fired throughout the 60 minutes. The contest was reminiscent of the 2010 Commonwealth Games final here when the same opponent had thrashed India 8-0 in the final, silencing the capacity crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Despite penetrating Australia's circle 24 times, two more than Australia managed, India failed to convert their chances. Only Dilpreet Singh (34th minute) managed to breach Australia's watertight defence. The Manpreet Singh-led side wasted all five penalty corner opportunities with poor trapping and execution. The world No.1 outfit are top of Group A with six points from two games after a shaky 5-3 win over Japan on Saturday. Australia, who have medalled in six of the last seven Olympics, ripped apart India's defence with PR Sreejesh helpless in goal. It's still early days in the tournament with India fourth in the group of six, after their win over New Zealand on Saturday, with the top four making the quarter-finals. India are scheduled to play Spain (July 27), Argentina (July 29) and hosts Japan (July 30) next.
22 Indian men's hockey team today displayed a great game of counter-attacking play as it won defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal play-offs at the Tokyo Olympics today. Indian men's hockey team won an Olympic medal after a gap of 41 years. India's last of the eight Olympic golds came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. India came back from a two-goal deficit to take a two-goal lead at the end of the third quarter. Germany reduced the deficit as in the q4 when it scored a goal from the penalty corner. Earlier at the half-time, Team India who were1-3 down to equalising 3-3 level at the half-time break. Goalscorers for India Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for India. Germany's goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th). There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. "I think we should just forget about what happened in the semi-final and just put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge," said Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze medal play-off match. He further stated: "We have the entire country's support. We even had the Hono'ble Prime Minister call us and wish us after the semi-final loss. He asked us to not feel disappointed and just look forward to playing well on Thursday and that's what we plan to do. We are pumped up for the game."
23 On the Opening Ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "caught a few glimpses" of six-time world champion Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh who led India's charge. PM Narendra Modi wished the "dynamic" Indian contingent all the best as the athletes gear up to showcase their skills in the ongoing Summer Games. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "Come, let us all #Cheer4India! Caught a few glimpses of the @Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony. Wishing our dynamic contingent the very best. #Tokyo2020." Come, let us all #Cheer4India ! Caught a few glimpses of the @Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony. Wishing our dynamic contingent the very best. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/iYqrrhTgk0 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2021 Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said PM Modi is leading from the front in encouraging the athletes. "Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji leading from the front to cheer our Indian Olympic Contingent during the Opening Ceremony of the #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India," Rijiju tweeted. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur termed the opening ceremony a "moment of pride". A moment of pride and immense honour as @MangteC and @manpreetpawar07lead #TeamIndia as the official flag bearers at #Tokyo2020 Olympic Games!," Anurag tweeted. Mary Kom and Manpreet led the way as India made its way at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics on Friday at the Japan National Stadium. Back home, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur was also seen waving the Indian flag as the Indian contingent made its way into the stadium. Twenty-five members from the Indian contingent attended the Opening Ceremony amid the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital. Ankita Raina was added to the list of players who attended the event on Friday evening while Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal from the Table Tennis team did not attend the Ceremony. Amit, Ashish Kumar, Mary Kom were among the eight boxers who were present at the function along with six Indian officials. After much debate on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to the COVID-19 situation, the Games were finally declared open on Friday as fireworks kickstarted the Opening Ceremony here at the Japan National Stadium. With the emergence of COVID-19, many athletes had to train for the showpiece event in isolation and this was the highlight during the Opening Ceremony as performers showed how they have been connected by their hope and shared passion. After the fireworks and lighting show, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was welcomed on the stage. The IOC had decided that only six officials will be allowed per contingent. With agency inputs
24 Celebrations are on at the Kurukshetra residence of Surender Kumar -- a member of the India men's hockey team which has won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Relatives, neighbours and even politicians have been visiting the 28-year-old hockey player's residence in Sector 8 in Kurukshetra in Haryana as soon as the team defeated Germany 5-4 to win an Olympics medal after 41 years. "It is like a festival for us as Surender's hardwork has borne fruit," said Kumar's father Malkhan Singh. Malkhan, a farmer, said, "I have arranged everything for my children even though there were financial problems in my family. But Surender's hard work and dedication for hockey helped him play for the country." Surender's mother Neelam Devi also shared her happiness as she said, "Surender has turned my dream into a reality. I cannot express my happiness in words." "Today, I am happier than I was on my wedding day," she said. Kumar was also a part of the national team that participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics. He is currently posted as a manager with the Food Corporation of India at Delhi. He started playing hockey at the age of 10 and in 2010, he started playing for Haryana and helped the state team win gold in national competitions. His family credited Kumar's coach Gurvinder Singh with his success. Singh said, "It is a big achievement for the country. Surender's experience also helped the team as he was playing his second Olympics."
25 Moments after the India men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, celebrations broke out at Mithapur, the native village of captain Manpreet Singh and his teammates Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar, in Jalandhar district. Four of the 18-member Team India squad are from Jalandhar district, including Hardik Singh from Khursopur village. Former Olympian and Congress MLA Pargat Singh also belongs to Mithapur. Residents of Mithapur rushed to the houses of Manpreet, Mandeep and Varun to celebrate the much-awaited medal after 41 years. At Manpreet's house, people danced in joy to the beats of the dhol as his mother, Manjit Kaur, congratulated the captain on the historic win over a video call. Bronze equally precious, history made: Kin "Hard work of more than 12 years has finally borne fruit for Manpreet and his teammates. We were hopeful for the gold but the bronze medal is equally precious as history has been made. India will win the gold next time," Manjit said. She said Manpreet didn't call her up after losing the match to Australia. "He was upset but I motivated him to focus on the bronze medal match," she said. Player Mandeep Singh's father Ravinder Singh agreed that it's a historic occasion. "I'm proud of the boys, it's the biggest ever gift." Relatives and friends gathered at Varun's house as his father Bhrama Nand congratulated him on the victory. The families of the three players also paid obeisance at the local gurdwara. Hardik Singh's father, Varinderpreet Singh, is a superintendent of police at Batala. Residents of their native Khursopur village exchanged greetings with the family after the match.
26 India's historic bronze medal win in men's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday seems to have been the result of hard work and planning by many, including former India coach Harendra Singh, whose "junoon" (obsession) guided India to win their maiden Junior Men's World Cup in Lucknow in 2016. A member of the silver-medal winning Indian team at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, Harendra, who is now teaching the finer points of the game to the United States team, made a major contribution in building this "new and energetic side". Eight members of the current squad, including captain Manpreet Singh, were part of the gold-medal winning side in 2016. They were coached by Harendra then. "Many don't understand my madness and obsession for the game as even in my dreams I care for hockey, but it makes no difference to me. I know that such passion is required to build the future of Indian hockey,"he had said soon after India's thrilling 2-1 win against Belgium in the Junior World Cup final. Harendra's comment is still relevant now that India have ended their 41-year-old medal drought at the Olympics. The passion for a podium finish was at its highest among the Indian side though Harendra was removed in 2019 following a disappointing 2018 season. Harendra was given charge of the senior side after India's medal-less showing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, but was unable to change the team's fortunes. India were also below-par in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, settling for a bronze after going into the tournament as the defending champions. They ended the year with a quarterfinal loss in the World Cup in Bhubaneswar. "...what a incredible journey of these players A big big salute to boys in blue!" one of his tweets on Thursday read. In fact, Singh broke down after watching the historic win and didn't hide his emotions. "I am so excited that from 10 scorers for India, nine are from the 2016 core group. What more as a coach can I ask for?" Besides Manpreet, players like Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh and Simranjeet Singh were part of the 2016 World-Cup winning junior squad. He also said India's investment in junior programmes paid rich dividends. "I salute (chief coach) Graham Reid. I always said invest in youngsters and you will get the medal and he invested in youngsters and today we are on the podium." Terming the bronze medal win as one of the best moments in Indian hockey, he said the feat will inspire the new generation to pick up hockey sticks. "The journey has just started. It is just an appetizer, the main course is yet to come. It's just the beginning, many more to come. We need to be patient, give time to players and coaches. It's a process and needs time to produce results," he said. Hockey India's high performance and development committee chairman RP Singh too praised contributions by everyone, including the present and former coaches of both the junior and senior sides, for the team's bronze-medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. "Be it administrators, selectors, coaches, technical officials and many others, everyone is responsible for India's success at the Games, and I believe that real process for the better development of Indian hockey was re-started when Hockey India came into existence in 2009," said RP Singh.
27 An air of festivity was palpable as Uttar Pradesh shared the nation's joy on India ending its medal drought in hockey after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the Manpreet Singh-led men's hockey team on winning bronze and Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate announced a Rs.1 crore purse for the team's midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, who hails from Varanasi. "Today, the Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics with a historic performance. Today's success has added a golden chapter in the history of Indian Hockey. The whole nation is proud of this unforgettable achievement of Team India," Yogi Adityanath tweeted soon after India's thrilling 5-4 win against Germany at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo. While announcing Rs.1 crore for Lalit on behalf of the state government, UP's director sports RP Singh said the prize was according to the government's scheme for such achievements. "It's a historic win and we were all waiting this to happen since 1980 when India won a gold medal in hockey at the Moscow Olympics," he said. "The government has already announced Rs.12 lakh for all 10 Uttar Pradesh athletes who have gone to represent India at the Summer Olympics. If anyone wins gold, silver or bronze in an individual event, he or she will get Rs.6 crore, Rs.4 crore and Rs.2 crore respectively," he added. Hockey Olympians like Devesh Chauhan, Rahul Singh, Sujit Kumar, Ali Saeed, Danish Mujtaba, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Syed Ali Zafar Iqbal, Mohinder Pal Singh, Jagbir Singh and other hockey greats like Rajneesh Mishra, Arf Mohd Khan, Sanjay Bisht and Atif Idrish also praised the team. Zafar Iqbal, a key member of India's last Olympic gold medal winning team in the 1980 Moscow Games, said he had his heart in his mouth in the final few minutes of the match when Germany were attacking in search of the equaliser. "History has been made. We have broken the jinx. It's a miracle. It's going to have a big impact on the game. It will revive the sport in the country. It's a new beginning, a new dawn," he said. "Since my childhood, I have been hearing that India won gold medals at the Olympics eight times, but never got to see such an occasion in my lifetime. But today, it's like a dream come true and now I can say that I have seen India winning medals at the Olympics," former Indian hockey captain Rajneesh Mishra said. Former Junior India star Vijay Singh, senior coach SK Lahiri, Kanpur Hockey secretary TP Singh and UP Olympic Association secretary Anandeshwar Pandey too admired India's podium finish at the Games. "I watched the match and I can feel the joy that comes when your country wins after 40 years," Pandey said over the phone from Tokyo.
28 It was an emotional yet exciting moment for veteran hockey players in the city, as the Indian men's team defeated Germany in a thrilling match to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won gold in 1980. The players, who have seen the sport in all its glory and also the decline of its popularity, said they hope that the historic win encourages more players will take up the sport. Many hockey lovers also honoured former Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal at Sarabha Nagar. Meanwhile, Punjab Basketball Association general secretary Teja Singh Dhaliwal organised a special event to celebrate the occasion. Grewal said, "Many young players who used to play hockey shifted towards other sports amid decline of its popularity in the country. With this win, we hope to there is a wind of change and revival of the game. But, it is important to conserve the talent and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure." Veteran hockey player Jagbir Grewal said, "These players are going to inspire children to take up the game. This will create a pyramid of young talent, who will compete at the grassroots level. This has given us a glimpse of better future for hockey and we do not have to look back from here on." Former national-level player Satnam Singh, said, "It is heartening to see Indian hockey moving towards regaining its lost glory. This victory is no less than gold. One medal will prove to be catalyst of change and usher in fresh talent."
29 As soon as the final whistle was blown people gathered at the modest house of India hockey goalkeeper in Kizakambalam in Kerala's Ernakulam turned ecstatic. P R Sreejesh's father, P V Raveendran, led the celebration and distributed sweets. "It is a proud moment for us. A dream comes true for us. I am really happy my son Sreejesh played a key role in team India's success," he said. The 35-year-old goal keeper stood like a rock with many saves in the dying minutes of the bronze medal match which India won 5-4 against Germany -- a historic win after 41 years of medal drought in the sport. "We were a bit upset when we lost in the semi finals. But I was sure the team will win a medal," said Sreejesh's wife, Annesya. Married in 2012, the couple have two children. People celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and Kerala Hockey Federation has announced a reward of Rs.5 lakh for the goal keeper. The Kerala government has also decided to give a grand reception to him. One of the oldest players of the team, Sreejesh started taking sports seriously at the age of eight. Initially, he was a sprinter and volleyball player but turned to hockey at the age of 12 at the instance of his coach. Though the sport was not so popular in the state, and many advised him to change track, but he stood his ground. He made his debut in 2004 at the national junior team and got into the senior team two years later. Sreejesh played in three Olympics and the country honoured him with a Padma Shri in 2017.
30 India capped off its best-ever performance at the Tokyo Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold. As a token of appreciation, Go First, previously known as GoAir, today announced free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. "A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021. We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners," Go First said in a tweet. A token of appreciation for those who brought us glory at #Olympics2021 . We are happy to offer free travel on our network for 5 years to all medal winners. #Tokyo2020 #GoFirst @mirabai_chanu @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai @BajrangPunia @Neeraj_chopra1 #RaviDahiya @TheHockeyIndia - GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) August 8, 2021 In a statement, Go First said it is offering free travel to "all medal-winners for the next five years until 2025" to celebrate India's best-ever haul of seven medals at an Olympics. "The seven Olympics medallists Mirabai Chanu (weight-lifting), P.V.Sindhu (badminton), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), the men's hockey team, Ravi Kumar Dahiya (wrestling), Bajrang Punia (wrestling) and gold medallist Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw) will be provided free air travel for any Go First sectors for the next five years," Go First noted. Regional carrier Star Air congratulated all the Indian Olympic Champions of Tokyo 2020 and offered them a lifetime of free air travel. Star Air congratulates all the Indian Olympic Champions of Tokyo 2020. @neeraj_chopra1 @BajrangPunia @mirabai_chanu @ravidahiya60 @TheHockeyIndia @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai #OfficialStarAir #WeCare #ConnectingRealIndia #FlyNonStop #FlyWithStarAir #SGGRising pic.twitter.com/SqyAFd7y4M - Star Air (@OfficialStarAir) August 8, 2021 On Saturday, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. Budget carrier IndiGo has announced that it will offer unlimited free travel to 'Gold Medallist' Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021, till August 7, 2022. Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility, we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year. You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torchbearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj". India has now won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
31 The Indian men's hockey team has given the entire country a big reason to rejoice after they clinched bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics after a gap of 41 years. For residents of Prayagraj, especially those residing in Jhunsi area of the city, it is an equally special moment as one of the key members of the winning team has had a very long and strong connection with Sangam city. Assistant coach of the team, Piyush Dubey did his MA in Economics from Allahabad University and after getting diploma from NIS-Patiala, even coached students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, AFS-Manauri besides working as guest lecturer at department of Physical Education, AU. Speaking from Tokyo, Dubey shared many moments that shaped his career and which he would always cherish. "I was quite young when I started working at KV Manauri as a guest coach for training the hockey team of the school in 2004. Hearing that a new coach has come, around 130 students, both boys and girls, came on the field and I suddenly faced the challenge of having to select a final team from so many hopefuls. Although my first salary was around Rs.2800 per month at a time when my personal expenses were around Rs.15000, but the experience of teaching the basics and the exposure to work independently was far more than any monetary gains," said Dubey. He then coached AU's hockey team and later on was again on the grounds of KV Manauri when the then principal Shalini Dikshit selected him to coach the team. School's team won the nationals in 2004 and 2011. During this period, Dubey did BPEd and MPEd from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. In 2014, Piyush got selected in Sports Authority of India (SAI) and his first appointment was in Sonepat (Haryana). Piyush was also among the selected trainers who were sent by the Government of India to University of Birmingham in England in 2016. There he studied Sports Science and Coaching. More than 75 of his trainees have so far shown their mettle at national and international level tournaments. Piyush's family is originally from Mathura. His father Kunwar Garvendra Singh Dubey was a wrestler. He got the title of 'Singh' only because of his wrestling. "It so happened that my elder brother Shravan was also fond of wrestling and I used to go to the akhara at Jhunsi with him. On the way, a small ground was there where noted coach Prem Shankar Shukla used to teach hockey to kids. One day he handed me the stick and asked me to try my hands. He was very impressed to see my dribbling skills at an early age and asked me to concentrate on hockey only," shared Dubey over phone.
32 India men's hockey team lost the semifinal match to Belgium on Tuesday, thus failing to reach the final in Tokyo Olympics. The Manpreet Singh-led Indian team looked solid at the start of the match, taking a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. But the inability to prevent penalty corners against the 2018 world champions Belgium cost them the match, as they lost the encounter 2-5. India will still compete in the men's hockey bronze medal match where they will face off against either Germany or Australia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to applaud the efforts of the Indian team and wished them well for the bronze medal match. India vs Belgium Men's Hockey semifinal - Highlights "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts," PM Modi wrote on Twitter. "Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," he added. Alexander Hendrickx starred for Belgium in the match, scoring a hat-trick, two of the goals coming in the final quarter. India's Amit Rohitas was excellent in defence as he put his body on the line on numerous occasions to prevent a goal from a penalty corner. But in the end, the number of PC's that India conceded caught up to them, and they were unable to prevent the goals from going in.
33 The Indian athletes, who were in Tokyo for the closing ceremony of the showpiece event of the Olympics, returned home on Monday. "Athletics team is back from #Tokyo2020. Let's welcome them by sharing our #Cheer4India messages and encourage them for their future competitions," tweeted SAI Media. They were greeted by frenzy and chaos at the airport where supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of their sporting heroes. The athletes were welcomed by a Sports Authority of India (SAI) delegation headed by its director-ceneral Sandeep Pradhan, who was accompanied by the Athletics Federation of India head Adille Sumariwala. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tejasvi Surya met gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra at the Delhi international airport. #WATCH | #Olympics Gold medalist, javelin thrower #NeerajChopra received by a huge crowd of people at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/PEhVCoNt60 - ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021 Chopra on Saturday had become the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the Games. The most dramatic exit was made by bronze-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia, who was seen greeting and waving towards his supporters from the sunroof of an SUV, which had several fans clinging to it defying all traffic rules as it made its way out of the airport. #Tokyo2020 bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia receives grand welcome at Delhi airport on his arrival from Japan "It feels great to receive such kind of love and respect," Punia says pic.twitter.com/2rtgYyNzgW - ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021 "We will try to do better next time, I had a knee problem," Punia, who had entered the Games as a gold favourite, said. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. They were then whisked away for a felicitation function by sports minister Anurag Thakur later this evening. "It is the first time we are seeing a reception like this, it is very heartening," said race walker K T Irfan, who competed in the 20km race walk event. This year the Games were held with Covid-19 induced restrictions and all events were held behind closed doors. About 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries competed in Tokyo Olympics. India had sent a 228-strong contingent for the Games, including more than 120 athletes. The country recorded its best-ever haul at the Olympics with seven medals (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). Neeraj (gold), Bajrang (bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) won medals in the Tokyo Games.
34 With 10 of its players in the India men's hockey team that defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics, Punjab erupted in celebration on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold at Moscow in 1980. Terming it a proud and historic moment for the nation, Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh congratulated the team and tweeted: "A tremendous achievement to be finishing on the podium after 41 years. The hockey bronze is worth its weight in gold." In the 18-member squad, 10 players are from Punjab, namely captain Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh. Punjab sports minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi announced an award of Rs.1 crore for each of the 10 players from the state. "On this historic day, I'm delighted to announce the cash award of Rs.1 crore each. We await your return to celebrate the much deserving medal in the Olympics." Leaders from Punjab took to social media to shower appreciation on the team. "Four decades of wait finishes off with a thriller performance. Congratulations to the men in blue on winning the bronze in hockey," said state Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. "This victory is huge and will go a long way in re-energising the sport in the country," he tweeted.
35 India men's hockey team's bronze medal at the Olympics is special for a small village of Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh where people have just woken up to the sport as a career. Chandaun village is the home of Indian hockey team midfielder Vivek Sagar, 21, who is putting in extra effort to promote hockey. But there is a story behind this promotion. When Vivek started playing hockey in 2012, his father Rohit Prasad wasn't quite taken in by the idea. He asked Vivek to concentrate on his studies instead. "I asked him not to waste much time playing hockey...since I wasn't convinced, he could not even ask me for a new hockey stick. He would play with a damaged stick he borrowed from his friend," said Prasad. "He would go for practice without telling me. But once he started playing at state-level, I had to trust him. Today, I am so proud that my son took the right decision," he said. Vivek, who went on to lead the junior national team, now distributes hockey sticks with an amount of sponsorship. Vivek's brother Vidhyasagar, a software engineer, said, "Vivek wants to see hockey as popular as cricket in India and he is passionately working on it." Today, not just the Vivek's family, or his village, former Olympian Ashok Dhyanchand is also lauding his efforts. "I still remember when I saw his talent. Six years ago, I had gone to attend a hockey tournament as a guest. Vivek, who was representing the district team, impressed me with his skills. I chose him for MP Men's Hockey Academy in Bhopal. Before going to the academy, he stayed at my home for a few months and I helped him hone his skills. I am so happy that I chose the right player," he said. Former Olympian Jalalludin Rizvi said, "Vivek's presence in the medal-winning India team will revive hockey in MP, which was once known as nursery of hockey." Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced Rs.1 crore as prize money for Vivek Sagar and another player, Neelkantha Sharma, who was also in MP Academy.
36 After the victory of the Indian men's hockey team in the Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled a phone to captain Manpreet Singh extending wishes. In a 2:15 minutes video, Indian Hockey team captain Manpreet talked to PM Modi on call. The prime minister congratulated the player along with coach Graham Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey on phone. Watch video: #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi speaks to the India Hockey team Captain Manpreet Singh, coach Graham Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey after the team won #Bronze medal in men's hockey match against Germany #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/NguuwSISsV - ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2021 Additionally, PM Modi also took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote that this day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially the youth, Modi said, adding that India is proud of its hockey team. PM Modi tweeted, "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team." Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. �� - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2021 The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating a Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Games.
37 Indian cricketing fraternity joined millions of fans in celebrating India's first Olympic medal in hockey in 41 years. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer took to Twitter to congratulate the Indian men's hockey team for winning bronze in the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. India beat Germany 5-4 in a high-scoring thriller that went down to the wire to finish on the podium for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in which they had won gold. It is India's 12th hockey medal overall and the third bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. "Congratulations to each & every member of the hockey contingent on winning the #Bronze for India! A fantastic hard fought win.The penalty corner save by Sreejesh in the dying moments of the game was amazing. Entire India is immensely proud!" tweeted Sachin Tendulkar. "A landmark day for @TheHockeyIndia. After being down 3-1, INDIA fights back to win the bronze medal match 5-3, a first Olympic medal in #Hockey after 40 years," tweeted Virender Sehwag. "Congratulations India. Bronze in Hockey after 41 yrs . What a game. Proud of Indian Hockey," tweeted Harbhajan Singh. "Forget 1983, 2007 or 2011, this medal in Hockey is bigger than any World Cup!" wrote Gautam Gambhir. "The 16 who scripted history: Manpreet, Sreejesh, Harmanpreet, Rupinder, Surender, Amit, Birendra, Hardik, Vivek, Nilakanta, Sumit, Shamsher, Dilpreet, Gurjant, Lalit, Mandeep. Remember them, cherish them, tell your children about them. Let them inspire a generation," former Wasim Jaffer. In the final, Germany took an early lead in the goal-rich match through a second-minute goal by Timur Oruz, and posed a threat to eight-time Olympic hockey champions India in the first quarter. After Simranjeet Singh equalised with a backhand shot for India, Germany kept their cool, scoring two goals to take a 3-1 lead in the second quarter. But India pulled level late in that quarter thanks to goals by Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, making it 3-3 at the halftime break. India then took a 5-3 lead after Rupinder Pal Singh notched in a penalty stroke and Simranjeet Singh scored his second of the match not long into the second half. Germany came back a goal but was unable to force the equaliser, even after taking out its goalie to bring in an extra field player late in the game. (With agency inputs
38 The Indian men's hockey team today was defeated by the Belgians in a closely contested semi-final match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Belgium defeated India 5-2 which saw the Belgium team creating chances with penalty corners and converting them into goals. Alexander Hendrickx scored three goals in the match for Belgium and helping his team qualify for the final. John-John Domen of Belgium scored the fifth goal in the last few moments of the game. India will lock horns in the bronze medal match on Thursday with the loser of the game Australia and Germany. The Indian boys started well and looked to keep up the good work, but lost the tempo slightly in the last quarter and that is where the boys from Belgium capitalised. Belgium started on a strong note as it scored the first goal by Luypaert in the second minute of the play. However, Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal for India and also helped in equalising the scoreline. India took the lead by scoring the second goal which was scored by Mandeep but once again Belgium had scored the equaliser from a penalty corner scored by Hendrickx. Belgium broke the deadlock in the fourth quarter after their top scorer Hendrickx scored two goals and taking his tally to 14 goals in the tournament. The deadlock was not broken in the third quarter as well, and as a result, heading into the last 15 minutes of the game, both India and Belgium were highly tensed. In the fourth quarter, it was Belgium who struck first as Hendrickx scored his second goal of the match, giving Belgium a 3-2 lead with more than 11 minutes still left to play. A few minutes later, Hendrickx got his hat-trick as he converted from a penalty and hence, Belgium gained a 4-2 lead. In the end, Belgium managed to hang on and the side registered a victory, progressing ahead to the finals, their second successive final appearance. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. "Wins & losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best & that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match & their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after the game. "Wins & losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best & that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match & their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets.
39 The last time an Indian men's hockey team defeated the defending champions at the Olympics was when Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister, the country's cricket team was yet to win a Test series abroad and The Beatles were yet to release 'Let it be'. In the final of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, India beat arch-rivals and holders Pakistan 1-0 to claim gold-their seventh at the Olympics. In Tokyo on Thursday, Manpreet Singh and his men beat the 2016 Rio champions Argentina 3-1 to move into the quarter-finals. The win is significant, especially after the 1-7 debacle against Australia on Sunday, as it cements India's second position in Group A behind the world No.1 outfit, having secured wins against New Zealand and Spain earlier for a likely easier draw in the last-8 clash. "Feeling great after the win, but there's a lot of things to improve," defender Rupinder Pal Singh told Reuters. "The important games are coming in a few days." India proved that their back-to-back wins against Argentina in their own backyard in Buenos Aires in April was a reliable indicator of the level of hockey they are playing right now. India, now ranked No.3 in the world, were clearly the superior side at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday, enjoying 53 percent of possession and made 28 circle penetrations-compared to Argentina's meagre eight-and eight penalty corner opportunities to their opponent's two. India's intent to put Argentina under the pump from the start was evident: they kept possession and made multiple forays into the circle and had a shot on goal as early as the fourth minute. The midfield and forward line kept the Argentine defence busy throughout the game with the defence compact, so much so that Argentina's first real attempt at a goal came towards the end of the first half and was blocked by the ever-reliable PR Sreejesh. Yet, the goals refused to come. Some of it was because of solid goalkeeping from Argentina's Juan Manuel Vivaldi and some of it was just India's failure to put the finishing touch. But India were rewarded for their attacking intent (they created 14 chances to Argentina's 6) when Varun Kumar, playing his first match in Tokyo, scored in the 43rd minute from a penalty corner. Things got tense when, three minutes into the last quarter, Argentina equalised. India attacked with renewed intent and in a thrilling finish Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and drag-flick ace Harmanpreet Singh (59th) scored to take the match away. "Good performance today," said India chief coach Graham Reid. "This is what Argentina can do: they sit back in the game, and then all of a sudden they score a corner. You know these things can happen when you play a team like Argentina. We created enough (but wasted opportunities). What was good is that we didn't let that frustrate us, we stayed patient and stuck with the game plan." India will next play hosts and reigning Asian Games champions Japan, who are yet to win a game in the group stage. "I'm very happy, it can be a bit stressful too for me but we just now need to play well against our next opponent-Japan. We need to play it as though it is the quarter-finals and we will be keeping an eye on what happens in the other pool at the same time," added Reid. From Group B, world champions Belgium, Netherlands and Great Britain have qualified for the last eight.
40 Athlete Neeraj Chopra put in a stunning performance to win India's first Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin throw final. The 23-year-old from Panipat registered a best attempt of 87.58m to finish ahead of the Czech Republic duo of Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely. It was the country's first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. A little later on Saturday, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar burst into singing 'Mere Desh ki Dharti' from the 1967 film 'Upkar' along with fellow commentators of the India vs England Test series. The video soon went viral with nearly 3 lakh views and over 27,000 likes. See the video here: We all are Sunil Gavaskar at the moment �������� How did you react to India's golden moment? �� #HumHongeKamyab #Tokyo2020 #SirfSonyPeDikhega pic.twitter.com/vg8FmQ2fG9 - Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) August 7, 2021 Meanwhile, former Indian tennis star Somdev Devvarman found his own unique way to pay tribute to Chopra's historic achievement. The song, which Somdev sings alongside Gavaskar and others, was shared on Twitter by journalist Ayaz Memon. Gavaskar was posted the clip on Instagram. In the video, Somdev is seen playing the guitar as he sings alongside Gavaskar, Ashish Nehra and others. See the clip: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskarsunilofficial) Still processing this feeling, says Neeraj Chopra after winning gold The Javelin thrower said that he is still processing the feeling of winning gold for India at the Tokyo Olympics. "Still processing this feeling. To all of India and beyond, thank you so much for your support and blessings that have helped me reach this stage. This moment will live with me forever," Chopra tweeted. The country has won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals.
41 "I will come back with a medal for sure."This was the promise ace midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay made to his father Satish Kumar Upadhyay and coach Parmanand Mishra before India won a historic medal in hockey after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, defeating Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match. The promise didn't make the two relax at all. They couldn't sleep properly till the start of the match for the bronze medal at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday morning. There were altogether different scenes at Lalit's home at the Shivpur bypass in Varanasi and coach Mishra's house in Sarnath, located 10 km northeast of Varanasi.People from Lalit's village gathered at his house to watch the match live with his parents and his elder brother, whereas Mishra chose to watch it alone as he didn't want to be disturbed. "I watched the match all alone as I didn't want any disturbance. I even kept my family out of my room during the 60-minute clash. I couldn't pick my phone for a few minutes even after India's win as it was an emotional moment for me. I couldn't believe that my trainee Lalit kept his promise of a medal to me," said Mishra who trained Lalit at the Udai Pratap College in Varanasi under the Sports Authority of India's scheme. "This means a lot to me as well as to Varanasi, which has produced some great hockey players for India in the past like Mohd Shahid and Vivek Singh. India's success in hockey at the Tokyo Games is a great gift to Varanasi and it's a special occasion to celebrate in the month of Sawan as we all worship Lord Shiva," said Mishra, adding, "Lalit was one of the amazing kids we had in the lot of 10-11 boys under training. He (Lalit) never disobeyed my orders on the ground and was always disciplined." "I never found him missing his training sessions. His ability to bounce back, especially when he was trapped in a selection controversy, helped him a lot. Lalit's achievement will help attract many more Varanasi kids to hockey in the near future," said Mishra, 62. Lalit's father Satish, 61, too sounded emotional on his son's success. "I told him to stay focused even after India lost to Belgium in the semi-final. It was heartbreaking for all of us but I kept my cool and didn't let my son know my emotions," said the senior Upadhyay, still a private employee of a nationalised bank in Varanasi. "We celebrated all the goals scored by India today and my heart was almost in my mouth when Germany got a penalty corner in the last few seconds of the game. I still feel the goosebumps as controlling emotions at that time was quite difficult," he said. In Tokyo, the situation was no different for Lalit who was watching the match while sitting in the stands of the Oi Hockey Stadium after being injured in the previous match. "It's an emotional moment... can't understand what to say (after a pause). The way we played today was unique. It's a moment to celebrate, congratulate everyone," said Lalit on Thursday. "I came to Tokyo with Baba Bholenath's blessings, and was sure of winning a medal here as I had (made) this promise to my family and my coach in Varanasi. In today's game, our strong defence stopped the Germans. The last four minutes were heart-stopping as the opponents were scoring penalty corners one after the other. My heart came to a standstill for a while when Germany got a penalty corner in the last six seconds, but Anna (PR Sreejesh) stood like a rock at the goalpost and defended us." "This medal will act as a tonic for Indian hockey. After a long gap, this medal has increased our stature at the international level. The popularity of hockey will increase once again . A plan should be made to take this game to the villages." (With inputs from Sudhir Kumar in Varanasi)
42 Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, a Gulf-based Indian businessman on Monday announced Rs.1 crore cash award to hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh The goalies from Kerala emerged as one of the stars of the Indian men's hockey team's historic bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics as he played a crucial role in saving a penalty corner from Germany with last six seconds remaining in the game. "Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a crucial role in helping the Indian hockey team secure bronze at the Olympics. We acknowledge his contributions and are pleased to announce a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore for him", said Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, in a tweet. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a crucial role in helping the Indian hockey team secure bronze at the Olympics. We acknowledge his contributions and are pleased to announce a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore for him. @16Sreejesh pic.twitter.com/etJ63VmDwu - Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil (@drshamsheervp) August 9, 2021 The Indian hockey team rewrote history in the Tokyo Olympics as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge- of-the-seat play-off match held on August 5. Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has now been hailed as 'The Wall' after his brilliant effort in the last seconds of the match against Germany ensured India won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Sreejesh saved the 13th penalty corner of Germany in the final seconds of the bronze medal match as India defeated the Germans 5-4. "It's a rebirth. That's it. It's been 41 years. In 1980 we won the last medal and after that, nothing. Today when we won it, this gives a boost and gives energy to the youngsters to pick up hockey, play this game," Olympics.com quoted Sreejesh after the win. "This is a beautiful game. Now we are giving a reason for them to pick up hockey, play the game and make the country more proud than this," the three-time Olympian pointed.
43 Neeraj Chopra created history as he won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw final to bring India's first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the first ever for India in track & field discipline. Chopra, one of the favourites heading into the Games, lived up to the expectations, as his second throw of 87.58m proved to be the deal-breaker that made him an immortal part of Indian sports folklore. The historic moment by Chopra was celebrated by Indians all around the world, including the Indian broadcast panel of the India vs England Test series in Nottingham. As the entire panel lauded Chopra for his achievement for India, one celebration that stood out was that of Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain, one of the many glued to the TV watching Chopra script history, erupted in joy. What made it even more special was Gavaskar singing and dancing to the patriotic song 'Mere Desh Ki Dharti' from the 1967 film 'Upkar', starring Manoj Kumar and sung by late singer Mahendra Kapoor. The song is a classic and right up there in terms of the best patriotic songs ever produced in Bollywood. While Gavaskar could not stop himself from praising Chopra, former India batsman Ajay Jadeja and fast bowler Ashish Nehra were also spotted celebrating Chopra's colossal feat of becoming only the second individual gold medallist from India after Abhinav Bindra's pathbreaking achievement at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Chopra's gold was India's seventh of this Olympics, which is the country's best-ever medal haul, surpassing the six medals India won eight years nine years ago at the London Olympics in 2012. Chopra capped off another phenomenal day for India at the Olympics, which saw wrestler Bajrang Punia win a bronze medal in the men's 65kg freestyle wrestling. They join weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, shuttler PV Sindhu, wrestler Ravi Dahiya, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and the Indian men's hockey team as the medal winners from Tokyo games.
44 Industrialist Anand Mahindra hailed Indian archer Atanu Das' stunning win over South Korea's Jinhyek Oh in a nail-biting finish to make it to the 1/8 Elimination round in the men's individual archery event Tokyo at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field on Thursday. "We are accustomed to our sportspersons being criticised for not measuring up when it's crunch time. Energising to see Atanu prove otherwise. . He wasn't intimidated by his opponent's record. He actually thrived under the pressure..Dil Mange More!" he tweeted. We are accustomed to our sportspersons being criticised for not measuring up when it's crunch time. Energising to see Atanu prove otherwise. . He wasn't intimidated by his opponent's record. He actually thrived under the pressure..Dil Mange More! - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 29, 2021 The third-seed Korean started the match with a decent 8-9-9 and Das replied with 8-8-9, giving Jinhyek two points in the first set. Das came strongly in the second set with three 9s, Oh missed the chance to take the two points after hitting an 8 in the last arrow. The third set also had the same output with both archers sharing the points. Jinhyek 8-10-9 and Indian aimed 9-9-9. With his back against the wall, Atanu responded brilliantly and took the fourth set 8-9-10 and the Korean replied with 9-7-6 to force a decider. The fifth set tested the nerves of both archers as they both again shared the points and progressed into shoot-off. Aiming first in the shoot-off, Jinhyek shot a 9 to which Atanu replied with a brilliant 10 and sealed the match. With this win, he has cruised into the 1/8 eliminations round. Earlier in the day, Atanu defeated Chinese Taipei's Yu-Cheng Dang in the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics 6-4 in the 1/64 Elimination round.
45 After almost 12 months of delay due to the ongoing pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 is underway. There are several moments from the sporting event which have made their ways online and left people amazed. This incident between Badminton gold medal winner Viktor Axelsen and his opponent Chen Long is one such moment. An image of the moment shows them exchanging their jerseys after the game. The official Twitter handle of Olympics shared the image. In a follow up tweet, they also shared how this beautiful tradition came into existence. "During the men's singles badminton final last night, Olympic champion @ViktorAxelsen of Denmark traded shirts with silver medallist Chen Long of China as a symbol of respect to his opponent," they wrote while sharing the image. While talking about how the tradition started, they shared, "Take a look at the beginning of the tradition between legendary Malaysian Badminton player Lee Chong Wei, and double Olympic champion from China, Lin Dan. This post is complete with a video showcasing the incident. Take a look at the posts: People shared various appreciative comments while reacting to the posts. "This is the real Olympics spirit, they are competitors, but they respect each other. I am touched," wrote a Twitter user. "Legend," shared another. "Congratulations Viktor. Amazing game. Thank Chen, our Chinese athlete. Hope you both to keep going on. You both are the best badminton athletes. From a Chinese fan," expressed a third. What are your thoughts on the incident?
46 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 1 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. UNSC meeting under Indian presidency on Aug 6 to discuss Afghanistan situation The United Nations Security Council will meet under the Indian presidency on August 6 to assess the situation in Afghanistan against the backdrop of a massive campaign of violence and attacks by the Taliban to expand its influence to urban areas. Parliament: BJP hits out at Congress, says party doesn't want serious discussion The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday hit out at the Congress for disrupting Parliament and not allowing discussion on serious issues. Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra 'romancing' off-screen didn't impact Shershaah, says director Kiara Advani, speaking about her bond with rumoured boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra, said that she could really relate with her Shershaah character's 'commitment to love'. Olympics: India win bronze medal in Tokyo, first Olympic medal in hockey since 1980 India men's hockey team defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Say hello to Azani, India's very own electric supercar ready for rumble Supercars are the most ambitious projects in the automotive world. If the supercar is electrified, the appeal goes up. An Indian startup named Mean Metal Motors claims to have taken on one such project to buil Azani, India's first electric supercar.
47 If the bronze in Tokyo is an important step in the revival of hockey - a sport in which India is the most successful team in Olympics history with eight gold medals, one silver and three bronze - it is appropriate that 10 of the 18 players on the podium on Thursday were from Punjab. Through India's consecutive gold medals from 1928 to 1956 and after, Punjab was to men's hockey what Kenya's Rift Valley is to long distance running - an assembly line of talent. The story of hockey Olympians from Sansarpur, a village in the Jalandhar district, is well known. So many from Punjab had won gold that when Balbir Singh Kular returned with an Olympic bronze in 1968, he said people looked down on them. There were five in the 1968 Olympics team from Sansarpur which has a dozen Olympic hockey medallists. No place in India has as many. The success of Sansarpur spurred villages nearby to play hockey. One of them was Mithapur, also in Jalandhar district. Sarup Singh (1952), Kulwant Singh (1972) and the most famous of them all, Pargat Singh, India captain in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, are from Mithapur. This village sent three players to Tokyo: captain Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar. Hardik Singh, who scored India's second goal in the 5-4 win against Germany for the third-place playoff, is from Khusropur not far from Mithapur. "Hockey was a way of life for Punjab in the 1960s and 70s and the bar was set really high," said Kular, a decorated Army officer, who also won gold in the 1966 Asian Games. That changed in the 1980s when the state was rocked by militancy. It coincided with India's slide south in the men's game. Gold medallists in 1980, India were fifth in 1984 and slipped a notch in each of the next three Olympics. Punjab's resurgence as Indian hockey nerve-centre is another example of what happens when a state invests in sport. In 2005, chief minister Amrinder Singh appointed Pargat as director of sports, Punjab. Pargat got former international Sukhvir Singh, who had by then taken to coaching, involved. Punjab bought artificial pitches discarded by other states and set up coaching centres, first in Mohali, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The centres have now grown to 40. "We wanted to work at grassroots level. We organised state-wide clinics, we involved then India team coach Ric Charlesworth and physio Heath Mathews. Once we had sports scientists from Australia's Victoria University here," said Sukhvir. Barring Hardik, all players from Punjab in the men's squad in Tokyo were part of that grassroots programme that began in 2006, said Sukhvir. Coaches such as Avtar Singh and Gurdev Singh and the Surjit Hockey Academy too helped in fostering talent, he said. By 2013, Punjab had again become an important contributor to the India team. The 2013 junior World Cup squad had 12 Punjab players and the squad that won gold in 2016 had 11. The trend wasn't restricted to juniors. There were eight from Punjab in the 2014 World Cup squad, seven in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games that year. The number climbed to nine for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup in 2018. "Now we have to sustain and build this momentum. Our players who did well in the junior (World Cup winning) India team are now doing well in the senior team," said Sukhvir who coached India to the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy title. "I can proudly say the contribution of players from Punjab in the Tokyo Olympics has given a new start to Indian hockey," said Kular. The 10 from Punjab: Manpreet Singh (captain), Harmanpreet Singh (vice-captain), Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh.
48 Neeraj Chopra, a 23-year-old from Haryana, has scripted history after winning gold in the men's javelin throw event in Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. He became the first track and field athlete from the country to win a gold at the showpiece event. He has earned praises from all corners. Social media has been flooded with congratulatory messages for him. Ola Cabs founder and OLA Electric CEO Bhavish Agarwal took to Twitter to congratulate Chopra. "What an inspiration! This is the new India, the best in the world! Congrats@Neeraj_chopra1," he tweeted. What an inspiration! This is the new India, best in the world! Congrats @Neeraj_chopra1 ��❤️���� pic.twitter.com/2Nrtz5wtbe - Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) August 7, 2021 Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m at the Olympics to pick up the gold medal. With Neeraj's feat, India won seven medals in the multi-sporting event, its best-ever performance. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men's hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals
49 Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir hailed the performance of the Indian men's hockey team at the Olympics bigger than the three World Cup wins achieved by the Indian cricket team. India won the Prudential World Cup in 1983, followed by the T20 World Cup win in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011, the last two of which Gambhir was part of. But the former opening batsman, who played crucial knocks in the final of the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, believes what the Indian hockey team achieved on Thursday overshadows the rest. "Forget 1983, 2007 or 2011, this medal in Hockey is bigger than any World Cup! #IndianHockeyMyPride," tweeted Gambhir. The Indian men's hockey team defeated Germany 5-4 in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medal match to end a long wait for India. The Manpreet Singh-led side emerged victorious to take home a bronze medal, thus ending India's 41-year-long wait to win another medal in hockey at the Olympics. Prior to this, India had last won an Olympic medal back in the year 1980, when they had clinched gold at the Moscow Games. However, Gambhir's tweets did not go well with fans, as they took exception to the former India batsman's views. "Being the hero of 2007 and 2011 World Cup. Still u are saying this .... Why!!!!!!!," one user replied to gambhir's tweet. Another user said: "Sir, this looks more like a politician's tweet than a sportsperson's tweet. No need to demean other's achievement." "In a world where people don't even wanna compare different formats and eras Gambhir saab is comparing two different sports. Respect," another user responded. Below are some more replies to Gambhir's tweets "Why to demean other's achievement when we can celebrate both?" "This is too much now, that 1983 WC was a revolution for Indian Cricket, bigger than anything, the 2007 WC was the inaugural WC and India got crowned as the 1st ever champions, 2011 WC was a WC win after 28 years, meant alot." "Why this comparison?? Every win is big, be it in hockey or cricket.. why to make one sport more important than other.. this is the same mistake we might have done in 1983.. "forget olympic medals, cricket world cup win is bigger".. people of that era must have thought the same." Links to tweets
50 With 10 of its players in the India men's hockey team that defeated Germany 5-4 to win the bronze medal after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics, Punjab erupted in celebration on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold at Moscow in 1980. Terming it a proud and historic moment for the nation, Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh congratulated the team and tweeted: "A tremendous achievement to be finishing on the podium after 41 years. The hockey bronze is worth its weight in gold." In the 18-member squad, 10 players are from Punjab, namely captain Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh and Simranjeet Singh. Punjab sports minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi announced an award of Rs.1 crore for each of the 10 players from the state. "On this historic day, I'm delighted to announce the cash award of Rs.1 crore each. We await your return to celebrate the much deserving medal in the Olympics." Leaders from Punjab took to social media to shower appreciation on the team. "Four decades of wait finishes off with a thriller performance. Congratulations to the men in blue on winning the bronze in hockey," said state Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. "This victory is huge and will go a long way in re-energising the sport in the country," he tweeted.
51 The third day of a golf tournament is called "moving day" for players to race up the leaderboard and set themselves up for a fourth-round charge. In European football, which begins in August, November is "Movember" (not just the charity, the time to get a move on). Wednesday and Thursday at Tokyo 2020 were India's moving days. PV Sindhu entered the quarterfinals in straight games. Boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Pooja Rani and Satish Kumar got themselves within one win of a medal. The Indian men's hockey team overcame an embarrassing 7-1 loss to Australia to first take down Spain and then Olympic champions Argentina. Shooter Manu Bhaker appeared to put her personal and professional travails behind her by placing fifth in the first half of her qualification stage for the 25m pistol (eight will go through after the second round). Golfer Anirban Lahiri shot a four-under in his opening round. Archer Deepika Kumari stayed in the hunt by entering the Round of 16. And Atanu Das (with Deepika screaming advice and encouragement at her husband from the stands) held his nerve in the tensest moment he would've experienced in his career to pull out a 10 from his quiver in the shoot-off against South Korea's Oh Jin-Hyek. Fair warning, it's possible that none of these athletes end up with medals, that there is heartbreak instead of joy - for such is the nature of sport, particularly at an Olympics. But isn't heartbreak, an emotion any sports follower should be well-acquainted with, so much better than indifference? Medals are only one way to measure the march of a sporting nation such as India, which, let's face it, still doesn't have a system or culture that promotes excellence on the field of play. A better, more crucial yardstick is whether more of our athletes are being able to get in contention. After Mirabai Chanu's silver got India up and running on Day 1, the Tokyo Olympics have been underwhelming, not because India did not win more medals but because enough athletes did not put themselves in positions from where they could. Positions from which we would care about their fate - from where a win was possible, and a loss would be devastating. The lifeblood that sustains sport is the joy of triumph and the sweet misery of defeat; its kryptonite is cold apathy and cutting sarcasm. The crucial shift effected by medals from Abhinav Bindra, Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Sushil Kumar (to name a few over the last three Olympics), and athletes such as Dipa Karmakar who swam against the current of history, was that they made us care about Olympic sport again. And it's important that this sentiment gets reinforced at every Games. It will, of course, take a lot more for India to occupy a more significant place on the global stage. A few years ago, Pullela Gopichand pulled me aside at an event for a show-and-tell on what fundamentally ails Indian sport. He drew an isosceles triangle, and then drew two horizontal lines to divide the triangle into three parts. The largest section at the base, he said, was the number of people playing sport; the middle represented those who played competitively; and the tip represented the elite athletes, the cream that rises to the top. The problem, he went on, is that we still focus on the tiny section at the top, not realising that the sections that need attention are the ones below it. His point was that if the base is large enough, there will be more people playing competitively, and more elite athletes will automatically emerge. The first step towards widening this base is for India to remain emotionally invested. At Tokyo 2020, we are back on track. Postscript: India's most valiant athlete went down swinging in the Round of 16 at her last Olympics. The TV commentator said it best: "Some sports have legends, women's boxing has Mary Kom."
52 It seems we won more medals than we did at the last Olympics. Personally, I was thrilled with how our sports people competed in different disciplines - win or lose - because it takes a tremendous amount of courage and resilience to perform at the top level, especially when you don't come from a nation where sports is a culture, and where performance is not an everyday attitude. Each performance was creditable, and each medal was a triumph against very difficult odds. Sports could lift many out of poverty and propel many others into the next level of economic existence, but the odds are heavily stacked against that in the absence of a significant and consistent investment at various levels of society, facilitated by a government spending on infrastructure. For a government to prioritise sports spending requires sustained demand from the media and citizens. I have lived in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Growing up, I spent three years (Grades 8-10) at the Union Academy School in Delhi in the 1980s and the biggest differentiator for a kid living in Delhi is the sports infrastructure and sports culture. And that infrastructure and culture starts with the school's coach and the physical training team. In those three years, I won a gold medal and certificate as part of the school's football team that won the Zonal U-16 football trophy. I also won silver and bronze medals at the Delhi interschool athletics and went up to the quarters and semis in consequent sub-junior national tournaments in table-tennis. My greatest pride came in cheering from the stands whenever our school's hockey team took the field. Our school was (and still is) famous for its outstanding hockey team, having produced several players who went on to play for the India men's team, as also players who became sports administrators and coaches. We had a city rivalry with Modern School Barakhamba road and DPS RK Puram. Our sports days used to be held at Shivaji Stadium in Connaught Place, which we considered our home ground, given our hockey credentials. Talkatora Stadium and pool was a venue frequented for the many interschool tournaments - my most memorable table-tennis matches were at Talkatora. My elder cousin was part of the Delhi U-19 cricket team, which meant we occasionally got to watch Test matches at Ferozshah Kotla. Visits to play and watch football games at Ambedkar Stadium were par for the course. Our school team qualified for the Subroto Cup one of those years, and though I was on the bench through all our draws and defeats, it was a great experience being run ragged by Madhyamgram High School (West Bengal) and a Russian school team. The city newspapers were of importance to school students because reporters regularly covered these tournaments and reported on local champions, competitive rivalries and school records. Not just as a tiny mention, but proper reports. They ran extensive articles asking questions on coaching and infrastructure. Their opinion mattered and influenced sports performance. After high school, I moved back to Mumbai where serious sports is more at club-level than school, but reasonably big on the college circuit. Again, local newspapers covered educational and club sports, though selectively, but the association with clubs kept the interest and performance going. Mumbai was geared to a professional career and enthusiasm for sports eventually used to wear down to a hobby, since infrastructure was not that great and when it was, it wasn't as easily accessible as in Delhi. Coaches were even harder to come by unless you were playing cricket. When I landed in Pune in 1996, I was struck by the local sports culture at the school level, including the availability of coaches and considerable coverage by all local newspapers. And after the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games, Balewadi stadium added the much-needed upgrade to facilities. Pune had a vibrant sports culture across many sports, mainly tennis, swimming, football, badminton and athletics. But, specially swimming. In the past decade, many schools have come up with really good sports infrastructure and with a globalisation of the curriculum, more schools talk sports and talk the importance of holistic education and organise their own sporting events. I am a parent, still very enthusiastic about playing and propagating sports. Our eldest swims and competes at the inter-school and district level tournaments, trying to improve his timings and has the advantage of a peer group at his swimming club. The younger ones are finding their sports. I can quite honestly say that it's an uphill task if left to the schools. Schools don't seem particularly interested in developing sporting talent, as much as they are in selling the idea that they have sports integrated into their curriculum. A lot of this comes from the fact that they are addressing their market, parents. And the bulk of the parents in any given school like their children playing, but come Grade 5, their focus shifts to academics. And that's what schools are focused on. Every school has a handful of parents who are focused on sports and who want their children to have the option of a sporting career, if talent indicates so. These are a minority. I remember groups of parents from different international schools who, not only took a keen interest, but also joined the parent committees to drive the school management to really walk the talk beyond infrastructure. All of them eventually gave up because they realised that schools don't listen to minority voices. Nations that do well consistently have multiple athletes in different sports capable of making the qualifying mark and most of them have a career in sports, with achievements going back to school days. The pressure of performance is shared by a peer group and it leads to healthy competition, unlike in developing nations where the pressure is usually on a handful of sports persons, who are built up by the media and then dropped till the next Olympics. I always used to wonder what happens to the great players and swimmers and athletes I used to see at the school level. I guess they all got caught up in the need to make a living and decided that sports wouldn't make them a living. Nowadays, I wonder, what is the point of schools having the physical infrastructure, but lacking the vision and desire to use it to develop talent that comes through to them. There is a great hope. The archers, and shooters, and athletes, will have their day. one day. Of all the medals we won, Sindhu's badminton bronze and the hockey bronze have sustainability significance because they represent a coming together of infrastructure, government support, individual performance and coaching excellence over decades. If more states adopted specific sports to develop like Odisha has stood by hockey, and if more schools across the country make sports a matter of achievement, a legacy would fall into place. And then, maybe, more parents would believe in the talent their children have, and a better sports culture will evolve.
53 Under the hot Tokyo sun, they lay on the glaring blue turf, their shirts soaked to the skin with sweat. A 41-year long wait had ended. India, once an invincible force that won six Olympic gold medals on the trot, last won an Olympic medal at Moscow 1980, and then appeared to simply fade away from the international game. On Thursday, they were back, having beaten Germany, medallists at the last four Olympics (champions in 2008 and 2012), in the bronze medal play-off. "Main toh wahin pe let gaya (I just lay down there). I had no words." With those not so famous lines, the Indian men's hockey captain, Manpreet Singh, described the feeling of having made history. The clash was one befitting the occasion - an attacking, furiously fast-paced game with end-to-end action. Germany took the lead early, in the second minute, and the pressure mounted. India scrambled up and down the pitch, looking frazzled but frenetic in defence. Then, in the 17th minute, Nilakanta Sharma received a ball in the midfield, swerved past two German players, and swept a defence-splitting pass to Simranjeet Singh, who scored with a breathtaking shot. It told the story of how far this team had come in the last two weeks that Simranjeet, who came to Tokyo as a standby player, was playing a starring role. Germany replied with two more quick goals, a minute apart. It was 3-1, and it seemed like the dream would be shattered. But here's where the Indians showed they deserved to be back among the world's elite. In the next eight minutes, they unleashed the kind of magic that changes matches and wins medals. Hardik Singh pounced on a rebound after a powerful drag-flick from Harmanpreet Singh struck the goalkeeper in the 27th minute, and slammed it home before any of the German defenders could react. Harmanpreet then slotted home a penalty corner in the 29th; Rupinderpal Singh drove the ball home off a penalty stroke in the 31st; and Simranjeet, in the right place at the right time, tapped in after a tearing run down the flank from Gurjant Singh in the 34th. From 1-3, it was 5-3, and there was nothing the Germans had been able to do about it. The game was from there on was open, flowing, full of verve, as Germany tried to hit back. They reduced the deficit to one in the 48th minute, and stepped up the pressure the last 12 minutes, forcing one penalty corner after another. Each time, Amit Rohidas came charging out at the shot; and if it went past him, PR Sreejesh was there, leaping to make saves. Here is another story that defines this team - Sreejesh, 33, a veteran of three Olympics, on the verge of retiring a few years back, rescuing India with preternatural reflexes throughout the Olympics. In this match, too, it eventually boiled down to Germany vs Sreejesh. With 6.8 seconds left on the clock, Germany got the last of their 13 penalty corners . When the shot came screaming at the goal, Sreejesh held a padded hand out and deflected the ball out. The Germans sank to the turf, realising it was over. The Indians ran wildly, shouting at the top of their lungs. Manpreet fell on his knees and broke down in tears. Rupinder ran to him, and the two long-time teammates hugged. "After we lost to Australia 7-1 (in the group stage), I was very sad that we lost by such a big margin," Manpreet said later. "But Bobby (Rupinder) came to me and said, 'wait till the 5th, we will return with a medal.' So when he came to me today I told him, 'Bobby what you told me has happened'. We didn't get a medal in the Olympics for so long. I can't express what I am feeling now." Sreejesh joined them, before perching himself on top of the goalpost. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time, I am alone in my goal and he (the goalpost) is my best buddy," Sreejesh said. "So it was my way of celebrating with my buddy." On Wednesday, the eve of their match, India's coach Graham Reid did something unusual. He organised a medal ceremony for the team. He asked each player to stand on a chair and imagine they were on the podium with a medal around their neck. It fired the team up. "I came here (to the stadium) thinking about that," said Sreejesh. When it was all over, the team got together in the customary huddle with Reid. Together, they offered a prayer of thanks. "Before the game I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens," Reid said. "For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well." Former players showered the team with praise for bringing Indian hockey back into the spotlight. "We are back where we belong. This is where we always were when we all played. We are back on the podium. This has given a lease of life once again to hockey in India." said Ajit Pal Singh, 1975 world cup winning captain. "It's done. The team showed today that we can win in modern hockey. The next generation or the youngsters, the team has sparked a new self-belief and confidence that we can win at the Olympics." said former India captain Dilip Tirkey. That's what it was -- a bogey off the back, and the start of something new.
54 The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics. PM Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian men's hockey team for bagging the bronze medal in the Olympic Games. "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. Field hockey stick and ball," tweeted PM Narendra. Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team. �� - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2021 There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. "After 41 years wait..! A golden moment for Indian Hockey and Indian Sports! Finally, the long wait is over as India defeated Germany to win Hockey Men's Olympic Bronze medal at #Tokyo2020. India is in a complete celebration mood! Congratulations to our Hockey players !! #Cheer4India," tweeted Kirem Rijiju. After 41 years wait..! A golden moment for Indian Hockey and Indian Sports! Finally, long wait is over as India defeated Germany to win Hockey Men's Olympic Bronze medal at #Tokyo2020 India in complete celebration mood! Congratulations to our Hockey players !! #Cheer4India ���� pic.twitter.com/RmeGOnCpBn - Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 5, 2021 It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games
55 Under the hot Tokyo sun, they lay on the glaring blue turf, their shirts soaked to the skin with sweat. A 41-year long wait had ended. India, once an invincible force that won six Olympic gold medals on the trot, last won an Olympic medal at Moscow 1980, and then appeared to simply fade away from the international game. On Thursday, they were back, having beaten Germany, medallists at the last four Olympics (champions in 2008 and 2012), in the bronze medal play-off. "Main toh wahin pe let gaya (I just lay down there). I had no words." With those not so famous lines, the Indian men's hockey captain, Manpreet Singh, described the feeling of having made history. The clash was one befitting the occasion - an attacking, furiously fast-paced game with end-to-end action. Germany took the lead early, in the second minute, and the pressure mounted. India scrambled up and down the pitch, looking frazzled but frenetic in defence. Then, in the 17th minute, Nilakanta Sharma received a ball in the midfield, swerved past two German players, and swept a defence-splitting pass to Simranjeet Singh, who scored with a breathtaking shot. It told the story of how far this team had come in the last two weeks that Simranjeet, who came to Tokyo as a standby player, was playing a starring role. Germany replied with two more quick goals, a minute apart. It was 3-1, and it seemed like the dream would be shattered. But here's where the Indians showed they deserved to be back among the world's elite. In the next eight minutes, they unleashed the kind of magic that changes matches and wins medals. Hardik Singh pounced on a rebound after a powerful drag-flick from Harmanpreet Singh struck the goalkeeper in the 27th minute, and slammed it home before any of the German defenders could react. Harmanpreet then slotted home a penalty corner in the 29th; Rupinderpal Singh drove the ball home off a penalty stroke in the 31st; and Simranjeet, in the right place at the right time, tapped in after a tearing run down the flank from Gurjant Singh in the 34th. From 1-3, it was 5-3, and there was nothing the Germans had been able to do about it. The game was from there on was open, flowing, full of verve, as Germany tried to hit back. They reduced the deficit to one in the 48th minute, and stepped up the pressure the last 12 minutes, forcing one penalty corner after another. Each time, Amit Rohidas came charging out at the shot; and if it went past him, PR Sreejesh was there, leaping to make saves. Here is another story that defines this team - Sreejesh, 33, a veteran of three Olympics, on the verge of retiring a few years back, rescuing India with preternatural reflexes throughout the Olympics. In this match, too, it eventually boiled down to Germany vs Sreejesh. With 6.8 seconds left on the clock, Germany got the last of their 13 penalty corners . When the shot came screaming at the goal, Sreejesh held a padded hand out and deflected the ball out. The Germans sank to the turf, realising it was over. The Indians ran wildly, shouting at the top of their lungs. Manpreet fell on his knees and broke down in tears. Rupinder ran to him, and the two long-time teammates hugged. "After we lost to Australia 7-1 (in the group stage), I was very sad that we lost by such a big margin," Manpreet said later. "But Bobby (Rupinder) came to me and said, 'wait till the 5th, we will return with a medal.' So when he came to me today I told him, 'Bobby what you told me has happened'. We didn't get a medal in the Olympics for so long. I can't express what I am feeling now." Sreejesh joined them, before perching himself on top of the goalpost. "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job. Most of the time, I am alone in my goal and he (the goalpost) is my best buddy," Sreejesh said. "So it was my way of celebrating with my buddy." On Wednesday, the eve of their match, India's coach Graham Reid did something unusual. He organised a medal ceremony for the team. He asked each player to stand on a chair and imagine they were on the podium with a medal around their neck. It fired the team up. "I came here (to the stadium) thinking about that," said Sreejesh. When it was all over, the team got together in the customary huddle with Reid. Together, they offered a prayer of thanks. "Before the game I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens," Reid said. "For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well." Former players showered the team with praise for bringing Indian hockey back into the spotlight. "We are back where we belong. This is where we always were when we all played. We are back on the podium. This has given a lease of life once again to hockey in India." said Ajit Pal Singh, 1975 world cup winning captain. "It's done. The team showed today that we can win in modern hockey. The next generation or the youngsters, the team has sparked a new self-belief and confidence that we can win at the Olympics." said former India captain Dilip Tirkey. That's what it was -- a bogey off the back, and the start of something new.
56 Just like the entire country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also tuned in to watch the ongoing men's hockey semi-final clash between India and Belgium in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. As he watches the ongoing semi-final, PM Modi said that he is already proud of what the team has managed to achieve in the Olympics so far. "I'm watching India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi-Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best," tweeted PM Modi on Tuesday. I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020 . Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best! - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2021 Loick Luypaert gave Belgium an early lead in the match as he registered a goal in the starting minutes of the first quarter and as a result, India was put on the back foot straight away. However, India struck back in the second half as Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored goals in quick succession, and as a result, India gained a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Belgium got the equaliser as Alexander Hendrickx successfully converted a penalty corner, and it brought the scoreline level to 2-2. Earlier, India had defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Sunday to enter the last four stage.
57 Actor Suniel Shetty has expressed his shock at Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya getting bit by his opponent during a match. Ravi Kumar won the match and qualified for the finals at the Tokyo Olympics. He lost in the finals to ROC's Zavur Uguev, winning a silver medal for India. Sharing pictures of Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev biting Ravi on his arm during a tight hold, Suniel wrote, "If what I see is true, then you have already won gold in our hearts! You are the true symbol of the Indian Sporting Spirit. #RaviKumarDahiya we are so proud of you!!" He had also shared another tweet about Ravi, writing, "How to turn a setback into a comeback, we should learn it from you Ravi Kumar Dahiya!! Superb match! Go for gold!!" Ravi complained about the bite after the match. A large imprint of Nurislam Sanayev's teeth can be seen on his arm in pictures and videos. Former India batsman Virender Sehwag took notice of this moment and he went on to label Sanayev's act as "disgraceful". "How unfair is this, couldn't hit our #RaviDahiya's spirit, so bit his hand. Disgraceful Kazakh loser Nurislam Sanayev. Ghazab Ravi, bahut seena chaunda kiya aapne #Wrestling," tweeted Sehwag. After his silver medal win, other film stars also praised Ravi. "It's a silver for our Ravi Dahiya," wrote Taapsee Pannu. Randeep Hooda also shared his congratulations. Suniel also congratulated the men's hockey team after their bronze medal win. "CONGRATULATIONS INDIAA!! A 41 year wait was ended by our boys!! So so proud of all of you. This victory will be cherished forever. @TheHockeyIndia #Tokyo2020 #TeamIndia." India has so far won five medals at the Tokyo Olympics. There are two silver medals and three bronze.
58 When asked about the reasons behind the team selection, during a virtual media call earlier this month, for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India men's hockey coach Graham Reid refrained from going into specific details. While on paper, India are entering the multi-sport event with one of the best looking defence line-ups, the front line appears to be a little inexperienced. Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh were included in the 16-man squad travelling to Tokyo, while Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, and Ramandeep Singh missing out. "I don't like to comment on specific selections," Reid said when asked about Akashdeep's absence. Tokyo 2020 Day 1 Live - Highlights The coach, though, did specify that the heat factor in Tokyo and the fitness levels of players were some of the important criteria that determined the team's selection. But can India go on further in the competition with this forward line? Former India captain Viren Rasquinha believes that Indian fans need to trust the judgement of the experienced coach. (Tokyo Olympics Full Coverage) "It's not easy to replace the combined experience of Akashdeep, SV Sunil, Ramandeep. Between the three of them, they have played 400 matches for India. That is a huge amount of experience and they have scored tons of goals," Rasquinha replied to a question posed by The Hindustan Times during a virtual media call organised by Sony Sports Network. "As I mentioned earlier, maybe the lack of experience in the forward line may be a bit of a problem. But knowing Graham Reid, he bases his team selection on current form, fitness, teamwork, and the ability to take a load of six-seven matches in 10-11 days. Also the ability of players to adapt to different players," he added. "So, I am sure he knows what he is doing. Graham has got the team that he wants. I am sure he must have seen players like Shamser playing, Gurjan, Mandeep, Dilpreet - they all deserve their places. They are playing for quite a while - very experienced, very strong. Maybe, Shamser Singh selection was one surprise. We have to trust the coach over here. Graham Reid is former Olympic coach himself, he has been an international coach for many years. He knows what is best for the team and we must trust the judgement of the coach," the former India midfielder said. Reid took over India's team as head coach after the sacking of Harendra Singh after India's exit from the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup, losing to The Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Since taking over, Reid has led the Indian team to wins over Belgium, Netherlands, Australia and Argentina. On being asked how the former Australian coach has changed the team, Rasquinha said that Reid has focused on both the defensive and attacking aspects of the game to create a more polished team. "Graham Reid is a very experienced coach. He has coached some of the top teams in world hockey. He has coached the Australian men's national team. He understands what modern hockey is all about. He is an Olympics medal winner himself as a player. He is one of the world-class coaches in the game at the moment," he said. "He has done a good job with the team - understanding the team spirit, playing the bond which we play, we play as a team - in a proper structure. The players understand the structure, focusing on a lot of strong defence and midfield. Ensuring we have numbers in defence, and also throwing numbers in attack. "He was a part of the Australian set-up where they continue attacking, but understand that they need to come back to get numbers in defence. Graham understands the importance of goalscoring in modern hockey. If you look at Australia at their peak, they were always scoring 2-3 goals, but were conceding 4-5. So, Graham is of the philosophy, it's always good to attack but also equally important to defend. He has done good job, so it will be interesting to see how it works out at the Olympics," he signed off.
59 They say that in hockey, the tournament starts in the quarter-finals. If that is the case, let's get the news out of the way-India will play Great Britain on Sunday for a last four spot, something that has not been achieved since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which they eventually won for their eighth and last gold. Now to Friday's match. Already through to the last eight by cementing the second spot in Group A, India downed hosts and 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 5-3 in their fifth and final pool match at Tokyo's Oi Hockey Stadium. The game was inconsequential but gave India the opportunity to build on their winning momentum, especially after the 1-7 humiliation-their worst loss in the Olympics-against world No.1 Australia. India have regrouped to win three back-to-back matches, even dominating defending champions Argentina. "It's been a phenomenal recovery after that dreadful game (vs Australia)," said former goalkeeper Ashish Ballal, a key member of India's victorious 1998 Asian Games squad. Skipper Manpreet Singh and the players have quickly regained the winning spirit. "It's fantastic to see a spirited team playing all out. They look fresh," Ballal said over the phone from Bengaluru. Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) scored for India. With 61% possession, Graham Reid's boys made 32 penetrations to Japan's 10, though they converted only five of their 17 shots, a familiar story in the tournament. Missing the finishing touch has often hurt India. It did even against Australia, though they have a young forward line. India chief coach Graham Reid said: "Better performance tonight. First-quarter was pretty good. We lost a little bit after they scored. In the second half, we came out and regained control. We really tried playing at a much higher tempo, to (a level) we are going to need on Sunday. We mixed that up pretty well and played a controlled game. Good to get a couple of field goals... we still need to get better at those outcomes in the circle." Sreejesh's role Despite Japan scoring through Kenta Tanaka (19th min), Kota Watanabe (33rd) and Kazuma Murata (59th) on Friday, India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has been a sensation in the goal. Sreejesh, playing in his third Olympics, has been an outstanding motivator, constantly sending out instructions to the players, screaming to communicate during the game. Some of his saves, especially against Spain, were crucial because if those had been been converted, the team's morale would have been crushed. "Sreejesh plays like a youngster, I'm happy he's contributing so much," said Ballal. "He's present when the team needs him. He's a strong personality, such a motivating factor." Next up are Great Britain, who finished third in Group B but significantly drew 2-2 against favourites and world champions Belgium on Friday. Also, the knockouts are a different ball game where a single mistake inside the circle can be punished. India will have to make sure they don't concede penalty corners, stay sharp and make systematic attacks to up the conversion rate. It will be vital for India to play a percentage game against the 1988 Seoul champions. Women win too For the first time since 1980 Moscow, India women's hockey team won a match at the Olympic Games, a stunning 1-0 verdict against Ireland, the 2018 World Cup runners-up. After losing their first three Group A matches, to Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, Navneet Kaur's 57th minute deflection of skipper Rani Rampal's reverse shot clinched their first win of Tokyo 2020, keeping hopes alive for the quarter-finals. India will need to beat South Africa on Saturday in their fifth and final pool match to keep alive any hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
60 The Indian men's hockey team broke a four-decade long shackle to put themselves in contention for an Olympic medal on Sunday. The scenes at the Oi hockey stadium when the final hooter went off were steeped in relief, euphoria, and tears. India had crossed the quarterfinals hurdle at the Olympics with a convincing 3-1 victory against Great Britain. They play world champions Belgium in the semis on Tuesday. For Indian hockey, this victory has a meaning far deeper than the victory on the field. Once the undefeated giants of the game-winning six Olympic titles in a row, and then two more later-Indian hockey had not seen an Olympic medal since the last of those golds in Moscow 1980. Forget medals, the team had not reached a semi-final since 1972 (in 1980, the top two teams after the group stage directly played the final). If people had given up hope of witnessing an Olympic medal in hockey from India, that desire has been rekindled, at least for a few days. The reaction of the team was emotional-Harmanpreet Singh collapsed on the turf, tears streaming down his face. Mandeep Singh raised his stick like a warrior raising a sword, captain Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh hugged each other in a tight embrace. It was made more poignant by the fact that all of this was happening in an empty stadium. India's coach Graham Reid joined them in the middle and redirected their emotions. He called for a huddle and said, "this is your moment, celebrate it and start afresh. The job is yet to be done." That job will progress another step if they can beat Belgium on Tuesday, a team they had lost to in the quarterfinals in Rio 2016. For Reid's men, this was also a remarkable display of grit, picking themselves up and playing at their best after being scorched by Australia 7-1 in the second group stage match. But even on that day, as they trooped out of the turf, they were not down. "We are not out of competition. We will bounce back," captain Manpreet had said after being swamped with questions on their worst defeat in the Olympics. And they did. Emphatic wins against Spain (3-0), Argentina (3-1) and Japan (5-3) followed. The fight and resilience in the side filled with youngsters- Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh-shone on the humid night. They played fearlessly, with the intrepid Dilpreet showing the way with excellent ball control, before shooting through the goalkeeper's legs in the 7th minute. It started with a defensive error. A casual effort from the Britain defender allowed Simranjeet Singh to put out his stick and steal the ball. He passed it to an unmarked Dilpreet and the youngster scored his second goal in Tokyo. Gurjant added to the lead one minute into the second quarter. Britain, desperate for a comeback, scaled up its attack. In the third and fourth quarter, India had to endure sustained pressure. As many as seven penalty corners came Britain's way. From one, in the 45th minute, Britain pulled one back. Minutes later, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, as he has done so often already in this tournament, made a string of fine saves to protect India's lead. In the middle of this siege, captain Manpreet was sent off with a yellow card (10 minutes time out) with seven minutes remaining in the match. Then came the moment of the match in the 57th. After his fine assist to Gurjant for India's second goal, Hardik made a dazzling solo run, covering more than half the field, dribbling past two British players. He took a hard shot at goal, but the goalkeeper made a save. Two defenders in a line could not trap the rebound and Hardik, following up, slung the ball into the corner of the goal. In fact, if there is one connection with the 1980 Olympics gold medal winning team and the current side, it is Hardik. His aunt is married to Gurmail Singh, a member of 1980 squad. "Our job is not finished. We have come here for the gold medal. After 42 years we have reached the semi-finals but we will take a medal home," said Hardik. "When I see my uncle (Gurmail), I feel inspired. Nobody can take that away from him. I have come here to return home with a medal." Captain Manpreet Singh said there is still a lot to play for. "We knew that we would come back after that loss to Australia. The morale was not down. The Australia match was in fact a wake up call for us."
61 The Indian men's hockey team broke a four-decade long shackle to put themselves in contention for an Olympic medal on Sunday. The scenes at the Oi hockey stadium when the final hooter went off were steeped in relief, euphoria, and tears. India had crossed the quarterfinals hurdle at the Olympics with a convincing 3-1 victory against Great Britain. They play world champions Belgium in the semis on Tuesday. For Indian hockey, this victory has a meaning far deeper than the victory on the field. Once the undefeated giants of the game - winning six Olympic titles in a row, and then two more later - Indian hockey had not seen an Olympic medal since the last of those golds in Moscow 1980. Forget medals, the team had not reached a semi-final since 1972 (in 1980, the top two teams after the group stage directly played the final). If people had given up hope of witnessing an Olympic medal in hockey from India, that desire has been rekindled, at least for a few days. The reaction of the team was emotional - Harmanpreet Singh collapsed on the turf, tears streaming down his face. Mandeep Singh raised his stick like a warrior raising a sword, captain Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh hugged each other in a tight embrace. It was made more poignant by the fact that all of this was happening in an empty stadium. India's coach Graham Reid joined them in the middle and redirected their emotions. He called for a huddle and said, "this is your moment, celebrate it and start afresh. The job is yet to be done." That job will progress another step if they can beat Belgium on Tuesday, a team they had lost to in the quarterfinals in Rio 2016. For Reid's men, this was also a remarkable display of grit, picking themselves up and playing at their best after being scorched by Australia 7-1 in the second group stage match. But even on that day, as they trooped out of the turf, they were not down. "We are not out of competition. We will bounce back," captain Manpreet had said after being swamped with questions on their worst defeat in the Olympics. And they did. Emphatic wins against Spain (3-0), Argentina (3-1) and Japan (5-3) followed. The fight and resilience in the side filled with youngsters - Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh - shone on the humid night today. They played fearlessly, with the intrepid Dilpreet showing the way with excellent ball control, before shooting through the goalkeeper's legs in the 7th minute. It was his second goal in Tokyo. Gurjant added to the lead one minute into the second quarter. Britain, desperate for a comeback, scaled up its attack. In the third and quarter, India had to endure sustained pressure. As many as seven penalty corners came Britain's way. From one, in the 45th minute, Britain pulled one back. Minutes later, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, as he has done so often already in this tournament, made a string of fine saves to protect India's lead. In the middle of this siege, captain Manpreet was sent off with a yellow card (10 minutes time out) with seven minutes remaining in the match. Then came the moment of the match in the 57th. After his fine assist to Gurjant for India's second goal, Hardik made a dazzling solo run, covering more than half the field, dribbling past two British players. He took a hard shot at goal, but the goalkeeper made a save. Two defenders in a line could not trap the rebound and Hardik, following up, slung the ball into the corner of the goal. In fact, if there is one connection with the 1980 Olympics gold medal winning team and the current side, it is Hardik. His aunt is married to Gurmail Singh, a member of 1980 squad "Our job is not finished. We have come here for the gold medal. After 42 years we have reached the semi-finals but we will take a medal home," said Hardik. "When I see my uncle (Gurmail), I feel inspired. Nobody can take that away from him. I have come here to return home with a medal." Captain Manpreet Singh said there is still a lot to play for. "We knew that we would come back after that loss to Australia. The morale was not down. The Australia match was in fact a wake up call for us."
62 After their worst loss in the Olympics --- a 1-7 defeat to Australia --- India needed a confidence booster. And men's hockey team led by Manpreet Singh got exactly that with a 3-0 win against Spain, who are world No. 9, at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. With the win, India jumped to second position-behind Australia but above New Zealand, Argentina, Japan and Spain-in Group A with six points (two wins) from three games. In the day's other games in the group, Australia thrashed defending champions Argentina 5-2 and hosts Japan drew 2-2 with New Zealand. Forward Simranjeet Singh (14th) scored his first goal at the Olympics to get India off the mark. That was followed by a brace from drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh (15th, 51st)-one via a stroke and the next through a penalty corner. India started aggressively, dominating possession and creating goalscoring opportunities. They forged ahead through Simranjeet's quickfire field goal following a pass from the right flank. One minute later, India won back-to-back penalty corners, resulting in a stroke which Rupinder converted easily. The second and third quarters went goalless with India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh denying Spain a number of times. India downed hatches in the initial minutes of the final quarter but soon pressed forward to earn a short corner which was duly converted by Rupinder to make it 3-0. "Better result today but a lot of things to work on from an improvement perspective," said India coach Graham Reid. "The fact that we gave too many corners, that's always a concern when that happens. But the team did really well in terms of defending the PC. "The first quarter was very well, we could move the ball and it was what we planned to do. 2-0 is the worst score in hockey because after that we were relaxed and we struggled a bit in the second and third quarter to get back in the game. We managed to do that in the fourth quarter and tried to play simple hockey and that's what we ended up doing," he said.
63 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Tripura health workers cross hurdles to vaccinate people in remote areas Sanjay Urang, a multipurpose worker, covers long distances every day on foot, including crossing a rivulet, to reach the remote areas in Tripura carrying vaccines to vaccinate the people who are still unaware of the necessity of the vaccination. 'Plan to instigate and defame': SKM cautions farmers against Haryana BJP's Tiranga Yatra Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday urged farmers of Haryana to not oppose the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "Tiranga Yatra," which, the body claimed, is a "devious plan to instigate and defame farmers." Will nasal vaccines offer maximum protection against Covid-19? What we know Nasal vaccines, which are under trial across the world, are believed to be more effective than intramuscular vaccines as nasal vaccines are supposed to provide mucosal immunity in the nose -- one of the entry points of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Will US see more lockdowns in future? Dr Anthony Fauci says no but warns 'things are going to get worse' US President Joe Biden's top medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci on Sunday said that while the US is not likely to see more lockdowns, "some pain and suffering" still lie ahead due to the growing number of infections. Tokyo Olympics: India men's hockey team enters semifinal with 3-1 win over Great Britain India defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the men's hockey quarter-final to earn a spot in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. The Manpreet Singh-led side will face off against the 2018 world champions Belgium. Anushka Sharma makes Virat Kohli go 'wow', break into song and dance as he praises her beauty. Watch Actor Anushka Sharma left her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, smitten in a new advertisement for a soap brand that they featured in together. In the video, he was awestruck by her and broke into an impromptu song about her beauty as he danced with her. Royal Enfield sells 39,290 units in domestic market in July Royal Enfield on Sunday informed it had sold a total of 44,038 motorcycles in the month of July, up around nine per cent from the same period in 2020.
64 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh was on its way to becoming a powerhouse, fuelling the country's growth that had continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic. "People always knew and said that the road to power at Delhi passes through Uttar Pradesh but earlier, none thought it fit to think that the state could also fuel the country's growth. UP's identity that was previously limited to politics, is changing now as big ticket infra projects, industries and investments have started coming to the state," he said. After speaking with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing on Thursday, Modi showered praise on chief minister Yogi Adityanath, describing him both as "Yogi and Karmyogi (saint and doer)" while seeking the blessings of the common man to let him continue the work for "Dalits, backwards, the poor and the marginalised". Under PM-GKAY, the state has provided free ration to an estimated 15 crore poor so far. "I am going to continue this scheme till Diwali," the PM told one of the five beneficiaries shortlisted for interaction with him. Launching a statewide awareness campaign on the food security scheme, PM Modi said it was a matter of immense satisfaction that every grain sent to the state was reaching the beneficiaries. Adityanath welcomed the Prime Minister from Ayodhya, reminding the PM that last year on the same date (August 5), he was in the temple town for the bhoomi pujan (foundation stone laying) function of the Ram temple and how his government was developing a "nayi Ayodhya (new Ayodhya)." Mentioning the significance of August 5, the PM referred to the scrapping of Article 370 two years ago on this day and the bhoomi pujan (foundation stone laying) function of the Ram temple in Ayodhya last year. He said, "The day has become even more significant with the men's hockey team winning a medal in the Olympics after decades." Referring to Covid-19 as a once-in-century pandemic, he said, "Can you even think what would have happened in UP had Covid-19 happened five years ago? But today, nearly 5.15 crore [51.5 million] vaccination doses have been given in the state." Hitting out at the Opposition, he said, "Politics is changing...Ab pad nahi padak (Not post, medals), parivar nahi parisharm (not dynastic politics but hard work) is becoming the main criteria." Apart from the Olympics, Modi also talked of an upcoming landmark of 500 milliion vaccination doses, record GST collection of Rs.116,000 crore in July, signalling a new momentum in the economy. The Prime Minister also talked of the trial of the first Made in India aircraft carrier Vikrant, completion of construction of the highest motorable road in the world in Ladakh and launch of e-Rupi.
65 Neeraj Chopra made history as he ended India's wait by winning the elusive Olympic gold medal in athletics. In men's javelin throw in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020 he won the medal by sending the spear to a distance of 87.58m. Since his win, people from various walks of life have taken to social media to congratulate him on his big win, including union minister Smriti Irani. Taking to Instagram, she shared a special message for the Olympian. "The Nation proudly celebrates Olympic Gold Medalist Subedar @neeraj____chopra. Confident , diligent, he symbolises a New India! His victory will surely fire up many an ambition in Indian athletics. Congratulations, well done!" she wrote. Along with the caption she also shared a video that showcases Neeraj Chopra's thrown that gave India it's gold medal. Since being posted nearly 14 hours ago, the video has gathered more than 2.5 lakh views and the numbers are only increasing. The share has also prompted people to post various kinds of comments. One of the individual who commented on Smriti Irani's post was actor Neena Gupta. "Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara," she wrote. "He knew it and didn't even look," shared another while talking about the Chopra's immediate reaction after throwing the spear. "Wow," expressed a third. Many shared fire emoticons to express their reactions. What are your thoughts on the post shared by Smriti Irani on Neeraj Chopra's win?
66 A look at the men's hockey results so far in the Tokyo Olympics has one major blot - the 1-7 defeat at the hands of World No.1 Australia. Other than that, it has been a breeze for coach Graham Reid's side in Tokyo. The first encounter against New Zealand was close, but India was the better team in the first half going forward, and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was on top form in the latter stages of the match. India came back from the Australia defeat to pull a solid 3-0 win over Spain to showcase their mental tenacity. The game against Argentina on Thursday had a cagey start, but Manpreet Singh & co. managed to break the South American team's defence and won it 3-1 to confirm a spot in the quarterfinals. Now, with knockout stages set to begin from Sunday (India still have Japan to play in the Group stage Friday), former India captain MM Somaya, who led the team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and was part of the Indian squad that had won the gold in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, spoke to Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat on the team's performance so far in Tokyo 2020. Somaya highlighted the key areas where Reid's side can improve upon as they gear up for the knockout matches, and explained how India's young brigade can go from being good to "unbeatable". EXCERPTS India men's team have reached the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Argentina. What do you have to say about the team's performance so far in Tokyo? Right from the beginning I have said, this is the fittest Indian team that has touched our shores. Barring that one match against Australia, they have played very close to their potential. A little more confidence with the forward line, like they showed today against Argentina, in the first three quarters, would make it even better. And if the forward line is gradually able to play to their potential, we would almost be unbeatable. That's my view. Most goals have come from the set-pieces, would there be a concern about fewer field goals going into the knockouts? With big tournaments like the Olympics, they (the players in the front line) have taken a few days to settle down. But both against Spain, in the first half, and today against Argentina, I thought they equipped themselves well. There was a lot of penetrative thrust in these two matches. But I feel that we have to be a little more consistent. We are scoring from penalty corners. That is an asset. But of course, we should be able to have a double threat, both through penalty corners, and field goals. What areas do you think the team can improve upon? The team plays with plan A which is to play with a blistering pace right through the game. As I said, this team is extremely fit. And they use this to play a very, very quick game. The transition from attack to defence, and from defence to attack is very fast. But when plan A fails, as it did against Australia, they need to look at a plan B where they slow down a bit. Conserve energy and break the rhythm of the opposition. So, a mid-game assessment how their plan is working out and modify it accordingly is one of the areas. Secondly, the midfield pushes up too much and exposes the deep defence, at times. I think in deep defence, we have one or two players who are slightly not at their peak at this point. So, they require a little more protection. Like they have done in these last two games. Once they play a compact game, vis-a-vis defenders, it will help us in the tough games in knockout stages. Where do you think India went wrong in the 1-7 loss against Australia? One is trying to defeat Australia at their own game of fast-paced hockey, you played toe-to-toe with them. It was not working. If you are doing that, you have to score. But they were not scoring either. The second is, that they put too many midfielders up - Rupinder and Birendra Lakra - were looking to counter-attack, but it was working against them. These were the two main areas. There was a lot of chatter on the team selection before, especially the forward line. With Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh scoring majority of goals. would you say India are missing Akashdeep, Raman, Sunil in the front line? No, not at all. The selection does not happen only because a player is experienced. A selection happens because a player is fit to play in a tournament where you are going to play eight gruelling matches in sweltering conditions. All the players you take have to be in top physical shape. So, that is one important factor, that was considered by the coach and the selectors. The second I feel is the present form. You and I have seen these guys players play two years ago. So, we would not know what their present form is. So, the coach has gone strictly on fitness and present form. Just to look at the other way, in the game against Australia, where we did not play well, did our experienced players play well? If one is saying that only the experienced players play well, I can point out quite a few experienced players who did not play well in that game, though I do not wish to do that. Experience players also can have a bad day. So, although I am a big fan of Sunil and these players, you cannot say that if these players were selected, we would have played better. The coach has selected the team with certain plans in mind. What is the formation they want to play, how they want to play... so we need to respect that and back that game right through the tournament. From Group B, there will most likely be Belgium, Netherlands, Great Britain who will reach the knockouts - what realistic chance do you think India have against these strong teams? In all likelihood, Great Britain may finish third from Group B. So, we may either get the Netherlands or Great Britain next. So, I am extremely confident because India have learnt from their experience against Australia that they need to play plan A always. And they need to have plan B sometimes and even plan C. And they are much more confident now, after four league matches. And they would be a very big threat as they are peaking at the right time.
67 While the country soaks up the lustre of the men hockey team's hard-earned bronze medal during the Tokyo Olympics, the local hockey stadium with its slippery turf, overgrown vegetation, and crumbling infrastructure stands in stark contrast and speaks of the authorities' indifference to the sport. Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU's) hockey stadium, which has been named after the "king of short corner" Prithipal Singh, in its present dilapidated state does the legendary Olympian a great disservice as it can no longer facilitate budding hockey players in the region. The AstroTurf, which was recently laid, is slippery at many places, the goalposts are missing in the practice arena and the ground is uneven. The wildly growing vegetation around the stadium gives the venue a rather gloomy look. The stench emanating from the bathrooms have rendered them unfit for use and the main office doubles as a store with gunny bags containing cement stored there. Many windows are broken, adding to the shabbiness of the building. Former hockey coach HS Bhullar said, "The stadium stands as a testimony of sports authorities' indifference and neglect. We have been urging authorities to repair the stadium for a long time, to no avail." "Is this the way to treat our national sport?" asks Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal, while lamenting over the sad state of the hockey stadium stated. "That the talented youth of our country has managed to create history despite the sad state of hockey infrastructure is an absolute miracle," he said. "We need more coaches and well-maintained infrastructure. Toilet hygiene is a far cry when there is no potable water. We do not give the players any facilities, but expect them to bag medals for the nation. How is this fair?" he asked. Veteran hockey player Jagbir Singh Grewal also shared the same grouse. "For three years, players have been running pillar to post over maintenance of the hockey stadium. However, the Indian hockey teams historic win has given us an opportunity to highlight the sorry state of the hockey infrastructure." Despite repeated attempts, PAU dean student welfare (DSW) Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal remained unavailable for comment. District sport officer (DSO) Ravinder Singh, however, says the turf is in good condition. "The hockey academy was closed due to the pandemic. Now, with resumption of classroom teaching, the academy will also be resumed."
68 With exceptional performances at major international tournaments under his belt, Haryana-born Amit Panghal, who is competing in the 52kg men's boxing category at the Tokyo Games, is one of India's biggest medal hopes. And his father, Vijender Singh Panghal feels his younger son's efforts and elder son's sacrifice will pay off. The 25-year-old pugilist is in Tokyo for his maiden Olympic appearance, and his family in Mayna village in Haryana's Rohtak is praying for his good health. "Amit has worked very hard, with the help of his coach, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Of course, there is a pandemic and we are worried for his health. We are praying for him, and every one in Tokyo, that they participate and return hale and hearty. We are just waiting to receive Amit with garlands. Our whole village awaits his return," says Vijender. "Main sadharan kisan hu (I am a simple farmer), and our whole family is excited to see Amit compete in the Olympics. It's a matter of great pride for us. Humari umeed hai ki vo apne desh ka, apne gaon ka naam roshan karega (We hope he will make his country and his village proud)," says Panghal as he narrates his son's journey from his village in Haryana to the stadium in Tokyo. "It's surprising that I originally did not want him to take up boxing (laughs). When Amit was 10, a boxing academy opened in our village, where my elder son Ajay would go to train because in Haryana there is a charm around boxing and wrestling. Looking at him, Amit joined too. But eventually, we did not have the funds to train both of them. Ajay decided to give up boxing and support the family, so that Amit could take up the sport professionally," recalls the father, adding, "Things were hard for a few years. I had to take loans from friends, and was in debt for a while till Ajay joined the Army. We are better placed now, and hope that both our sons can serve the country." Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
69 A festive mood was in the air in four villages of Amritsar districts that have four of their sons in the Indian men's hockey contingent which defeated Germany to win the bronze medal to end the country's 41-year wait for an Olympic medal in the national game. The proud families of the players - Shamsher Singh (24) of Attari, Dilpreet Singh (20) of Butala, Gurjant Singh (26) of Khaliara and Harmandeep Singh (26) of Timmowal village - dedicated the win to every Indian. Residents of these villages were seen bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Also, politicians queued up to the players' houses to congratulate their families. Barring Dilpreet, whose father is a hockey coach who played in the nationals from 1990 to 1996, all three are sons of farmers. Shamsher, a graduate, started playing hockey when he was only 10. "He was inclined towards hockey since his childhood. He used to play on the local ground with other children of the village. His interest in the game increased as he grew up," said Samsher's father Hardev Singh said. Shamsher's mother Harpeet Kaur is a housewife. Gurjant, also a graduate, was inspired by his uncle (mother's brother) Hardev Singh Chahal who was a hockey player. He started playing hockey when he was studying in class 5. "It was my son's dream to do something for the country," said his father Balvir Singh. Gurjant's mother is a housewife and he has two sisters. Harmandeep's father Sarabjit Singh, a farmer and a former kabbaddi player, said, "I congratulate all members of the Indian hockey team. My son worked hard and made it to the national team." Dilpreet, who is pursuing his graduation from a Jalandhar-based private university, was inspired none other than his father Balwinder Singh. "He was nearly 5-year-old when I started training him. He has fulfilled my dream. The entire village is celebrating the win. There is a wedding-like scene at our home," said Balwinder. Dilpreet's mother Sukhwant Kaur is also a housewife.
70 A second Olympic medal for PV Sindhu. The Indian hockey team in the Olympic semi-finals for the first time since Munich 1972. For India, this was a super Sunday at Tokyo 2020. With Sindhu's medal, which she won beating China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match, India also surpassed its Rio 2016 tally of two. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver on Day 1 of Tokyo 2020 while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is also assured a medal (colour yet to be decided) after storming into the semis. Sindhu's name will now unquestionably be taken among the greatest ever sportspersons from the country after becoming only the second Indian-and first woman-after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals, having claimed a silver five years ago in Rio. The 26-year-old also has five World Championship medals-including the gold she won in 2019. Sindhu's efforts ensured that badminton became only the second sport after hockey to bring medals from three consecutive Olympics. Saina Nehwal had won the bronze in London 2012. Barely half an hour after Sindhu's dominating straight games win, the Indian men's hockey team clinched their most significant match in 41 years to enter the semi-finals-the first on artificial turf. In 1972, India won the bronze. India won gold in Moscow 1980, but then the top two from the league phase directly played the final. Manpreet Singh and his men beat three-time champions Great Britain 3-1 in the quarter-final at the Oi Hockey Staidum with the Singhs-Dilpreet, Hardik and Gurjant-scoring a goal apiece to take India to the cusp of a hockey medal for the first time in more than four decades. India face world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning in the semis. Now back to Sindhu. Since she played the Rio 2016 final, the lanky shuttler from Hyderabad has reached the final of every World Championship-an incredible run. That Sindhu is a player transformed when it comes to major tournaments is well known, but on Sunday, she had a different challenge to overcome. Just the day before, after storming through to the semis without dropping a game in Tokyo, she found herself at the receiving end, being dominated by Tai Tzu Ying in the semis. The straight games loss could have been demoralising for her. Instead she came out all guns firing for the bronze playoff, an unusual place for her to be in on the big stage. "I had a lot of emotions going through me-should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final. But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," Sindhu said. Sindhu closed off the match 21-15, 21-13 in 52 minutes to better her record to 7-9 against the Chinese. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years," Sindhu said. "It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country." Sindhu knew well that Bing Jiao prefers close net play, a slow game and long rallies. Using the drift to her advantage, Sindhu ensured that Bing Jiao got few opportunities to bring the play to the net, dictated the pace with her hard smashes and made the Chinese run around trying to retrieve steeply angled cross court shots. When the rallies were long, she not only held her nerve, but played freely and aggressively. "There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm," she said. "Even though I was leading, I did not relax." A great fighter, Sindhu lost the lead of the match only once-that too for just a point-in the first game and was sensational in returns throughout the second, including smashes aimed at the body. With twelve match points in hand, Sindhu ended the match with a shot that has defined her game in Tokyo--a cross court back hand return hit hard with the flick of the wrist. She let out a victory cry, raising both arms. "I'm on cloud nine," she said. "I'm going to enjoy this moment. My family has worked hard for me and put in a lot of effort, so I'm very thankful. A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I'm very thankful to each and every one of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses."
71 A second Olympic medal for PV Sindhu. The Indian hockey team in the Olympic semi-finals for the first time since Munich 1972. For India, this was a super Sunday at Tokyo 2020. With Sindhu's medal, which she won beating China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match, India also surpassed its Rio 2016 tally of two. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver on Day 1 of Tokyo 2020 while boxer Lovlina Borgohain is also assured a medal (colour yet to be decided) after storming into the semis. Sindhu's name will now unquestionably be taken among the greatest ever sportspersons from the country after becoming only the second Indian - and first woman - after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals, having claimed a silver five years ago in Rio. The 26-year-old also has five World Championship medals - including the gold she won in 2019. Sindhu's efforts ensured that badminton became only the second sport after hockey to bring medals from three consecutive Olympics. Saina Nehwal had won the bronze in London 2012. Barely half an hour after Sindhu's dominating straight games win, the Indian men's hockey team clinched their most significant match in 41 years to enter the semi-finals - the first on artificial turf. In 1972, India won the bronze. India won gold in Moscow 1980, but then the top two from the league phase directly played the final. Manpreet Singh and his men beat three-time champions Great Britain 3-1 in the quarter-final at the Oi Hockey Staidum with the Singhs - Dilpreet, Hardik and Gurjant - scoring a goal apiece to take India to the cusp of a hockey medal for the first time in more than four decades. India face world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning in the semis. Now back to Sindhu. Since she played the Rio 2016 final, the lanky shuttler from Hyderabad has reached the final of every World Championship - an incredible run. That Sindhu is a player transformed when it comes to major tournaments is well known, but on Sunday, she had a different challenge to overcome. Just the day before, after storming through to the semis without dropping a game in Tokyo, she found herself on the receiving end, being dominated by Tai Tzu Ying in the semis. The straight games loss could have been demoralizing for her. Instead, she came out all guns firing for the bronze playoff, an unusual place for her to be in on the big stage. "I had a lot of emotions going through me - should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final. But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best," Sindhu said. Sindhu closed off the match 21-15, 21-13 in 52 minutes to better her record to 7-9 against the Chinese. "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years," Sindhu said. "It's a proud moment getting a medal for my country." Sindhu knew well that Bing Jiao prefers close net play, a slow game and long rallies. Using the drift to her advantage, Sindhu ensured that Bing Jiao got few opportunities to bring the play to the net, dictated the pace with her hard smashes and made the Chinese run around trying to retrieve steeply angled cross court shots. When the rallies were long, she not only held her nerve, but played freely and aggressively. "There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm," she said. "Even though I was leading, I did not relax." A great fighter, Sindhu lost the lead of the match only once - that too for just a point - in the first game and was sensational in returns throughout the second, including smashes aimed at the body. With twelve match points in hand, Sindhu ended the match with a shot that has defined her game in Tokyo - a cross court back hand return hit hard with the flick of the wrist. She let out a victory cry, raising both arms above her. "I'm on cloud nine," she said. "I'm going to enjoy this moment. My family has worked hard for me and put in a lot of effort so I'm very thankful. A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I'm very thankful to each and every one of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses."
72 One of the pioneers of Indian badminton and the first Indian player (and Punekar) to win an international title, Nandu Natekar, 88, passed away at his residence here on Wednesday. Natekar - who won over 100 national and international titles over the course of his career - succumbed to age-related ailments. He is survived by his son Gaurav and two daughters. "He passed away peacefully at home and we were all with him. He was ailing for the last three months but breathed his last peacefully," said Gaurav over a phone call. In a message, the Natekar family said, "With the deepest sorrow, we would like to inform you that our beloved father Nandu Natekar passed away on July 28, 2021. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 guidelines, we will not be having a condolence meeting. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers." After the news of Nandu Natekar's passing broke, dignitaries, fans and followers sent condolence messages over social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet, "Shri Nandu Natekar has a special place in India's sporting history. He was an outstanding badminton player and a great mentor. His success continues to motivate budding athletes. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti!" Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol in a tweet said, "A heartfelt tribute on behalf of all the people of Pune to the Arjuna Award winner, the hero of Indian sports, the great badminton hero, Nandu Natekar." Om Prakash Bakoria, sports commissioner, Maharashtra, said in his tweet, "Extremely saddened to know about the sad demise of six-time 'Men's Singles National Badminton Champion' and the first Arjuna Awardee (1961), Nandu Natekar. His passing away is a loss to the world of sports. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers." Ranjeet Natu, honorary secretary, Pune District Metropolitan Badminton Association (PDMBA), said, "Nandu Natekar was known as 'Nandu Kaka' in Pune. Not only did he contribute to the game as a player but also as a coach, organiser and official. Till 1997, he used to come to the PDMBA court and train us. Along with being a great singles' player, he would share excellent tips for performing in the doubles and mixed doubles matches." Natu recalled that when PDMBA hosted the senior nationals badminton in 1997, Nandu Natekar was the head of the organising committee and that he learned a lot of things from him. Back in 1986 when the Maharashtra Badminton Association was going through troubled times owing to a dispute among its management, Nandu Natekar went ahead and continued as president for four years to bring stability to the body. "In every role, he was perfect and was always open to new ideas, whether they came from a peon or a top official. He liked listening to people," Natu remembered fondly. Nikhil Kanetkar, who represented India in the 2004 Summer Olympics, said, "It is sad news for the sports fraternity across the country and my condolences to Nandu Natekar's family. I was fortunate to be trained under him when I was just 12 years' old at the PDMBA. Whenever he stepped on the court, it was a treat to watch him play." In 1954, Nandu Natekar made it to the quarterfinals of the prestigious All England Championships and in 1956, he became the first Indian player to win an international event when he claimed the Sellanger International in Malaysia. He won 12 out of 16 singles' matches and 8 out of 16 doubles as part of the Indian team at the Thomas Cup held between 1951 and 1963. He led the country in tournaments in 1959, 1961 and 1963. He also represented India at the 1965 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. Before appearing on the world badminton stage from 1950 to 1970, Nandu Natekar was also fond of playing tennis and cricket. In 1960, he was offered a Brylcreem advertisement for which he wasn't paid any money but given free packets of Brylcreem every month.
73 The Union government renamed the country's highest sports award, the Khel Ratna, after hockey legend Dhyan Chand on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting that the decision was taken on popular demand, a day after the Indian men's hockey team won a bronze at Tokyo 2020, the country's first Olympic medal in 41 years. The award was established in 1991-92 and named the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, after the former prime minister who was killed during an election rally in May 1991. Dhyan Chand is revered as a hockey wizard in India for his stick work and dribbling skills and spearheaded India's Olympic wins in 1928, 1932 and 1936. "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind," Modi tweeted on Friday. "Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he further tweeted. The Khel Ratna award comprises a medallion, certificate and a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh. Union finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, welcomed the announcement. "Honouring the popular sentiment, a timely decision by Hon. @PMOIndia Khel Ratna Award shall now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. #motivation #TeamIndia," she tweeted. Assam chief minister and Badminton Association of India president, Himanta Biswa Sarma, too hailed the move. "Heartily welcome the decision taken by Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodiji to rename the Khel Ratna Award after India's legendary sports icon Major Dhyan Chand. This decision will go a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of a #NewIndia, which recognises its real heroes," Sarma tweeted. The Congress welcomed the renaming of the sporting honour but accused Modi of playing "myopic politics" in the name of sportspersons. "Congress welcomes that the Khel Ratna Puraskar has been named after the one of the most celebrated sportspersons and hockey wizard Dhyan Chand...we sincerely hope that Modi ji should not have used his myopic political motives to drag the name of a celebrated player like Major Dhyan Chand," said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. "Modi ji, you reduced the sports budget by Rs 230 crores in an Olympic year and now you are trying to be myopic and also deflect attention from core and fundamental issues..." he added. Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh criticised the decision. "Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he led the country into the 21st century. He encouraged sports, youth. This government wants to saffronise and that's why they gave another name," he said.
74 The family of 30-year-old drag flick specialist, Rupinder Pal Singh, who scored a goal from a penalty stroke, was on cloud nine as the Indian men's hockey team clinched an Olympic bronze medal. Rupinder's family members along with neighbours gathered at his house in Faridkot to watch the match. The moment India won the match, it was an emotional moment for his family, especially for his mother Sukhwinder Kaur. They celebrated the proud moment by distributing "laddoos". Rupinder comes from a humble background. His family owns a small house, while his younger brother Amarbir Singh runs a small business in the city. Rupinder's father Harinder Singh said his son has brought laurels to the country. "Rupinder was just six when he started playing hockey and never looked back. I always knew that one day he will do us and the nation proud, said the elated father. Amarbir said the financial condition of their family was not good. "Despite this, my father always supported Rupinder for the game," he said. Rupinder's mother said: "Kids have done a lot of hard work to achieve this, but I am thankful to God with whose blessings they were able to pull this," she added. Later, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu visited Rupinder's house to congratulate the family . "Proud of the Indian hockey team. Rupinder scored a goal to confirm bronze for India and to achieve a long-awaited victory," he said.
75 LUCKNOW UP's sports fraternity welcomed the government's decision to rechristen the Khel Ratna Award in the honour of Major Dhyan Chand, saying that the country's highest sports honour was now named after India's greatest hockey player. Dhyan Chand's three gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games in 1928, 1932 and 1936 were still the best-ever by any Indian sportsperson in the world. Ashok Kumar, son of Dhyan Chand, welcomed the government's move, saying: "Dhyan Chand belongs to the whole country and hockey is our national game. Sports awards should be named after sportspersons. This Khel Ratna was first named after honourable Rajiv Gandhi but it's better to name these awards after sportspersons connected with it. Our country and our Prime Minister took notice of this today, because of the increasing popularity of hockey now." There celebrations in Prayagraj, where Dhyan Chand was born on August 29 in 1905; Jhansi and Lucknow, where he spent his playing days. His fans distributed sweets to mark the renaming of the award. Khel Ratna awardees get a prize of Rs.25 lakh. Ashok Kumar also showered praise on the Indian hockey teams at the Tokyo Games. "Our men's team won a medal and the women's side won hearts. The entire country is celebrating their performances. It's a big occasion for all of us," he said. He thanked the nation for keeping Dhyan Chand's name alive. "There is no doubt that athletes and sports fans have kept Major Dhyan Chand's name alive even today. And now this Khel Ratna award will take that legacy forward. He (Dhyan Chand) is still alive in our hearts." Uttar Pradesh Hockey, the official unit of the Games' governing body, Hockey India, too welcomed the PM's announcement to rename the award after Major Dhyan Chand. "It's a great moment for Uttar Pradesh Hockey as we all grew up hearing the tales of Dhyan Chand Ji on the hockey field. He has been the ideal of all hockey players in India. In our playing days, we all wanted to play like him," said RP Singh, who also happens to be a former India hockey captain. "Most of our hockey astro turf stadiums in UP (14) are already named after Major Dhyan Chand. The stadium in his name at the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College here has witnessed many big events like 2016 Junior Men's Hockey World Cup and Gold Cup Tournament in the past," he said. "It's a golden double for UP, as after the success of hockey players like Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Vandana Katariya at the Tokyo Games, we got to see the government renaming the sports award in the name of Major Dhyand Chand," added Singh, who is also UP's sports director.
76 India defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the Men's Hockey quarterfinal to earn a spot in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics. Tokyo 2020 Highlights: India vs Great Britain Quarterfinal This is the first time since the 1972 Munich Olympics that the eight-time Olympic Champions would be playing in the semifinals of men's hockey in the multi-sport event. In 1972, India had lost to Pakistan in the semis. While India had won the gold medal defeating Spain in the final in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, there were no semifinals at that time and the two teams from the round robin stage had competed in the final. It has been a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics so far, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), and Argentina (3-1) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, India have won all their games so far.
77 The members of Indian men's hockey team in Tokyo etched their names in the history books after they led the team to a bronze medal win at the 2020 Olympics. India had to win an intense, thrilling, and grueling encounter against Germany that went right down to the wire. But in the end, despite trailing on two separate occasions in the match, India managed to pull off a stunning comeback 5-4 win to go past Germany and earn a podium finish. Here are the names of all the players who were a part of India's squad at the Tokyo Olympics: Head Coach: Graham Reid Dilpreet Singh Rupinder Pal Singh Surender Kumar Manpreet Singh (Captain) Hardik Singh Gurjant Singh Mandeep Singh Simranjeet Singh Mandeep Singh Lalit Kumar Upadhyay Harmanpreet Singh PR Sreejesh (Goalkeeper) Sumit Kumar Nilakanta Sharma Shamsher Singh Varun Kumar Birendra Lakra Amit Rohidas Vivek Sagar Prasad
78 Eleven students from the Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, are part of the Indian contingent representing the country in Tokyo Olympics. In a release, LPU claimed this is the highest number of students to get selected to any Indian Olympic contingent from a private university. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing MA in public administration at the university, para-athlete Nishad Kumar (BA), javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra (BA) and sprinter Amoj Jacob (BPEd) are part of the Indian contingent, according to the press release. Seven players, including captain Manpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, all students of MBA, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, pursuing graduation, of the Indian men's hockey team are LPU students. Chancellor, LPU Ashok Mittal said: "We feel proud that near 10% of the Indian Olympic participants LPU students."
79 India men's hockey team made it to the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics. This will be the first time in over four decades that India's men's hockey team will play in the Olympics in a semifinal match. Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, and Hardik Singh scored as India defeated Great Britain 3-1 to achieve the historic feat. Twitterati celebrated India's big moment as Indian players indulged in emotional celebrations on the turf after winning the match. Here is a look at some of the reactions on Twitter: India will face off against 2018 World Champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. It will be their first meeting since FIH Pro League clash between the two teams in February 2019.
80 Drubbed 1-7 by Australia in their last match, the Indian men's hockey team defeated Spain 3-0 to register its second win at the Tokyo Olympics here on Tuesday. India produced a spirited performance against world No.9 Spain and scored through Simranjeet Singh (14th minute) and Rupinder Pal Singh (15th and 51st) to record a comfortable win in their third Pool A match at the OI Hockey Stadium. India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opening fixture. Spain, on the other hand, are yet to register a win in the competition. Spain drew 1-1 against Argentina before losing 3-4 to New Zealand. The Indians will next play reigning Olympic champions Argentina on Thursday.
81 The Indian men's hockey team stormed into the Olympic Games quarterfinal with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in its penultimate pool match here on Thursday. After goalless first two quarters, India broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through Varun Kumar before Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and Harmanpreet Singh (59th) struck in the closing minutes of the match to seal the contest. Argentina's lone goal came from a penalty corner conversion by Schuth Casella in the 48th minute. By virtue of this win, India have consolidated their position in the second spot of Pool A with three wins and one loss out of four games, behind Australia. Argentina are struggling at the fifth spot in the six-team pool and need to beat New Zealand in their final preliminary match on Friday to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. The top-four make the last-eight stage from each group. India will play hosts Japan in their final pool match on Friday.
82 After the best-ever performance at the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics, India shall look at breaking into the top 10 at the earliest possible, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday as the House lauded medal winners and the gritty losers in close finishes. In an unusually long speech, Mr. Naidu termed the Indian contingent's performance at the Tokyo Olympics as, "the first moment of national awakening in sports". "The Tokyo Games turned out to be the best Olympic moment for our nation in the last 121 years of its Olympic journey," he said. "It took such a long time to script a 'We too can do it' moment, erasing the memories of desperation, despondency, dejection and disbelief, compounded by poor medal performance every four years," Mr. Naidu added. India finished at 47 in the Tokyo medal tally, far improved from 67 in the last Games in Rio. "Four gold medals would have placed us at around 20 and another four among the top 10 in the medals tally," he said. "It is to be much higher on the medals table given the feasibility as revealed from our Tokyo performances. Our mission shall be in the top 10 at the earliest possible." Members thumped their desks when the reference was read out. Mr. Naidu said that the Tokyo Olympics did not just give the highest-ever tally of seven medals but also demonstrated grit in terms of quite a few close finishes and a large number of athletes entering medal-winning rounds of the competition. "Tokyo Olympics heralded resurgence, renaissance and national awakening in sports in our country by restoring the depleting confidence and self-esteem," he said. Of the 120 members in the Indian contingent for Tokyo, 55 contested in the quarter-finals and above, marking the highest-ever penetration into medal rounds of the competition. For the first time, five Indian athletes fought for gold and over 40 made it to the semi-finals. "This is quite significant as it indicates the scope for substantially improving medal harvest in the near future as our sportspersons set their eyes on the Paris Olympics in 2024 with newfound confidence," he said. Mr. Naidu remarked that Neeraj Chopra had done the nation proud with his gold-fetching javelin throw, bringing down the curtains on "decades of despair and heralded a new era of confidence and hope." "His feat helps in healing the festering wound of recurrent despair and waning hope with every lost opportunity," he said as he went on to praise all the other medal winners - Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu, Lovelin Borgohain, P V Sindhu and Bajrang Punia. The men's hockey team entered the semi-finals after 49 long years and fought valiantly to win a medal after 41 years. The women bravehearts, having made their Olympics debut in 1980, made it to the semi-final after 41 years and only in their third appearance. "These stellar performances are harbingers of rejuvenation of interest in sports in general and in hockey in particular, in our country," he said. "This august House is further happy to take note of the spectacular emergence of our women athletes in the international sports arena and their coming to the fore as medal winners." In the 2016 Rio games, both the medal winners were women. In Tokyo, three of the seven medal winners were women. "The golden record of our men's hockey team till 1980 and rare good performances by some individual athletes notwithstanding, India had "come to lose self-esteem, confidence, morale and hope in the domain of sports further to poor performances in the Olympics arena over the years", Mr. Naidu said. "No nation can hold it's head high in any domain with such lack of confidence and low self-esteem," he said. "More so, when Olympic medals add to the global perception of emerging economies with the level of sports being an important element of soft power." "In addition, excepting some rare noteworthy performances, our nation has come to be used to early exits from competitions in various events in the Olympics and meek surrenders that made our people drop their heads in frustration and agony," he added. Out of its 24 Olympic appearances till Rio Olympics in 2016, India did not win even a single medal in six appearances, fetched a single medal each in 13 appearances, two medals in three Olympics, three medals in the Beijing Games in 2008 and the highest of six medals in the London Games in 2012. The first individual gold medal was secured only in the Beijing Games in 2008 while the first female medal winner in the Olympics came only in the Sydney Games in 2000. "Not even a single medal in track and field events for 120 years," Mr. Naidu pointed out.
83 Mirabai Chanu, who won silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics games expressed joy after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the Olympics contingent to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "It is a matter of great joy that we have been honoured by PM as he has invited us on such a big day. We will get a chance to meet PM over dinner at his residence. It will be a big day for me", Chanu said. On 15th August, as India celebrates Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Olympics contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Aside from the programme, he will also be inviting them to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "This time, the highest number of players from India have qualified in the Olympics. Remember, this has been done while battling the biggest disaster of 100 years. There are many games in which we have qualified for the first time. Not only qualified but also giving tough competition. The zeal, passion and spirit of Indian players are at the highest level," Modi said during a virtual address earlier today. India has been represented by a 228-strong contingent, including over 120 athletes, at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Over the last few days, as the delayed Games began, the Prime Minister has followed the events alongside much of the nation. Early on Tuesday morning for example, he had taken to Twitter cheering on the Indian men's hockey team as they took on Belgium in the semifinal match.
84 On August 1, the Indian men's hockey team defeated Great Britain to secure a place in the last four of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The performance by Manpreet Singh and his men has taken social media by storm. Several congratulated the Indian hockey team and claimed, "Chakde!India. Finally, after 41 years, team India reaches the semis of the Olympics. One of the greatest moments indeed. #Tokyo2020 #india #Olympics". Embed:/ plugins/video.php?height=314& href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww. facebook.com% 2FMondalhimadri14%2Fvideos% 2F224036536273782%2F&show_ text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow: hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true">iframe> India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be misleading. In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, India had won the gold medal. But it did not play the quarter final or semifinal in that tournament and qualified for the finals directly from the group stage. In the 1972 Munich Olympics, India had lost the semifinal to Pakistan. Posts with similar claims are saved , , , . India's golden run Several claim that the Indian hockey team would compete in an Olympic semifinal after 49 years. It means that while some are claiming that India had played the semifinal during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, others are claiming that India entered the Olympics semifinal for the last time in the 1972 Munich games. We first conducted a keyword search to find out reports on Indian men's hockey team during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. On July 17, 2012, " " had published an article that gives an insight on the Indian team's performance in that Olympics. The article says that protesting against several nations had decided to boycott the games and the men's hockey tournament got reduced to just six teams. India had played six matches in the tournament five in the group stage, and the final. Just before the Tokyo Olympics, "Hockey India" had published a series of articles on its website. The series carried interviews of former Indian players who shared their experiences of different Olympics. In MM Somaya, member of the 1980 Olympics squad was quoted saying, "In the end when we had to play our final Pool match against Soviet Union, we had to win to qualify for the Final." Between 1972 and 1980 Olympics, India went on to play the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and in the hockey tournament. To further confirm the claim, we got in touch with MM Somaya. "In that tournament (1980), the format was different. We reached the final directly after the Round Robin league. However, that was the last time when India had won the Olympic medal in hockey," he said. Confirming the development, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam told AFWA, "Yes, there's this confusion that needs to be be clarified. In 1980, there was no quarter final or semifinal and the first two teams in the league table directly played the final. Before that, India played the semifinal in 1972. So technically, we should say that India would play Olympic semifinal after 49 years." Therefore, we can conclude that the Indian men's hockey team reached the Olympics semifinal in Tokyo after 49 years. Graphic Fact Check: Why some people think India reached Olympics men's hockey semis after 41 years
85 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday assured a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh and a suitable job for Nilakanta Sharma, who was a part of the Indian men's hockey team that won the bronze medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. After to secure a podium finish in this year's Olympics, the Manipur Chief Minister spoke to Nilakanta Sharma for congratulating the entire men's hockey team. During their conversation, N Biren Singh asked Nilakanta Sharma, who is currently a 'Senior Ticket Collector' in Indian Railways, what he expected from the government. To which, the Olympics medalist, said, "I want to get a job in Manipur. A job related to sports is all I wanted." Also Read: N Biren Singh then assured him, saying, "As you have become an Olympics medalist, I won't keep you as a ticket collector. Like I told Mirabai (Chanu) the last time, I won't keep you as a ticket collector. Moreover, the state government will provide you a suitable job. So be ready." It was delightful to speak to Nilakanta Sharma, Midfielder Indian Men's Hockey team today. I congratulated the Indian Men's Hockey team for their historic win of bronze medal at - N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) N Biren Singh later told Nilakantna Sharma that he would also be offered a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh whenever he returns to Manipur. On Thursday, India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at the Tokyo Olympics. They beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match on Thursday to win their first Games medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Also Read | Also Read | Graphic Tokyo Olympics: Manipur CM assures Rs 75 lakh cash award, govt job to hockey player Nilakanta Sharma
86 Xiaomi on Sunday announced that it will gift a unit of its flagship smartphone Mi 11 Ultra to each Indian athlete who won a medal in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020. The announcement was made by Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain through his Twitter handle. Manu tweeted that the smartphone maker values the grit and dedication that it takes to win an Olympics medal. He added that as a gesture of thanks Xiaomi will "humbly gift a Mi 11 Ultra to all the Indian Olympic medal winners. Super phone for Super Heroes." The Tokyo Olympics saw the best ever performance from the Indian contingent. The nation won a total of seven medals its highest ever surpassing the six medals in 2012 Olympics. The performance was led by Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won a Gold on the last day of Olympics 2020. This was India's first ever Gold in athletics in the history of Olympic Games. Apart from Neeraj, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia were the other atheletes to win medals at Tokyo. Xiaomi will give a Mi 11 Ultra unit to all of these athletes. Manu confirmed that each member of the Indian men's hockey team will also get a smartphone, albeit the Mi 11X. The Indian hockey team won a Bronze medal at the games the first in this sport since 1980. The Government of India as well as different state governments have also announced prizes for the athletes that did well in the Tokyo Olympics. The Mi 11 Ultra is Xiaomi's flagship smartphone for 2021. It comes with top of the line features like Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, 6.67-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display supports 120Hz and one of the largest sensors on a smartphone camera. The Mi 11 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup which consists of a 50-megapixel 1/1.12-inch primary camera sensor, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 120x zoom. One of the highlights of the phone is an additional 1.1-inch AMOLED display which sits next to the rear camera module. This can be used to check date, time and notifications. It can also double up as the viewfinder for the rear camera, allowing you click selfies with it. The smartphone packs a 5000 mAh battery with 67W fast charging support. The smartphone ships with a 55W fast charger inside the box though. Graphic Xiaomi to gift Mi 11 Ultra to each Indian athlete who won a medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020
87 Taapsee Pannu called PV Sindhu "one of a kind" while Samantha Akkineni was all praise for her "hardwork and dedication." PV Sindhu bagged broze at Olympics 2020, became the first Indian female Olympian to win two medals. India's star shuttler PV Sindhu has won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. On Sunday, Sindhu defeated China's He Bingjiao to win her second consecutive medal. With this win, Sindhu became the first Indian female sportsperson to win two medals at Olympics and second Indian Olympian with two medals after wrestler Sushil Kumar. As soon as she won, celebrities took to their respective social media handles to congratulate Sindhu. Samantha Akkineni, Sara Ali Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Taapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan, Varun Dhawan, Deepika Padukone and others shared their reactions to PV Sindhu's win. Samantha Akkineni said she respects PV Sindhu's "hardwork" and called her "special." On Instagram stories, she mentioned, "And she does it again. I can't imagine what this takes. We absolutely love you and respect your hardwork and dedication. You are so special." Dulquer Salmaan congratulated PV Sindhu and wrote, "Always making India proud." Taapsee Pannu, who celebrates her birthday today, celebrated PV Sindhu's win. "Our girl is getting home the bronze! She did it! One colour at a time I say! Come on champ @Pvsindhu1. This calls for a celebration! You are one of a kind, let's celebrate YOU!" she tweeted. Abhishek Bachchan also tweeted congratulatory message for Sindhu. "Congratulations on winning the bronze and also for becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. You make India proud," Junior Bachchan's tweet read. "It's the Indian Women showing us the way.. Bravo #PVSindhu !! 1s Indian Woman Olympian to win 2 individual medal at the #OlympicGames #Bronze Champion," Randeep Hooda mentioned via Twitter. Here are all the reactions to PV Sindhu's win: Yet another historic win.. by one of India's best!! Congratulations on winning the bronze @Pvsindhu1! Immensely happy and proud!! #Tokyo2020 - Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) August 1, 2021 An amazing win & a historical moment! Congratulations @Pvsindhu1!!! - Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) August 1, 2021 So the only team who defeated the Gold Medal winners in Tokyo 2020 men's doubles badminton are our boys ! I would like to see the glass half full. We have a bright future with @Shettychirag04 and @satwiksairaj And congratulations Chinese Taipei pair, see u next Olympics :) - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) July 31, 2021 Dearest @Pvsindhu1!! Congratulations and thank you. #ProudIndian - Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) August 1, 2021 We love India congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on winning the bronze medal in @Tokyo2020 Olympics and making the nation proud.#Cheer4India #Pvsindhu - BANDLA GANESH. (@ganeshbandla) August 1, 2021 Proud of you @Pvsindhu1 First Indian woman to win #Olympics Medal Twice...!! Making India and Indians proud. #PVSindhu#Bronze #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 - Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) August 1, 2021 Congratulations Champion @Pvsindhu1Proud, as always. #Tokyo2020 - Sudheer Babu (@isudheerbabu) August 1, 2021 The game had everything! From utter court dominantion to perfectly timed smashes. @Pvsindhu1 bags home the bronze! She's done it again : Reuters / Leonhard Foeger - Sonali Bendre Behl (@iamsonalibendre) August 1, 2021 Ive never seen an Indian sportsperson displaying such phenomenal skills . With two Olympic medals, @Pvsindhu1 you are not only the Badminton World Champion but the best ever athlete from India in individual sports. Congratulations !!! - R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) August 1, 2021 Indian women continue to shine at the Olympics!! Congratulations @pvsindhu1 ! You go girl#Tokoyo2020 - Rakul Singh (@Rakulpreet) August 1, 2021 Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan and others also shared their reaction to PV Sindhu's win. Sindhu won a silver medal at Rio Olympics. This is India's second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won silver in women's 49kg weightlifting on July 24, the first official day of action at the Games.
88 Belgium overpowered India with skill and power in the Olympic Games hockey semi-final on Tuesday. However, India should be proud of their performance. The 5-2 scoreline may look embarrassing but Manpreet Singh and Co. were in the match throughout. It's just that they were up against a very superior and clinical side. Belgium also did their homework regarding PR Sreejesh. The India goalkeeper, who is amongst the best in the business, is not comfortable dealing with groundballs. Belgium capitalised on that. Of the five goals they scored, three came from penalty corners. As I said in my last column, Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes) became the decisive factor netting a hat-trick. His goal tally in the Tokyo Olympics now reads 14! That's the most any player has scored in the men's Olympic hockey tournament since Juan Amat netted 16 goals for Spain at the 1980 Olympics. The ace drag-flicker scored two off penalty corners and the last from a penalty stroke. It will be a deserving final between the two top teams. Belgium, who are in the final for the second successive time, and Australia are the two best teams and I am eager to see them clash. India will play Germany, who lost to 1-3 to Australia, and to me we have a 50-50 chance. Yes, I do not think Germany will be easy prey for Graham Reid's men for they are very compact defensively. The Belgians play a very open game. So it was not surprising that they put the Indian defence under pressure. Fourteen penalty corners bore testimony to that. Their game plan was clear from the onset. Enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Loick Luypaert, who scored the first goal off a penalty corner, in their ranks. But India refused to bow down without a fight. At one point in time India were leading 2-1, thanks to strikes from Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh. It was nice to see Mandeep's name on the scoresheet for he needed this goal to boost his confidence. India were in the match for three quarters but in the last 15 minutes conceded as many as three goals. They did not have any answer to the Belgian onslaught. The women's semi-final between India and Argentina is slated for Wednesday afternoon. India are on a high after their upset 1-0 win over Australia but the Argentines are no pushovers. India will have to play the way they turned up against Australians... not yielding even an inch to their rivals. A lot will depend on Savita Punia, the classy goalkeeper who was brilliant the other day. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams. In that edition, women's hockey made its debut in the Olympics and was played in a round-robin format. The top two teams qualified for the final. On Wednesday, Rani Rampal and her gang will have a chance to better that. It will be a historic moment. A former India captain, Gurbux Singh was amember of the 1964gold medal-winninghockey team
89 Celebrities shared congratulatory messages for Bajrang Punia and heaped praise on his comprehensive win. Celebrities from all over India took to social media to celebrate Bajrang Punia's win at Tokyo Olympics. Punia, who was competing in men's freestyle 65kg category, defeated Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov by 8-0 to bag the bronze medal. Celebrities shared congratulatory messages for the sportsman and heaped praise on his comprehensive win. Ali Fazal tweeted, "Bajrang !!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A MATCH #Tokyo2020." Congratulations @BajrangPunia! What a debut at the #Olympics. You have made us proud! #TeamIndia #Wrestling #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 - Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) August 7, 2021 Nivin Pauly wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations @BajrangPunia! What a debut at the #Olympics. You have made us proud! #TeamIndia #Wrestling #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020." Rajeev Khandelwal posted on Twitter, "What a win! #BajrangPunia and what a display of humility at the end. A true Indian spirit." Rahul Ravindran shared on Twitter, "Yessssss! Bajrangbali ki jai! Bajrang Punia Olympic Medalist!!!" !!! And probably Christ too (the coach kissing his talisman) - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 7, 2021 Randeep Hooda tweeted, " !!! And probably Christ too (the coach kissing his talisman) , A Gold Medal player who just has one bad bout and got a #Bronze #BajrangPunia @BajrangPunia #Olympics #wrestling." Neha Dhupia also hailed Bajrang Punia's victory. "Congratulations #BajrangPunia .... This is glorious .... Up next #NeerajChopra #ftw," she wrote on Twitter. Madhur Bhandarkar posted on Twitter, "Heartiest congratulations to @BajrangPunia on winning Bronze Sports medal in Men's freestyle Wrestling 65 kg category. Super proud of you. #JaiHind."
90 India's players are showing their strength in the Tokyo Olympics, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has planned a special surprise for them. According to the information, on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Indian Olympic contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Not only this, but the PM will also personally meet the Olympic team. It may be recalled that PM Modi had talked to the players going to the Tokyo Olympics and encouraged them on July 13. Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian men's hockey team faced defeat in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics against world champions Belgium. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has took to Twitter and encouraged the team, stressing that victory and defeat are part of life and India takes pride in its players. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," the PM tweeted. In another tweet, the PM said, "There is a rising spirit of self-confidence in India and we are seeing glimpses of this at #Tokyo2020, where our athletes are putting up spirited performances and making 130 crore Indians proud."
91 On 15th August, as India celebrates Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the entire Olympics contingent to the Red Fort as special guests. Aside from the programme, he will also be inviting them to his residence for a personal meeting and interaction. "This time, the highest number of players from India have qualified in the Olympics. Remember, this has been done while battling the biggest disaster of 100 years. There are many games in which we have qualified for the first time. Not only qualified but also giving tough competition. The zeal, passion and spirit of Indian players are at the highest level," Modi said during a virtual address earlier today. India has been represented by a 228-strong contingent, including over 120 athletes, at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Over the last few days, as the delayed Games began, the Prime Minister has followed the events alongside much of the nation. Early on Tuesday morning for example, he had taken to Twitter cheering on the Indian men's hockey team as they took on Belgium in the semifinal match. Videos shared online over the last week have also shown the prime minister watching the events on television. And as the players won and lost, he had also tweeted congratulatory and supportive messages to mark their efforts. Further details awaited.
92 The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday announced Rs 1 crore awards for both Nilakanta Sharma and Vivek Sagar after the at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian men's by defeating Germany 5-4 in a nail-biting match and winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. While hockey player Vivek Sagar is from Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, his teammate Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the Rs 1 crore awards via Twitter on Thursday. He wrote, "Indian men's hockey team has defeated one of the best teams at Tokyo 2020. Vivek Sagar of Itarsi is part of the team and Nilakanta Sharma trained at Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy. The Madhya Pradesh government will provide an honour fund of one crore rupees each to these two players." , - - Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic MP govt announces Rs 1 crore award for 2 players of men's hockey team after Olympics bronze
93 Boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh will be the country's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics to be held on Friday in view of the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital, the Indian Olympic Association announced on Monday. Manika Batra, Sharath Kamal, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and G Sathiyan from the Table Tennis team will attend the ceremony. Amit, Ashish Kumar along Kom are among the eight boxers who will be present at the function. Six Indian officials will take part in the opening ceremony. In a first, India is having two flag-bearers - one male and one female - at the upcoming Tokyo Games to ensure "gender parity". This was recently informed by IOA chief chief Narinder Batra. "I am truly honoured to get this opportunity of leading the team out during the opening ceremony and I thank the sports ministry and IOA for naming me. It would be added motivation for me. I promise to do my best for a medal", Mary Kokm told PTI after being named as one of the flag bearers. "This is amazing, and I am speechless. I think it's a huge honour to be named the Flag Bearer for the opening ceremony alongside the incredible Mary Kom," Manpreet was quoted as saying in a Hockey India release. In the ceremony, India is at serial number 21 in the march past. The sequence of march past is as per the Japanese alphabet and only six officials can participate from each participating nation. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines from India are participating in Olympics. This is the biggest-ever contingent India is sending to any Olympics. The 69 cumulative events across the 18 sport disciplines that India will participate in are also the highest ever for the country.
94 Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya on Thursday lost in the final to ROC's Zavur Uguev in the men's wrestling freestyle 57kg category in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. However, he bagged the silver, taking India's medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to five (two silver, three gold). Meanwhile, he became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games. There were expectations that the 23-year Dahiya would become India's youngest Olympic champion but the reigning world champion Zavur Uguev defended well to win comfortably. Dahiya lost 4-7 in the finals. He had lost to Uguev at the 2019 World Championship also. The wrestler from Nahri village in Haryana had outclassed Colombia's Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he erased a massive 2-9 deficit to pin Nurislam Sanayev. Sushil Kumar, who is now in jail on charges of a murder, is the only other Indian wrestler to have made the final at Olympics. He had won a silver at the 2012 London Games, where Yogeshwar Dutt also won a bronze. Sushil had won a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. KD Jadhav had won a bronze in the 1952 Helsinki Games. Sakshi Malik had become the first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she clinched a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya's "fighting spirit and tenacity". "Ravi Kumar Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler! His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding. Congratulations to him for winning the Silver Medal at #Tokyo2020. India takes great pride in his accomplishments," PM Modi tweeted.
95 A historical day when, after 41 years, India won bronze in men's hockey after beating Germany 5-4. It is, indeed, time to be euphoric. If we do it right, the next Olympics could bring in more medals. And, if we don't, it could be another 41 years before we saw another. Negi said, "No one could sleep on Wednesday night. It was a big day for India and it panned out better than we imagined." Negi recounted the day as follows: From zero chance to teary-eyed win: As the game started, Germany started with high intensity. Their power clearly showed the Indian team they did not stand a chance. Germany got an early lead with Timur Oruz scoring within two minutes of the match. Germany troubled Indian defence in the first quarter. But India came back with the will to win at any cost. In the second quarter, India saw Simranjeet Singh scoring from a well-executed tomahawk shot, but defensive errors led to Germany scoring two more goals within two minutes. Just when it looked India might be in trouble, two penalty corners for India yielded results as Hardik Singh scored on the rebound from the first one, while Harmanpreet Singh scored another with a superb dragflick on to the back of the nets. The last few minutes...: The entire country had goosebumps and tears in their eyes looking at India's comeback. PR Sreejesh saved the last goal and had everyone break out in tears of happiness. "Hockey is in our veins. We held this close to our hearts for many years. We should celebrate it," Negi rounds off.
96 Indian men' hockey team will take on Belgium in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics after they defeated Great Britain in quarter-final. The Indian men's hockey team created history after they defeated Great Britain 3-1 in a quarter-final match to qualify for the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics Games. India scored three field goals courtesy of Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th), and Hardik Singh (57th). India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals had come way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Games. They had lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will India vs Belgium men's hockey semi-final match start? TheIndia vs Belgium men's hockey semi-final match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Tuesday, August 3. Where will India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match be played? TheIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match? TheIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of the India vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Belgiummen's hockey semi-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
97 Indian men's hockey team clinched a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympic 2021 on Thursday. Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Reema Kagti, among others, shared congratulatory messages for the winning team. India cheered as one as Team India brought home the first Olympic medal in hockey in 41 years on Thursday. Indian men's hockey team defeated Germany by 5-4 points to clinch the bronze medal. The pulsating match during Tokyo Olympics 2021 saw tense moments before it came India's way. Bollywood celebrities also took to social media to congratulate the team and celebrate the win. From Shah Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar to Ranveer Singh, celebs posted about the historic win on their social media handles. Shah Rukh Khan, who played a hockey coach in Chak De India, shared via Twitter, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Akshay Kumar, a dedicated sports fan, tweeted, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020." Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonu Sood, and Anushka Sharma also congratulated the team. Filmmaker Reema Kagti took to Twitter to post, "An Olympic medal for Indian hockey after 41 years! Yay! Well played to the entire team bringing the bronze home."Ranveer Singh wrote on Twitter, "Historic. Heroic. Humongous. The wait is finally over! Indian Men's #Hockey Team wins #Bronze at #Tokyo2020. The entire nation is proud! @TheHockeyIndia@WeAreTeamIndia #Olympics #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #IND." Actor Rajeev Khandelwal tweeted, "No words..only emotions! #MensHockeyTeam." Ashwin Mushran shared via Twitter, "Sometimes a #Bronze is worth it's weight in Gold... Pulled through those last 5 minutes. Well done #ind #Hockey #Olympics." See all reactions on Indian men's hockey team winning bronze at Tokyo Olympic 2021: #VineshPhogat#Wrestling - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 5, 2021 Congratulations to the Real Heroes of India Our Indian Men's Hockey Team, Today they made every Indian proud #TokyoOlympics2020 #MensHockeyTeam - sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 5, 2021 Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 5, 2021 Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020 - Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 5, 2021 Historic. Heroic. Humongous. The wait is finally over! Indian Men's #Hockey Team wins #Bronze at #Tokyo2020. The entire nation is proud!@TheHockeyIndia @WeAreTeamIndia #Olympics #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #IND - 83 (@83thefilm) August 5, 2021 An Olympic medal for Indian hockey after 41 years! Yay! Well played to the entire team bringing the bronze home. - Reema Kagti (@kagtireema) August 5, 2021 Sometimes a #Bronze is worth it's weight in Gold... Pulled through those last 5 minutes. Well done #ind #Hockey #Olympics - Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) August 5, 2021 No words..only emotions! #MensHockeyTeam - Rajeev Khandelwal (@RK1610IsMe) August 5, 2021 Just Historic, MEDAL in hockey after 41 years.#HockeyIndiaTeam the entire nation is extremely proud of you'll. Congratulations and Thank you!#Hockey - Ankit Tiwari (@officiallyAnkit) August 5, 2021 So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) August 5, 2021 - Kritika Kamra (@Kritika_Kamra) August 5, 2021 Earlier Mirabai Chanu Saikhom won a silver medal in weightlifting, PV Sindhu won a bronze in badminton and boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal in boxing.
98 The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor. She said such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but violations of the council's guidelines are treated as violation of government's rules. Indian athletes, like weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, have won medals, while the hockey teams have created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names without permissions or contracts. On Thursday, the men's hockey team defeated Germany to claim the bronze-medal match, which many brands and corporate chief executives said “felt like a gold”. Team captain Manpreet Singh dedicating the medal to Covid-19 warriors too became a trend. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies such as BrandOn-Wheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma.
99 After a long 41-year wait, India's men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. India played against Germany on Thursday (August 5). Samantha, Sarathkumr, Anil Ravipudi and several other south celebrities took to social media to congratulate the men in blue for bringing glory to the country. This is India's first win since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. SAMANTHA, SARATHKUMAR CONGRATULATE MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM . It has been 41 years since the Indian hockey team registered a win at the Olympic games. Samantha, Sarathkumar, Pranitha Subhash and several other stars took to social media to congratulate the team. Samantha took to Instagram stories to share a photo of the Indian's team and wrote, "After 41 years (sic)," with three folded-hands emojis. Here's the post: Veteran actor Sarathkumar took to Twitter and wrote, "Indian Hockey Men create HISTORY!! A medal at Olympic after 41 years!! What a stupendous performance!! Entire nation Proud of you boys and it's a bronze medal for Indian Hockey team. Congratulations men in Blue! #Hockey #Olympics 5-4 (sic)." Indian Hockey Men create HISTORY!! A medal at Olympic after 41 years!! What a stupendous performance!! Entire nation Proud of you boys and it's a bronze medal for Indian Hockey team. Congratulations men in Blue! 5-4 - R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) OTHER CELEBS WHO WISHED THE INDIAN MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Rahul Ravindran, director Bobby, Anil Ravipudi, Pranitha Subhash and many celebrities took their time out to congratulate the Indian team on their monumental win. Here are some tweets: Really emotional this no words to describe it. Our national sport the most successful hockey nation in the history of the Olympics and then decades and decades of hurt and gloom all gone Manpreet and boys thank you - Rahul Ravindran (@23_rahulr) Proud moment for India Congratulations to our team History re written - Shanthnu Buddy (@imKBRshanthnu) At some level, I feel guilty too. Before today if you had asked me to name our hockey stars, I would've probably said Dhanraj Pillai and Dhyan Chand & stopped. Talent is nothing if it isn't recognised. The onus is also on us citizens to celebrate and encourage our hockey stars - Danish Sait (@DanishSait) After 41 long years we bring home a medal in Hockey. congratulations!! - KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) Congratulations on winning at after 41 years. Played like a Champion team till the end We are proud of you, Jai hind! - Bobby (@dirbobby) We Did It! Indian Hockey Team Wins Bronze Medal against Germany after 41 Years in Olympics. Well Done Boys!!! - Anil Ravipudi (@AnilRavipudi) A for our at the after 4 decades! So proud! - Pranitha Subhash (@pranitasubhash) Congratulations are pouring in for the Indian men's hockey team from all quarters. ALSO SEE | ALSO SEE | Graphic Samantha to Sarathkumar, South stars cheer men's hockey team for Olympic bronze win
100 It's a historic day for Indian hockey and the entire nation as the Indian men's hockey team has won the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. . From Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, Bollywood celebrities are elated about the win and took to social media to shower their love on the players and congratulate them for achieving this feat. It's after 41 years that the Indian hockey team has won a medal at the Olympics. SHAH RUKH KHAN SAYS RESILIENCE AND SKILL AT ITS PEAK Shah Rukh Khan is among the first ones who took to social media to shower praise on the Indian men's hockey team for their Olympic bronze medal. The actor wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match (sic)." Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) AKSHAY KUMAR CONGRATULATES TEAM ON REWRITING HISTORY Akshay Kumar, who had been closely watching the Indian men's hockey team's performance during the Tokyo Olympics, watched the match for the bronze medal from start to finish. Congratulating the team on their bronze medal win, he shared a photo of the team with the Indian National Flag on his Instagram story and wrote, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020 (sic)." BOLLYWOOD SAYS INCREDIBLE Many other Bollywood celebrities also extended their wishes to the men's hockey team. Nimrat Kaur called the win incredible and wrote, "Huge congratulations to the men's hockey team!!! Absolutely incredible #Olympics (sic)." Huge congratulations to the men's hockey team!!! Absolutely incredible - Nimrat Kaur (@NimratOfficial) Tamannaah Bhatia shared a photo of the winning team and wrote, "A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team. Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India #Olympics #Cheer4India #BackTheBlue (sic)." A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India - Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) Kunal Kapoor wrote that he was proud of the team. He added, "Historic! What an incredible match! Such incredible spirit and determination! So proud of y'all! Jai Hind!! #Tokyo2020 #IndianHockey (sic)." Historic! What an incredible match! Such incredible spirit and determination! So proud of y'all! Jai Hind!! - Kunal Kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also congratulated the team on social media. He wrote, "Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. #TeamIndia #Nationalpride #Tokyo2020 (sic)." Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. - Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020. They beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match to win their first Games medal since the 1980 Moscow. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, celebs congratulate men's hockey team for Olympic bronze
101 Debutant Pravin Jadhav finished ahead of the experienced Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai as India managed ninth-place finishes in both the men's team and mixed team rankings of the Games archery competition at the Yumenoshima Park in Tokyo on Friday. Chasing an elusive Olympic medal in archery, India braces for some tough challenges ahead as both men's team and mixed pair are likely to face Korea in the quarterfinals. The Indian mixed team will open its campaign against eighth-ranked Chinese Taipei, and should it overcome the first-round hurdle, top-seed Korea would be waiting in the last-eight. Likewise, the Indian men's team might run into top-seed Korea, who got a bye into the quarters, should they beat eighth-ranked Kazakhstan in the opening round. In the individual rankings, all the three Indian male archers finished out of top-30. Jadhav was ahead of Das on number of X counts at the halfway mark where both had scores of 329 before the Maharashtra archer nosed ahead in the final six sets to finish 31st with 656 points out of a maximum 720. Das had a 35th place finish, while former Asian Games silver-medalist Rai, in his third Olympics appearance, took the 37th spot among 64 archers. Taking Jadhav's tally into account with Deepika's 663 in the women's event, India ranked ninth in the mixed team competition where the country has the best-ever medal hope. Deepika had finished ninth in the women's ranking round earlier in the day. Despite Jadhav's top finish among the Indians, the country would field it's 'power couple' Deepika and Das for the mixed pair competition that is set for an Olympics debut here on Saturday. "It's a team call and the decision has to be made within 45 minutes today," a World Archery official said. The men's trio's combined performance was just enough to finish inside top-10 as they totalled 1961 for a ninth place finish in their first Olympic appearance since London 2012. The Indian men's team had failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Games and Das was the only male competitor in the individual section. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Korean phenomenon Kim Je Deok, who has been labelled as the greatest talent in 100 years, missed the Olympic record by two points en route to topping the men's ranking round with 688 points, six ahead of world No.1 Brady Ellison. Ellison, the 2012 Olympic Champion, and 39-year-old veteran Oh Jin Hyek finished third. Hyek's compatriot Kim Woojin had a fourth place finish as defending champions Korea topped the ranking round in the men's team event.
102 Minutes after the Indian men's Hockey team won the bronze medal on Thursday, several Bollywood celebrities congratulated the team on rewriting history. The team claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter and lauded the players for their resilience and skills. "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match," he tweeted. Superstar Akshay Kumar shared a picture of the team with the tricolour and tweeted, "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020." Reacting to the news on Twitter, actress Taapsee Pannu wrote, "And it's a bronze." "We won !!!! What a great victory. Kudos to our team. Bronze medal to our Indian Men's hockey team," actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol wrote on Twitter. Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour. There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.
103 Mumbai: It is said a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. And we Indians are with the last, as Indian athletes campaign at the Tokyo Games have left the 140 crore people living in hope for medals at this biggest sports extravaganza of the globe. India's success in this Olympics, winning medals, and the people cheering and rooting for their athletes, is slowly drifting away, as most of our best bets in shooting, archery and boxing are vanishing into the wilderness. And these kind of things are working negatively for a country with a population of over 140 crore. FPJ spoke to former medal winner to know why there is a drought of medals. "I don't know what is going wrong?" Is what the 2012 London Games, 10m pistol shooter Gagan Narang has to say. "Yes, these are the initial days and let us hope we win medals in days to come," is the positive note the Hyderabadi shooter hopes for. One wonders whether the chaotic run-up to the Olympics due to the pandemic could be one of the reasons. The expert feels positive about the notion. "Could be, but he goes on to say, "We have done well at the international events prior to the Games, which is a good sign". The two Indian pairs participating in the 10m air rifle mixed team event crashed out in the first qualification stage, missing out on yet another final after an outing that left a lot to be desired in the Tokyo Games. The duo of Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar finished 12th with a total of 626.5 across three series each, while Anjum Moudgil and Deepak Kumar ended 18th out of 29 pairs with an aggregate score of 623.8 at the Asaka Range. The mixed events are making their Olympic debut. And so did the pair of Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker 10m air pistol mixed team event. The duo finished seventh in Qualification II after topping the first phase with 582 at the Asaka Range. They lost the plot completely when the top eight teams battled it out in the second phase. The duo totalled 380 across two series each in the second phase of the qualification. However, every Indian had high hopes on the shooters to win medals, and so does Narang as he says, "Let's hope for the best in days to come". Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) entered the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games, defeating Germany's Nadine Apetz 3-2 and with the Indian men's hockey overcoming a demoralising defeat in the previous match to cruise past Spain 3-0 and register its second win, leaves Indians not losing hope.
104 India on Thursday scripted history with the Indian men's hockey team securing the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Over the last few hours as congratulations poured in from all quarters, Prime Minister and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had interacted (separately) with the winning team. Speaking to the team via telephone, Patnaik congratulated the team on their historic win and wishing them the best for their future. "Many congratulations to our hockey team. The whole of India is so excited as well as Odisha of course. We are all behind you and we wish you the very best and we are looking forward to receiving our Indian Olympics hockey team in Bhubaneswar on August 16," he was quoted as saying. But as a video of the Odisha CM virtually interacting with the players made the rounds on social media, many have pointed out his contributions to Indian hockey go much beyond this. The Odisha government is presently the sponsor for the Indian hockey teams, having taken over the role from Sahara in February 2018. The name of the state adorns the players' jerseys, and reportedly the deal was estimated to be around Rs. 150 crore. Over the last few years, the state has also partnered with Hockey India to conduct major hockey tournaments in Bhubaneswar including the Men's World Cup, World League, Pro-League, Olympic qualifiers etc. The only state to sponsor a national team, Odisha also has several hockey players who are part of the Olympic men and women's squads.
105 Japanese teenager Momiji Nishiya won a gold medal in women's street skateboarding while Kuwait's Abdullah Al-Rashidi won a bronze medal in shooting. The Olympics continued to produce its magic on Monday in Tokyo as a 13-year old and a 57-year old went on the podium on the same day to receive their medals in respective events proving that age is just a number. Japan's Momiji Nishiya, aged 13 years and 330 days became one of the youngest athletes to win Olympic gold. Momiji Nishiya won thewomen's street skateboarding competition leaving behind Brazil teenager Rayssa Leal and Japan's 16-year old Funa Nakayama. Nishiya stumbled on her landings in the first two but produced absolute perfect landings in the last three to finish just over her Brazilian opponent. Similarly, the 57-year old young Abdullah Al-Rashidi, who competed as an independent athlete in the 2016 Rio Olympics after Kuwait was banned by IOC, repeated his feat of winning bronze medal five years later in 2021 in the Tokyo Games on Monday. This was Al-Rashidi's second bronze medal, but first for his country, Kuwait. In 2016, the 52-year old wearing an Arsenal jersey stole the limelight and later won a bronze medal in the men's skeet shooting event. Five years later, Al-Rashidi returned a little older, more experienced and now representing his country. Al-Rashidi finished at third place with 46 points behind the USA's Vincent Hancock, who set an Olympic record with 59 points to win the gold medal while Denmark's Jesper Hansen scored 55 points and claimed silver. Indian rifle shooter and Olympic medal winner Gagan Narang couldn't hold his feelings as he expressed his joy for the 57-year old, and taking to Twitter, he wrote, "Al rashidi winning skeet bronze at 57 years of age .. Take a Bow... Age is just a number."
106 India still has a chance at the medal as they will play for the bronze on Thursday. The Indian men's hockey team, who had created history and entering the semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics saw them lose 2-5 against Belgium at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Japan. With this loss, World No. 2 Belgium progress to the final and will play for the gold but India still have a chance at the medal as they will play for the bronze. The clash for third place will take place on Thursday India have scored 2 goals while Belgium are on the lead with five goals to their name.India had conceded their fourth through a penalty stroke by Alexander Hendrickx, who also completed a hat-trick. Earlier, Belgium had equalised in the second quarter to make it 2:2. Indian had ended the first quarter as they turned it around with two goals after conceding an early strike. Loick Luypaert had scored for Belgium through a penalty corner while Mandeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh got the required goals for India. As India men's hockey team suffered a defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is proud of what Manpreet and his boys have been able to achieve. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours. India is proud of our players," tweeted Modi. They had earlier defeated Great Britain 3-1 in a quarter-final match to qualify for the semifinals. India scored three field goals courtesy of Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th), and Hardik Singh (57th). India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals had come way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Games. They had lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan.
107 Atanu Das drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in win over Kazakhstan at the Yumenoshima Park The Indian men's archery team of Pravin Jadhav, Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai downed Kazakhstan 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash against heavyweights Korea at the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo on Monday. The Indians were strong, especially Atanu Das who drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win at the Yumenoshima Park. The Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev showed flashes of brilliance. They took the third set with one point margin. Das made all the difference by hitting six perfect 10s including two Xs to make up for some inconsistent show by the Army duo of Rai and Jadhav. The Guatemala City World Cup gold medallist Das looked calm and composed and showed tremendous resilience to bounce back after finishing a lowly 35th, four places behind Olympic debutant Jadhav, in the ranking round on the opening day. The poor finish had resulted in Das' removal from the mixed team where his wife Deepika Kumari paired up with Jadhav and made a quarterfinal exit following defeat against Korea on Saturday. Trailing by two points at the halfway mark of the first set, Jadhav and Das finished with two superb arrows, drilling in X each to edge out their Kazakhstan rivals by one point. There were gusts of wind in the second set and the Army duo of three-time Olympian Rai and debutant Jadhav were wobbly picking 8 and 7 each, but Das made up for it with a perfect 10 and a 9 to give the side a commanding 4-0 lead. It was some high class shooting in the third set after the Kazakhstan team stepped it up with three perfect 10s as the Indians too matched them riding on two 10s by Das but an 8 by Rai cost them the set. The Kazakh team showed intent to bring the match on an even keel but the Indian trio did not concede an inch and sealed the issue with two 10s from Jadhav and Das.
108 Indian archers faltered at crucial moments against the mighty Koreans to make a quarterfinal exit from the men's team event at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. After beating Kazakhstan 6-2, the Indian trio of Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai lost in straight sets against the top seeds at the Yumenoshima Park. The Korean team of Kim Je Deok, Oh Jin Hyek and Kim Woojin were on song in the first two sets, shooting 10 perfect 10s out of 12 to apply early pressure. The Indians, who won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, responded well in the second set with a series of four 10s but Das faltered with an 8 in the last arrow, as Koreans looked on a roll. India were let down by Guatemala City World Cup gold medallist Das who failed to repeat his brilliant show earlier against Kazakhstan. He could not find a single 10 in three sets. Olympic debutant Jadhav on the other hand was brilliant with five 10s, while veteran Rai in his third Games appearance also stepped it up with three 10s, but that was simply not enough. Earlier, Das had drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win 6-2 win over Kazakhstan in their opening round. India's hope for their first ever medal in archery in the Olympics will now rest in the individual section where the men's trio along with world number one Deepika Kumari will take to the field on Wednesday. Against Kazakhstan, the Indians were strong, especially Das who drilled in six perfect 10s to play a crucial role in team's win. The Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev showed flashes of brilliance. They took the third set with one point margin. Das made all the difference by hitting six perfect 10s including two Xs to make up for some inconsistent show by the Army duo of Rai and Jadhav. Das showed tremendous resilience to bounce back after finishing a lowly 35th, four places behind Olympic debutant Jadhav, in the ranking round on the opening day. The poor finish had resulted in Das' removal from the mixed team where his wife Deepika Kumari paired up with Jadhav and made a quarterfinal exit following defeat against Korea on Saturday. Trailing by two points at the halfway mark of the first set, Jadhav and Das finished with two superb arrows, drilling in X each to edge out their Kazakhstan rivals by one point. There were gusts of wind in the second set and the Army duo of three-time Olympian Rai and debutant Jadhav were wobbly picking 8 and 7 each, but Das made up for it with a perfect 10 and a 9 to give the side a commanding 4-0 lead. It was some high class shooting in the third set after the Kazakhstan team stepped it up with three perfect 10s as the Indians too matched them riding on two 10s by Das but an 8 by Rai cost them the set. The Kazakh team showed intent to bring the match on an even keel but the Indian trio did not concede an inch and sealed the issue with two 10s from Jadhav and Das.
109 The Indian men's hockey team's dream of entering the Olympics final after 41-years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last-four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games here on Tuesday. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. Meanwhile, Indians back home, who were glued to their screens cheering for the players felt mighty disappointed. Since, we love our hockey team, all the frustration was removed virtually on the referee of the match. Indians made memes about the penalties to deal with the loss. So, if you are sad about the loss too, then these memes might make you laugh! Here you go!
110 Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia will be fighting in the bronze medal match after losing his semi-final bout against Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev. Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has one more bite at the cherry as he features in the bronze medal match after losing his semi-final bout in the 65kg category of men's wrestling in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. Bajrang, who made his debut in Olympic Games this year has won almost everywhere he has played, three medals in the World Championships, a Gold medal in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2018, a couple of gold medals at Commonwealth Championships and two more as Asian Championships. At 27, Bajrang has won more than he has lost and he will be hoping to increase his medal tally by winning one in his debut at the Games. Bajrang was one of the pre-tournament medal hopes for India and played his first two rounds like a champion he is, after overcoming a slow start. He first defeated Kyrgyztan'sErnazar Akmataliev on the count of the high-scoring move as the bout ended on a 3-3 all scoreline. Bajrang needed just that little luck to show what he is really capable of as the 'Bajrang' everyone knows was on show in the quarter-final. Facing Iran'sMorteza Cheka Ghiasi, Bajrang was trailing his opponent for the most part and was even put twice on the activity clock where the wrestler has to score a point in 30 seconds. But as the bout was in its dying stages, Bajrang overpowered Ghiasi, and won the bout by fall, thereby qualifying for the semi-finals. However, it wasn't to be for Bajrang in the semis as he lost to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev on points 5-12. The bout was close in the first round especially but the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was just too good on the day for Punia. Bajrang Punia will now face either Senegal'sAdama Diatta or Kazakhstan'sDaulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match. Here are the details: When will Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match start? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match will begin at 4.08 PM IST on Saturday, August 7. Where will Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match be played? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match will be played on mat B of the Makuhari Messe Hall. Which TV channels will broadcast Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match? Bajrang Punia's bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Bajrang Punia's bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of Bajrang Punia's bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
111 A 41-year wait for medal ended on Thursday as the Indian Men's hockey team won their match against Germany to secure the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, congratulatory messages have taken over social media platforms, with politicians, actors, sportspeople and countless other netizens cheering vociferously. And soon after the win, the euphoric team captain and coach had a surprise caller lauding their performance. In a video that has since gone viral, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be heard speaking to Indian Hockey team Captain Manpreet Singh, Head Coach Graham Reid and Assistant Coach Piyush Dubey. The clip shows the group thanking the PM as he congratulates their performance via speakerphone. "You have scripted history," the Prime Minister told them, adding that their hard work had paid off. Modi urged Singh to wish the entire team on is behalf, telling the Captain that the "entire country is filled with joy". During the conversation, Modi also remarked that today Singh's voice was loud and clear as compared with the other day when India had lost to Belgium in the semi-finals. The Indian team captain for his part thanked the PM for his constant encouragement to the team. Earlier on Thursday, Modi had hailed the win, insisting that this day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. ""Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team," he had tweeted.
112 Despite the loss against Belgium, the Manpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team still have a medal to play for. The side will face Germany for the bronze medal on August 5. The Indian men's cricket team will seek their first Olympics medal in 41 years. Belgium had defeated India 5-2 in the semi-final and will face the winner of the second semi-final Germany. India have scored 20 goals and conceded 19 while Germany are slightly ahead with 23 goals and 14 conceded. Both have played seven matches each. Here are thedetailsof the game: When will Germany vs India men's hockey bronze medal match start? Germany vs India men's hockey bronze medal match will begin at 7:00 AM IST on Thursday, August 4. Where will Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match be played? Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match? Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of the Germany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theGermany vs Indiamen's hockey bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
113 It was an early Diwali yesterday, so what if India's greatest festival is still a few months away. The nation forgot Covid and the lockdown for a day, probably for a few days to come, as Indian men's hockey team rewrote history, claiming an Olympic medal after 41 years. These brave men defeated a plucky German side 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the Tokyo Games. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. Their bronze, which is worth its weight in gold for the sheer emotion and nostalgia that hockey invokes in the country, became India's fifth medal at the ongoing Games. Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal-getters for world No.3 India. Germany's goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th). Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour after being 1-3 down thanks to some defensive lapses. There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. In all, the country now has 12 Olympic medals, eight of them gold, making it the most successful at the showpiece. As the final whistle was sounded, celebrations broke out across the country. The Prime Minister was on the phone congratulating the players, while sportspersons across disciplines, including the Indian cricket stars in England, tweeted congratulatory messages. "It was a proud moment for us," said defender Harmanpreet Singh. "It's a big thing to win an Olympic medal and we have made a lot of sacrifices. We were in Bengaluru for one-and-a-half years and there was lockdown. We focussed on staying strong mentally," he said.
114 Angad Vir Singh Bajwa missed two targets out of 75, to be placed 11th on countback in Men's Skeet and has a top-six finals spot well in sight. Competing at the Asaka Shooting range on Sunday, Angad had scores of 25,24,24 in the first three series and will come back on Monday to shoot the final two series in qualifying. Compatriot Mairaj Ahmad Khan shot 71 to be in placed 25th out of the 30 shooters in the fray. Men's Skeet is the only event with Indian interest in shooting in Tokyo Olympics on Monday and the finals are scheduled for 12.20 pm IST. Earlier on Sunday, India's ace shooters Deepak Kumar and Divyansh Singh Panwar failed to qualify for the medal round in the Men's 10m Air Rifle Qualification after finishing 26th and 32nd respectively, here at the Asaka Shooting Range. Deepak Kumar accumulated 624.7 points at an average of 10.412 after shooting 60 shots on target while Divyansh Singh Panwar gathered 622.8 points in the qualifications, which in the end was just not good enough to make it to the 8-player final. Earlier, Manu Bhaker and Yashaswini Singh Deswal also failed to qualify for the medal round after finishing 12th and 13th respectively in the Women's 10m Air Pistol Qualification. The world number two Manu Bhaker amassed 575 points at an average of 9.583 after shooting 60 shots on target while the world number one Yashaswini Singh Deswal gathered 574 in the qualifications.
115 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra on Monday returned to India from Japan and received a warm welcome at the Delhi Airport. The javelin thower was welcomed by a huge crowd outside the premises of airport. After landing from Tokyo, the gold medalist was first welcomed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya and was felicilated with flowers. As soon as Neeraj stepped outside the airport, a huge crowd had already assembled to cheer up the 23-year-old athlete. The police officials tried to control the crowd as they were trying to pounce on the athlete to congratulate him. There was loud cheering by euphoric fans, family members, and some local political leaders as returning athletes made their way through a massive crowd both inside and outside the airport. People danced, sang and screamed their lungs out to show their appreciation for the medal winners. The huge gathering meant that social distancing norms went for a toss as several, quite a lot of them without masks, rushed in to catch a glimpse of the stars. Some were even seen doing push-ups and planks just outside the airport in their enthusiasm. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. However, Chopra was escorted till his vehicle and then left from the airport. Apart from Neeraj other Indian athletes too returned to the country today and was greeted by frenzy and chaos at the airport where supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of their new sporting heroes. While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya. The bronze medals were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, the men's hockey team and wrestler Bajrang Punia. The spotlight, however, is bound to target Chopra, whose gold was India's first in 13 years overall and the first ever in the track and field events.
116 Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the men's hockey team's Olympic bronze medal win on Thursday as “historic” for restoring the country's pride in a sport synonymous with national identity. The PM told wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who won a silver after losing the gold medal bout in a tough contest, that India is proud of him and that his success inspires the entire nation. Modi said he looks forward to personally congratulating him on August 15. “Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler. His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding,” Modi said. He also spoke to Dahiya's coach Anil Maan. “Today, the pride of hockey, which is our national identity, has been established after four decades,” he said, while speaking to the team members and coach Graham Reid in Tokyo. A video of the interaction at the players' end showed the players and Reid thanking the PM for his call. Reid said Modi's conversation with the team after its semi-final loss to Belgium had helped him motivate the players. After India's win, Modi tweeted the day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. “Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team.” Modi told captain Manpreet Singh, “You have scripted history”. He also spoke to Reid and assistant coach Piyush Dubey.
117 Indian men' hockey team will take on Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics after they won four out of five games in the group stage India men's hockey team recovered admirably from the 1-7 humbling against Australia to win three games in a row and qualify for the quarter-finals of the event. India, by the virtue of winning four out of their five games in Pool A advanced to the next stage. India started their campaign with a win against New Zealand, but a mauling against Australia in the next game threatened to bring down their campaign down. But it wasn't to be as they came back hard and every other side in their way in Pool A was blown away in their storm, whether it was Argentina, Spain or the hosts Japan. Can Indian men make their historical journey of reaching the quarter-finals after 41 years more special? Here are the details of the game: When will India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match start? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match will begin at 5.30 PM IST on Sunday, August 1. Where will India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match be played? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match will be played at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match? TheIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theIndia vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
118 Efforts by the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha to support hockey bore fruit on Thursday when the Indian men's team bagged bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. The Odisha government is the official sponsor of the Indian hockey teams (both men and women) since 2018. It is contracted to sponsor the teams till 2023 in a deal worth over Rs 100 crore. Congratulating the players, Naveen, who himself played hockey in his schooldays as a goalkeeper, said: "Many congratulations to our hockey team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best. We are looking forward to receiving our Indian Olympic hockey team in Bhubaneswar on the 16th of this month. All the very best for all of you for the future. All the best." Naveen also tweeted: "Brilliant in Blue. Congratulations Indian Men's Hockey team on the spectacular victory to give us an Olympic medal after 41 long years. This historic win at Tokyo 2020 will inspire generation of sportspersons. All the very best for the future." Brilliant in Blue Congratulations Indian Men's #Hockey Team on the spectacular victory to give us an Olympic medal after 41 long years. This historic win at #Tokyo2020 will inspire generation of sportspersons. All the very best for future. #Cheer4India @thehockeyindia Showering praise on Naveen for his support, men's team captain Manpreet Singh said: "It's a special moment for all of us. We finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the Hon'ble chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaikji, who has supported us throughout this journey. "His vision for hockey and encouragement has helped us achieve this remarkable feat for the country. While everyone was supporting cricket, the Hon'ble CM chose hockey and today you can see the result of the vision. I would like to say thank you so much, Sir." The chief minister spoke to the family members of two Odisha players - Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas - who are part of the team. Official sources said the Odisha government was planning to organise a grand welcome for the Indian contingent when it arrives in Bhubaneswar on August 16. "When no one came forward to sponsor hockey, chief minister Naveen Patnaik took the responsibility upon himself. Today is a proud moment for India. When we talk about Chak De! India, the leadership and vision of Naveen Patnaik is reflected through hockey," said BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra. In 2018, then official sponsor Sahara had backed out, putting the future of Indian hockey in jeopardy. Odisha sports minister Tusharkanti Behera said on Thursday: "To promote hockey, we worked on a two-fold strategy - to build infrastructure and to groom and encourage talent. When other states had declined to host the (men's) hockey World Cup, Odisha came forward to organise it. Kalinga Stadium was refurbished in record time. A second astroturf was also laid in no time...." Sources said nearly Rs 450 crore was spent. "Money has never been a constraint in promoting sports. We are now building a world-class hockey stadium at Rourkela for the upcoming Men's Hockey World Cup. For 2020-21, we have earmarked over Rs 300 crore for building sports infrastructure. Besides, we are channelling money from the district mineral fund to build the infrastructure," the minister said. The new stadium at Rourkela, which is being built at a cost of around Rs 100 crore, will have a capacity to hold 20,000 spectators. "Now we are laying astroturfs in 17 blocks in Sundergarh, considered the home of hockey in Odisha," said Behera. To give the best possible grooming to players, the Odisha government, along with Tata Steel and Tata Trusts, set up the Naval Tata Hockey Academy on the premises of Kalinga Stadium in 2019. "The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre here is currently grooming 61 players and the number will reach 80 by September. We have brought in raw talent from the rural belt through various programmes and worked with them to ensure that they reach the next level. With training on astroturf, we are now on a par with western players in terms of speed and resilience," Rajiv Seth, project director of the centre, said.
119 Indian men's hockey team on Sunday beat Great Britain to enter semifinals for first time in 49 years. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end. Even though India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams participated in the event. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games where they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. India will take on world champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. Belgium defeated Spain 3-1 in another quarterfinal to seal their place in the last four round. The other semifinal of the men's hockey competition will be played between Australia and Germany.Indian men's hockey team on Sunday beat Great Britain to enter semifinals for first time in 49 years. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end.
120 The Indian men's cricket team will seek their first Olympics medal in 41 years. Manpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team still have a medal to play for. The side will face Germany for the bronze medal on August 5. Belgium had defeated India 5-2 in the semi-final and will face the winner of the second semi-final Germany. India have scored 20 goals and conceded 19 while Germany are slightly ahead with 23 goals and 14 conceded. Both have played seven matches each. The clash begins at Oi Hockey Stadium. It's a GOAL for Germany. Just in the first minute of the first quarter -an early goal from Germany. It was a reverse hit from Herzbruch in front of the goal and it was struck in by Timur Oruz. Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh had made the first save, but then he was hit on the rebound. Penalty corner after penalty corner - that was what was on after the hooter for the end of the first half was heard. While the Germans were trying to convert them into goals, Sreejesh stood like a rock along with his defence. It's 1-1 and the game is leveled. What a comeback by India in the second quarter.It was some clever passing from the midfield and Simranjeet ended it by dishing out a speedy reverse flick shot at goal. India's defence fell weak after the equaliser as Germany score twice in the span of two minutes. Germany's counter-attack, as Ruhrer finds a way to send the ball inside. Wellen scored to put Germany in lead. The next goal came as Germany double-team against Surender Kumar. Furk scores the third. Indians convert their penalty into GOAL. Trailing by a goal, but the Indians are doing all they can. Harmanpreet's drag flick was saved by the German goalkeeper, but Hardik Singh scores on the rebound. Another Goal for India.Harmanpreet Singh makes sure to level the goals as he scores from the penalty corner. PENALTY and converted! India's Mandeep Singh was tripped inside the circle and Germany asked for a referral. Windfeder had said there was no contact, but replays show otherwise. And what a goal it was as India have now scored three goals in about six minutes to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. And again they make sure to take a better lead.Gurjant Singh was seen screaming down the right, and the dribble helps him cut in and pick out Simranjeet perfectly. The forward flicks it in.
121 Neeraj Chopra was also the first Indian athlete to win gold in both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018 in Javelin throw Neeraj Chopra got India its first Gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the men's javelin throw event, also a first in the category of Track and Field. It was an evening of joy and honour for Indians who sat back and could only dream of what had become a reality on Saturday (August 7). Neeraj has become the second person to win an individual Gold medal for India, before him Abhinav Bindra had won a gold in shooting in 2008. This was also India's 7th medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, one of the best medals hauls for the country. Now, let's talk about the sport that got us a Gold medal. The history of Javelin throw The art of throwing a Javelin far and with precision was widely practised in ancient Greece and slowly evolved from an everyday hunting and warfare activity and was eventually added to the Ancient Olympic Games as part of the pentathlon in 708 BC. It consisted of the participation of both men and women. Modern Olympics Games programme had initiated the javelin throw for men in 1908 and women in 1932. How does the Javelin throw work? The sport of javelin throw requires quite a lot of strength, power, precision and above everything, it requires the most amount of determination.The athlete is required to throw a metal-tipped javelin as far as possible. The javelin must be held by a corded grip with the athlete's little finger closest to the tip. The player is supposed to run towards a defined area to gain momentum before throwing the javelin. While throwing the javelin, the athlete must not turn his back towards the landing area at any given time between their approach and throw. The javelin must be thrown from above the upper part of their throwing arm and must not cross the foul or scratch line at any cost. For the throw to be measured, the javelin must land tip first. In a competition, athletes usually throw the javelin three to six times. IF there happens to be a tie, then the athlete with the next best effort will be declared the winner. There are different standards for men and women in the sport, where men's javelin must weight a minimum of 800g and be 2.6m-2.7m long, women's javelin can weigh a minimum of 600g and be 2.2m-2.3m long. About Neeraj Chopra The 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra hails from Haryana is a Subedar with 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army. Neeraj took up the sport of Javelin throw in 2011 and was the first Indian to claim gold at the World Junior Championship in 2016 in Poland. He also became the first Indian athlete to win gold in both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018. The Haryana government has announced to honour the athlete with Rs 6 crore for his win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
122 Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, the pugilist lost 0-5 but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance A bruised Satish Kumar (+91kg) put up a gutsy performance against reigning world champion Bakhodir Jalolov but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek as the Indian boxer made a quarterfinal exit from the Olympic Games on Sunday. Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, Satish lost 0-5 but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance. Satish sustained two cuts during his pre-quarterfinal showdown against Jamaica's Ricardo Brown. The 32-year-old Army man stood his ground, occasionally managed to land a shot with his right hand but Jalolov dominated the proceedings all through, relying on his imposing demeanour and excellent counter-attacking game to sail through. Satish's forehead cut expectedly opened up during the third round but he fought through even with that. Jalolov, a 27-year-old footballer-turned-boxer, acknowledged his rival's bravery at the end of the bout after securing his maiden Olympic Games medal. Satish had earlier scripted history by just qualifying for the Games as he was the first super heavyweight from India to achieve the feat. Jalolov is also a three-time Asian champion, all those gold medals coming in succession to him since 2017. With this the Indian men's boxing campaign came to an end in the Games. Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) remains the lone pugilist in fray after having made made the semifinals to secure India's first and only boxing medal of the ongoing edition. On Saturday, it was a major disappointment for India when world number one Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the event following a 1-4 loss to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez of Colombia.
123 If one ignores the margin of defeat against Australia, results of the men's team have been on expected lines. They won a close encounter against New Zealand to begin with, and beat Spain in convincing fashion. Despite the thrashing at the hands of Australia, men remain in the race but could face one of the European heavyweights in the last-8. Indian women have it tougher. If one ignores the margin of defeat against Australia, India's results have been on expected lines. They won a close encounter against New Zealand to begin with, and beat Spain in convincing fashion. Sandwiched between them was the 1-7 thrashing at the hands of Australia, which brought back memories of similar hammerings in years gone by. The top four teams from a pool of six go through to the quarterfinals and barring a complete meltdown, India should get there easily without the goal difference setback against Australia coming into the equation. India face defending gold medallists Argentina on Thursday, followed by hosts Japan on Friday. The South Americans were surprise champions at Rio 2016, and going by their results in Tokyo, India should be confident going into the encounter. The Argentines have only had a 2-1 victory over winless Japan and were beaten 5-2 by the Aussies. They drew 1-1 with Spain, whom India dispatched 3-0. Japan are a much improved team in recent times, and are Asian Games gold medallists for a reason. But playing at home in front of empty stands is not much of an advantage, even though they will be familiar with conditions. They have a solitary point from a 2-2 draw with New Zealand. India should be aiming for two convincing victories to enter the knockout stages with high confidence. Going by early form, the Australians seem on a mission. They will be hard to catch at the top, so India should realistically target second place in the Pool A. However, finishing second to fourth may not make much difference to the difficulty factor. In cross-over quarterfinals, the top finisher in one group will play the fourth-placed team in the other. The second-placed team in one pool will face the side finishing third in the other. Pool B is inundated with top European teams. As of now, world champions Belgium are on top, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain. Barring any major upsets in Pool B, India will be up against one of these powerhouses. These teams have regularly been involved at the business end of big tournaments, and frequently finish on the podium. There will be no scope for any error on India's part in the quarter-finals. The scheduling has not been kind to Rani & Co. They faced the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain - the three medallists from the Rio Olympics - in their first three matches. Not only have India lost all three games, they have a negative goal difference of nine. Under Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian team has improved a lot and are much fitter and stronger, but there is still a significant gap to be bridged before they match the best sides in the world on a regular basis. Does the Indian women's team still have a realistic chance of making the knockouts? India are currently in fifth spot in Pool A and realistically, can only target fourth place. Their two remaining matches are against Ireland and South Africa. The latter, like India, have lost their first three matches and are below India on the points table only on goal difference (-10 to -9). Ireland, however, are no pushovers. They were the runners-up at the most recent World Cup in 2018, where they defeated India twice - 1-0 in the pool stage and in the quarterfinals via a penalty shootout. Not only will India have to win both their remaining matches, they will have to redress their abysmal goal difference too. The top team in the other group, at the moment, is Australia after three consecutive wins, with Argentina there as well. Things are much closer there as it seems any of the top four sides - including New Zealand and Spain - can beat each other on any given day. New Zealand beat Argentina, considered a powerhouse in women's hockey, 3-0 but lost 2-1 to Spain. In the unlikely scenario of India advancing, they will most likely face the Aussies.
124 Argentina's Myles Amine beat India's Deepak Punia in the last few moments of the bronze medal match of 86kg men's freestyle wrestling. Indian wrestler Deepak Punia lost the bronze medal match to Argentina'sMyles Amine in the dying moments. Deepak Punia was leading the scoreline just by a sniff for the majority part of the game unless the last 30 seconds where the Argentine wrestler came back to pin Deepak down and gain a two-pointer and hence a bronze medal in men's 86kg freestyle wrestling. Punia eventually suffered a 2-4 defeat as he lost one point of unsuccessful referral and the two-pointer as he gave away a one-point lead and eventually the match. Punia started the match with a 2-0 lead in the first round and maintained his lead for five and a half minutes of the game but Myles Amine gained the decisive lead and beat Punia. Earlier, Ravi Kumar Dahiya couldn't go beyond silver in the final of the 57kg category in men's wrestling after he lost toRussia's Zavur Uguev. Russian wrestler's strong defence kept Ravi Kumar at bay as the latter tried his level best to break his defence and pin him down for the two-pointers. Uguev took an early lead, first with sliding Ravi out of the circle and then the two-pointer but Ravi stormed back and the match hanged in the balance and went into the second round.In the second round too, Uguev's defence remained decisively strong as he didn't let Ravi have any points from the same and despite another two-pointer for the Indian wrestler, the Russian had a three-point lead and he won the gold medal on points, thereby handing silver medal to India.
125 London Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom, 38, told reporters after her loss to Colombian Ingrit Lorena on Thursday that she has the desire to continue boxing. However, the Manipuri pugilist will not be able to compete at Paris 2024 because of age restrictions. The International Olympic Committee has no age restriction on participants, but boxing's world governing body AIBA, post the 2012 London Olympics, said that only boxers in the age bracket of 18 to 40 can compete at the national and international levels. The multiple world champion has repeatedly got the better of younger boxers - Nikhat Zareen, Pinki Jangra and Jyoti Guliain - in her category. So despite her age, she may not find it tough to make it to the India squad. With the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July and Hangzhou Asian Games in September next year, Mary, who turns 40 in November, is likely to be seen at these international meets. While boxing sees an age limit of 18-40, football at the Olympics is one of the sports featuring under-23 players, with the exception of three players above that age per team. Similarly, gymnasts must turn 16 during the year of the Olympics while golf sets the limit of 50 years for professionals who compete on various tours in the sport. Shooting too sees an age restriction imposed by some national federations with the younger limit fixed at 12 to 16 years in some countries. While Syrian table tennis player Hend Zaza is the youngest competitor at Tokyo at the age of 12 years and 204 days, Australian equestrian player Mary Hanna is the oldest at the age of 66 years. She became the second oldest competitor in Olympics history and is participating in her sixth Games. Her compatriot Andrew Hoy, who is competing in his record eighth Olympics, is 62 years old. Norwegian equestrian player Geir Gulliksen, 61, too is competing in Tokyo as is 59-year-old Moroccan rider Abdelkebid Ouaddar. While Santiago Raul Large of Argentina will be competing in sailing in his sixth Olympics at the age of 59 years, 52-year-old shooter Nino Salukvadze from Georgia competed at her ninth Olympics with her first coming under the Soviet Union flag in 1988. The Georgian finished 31st in women's 10m air pistol event and is competing in the 25m pistol event too. Earlier this week, Uzbek Oksana Chusovitina became the oldest woman to compete in Olympics gymnastics in Olympics when she participated in the vault event, where she failed to qualify for the final. Shooter Abdullah Al-Rashidi of UAE, 57, won the bronze medal in men's skeet earlier this week. As per Olympics history, Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundran was the youngest known medallist in Olympics history at the age of 10 years and 218 days. He was part of the team which finished third in the parallel bars at the 1896 Games. Oscar Swan of Sweden happens to be the oldest competitor in the history of Olympics at 72, when he won the silver medal in the team double-shot event at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
126 Several students from Indian universities are participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Of these, 11 are from Lovely Professional University, they are with the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled between July 23 and August 8. Manpreet Singh, the Hockey team captain and MBA student, was India's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing a master's in Public Administration at LPU, has been selected for wrestling (61 Kgs). Indian paraathlete, Nishad Kumar, a BA student, has been picked for the Paralympics high jump. Amoj Jacob (BEd), the Indian sprinter specialising in the 400 meters and the 800 meters, has been selected for the 4x400 mt relay race for men. Seven players of the Indian Men's Hockey Team are also LPU students. “We have been investing extensively in building world-class sports infrastructure and hiring top trainers to ensure our students bring laurels to the country. We are confident that many more students will follow the path of superstars like Manju Rani, Unnati Sharma, Amoj, Neeraj and Nishad and make us proud in the years to come”, says Ashok Mittal, chancellor, Lovely Professional University. Three students from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar are part of Indian contingent in Tokyo this year. They are CA Bhavani Devi, Dutee Chand, and Shivpal Singh. Devi is reportedly the first Indian fencer to represent the country in the Olympics. Her college mate Shivpal Singh, who has qualified for javelin throw, is a first-year BBA student at KIIT. Another participant from KIIT, is Dr Sudeep Satpathy of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), he has been selected as the doctor of the Indian Men's Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics 2020. Talking about the students, founder of KIIT, educationist Achyuta Samanta says, “We are very happy and proud that three students from our university are at the Tokyo Olympics. It's a big thing for us. In the past 15 months, during Covid period, Dutee stayed in Bhubaneswar and she was given nutritious food in the guest house. We fulfilled whatever she needed for her practice. We have been giving her financial support as well. Bhavani Devi and Shivpal Singh are the pride of India, we try to facilitate whatever they require for their sport.” Two students from Alva's Education Foundation will be participating in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Dhanalakshmi S and Shubha V had joined the Alva's through sports quota. They would represent India in 4X400 mixed relay competition in the games. Kendriya Vidyalaya Alumnus Sreeshankar, who graduated from KV Kanjikode, is going to represent India in the long jump event. “Proud moment for Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan,” read a tweet from the Sangathan's Twitter handle, congratulating and passing on the best wishes to Sreeshankar. Shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar, a student of Khalsa College, Amritsar is also a part of Indian contingent in Tokyo. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sunidhi Chauhan from Guru Nanak Dev University, GNDU, will also compete in 50m 3P event. Indian students' contribution to the Tokyo Olympics is not restricted to sports, artworks made by Chitkara University students and faculty have also been selected for display at a virtual art exhibition titled 'Olympia.' It will be on display till August 8 in Japan..
127 Several students from Indian universities are participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Of these, 11 are from Lovely Professional University, they are with the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled between July 23 and August 8. Manpreet Singh, the Hockey team captain and MBA student, was India's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is pursuing a master's in Public Administration at LPU, has been selected for wrestling (61 Kgs). Indian para-athlete, Nishad Kumar, a BA student, has been picked for the Paralympics high jump. Amoj Jacob (BEd), the Indian sprinter specialising in the 400 meters and the 800 meters, has been selected for the 4x400 mt relay race for men. Seven players of the Indian Men's Hockey Team are also LPU students. “We have been investing extensively in building worldclass sports infrastructure and hiring top trainers to ensure our students bring laurels to the country. We are confident that many more students will follow the path of superstars like Manju Rani, Unnati Sharma, Amoj, Neeraj and Nishad and make us proud in the years to come”, says Ashok Mittal, chancellor, Lovely Professional University. Three students from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar are part of Indian contingent in Tokyo this year. They are CA Bhavani Devi, Dutee Chand, and Shivpal Singh. Devi is reportedly the first Indian fencer to represent the country in the Olympics. Her college mate Shivpal Singh, who has qualified for javelin throw, is a first-year BBA student at KIIT. Another participant from KIIT, is Dr Sudeep Satpathy of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), he has been selected as the doctor of the Indian Men's Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics 2021. Talking about the students, founder of KIIT, educationist Achyuta Samanta says, “We are very happy and proud that three students from our university are at the Tokyo Olympics. It's a big thing for us. In the past 15 months, during Covid period, Dutee stayed in Bhubaneswar and she was given nutritious food in the guest house. We fulfilled whatever she needed for her practice. We have been giving her financial support as well. Bhavani Devi and Shivpal Singh are the pride of India, we try to facilitate all that they require.” Two students from Alva's Education Foundation will be participating in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Dhanalakshmi S and Shubha V had joined the Alva's through sports quota. They would represent India in the 4X400 mixed relay competition in the games. Kendriya Vidyalaya Alumnus Sreeshankar, who graduated from KV Kanjikode, is going to represent India in the long jump event. “Proud moment for Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan,” read a tweet from the Sangathan's Twitter handle, congratulating and passing on the best wishes to Sreeshankar. Chandigarh University student Aruna Tanwar will be representing India at Paralympics Tokyo 2021. Ranked world number 4, Tanwar is pursuing BPEd from CU. She had earlier won medals in Asian Para Taekwondo Championship and World Para-Taekwondo Championship that took place in 2019. Shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar, a student of Khalsa College, Amritsar is also a part of Indian contingent in Tokyo. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sunidhi Chauhan from Guru Nanak Dev University, GNDU, will also compete in 50m 3P event. Indian students' contribution to the Tokyo Olympics is not restricted to sports, artworks made by Chitkara University students and faculty have also been selected for display at a virtual art exhibition titled 'Olympia.' Among the exhibition's 52 participants, seven are from Chitkara University including its dean of Design School, Ranjan Kumar Mallik, whose work titled 'Me and My Olympic 2021' is being featured in the exhibition. Conceptualised by Indian Contemporary Artist Association, the art show's video reel will be displayed at Tokyo Olympics Memorial Gallery, Chuo-ku, till August 8.
128 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
129 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
130 Even in a cricket-mad country like India, the Olympic Games has a special attraction in the hearts of fans. Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports, says the Olympics from a sponsor's perspective is the “crown jewel” of associating with sports. “Our marketing plans and our vision is not just for when the Olympics approach. We work on this round the year. For instance, the 'Rukhna Nahi Hai' campaign was conceptualised before Rio 2016 and was part of our communication and marketing throughout the cycle,” he says. “For Tokyo 2020, we have athletes representing the country in boxing, wrestling, judo, athletics, and we also work closely with the shooting federation. The selection was based on multiple factors: The talent pool, the ability to succeed, etc.” Abhishek Madhavan, senior vice-president, growth and marketing, MPL, says their 'Fan Bann Jaaoge' campaign was a clarion call for the entire country to come together as one. “We partnered with creators like Humans of Bombay to tell the stories of our champion athletes; the hard work and sacrifices that shaped their pursuit of greatness,” he says. Some of the athletes to be featured in this series are Tokyo 2020 silver medal weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, hockey captain Rani Rampal, archer Deepika Kumari, hockey player Lalremsiami, fencer Bhavani Devi and shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor. MPL, which has also sponsored the Indian contingent, says their aim goes beyond just the Tokyo Olympics, and they want to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all Indians. “Our goal is to democratise sports. Together with the IOA, we hope to develop and promote sports, both physical and digital, across India. We wanted to leverage the Olympics as a vehicle to raise awareness about elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of their sports and achieved significant milestones,” Madhavan adds. INOX Leisure is also sponsoring the Indian contingent in Tokyo. CEO Alok Tandon says, “Association with an event like the Olympics is not just about visibility or promotions, but also honour and prestige. Sporting events have always been great platforms for marketing, by virtue of the audience they offer. But when it is the Olympics, the entire country looks up to the athletes and backs them to perform. This makes the event and the buildup to it very exciting.” CAMPAIGN BUILDING BPCL has built its campaign around seven athletes representing India in Tokyo: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in archery; Lalit Updhyay, Virendra Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Varun Kumar, all members of the men's hockey team. “Loyalty and adoration for our athletes and the sense of pride reach fever pitch once every four years. The Olympics are watched by a broad range of people: Not just sports fans, everybody,” says Abbas Akhtar, chief general manager, PR & Brand, for Bharat Petroleum. “They are all part of the Bharat Petroleum family.” INOX Leisure, meanwhile, has featured table tennis star Manika Batra, and boxers MC Mary Kom and Vikas Krishan Yadav. “All Indian athletes have a uniquely humble yet impactful aura, which reverberates well with new-age audiences,” Tandon says. ARRIVING IN STYLE Raymond Lifestyle Business has been associated with the IOA for the past four years and was the style partner for the Indian contingent at the Asiad and Commonwealth Games too. “Unlike other sports, where athletes play for a fee, the Olympics is about winning for the country. Hence, styling the national contingent is also done with a lot of pride and patriotism,” says S Ganeshkumar, COO of the company. “Moreover, this is the centenary of India sending a contingent to the OIympics. Our brief then was to build a simple narrative around the Games, depicting not only their passion but also how the feeling is emoted when they adorn the impeccably styled uniform with an India tricolour and Olympic emblem.” Namrata Parekh, co-founder and director, Meraki Sport and Entertainment, says every Olympics goes one bigger in terms of enthusiasm and interest from brands. “However, a thematic association, which begins a few weeks prior to the Games, isn't as effective as a long-term approach. Which is why we advise our clients to identify potential athletes and think longterm, which will enable them to own the narrative,” she says. CHOOSING A FACE Long-term associations may also include a bonus structure for qualifications or medals worked into the deal, which acts as an incentive to the athletes, allowing the brand to build a safeguard should athletes fail to qualify. “Short-term associations, like brands looking to leverage the Olympics, look at on-boarding athletes who have already qualified or are certain to. These don't go beyond 6-12 months,” Parekh explains. Brands are interested in signing up athletes who match their philosophy and they may also consider how the athlete or his/ her story can be integrated into their campaigns. “While first-time athletes have powerful unknown stories that brands can leverage, seasoned professionals have a preexisting emotional equity. So, whether to endorse a first-timer or a seasoned athlete depends on the brand's objectives,” Parekh adds. The pandemic may have delayed the Olympics by a year, but didn't necessarily impact top athletes' brand value. “We have more brands partnering with the Indian contingent today than we did in 2016,” Parekh says. In Rio, there were 12 brands that IOA worked with, which has risen to 25 for Tokyo. Moreover, JSW Sports and Edelweiss said that they have doubled their spends since 2016. LONG-TERM COMMITMENT Abhishek Gupta, CMO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, says they've partnered with athletes with a longterm view in mind. “Our journey started by partnering Olympic Gold Quest, to support women athletes like Ayonika Paul, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu [who has won a bronze], before they gained recognition. And we sealed this with a long-term partnership with the IOA to support our athletes for the National Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics,” he says. The company dabbled in OOH advertising the last time. But this time, with the audience engaging with the Games online, they've gone digital. “Digital has always been our medium of choice and the last year has solidified its merit. This time, our brief to the creative agency was to ideate a digital campaign that would effectively engage with our stakeholders. This is how we came up with the #TonsOfWeight campaign. Our hope is to encourage the audience to take a page from the athletes' book and lift some weight daily,” he adds. JSW Sports' Ghouse reveals that they run a holistic Olympic programme, working closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the National Federations and the IOA. “The genuineness of our message has put us in a good position, so we're excited to see it playing out over the course of the entire OIympics,” he added.
131 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women's 49kg category after lifting a combined weight of 202 kg. Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who made her country proud by winning the silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020, might have a chance of winning the Gold medal in the 49kg women's category. Mirabai, who lifted a combined weight of 202 kg, fell short by just 8kg from the Gold medal winner China's Zhizhi Hou, who lifted 210 kg and created a new record. Zhizhi Hou has been asked by the anti-doping authorities to stay back for a dope test. If she fails to clear the dope test, Mirabai Chanu will be awarded the Gold medal. Speaking to ANI, a source close to the development said,"She has been asked to stay in Tokyo and the test will be done. The test is definitely happening." The rules of the games clearly state that if an athlete fails to clear the dope test, the one who has won the silver medal would be awarded gold. Mirabai had lifted a total of 202 kgs - 87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk - thereby opening India's account in the medal tally in the Olympics this year. Mirabai Chanu became only the second Indian athlete to bag a medal in the Olympics in weightlifting after Karnam Malleswari's bronze medal win in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 69kg category. Apart from Mirabai, it has been a disappointing show from the Indian athletes as Manika Batra, Sumit Nagal, Sutirtha Mukherjee all crashed out of the Olympics after their respective losses. Indian men's hockey team lost to Australia while the shooters crumbled under pressure. Men's archery team too lost to South Korea, in the quarter-finals.
132 Following a thrilling victory over Germany, India's men's team won bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Madhur Bhandarkar, and a few more well-known names in the industry took to social media to congratulate the team. Taking to his Twitter account, SRK wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match" Akshay Kumar also showed his excitement and took to his Instagram, sharing a photo of the team, he wrote "Congratulations Team India on rewriting history! An Olympic medal after 41 years! What a match, what a comeback! #Tokyo2020". Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also congratulated them on his Twitter account. He wrote, "Congratulations to Indian Men's hockey team for Bronze medal in Olympics 2020. #TeamIndia #Nationalpride #Tokyo2020" Tamannaah Bhatia shared a photo of the team on her Twitter handle and wrote, "A win that will go down in history! What a phenomenal performance by our men's hockey team. Bringing home the bronze after 41 years! Congratulations Team India #Olympics #Cheer4India #BackTheBlue" Sharing a photo of the team, Kamal Haasan wrote, "After 41 years, our Indian men's hockey team script history by bringing home a medal. I congratulate our guys who have reignited our national sport with this victory." For the unversed, the Indian Men's team defeated Germany 5-4 to clinch the first medal in 41 years in hockey at the games.
133 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated Hoshangabad's hockey player Vivek Sagar for his outstanding performance at the Olympics. In a telephonic conversation with Vivek, the chief minister on Monday wished him luck for his future performances. Congratulating Sagar for scoring a goal in the match against Argentina that had ensured India's place in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, Chouhan said, "Play and emerge victorious. People of Madhya Pradesh are with you." "Congratulations and all the very best to you and the Indian Hockey team for a great performance in the Tokyo Olympics. I am proud of you and have faith that the Indian team will keep succeeding. Play and win. Congratulations from the side of the entire Madhya Pradesh," official sources quoted Chouhan. Chouhan has expressed his confidence in Vivek and the entire team that they will keep up their winning streak and bring home a medal. He said Vivek has made Madhya Pradesh proud by his performance. Vivek had scored the winning goal against the defending champions Argentina during the last two minutes of the game. The team has now reached the semifinals. Indian men's hockey team had scored a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in its penultimate pool match in Tokyo on Thursday.
134 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Ashok Dhyanchand, son of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, has welcomed the Central Government's move to rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after his late father. The title, launched in 1991-92, is the highest sports honour one gets in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced rechristening Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna on Friday, a day after Indian men claimed bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. Ashok Kumar said that it was the right time to take a decision as the nation had celebrated the achievements of the men's and that of the women's in the Olympics. Ashok said, "Sportspersons sacrifice a lot to carry forward the legacy of a game and to make a mark. Rajiv Gandhi was an excellent Prime Minister. It is always suitable to name the sports awards after the players." "The decision should have been taken long before. Perhaps, the increasing popularity of hockey because of the historic performance of the men's team and that of the women brought this to PM's notice," he said. Ashok said, "Every person in India knows Major Dhyan Chand. The kids study him in their course books. Naming the highest honour in sports after his father has made him more memorable." "I have always believed that my father should have been honoured with Bharat Ratna. I believe now is the time," added Ashok. Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of India. Dhyan Chand played an important role in getting the gold for India at the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
135 While the nation basks in the glory of the Indian hockey team scripting history at Tokyo Olympics by winning a medal (bronze) after 41 years, absence of even a single player from Kodagu in the current team has become a talking point among sports aficionados in the State. Kodagu has a legacy of producing outstanding hockey players who have played for India in the World Cup and the Olympics and they include M.P. Ganesh, B.P. Govinda, Arjun Halappa, A.B. Subbaiah, M.M. Somaiah, and Len Aiyappa, to name a few. It is rare for the country's hockey team not to have a player from Kodagu, as it was during this Olympics. Experts say that a series of factors are at work as a result of which there is a decline in the number of players from Kodagu breaking into the national team. Focus on academics Mr. Ganesh, who played for India in the World Cup, Olympics, and Asian Games, said the shift in focus from sports to academics was a factor for this decline though both sports and academic are not mutually exclusive. Though Karnataka in general and Kodagu sportspersons perform well at the junior levels, parents do not allow children to pursue sports beyond a certain age. Their intention is to get children admitted to professional courses through the sports quota, he added. "Karnataka has reserved 91 seats in various professional courses for sportspersons. But once they secure admission, we don't see them in the national camps as the focus shifts to academics," said Mr. Ganesh. Besides, the drive to excel in sports has waned to an extent due to the fact that many among the new generation of Kodavas are not given to hard work, said the Arjuna award winner. "During our times, we had to walk 5 to 6 km daily to reach our schools and hence, physical fitness was a natural attribute but it is not so in the present generation," he added. A unique hockey festival The Kodava Hockey Festival, held every year since 1997, draws nearly 300 teams which is a record for any tournament. This is testimony to the continued though latent interest in the sport. But veteran B.J. Cariappa says it is not competitive enough for budding players to break into national team. For that, players have to work harder, have to be coached better, and be exposed to national-level tournaments where the competition is more stringent, he added. B.J. Cariappa, hockey coach for junior men's team, faulted the system run by officials which, he said, was not accountable. Apart from creating additional facilities and infrastructure which was the need of the hour, there was a lack of accountability among officials and coaches, according to Mr. Cariappa. "I have visited a few training centres where trainees were not attentive and the coach wasn't serious," he added, pointing out that in one such centre the sole reason the coach was in Kodagu was for its pleasant weather.
136 It was a 'Chak de' moment for the country when the Indian men's hockey team stormed into the semifinals in the Olympics after 41 years. While sports-lovers from Gujarat celebrated the occasion, very few know that the state has only one Olympic medal to its name. And that is in hockey. In the last seven decades, Gujarat has got only one Olympic medal that was won by Govindrao Sawant, a Barodian. Sawant was a part of the Indian hockey team that participated in the1960 Rome Olympics. “We played the final against Pakistan and lost. As a member of the team, Sawant earned a silver medal,” said Laxman Karanjgaonkar, secretary of Gujarat State Athletics Association. “After that, Gujarat has not won any Olympic medal in team or individual games,” Karanjgaonkar, who is executive member of Athletic Federation of India, added. Sawant, who was born in a humble middle-class family in erstwhile Baroda state on November 25, 1935, took to hockey at a very young age. He used to play for the Bombay province before Gujarat and Maharashtra were carved out as different states in1960. “He played in the Rangaswamy Cup, a senior national hockey tournament, for the first time in 1951 where he represented Bombay province. Sawant used to play in the left-half position,” said Vikas Prajapati, assistant director, physical education department, MS University. Sawant was also offered a job by the state reserve police (SRP) and he retired as a deputy superintendent of police (DySP). After retiring from hockey in early 1970s, Sawant played a key role in the Baroda District Hockey Association and began coaching aspiring players. Despite being an Olympian medal winner, Sawant was meted out a shabby treatment by the state government that didn't recognize his achievement. In 2001, he underwent a knee replacement surgery at SSG Hospital as he didn't have enough money. Sawant died in the same year within months of the surgery. The Baroda District Hockey Association had started a tournament in his name later.
137 It was a heartbreak. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (20) and Chirag Shetty (24) had just beaten Great Britain's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in their last group match to finish with two wins in three games. But there was little to celebrate for the Indian men's doubles pair as the disappointment of missing out on quarterfinals hung heavy on their side of the court. As things stood, three teams — India, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia — won two matches each at the end of group stage but the Taipei (5-3) and Indonesian (5-2) team had better win-loss ratio than India (4-3) and they made it to the quarterfinals from Group A. Despite the group-stage exit, Satwik and Chirag gave a good account of themselves and left Tokyo having beaten third-seed Chinese Taipei. The duo spoke to ET Sportabout their Olympic campaign, learnings and more. Excerpts: How would you sum up your campaign in Tokyo? It's kind of a mixed feeling. The moment we came out of the court it was like we won the match, but we still weren't going through to the quarterfinals. Before coming to the Olympics we wanted to win these two matches that we won and we thought we would enter the quarter-finals. But unfortunately three teams won two matches each. So it's kind of a mixed feeling, but I'm really happy with the way we played. Unfortunate that we couldn't go till the very end of the tournament. Yea. It was very disappointing. Like before entering the final, we knew that we were not going to the quarters. While warming up we saw them (Indonesian pair) losing to the Chinese Taipei. We said, 'OK, this will be our last Olympic match this year'. So, we thought we should finish it off in style, with a win. Disappointed but happy with the way we played. Personally I feel like it was our best performance while playing with Chinese Taipei players. At the time of draw, when you found out that you have world No. 1 and world No. 3 in your group, some even called it 'group of death', did you expect to be in such a close contest at the end of it? I thought draw would be favorable to us, but it wasn't. But, good thing was we played three good matches in a top event, so that's a good point for us. Yes, I knew for a fact that it will be a close contest. Mathias Boe (2012 Olympics silver medallist and their coach) had told us that even if we lose the first match (vs Taipei), there's a chance to win the other ones, and you won't be out. So, it was always going to be tough. I knew for a fact that it will go down to the wire, but I didn't know three of us will be having the same number of points.. How was the experience of staying in the Olympics village? So many good things, like sharing the village with lots of top players, like seeing Novak Djokovic on the second day itself, we saw so many good players. There are many inspirations for us. Even in the Indian team, you are talking to all the top players as well. Their experiences are really useful for us. I was talking with Sharath Kamal, this was his fourth Olympics, and he shared so many of his experiences with us. We have many good friends in the Indian team, in other sports, so it's been a really good experience talking to them, having dinner together, so it's really nice to mingle with other players. It was a great experience being in the same village with all the top athletes in the world. Training with them in the gym… you know that you're training with the fittest, smartest and strongest athletes, so that feeling I think cannot be matched. How helpful the presence of Mathias Boe was for you two? Chirag had worked with Mathias because he was there in the PBL. When Mathias came in (as doubles coach), I saw his planning for the schedule and all. It changed everything. We have become more professional. From practice schedule to training, everything has changed since he came. Earlier, we used to practice at least three hours in the morning and two-anda-half hours in the evening. Now, we do smaller session but high intensity. It has made a big difference in our game. He treats us like his brothers. It's been great having him with us. He's been a tremendous help. In January, I think, I had sent this proposal to TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) through BAI (Badminton Association of India). It hardly took 15-20 days for it to get approved and by February Mathias was working with us. We didn't have a coach before that, so it was really important for us to have one before the Olympics and we couldn't have asked for something better. It was the single most important thing that we wanted before going into Olympic training. He has been exceptionally helpful and he really wanted us to win a medal. Unfortunately, we could not, but he's been phenomenal with us. What did he say when you guys won the last match but couldn't qualify? He couldn't say anything. He was in tears actually. He was profusely crying. He got very emotional. Personally, I was happy that we won our last match, but they (Chirag and Mathias) were sad. And after seeing him (Boe), I also started crying. He didn't say anything, it was not in our hands. He wanted us to win a medal. What role did the association, BAI, play in your growth as players? For us, BAI is our backbone. Whatever we want, they are always there for us. Even when I was down with Covid, secretary sir called me personally and asked, 'beta, kaisa hai? He was taking personal interest in the care I was getting. We are told to call immediately if we have any problems. 'Kisi ko bolo nahi, direct call karo.'We have a WhatsApp group. If you share your problems or requirements there, they will be resolved in 1-2 days. If there is no BAI, there will be no badminton players from India, I feel. As I already said, the one single thing that was really important for us was Mathias Boe. So that was really commendable (of BAI). I think it was right after Thailand Open, we had a talk with secretary sir (Ajay Singhania) and he asked us what we really wanted, and I said, 'sir, we need a coach badly at this point. And if we want to go for a shot at the medal, we need someone to guide us at the Olympics.' And like I said, 15 days or 20 days maximum, we had Mathias in Hyderabad. Out of 10, how much would you give to each other for the performance in the Olympics? To chirag. I will give 20 out of 10 (laughs). The same, but as a pair, I would give 9. There's always room for improvement even if we win an Olympic gold (laughs).
138 They called it the Olympics like no other and India would agree as debutant javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra shattered several glass ceilings to become the country's first gold-medallist in 13 years, his stupendous show making it the best-ever Games for a nation starved for success at the grandest sporting extravaganza. With the addition of Chopra's gold on the last day of their competitive schedule, India signed off with seven medals in all, including two silver and four bronze, the last of which was delivered by superstar wrestler Bajrang Punia. In shoring up India's performance, Chopra achieved several firsts. He became the youngest Indian to win an Olympic gold, the first in track-and-field to do so and the only one to do it in his debut Games. At 23, he joined Abhinav Bindra in the select gold club but beat him on age as the latter was 25 when he claimed the top prize in the 20008 Beijing Games. With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games where there was no gold. It was also the first time that India picked up medals across so many varied disciplines. There were weightlifting and wrestling silver medals through Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya, respectively. And the four bronze medals came from badminton star P V Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, Punia and the men's hockey team, which finished on the podium for the first time in 41 years. Chopra saved the best moment for the last. The 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second-round throw of 87.58m in the finals, which nobody in a field of 12 could come anywhere close to. Brimming with confidence with hardly any nerves on display and just the way he did it in the qualification round three days back, Chopra began with a bang by sending the spear to a distance of 87.03m and then improved it to 87.58m, his best of the day. "It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won a gold in athletics, so I feel very good. We have just one gold here in other sports," he said after the triumph that would immortalise him as a great. "This is our first Olympic medal for a very long time, and in athletics it is the first time we have gold, so it's a proud moment for me and my country." On the wrestling mat, Punia pulled off a bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men's freestyle 65kg play-off. The medal-winning performance saved the 27-year-old and the Indian wrestling contingent from embarrassment since the wrestlers had entered Tokyo with high expectations. "I am not happy. This is not the result I had set out to achieve. Winning an Olympic medal is no mean achievement, but I can't jump with joy with bronze," Bajrang told PTI. The country also raised a toast to golfer Aditi Ashok, who came agonisingly close to a podium finish before ending fourth. She pulled off the best performance by an Indian golfer in the Olympics, but Aditi could not clinch the eagerly-anticipated medal despite spending a majority of the four rounds in contention for a podium finish. The 23-year-old Bengalurean ended two strokes off the pace with a total of 15-under 269, which was just one stroke below the medal bracket. In the final round, she managed a 3-under 68. It was a heartbreaking end to Aditi's campaign considering she started the day in sole second position. But it was nonetheless a massive improvement as she had finished tied 41st in the 2016 edition where golf made a comeback to the Olympics after over 100 years. "I think I gave it my 100 per cent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals, kind of sucks. In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it's hard to be happy with fourth place. I played good and gave it my 100 per cent," she said. But Chopra's performance washed away all the heartbreak as he provided a brilliant finale to the campaign which had looked wobbly in the first week when several medal contenders made early exits and the fancied shooting and archery teams fired blanks.
139 It's Coming Home,' got an Indian makeover on Sunday. Old world spirit and a new age women's rising gave it a wholly homespun flavour. Here's how. The Indian hockey team, first, which was rekindling long-forgotten Olympic nostalgia by making the semi-finals after nearly half a century, when a major chunk of our current population was not even born. Coming, somewhat fittingly, at the expense of our former imperial masters, Great Britain, the fluent 3-1 victory tells us that India is a win away from reclaiming a corner of the Olympic field that was once our living room, complete with wicker sofa-set, black and white TV behind a crochet cover and medals in the shelf above. Then, equally significantly, if not more, PV Sindhu was staking claim to being India's greatest-ever individual Olympian — across gender, and possibly generations too. Her face a strange mix of quiet grit and menace, on Sunday, Sindhu was in a mood to take no prisoners, demolishing China's bewildered-looking He Bing Jiao in less than an hour for her second Olympic medal, an equally precious bronze this time that followed her Rio silver. “I'm on Cloud Nine,” she would exclaim later, but would also speak of undying ambition, “I had a lot of emotions going through me — should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final?” As an individual doublemedallist, the tall, easy-smiling Sindhu was emulating the Olympic feats of Sushil Kumar. The once-ace wrestler is currently lodged in Tihar jail and was allowed a TV to watch the Olympics only after a special request to the authorities. Sushil had the world at his feet, he let it slip. Something tells you, the Indian sportswomen, constantly aware of their struggles, the ever-rising glass ceilings, the institutionalized patriarchy that they have to overcome on an everyday basis, will treasure their status more. Medals now won by Indian women at the Olympics are eight, three coming at Tokyo alone. Wrestler Vinesh Phoghat is yet to take the mat. There was a time when an Indian hockey team in the medal rounds at the Olympics was as much a given as current-day Chinese domination across sporting arena. There was a time when India's winners were men, and our women, the also-rans. With Indian women now clearly calling the shots it makes good sense for us to follow in the way they show us. As for the hockey, let Manpreet Singh and his band of fighting stickmen not be weighed down by the crushing burden of history. Thankfully, they, like all those who came in late, are oblivious of when we were kings.
140 It's Coming Home,' got an Indian makeover on Sunday. Old world spirit and a new age women's rising gave it a wholly homespun flavour. Here's how. The Indian hockey team, first, which was rekindling long-forgotten Olympic nostalgia by making the semi-finals after nearly half a century, when a major chunk of our current population was not even born. Coming, somewhat fittingly, at the expense of our former imperial masters, Great Britain, the fluent 3-1 victory tells us that India is a win away from reclaiming a corner of the Olympic field that was once our living room, complete with wicker sofa-set, black and white TV under a crochet cover and medals in the shelf above. Then, equally significantly, if not more, PV Sindhu was staking claim to being India's greatest-ever individual Olympian—across gender, and possibly generations too. Her face a strange mix of quiet grit and menace, on Sunday, Sindhu was in a mood to take no prisoners, demolishing China's bewildered-looking He Bing Jiao in less than an hour for her second Olympic medal, an equally precious bronze this time that followed her Rio silver. “I'm on Cloud Nine,” she would exclaim later, but would also speak of undying ambition. “I had a lot of emotions going through me—should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final?” As an individual doublemedallist, Sindhu was emulating the Olympic feats of Sushil Kumar. The once-ace wrestler is currently lodged in Tihar jail and was allowed a TV to watch the Olympics only after a special request. Sushil had the world at his feet, he let it slip. Something tells you, the Indian sportswomen, aware of their struggles, the glass ceilings, the institutionalised patriarchy that they have to overcome daily, will treasure their status more. Medals now won by Indian women at the Olympics are eight, three coming at Tokyo alone. Wrestler Vinesh Phoghat is yet to take the mat. There was a time when an Indian hockey team in the medal rounds at the Olympics was as much a given as current-day Chinese domination across sporting arena. There was a time when India's winners were men, our women, the also-rans. With Indian women now clearly calling the shots, it makes good sense for us to follow in the way they show us. As for hockey, let Manpreet Singh and his band of fighting stickmen not be weighed down by the crushing burden of history. Thankfully, they, like all those who came in late, are oblivious of when we were kings.
141 Divij Sharan has lamented the International Tennis Federation tweaking its Olympic Qualification rules, due to which he missed out on a men's doubles entry with Rohan Bopanna for the Tokyo Games. “The circumstances under which Rohan and I missed the Olympics cut were very disheartening. Based purely on combined rankings, we would have been the 29th out of the 32 teams to make the men's doubles,” Sharan, currently in Mexico to compete in an ATP Tour event, told TOI. “Due to Covid related circumstances, ITF changed the rules this year to cut off teams at the 24th spot, and thereafter pick singles players for the remaining spots. “As it is players could already enter doubles using their singles or doubles ranking. So I believe it's unfair to then give priority to lower ranked singles players. “This rule has taken away the opportunity for some committed doubles players to represent their country at the Olympics in their own event. “It has been a dream for me to be able to play and try to win a medal for India at the Olympics and if they hadn't changed the rules we would have been in Tokyo right now.” Sharan, 35, had mixed feeling about the manner in which the ITF handled the situation. He was also upset by the lack of communication from All India Tennis Federation (AITA) over the supposed change in nomination. “At the beginning there was little clarity from ITF about the acceptance list. However when I contacted ITF directly they did respond to my questions,” the World No. 82 said. “The bigger disappointment was with AITA. I'd been in constant touch with them from UK and Germany, making sure that everything was organized with regard to the kit, accreditation, testing etc, well in time, in case we made the cut by 16th July. “So I was really surprised when I read in the news that my name had been withdrawn by AITA at the 11th hour, without any communication with me. It was so disheartening, to say the least.”
142 1 DAY TO GO TOKYO 2020 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Gamesrelated officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-de-mission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and bio-secure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
143 1 DAY TO GO TOKYO 221 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Gamesrelated officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-de-mission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and bio-secure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
144 1 DAYS TO GO TOKYO 2020 The postponed Tokyo Olympics 2020 will go ahead as scheduled despite fresh fears from increasing Covid-19 cases among the participating athletes in the Village and Games-related officials, reiterated the chef-de-missions (CDMs) of all 206 competing nations in their meeting, where it was also decided to send reduced numbers of contingent members to the opening ceremony on Friday. The CDMs, in their daily briefings, also put a cap on the numbers of officials who can attend the opening ceremony. “Only six officials per contingent will be allowed. This has been done to minimise the risk of getting Covid-19 infection,” a source informed TOI. India's chef-demission B P Baishya and other contingent members have been deliberating sending reduced numbers of athletes to the ceremony, which will see the six-time world champion boxer, M C Mary Kom, and national men's hockey skipper, Manpreet Singh, leading the contingent as flag-bearers. The decision will be taken in consultation with top IOA officials, who have arrived in the Japanese city for the Games. A total of 127 athletes across 18 sports disciplines have qualified for the Olympics from India. On Wednesday, the British Olympic Association (BOA) decided that only 30 out of 376 from their Games contingent will be part of the opening ceremony at National Stadium. At the meeting, the CDMs discussed the Covid-19 situation in the Village and its likely impact on the Games, but decided to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee (OC) in their decision to continue with the Games in a “safe and biosecure” environment. While the officials didn't deny that there's some degree of panic among the athletes with daily new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Village, the spirit and excitement of participating in a challenging Games environment have trumped such fears, they feel. The athletes are being tested daily, with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks inside the Village and during training sessions. However, despite best efforts, Covid-19 cases continue to rise among athletes. On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 OC head, Toshiro Muto, had told reporters that he wouldn't rule out cancelling the Games even at this stage. But, as per the host city agreement between the IOC and Japanese government, only the former can cancel the event and it has no such intentions right now.
145 Indian wrestler Banjrang Punia after bagging bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics on Monday returned to India from Japan and received a warm welcome at the Delhi Airport. The wrestler was welcomed by a huge crowd outside the premises of airport. Not just him but the entire Indian contigent today arrived from Japan however the most dramatic exit was made by wrestler Bajrang Punia, who was seen greeting and waving towards his supporters from the sunroof of an SUV, which had several fans clinging to it defying all traffic rules as it made its way out of the airport. "It feels great to receive such kind of love and respect," Punia said after witnessing a grand welcome. "We will try to do better next time, I had a knee problem," Punia added. Punia then left from the airport and reached at the hotel where a felicitation ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics medal winners will be held shortly. There was loud cheering by euphoric fans, family members, and some local political leaders as returning athletes made their way through a massive crowd both inside and outside the airport. People danced, sang and screamed their lungs out to show their appreciation for the medal winners. The huge gathering meant that social distancing norms went for a toss as several, quite a lot of them without masks, rushed in to catch a glimpse of the stars. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos. The bronze medals were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, the men's hockey team apart from wrestler Bajrang Punia. The spotlight, however, is bound to target Neeraj Chopra, whose gold was India's first in 13 years overall and the first ever in the track and field events.
146 It took 16 years for the giants to fall, but it happened again. The United States Men's basketball team succumbed to France 83-76 in an Olympic group stage match, triggering memories of that fateful loss in the semi-finals at 2004 Athens. But for those who have closely followed USA basketball as well as the NBA, the end of a 25-game win streak at the Olympics is not a surprising result. Rather, it was one that was bound to happen and has been coming for a while. Historical superiority The USA basketball team has always been based on how their game is played nationally - where individual brilliance and skill takes precedence over teamwork and cohesion, qualities that are facets of the European game. It is no surprise that in 1992 the Dream Team, led by players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Larry Bird were considered the favourites and swatted aside every country on their path to the gold medal. But there is also a concurrent school of thought that believes that if the Soviet Union wasn't disbanded and the Yugoslavians could field their best players, then the Dream Team would have received the backs-to-the-wall competition it deserved. Instead, what the Americans got was Croatia in the final, with Drazen Petrovic, a brilliant shooter who had a brief career in the NBA that was cut short by his death after a car accident in 1993. And Toni Kukoc, a power forward who later helped the Chicago Bulls in their second three-peat from 1996-98. What they were missing was Vlade Divac, a Serbian centre who played for the Sacramento Kings, was part of the Yugoslavian team. There was individual brilliance in that Yugoslavian team that never got their chance to go up against a team that, to this day, is considered the assembly of some of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. The aura of USA basketball Since 1992 Barcelona, the course of history for basketball has been diverted to North America. In subsequent Olympics' the Americans were always the favorites and by some margin. NBA stars would be the apple of the eye in Games villages across continents. They were not just expected to win, but to do so in style. Highlights of games featuring the US Olympic basketball teams continue to be plastered across social media to this date. Whether it is Vince Carter's monstrous dunk on French player Frederick Weis, which is infamously called 'the dunk of death', or the national team beating Nigeria 156-73 at the London Games - the United States have been invincible for a while now. But no more. How American basketball has changed Over this past decade American basketball has changed in many ways. The game has transitioned further out to the three-point line. Team defense is more on the rise but individual defense, where one player locks up the best player of the opposing team, is clearly starting to fade away. Many defensive players in the NBA complain about how the game has transitioned to favoring the capabilities of teams to score. A major part of this is how NBA referees are calling fouls. Some of the best players in the NBA find different ways of scoring and one of the best ways to do so is to play for a foul and head to the free throw line. An average NBA game can see anywhere between 30-45 fouls per game - which has become a great way for teams to score more. How FIBA rules bring Team USA down to earth While NBA players enjoy the benefits of easy foul calls that can lead to fruitful trips to the free throw line, the same rules get tossed out of the window when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules kick in. With more of an emphasis on team, as well as individual defence, Fiba rules have been a real eye opener for Team USA basketball stars. Players used to six fouls before being hauled out of the game, are now realising that Fiba has a five-foul limit. Some USA players were in disbelief when a goaltending call was given in favour of the rival team, since goaltending is legal according to Fiba rules. "As the game goes on, as we continue to go through this process, we're figuring out the difference between the international game and the game we play," U.S. guard Damian Lillard said. "There's been moments where we're all looking around saying 'what's going on?' We're learning on the fly." The learning on the fly includes how backcourt fouls are officiated and what a 'travel' in Fiba rules is. It has essentially brought the scoring capabilities of this USA team down. That along with the game being for 40 minutes, with a 10-minute quarter, rather than the usual 48-minute game with 12-minute quarters that NBA stars are used to, has contributed to low scores and a lack of understanding of when to push pedal to the metal and when to defend every play. USA coach Gregg Popovich also reiterated that NBA players can no longer have a bad quarter, something they can get away with nationally. In the Olympics, all quarters are important, but none more so than the final eight minutes, where the USA's talents of individual brilliance can best be activated - something that has not happened until now. The international player divide In the 90s and the 2000s, the NBA as a league started to invite more and more international players. It wasn't that there weren't international players before, just that the rate of their arrival became exponentially higher. The Euro league also developed into the second-best league in the world and was a factory of players that have now started to migrate to the NBA. The results can be seen in today's NBA. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NBA is Nikola Jokic, a Serbian center who plays for the Denver Nuggets. The Finals MVP is Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Greek center who took the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title this season since 1971. The defensive player of the year is Rudy Gobert, who won this honour for the third time. The 2021 All-NBA First Team was Giannis (Greece), Jokic (Serbia), Kawhi Leonard (USA), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Steph Curry (USA) - a three to two ratio in favour of Europeans. The Europeans are here and they are dominating the NBA and are no longer pushovers at the Olympics. Does this mean Team USA is not winning gold at Tokyo? This American team might not be as fine-tuned for international basketball as they would like, but it doesn't mean they are not a force to be reckoned with. Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard are two Top 10 NBA players who can score at will. Draymond Green and Bam Adebayo can raise any team's defense at any given point. Minor adjustments, coupled with when to score and where to pull out some defensive stops can go a long way for this team. That being said, this is a weakened American squad. No LeBron James, or Steph Curry or Anthony Davis has impacted the team. In their five practice games, they slumped to three losses and have now lost against a French team that has five of their 12 players playing in the NBA, including the DPOY in Gobert. For a variety of reasons, some of their top players have also foregone the Olympics this time. A quick start to the previous season because of Covid meant that American players never really got an extended break between two seasons last year. Participating in the Olympics would mean the risk of going two seasons without a sustained break, something that could easily result in injuries. All of these factors make the USA winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics a tougher task than it has been in decades. But that doesn't mean they still aren't favorites.
147 World No.1 Deepika Kumari shot her career-best ranking score in Olympics, but still could not find place in the top half of the qualification draw. She has been seeded ninth with a score of 663. Deepika had shot 662 in London 2012 and 640 at Rio 2016. The lone Indian archer in the women's category, she was as inconsistent as the wind in Tokyo on Friday morning. The Jharkhand girl was sitting pretty at the fourth place after the first half of the round, having shot 334 out of 360. However, two 53s in the eighth and penultimate shots saw her slip. A seven in the last pushed Deepika further down by two places, from seventh to ninth. “The performance was good and bad, a little in between I would say,” Deepika was quoted as saying after struggling to cope with the wind. Things didn't go well for the men's trio of Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav too, with Olympic debutant Jadhav ending up as the best with 656 points for a 31st place finish, three points ahead of Das who was placed 35th. Rai, in his third Olympics appearance, took the 37th spot among 64 archers. India had identical rankings of ninth in both men's team and mixed pair competitions. The men, appearing in their first Olympic team event since London 2012, totalled 1961 points. Jhadav pipped Das with better scores in the rankings round and will now partner Deepika in the mixed team elimination round on Saturday. India earned a ninth place seeding on the basis of combined scores (1319) of Jhadav and Deepika.
148 As fans erupted in joy after Indian hockey team's thrilling 5-4 victory over Germany in the bronze medal play-off match, ending the 41-year drought in hockey at the Olympics, oldtimers said both the historic matches – Thursday's win in Tokyo and the 'golden moment' of 1980 against Spain – had the common Kashi connection. While Varanasi's legendary dribbler, Padma Shri late Mohd Shahid, was a part of the Indian squad in 1980 in Moscow, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay of Kashi's Bhagatpur village was the lone player in the Indian hockey team from Uttar Pradesh this time around. After Thursday's feat, India became the most successful team in men's hockey at the Olympics with 12 medals, including eight gold, one silver and three bronze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the member of parliament from Varanasi, posted a tweet congratulating Lalit for the team's success. Lalit's family remained glued to the television set as soon as the match began on Thursday. His father, Satish Upadhyay, had performed special rituals at a local temple to pray for team India's victory. Though Lalit was not a part of the 'playing eleven', cheering for India was what mattered to the family. And when the winning moment arrived, the family jumped with joy. “It was a great show by the Indian team. The boys had played well in the semifinal too but lost in the last 15 minutes. This time, they held their nerves till the last moment.” Satish said. “There can be nothing more valuable than a father being recognised by the name of his son. Today, wherever I go, people identify me as Lalit's father. I have two sons, Lalit and Amit. They have never demanded anything from me and always focussed on their goals. Lalit doesn't talk much but shares everything with his mother,” he added. Lalit's mother, Rita Upadhyay, got emotional while watching the match. “He has to stay away from home most of the time. But whenever he is around, he shares everything about his game and friends,” she said. Lalit's sister Anjali said, “It is great to see India winning an Olympic medal after decades. I am happy that my brother is a part of this team.” “I am proud of my brother. He has brought honour to the family and his hometown,” Lalit's brother, Amit Upadhyay, said. Lalit started his journey from UP College in Varanasi under coach Parmanand Mishra and went on to become a part of the national hockey squad as a centre forward. “We all are emotional right now as Lalit has faced a lot of hardships in the past. But we don't want to talk about it today as he has proved his mettle and made us all extremely proud,” coach Parmanand Mishra said. People were seen celebrating the success in various parts of the city. Keshav Prasad Yadav, a sweet shop owner, came out on the streets and distributed sweets among passersby. Sportspersons also gathered at the Olympian Vivek Singh Academy, Sampurnanand Sports Stadium and Lalpur hockey stadium to cheer for India. “After winning gold in the 1980 Olympics, when Shahid Bhai was in the team, we had been facing a long drought of medals. It is a coincidence that we won a medal when another local boy was in the team,” international hockey player, Pravin Singh, said. Hockey patron Gauri Shankar Singh, who is the father of another Olympian, late Vivek Singh, said: “After being defeated by Australia, Indian team bounced back well in time and created history.”
149 It was 5am in India on Thursday. Manjit Kaur, mother of Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, received a phone call at her residence in Punjab's Mithapur village (about 6 kilometres from Jalandhar). It was her son's call. It was surprising for the mother since Manpreet seldom calls two hours before a big match. That too a match in which an Olympic medal for the country is at stake. In a brief conversation, Manpreet told his mother, “ Medal pakka laauga, tussi ardaas karo (I will win the medal, you pray to God for our success)”. Pray she did! For the next three hours and little more, Kaur prayed for India's triumph. “I asked him (Manpreet) to come back with a medal and he has fulfilled my wish,” she told TOI. “The hard work put in by Manpreet and his teammates for more than 12 years has finally borne fruit. When the Olympics started, we were hopeful of a gold medal, but the bronze is equally precious as history has been made. I am sure India will win the gold medal next time,” she said. Over the next few weeks, Manpreet will be getting several accolades and monetary rewards. But his mother has a simple but cherished prize in store for him. “My son is very fond of aloo ka parathas and aloo ki sabzi made by me. That will be his reward from me.” “Though I was in constant touch with him over video calls during the Olympics, I am waiting to hug him with the medal around his neck,” she added. Kaur watched the entire match between India and Germany while holding a hockey stick. “This stick is one with which he started playing the sport. It is due to this stick that Manpreet has reached where he is today, one mustn't forget his roots and remain grounded,” she said. Manpreet's mother has been a pillar of strength for her son, toiling hard to support his dreams of becoming a successful hockey player. “My mother is the biggest inspiration of my life. If she was not there I would be nothing. She is the motivation behind what I am today. I owe everything that I have earned in my career to her,” Manpreet had said before leaving for Tokyo. She used to take up odd jobs to support the family after Manpreet's father was pulled down by mental health issues. His father died in 2016 while Manpreet was competing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. “My mother has seen a lot of hardships. She raised me single-handedly from childhood after my father developed mental health issues,” he had said.
150 PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian challenge as badminton begins on Saturday. Five years after her silver at the Rio Olympics, Sindhu is now considered a gold medal prospect. The Hyderabadi has earned the tag of 'big tournament player' with five World championship medals, including a gold, and aims to become the first Indian woman to win back-to-back medals at the Olympics. The men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin the Indian campaign early on Saturday, when Sai Praneeth will also be in action against Misha Zilberman of Israel. Sindhu's first match against Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong is scheduled for 6.40 am on Sunday. The world champion is expected to top Group J, which also has Israel's world No. 58 Ksenia Polikarpova. Only one player from each group goes to the next round in singles, while two doubles teams make the quarterfinals from group stage. Sindhu is likely to face Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the round of 16, and will be the clear Sindhu. However, she will not have coach Pullela Gopichand in her corner. She has been training with Park Tae Sang of South Korea for the past two years. Sindhu's first real challenge is likely to be a quarterfinal with Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. She may run into world No.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the semis. In the other half of the draw, China's Chen Yufei, Japan's Nozomi Okuhara and Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon will battle to reach the final. In men's singles, Sai has a challenging task of getting past Mark Caljouw of The Netherlands in the group stage. He may face Kento Momota of Japan in the quarterfinals. Satwik-Chirag are in Group A with world No.1 Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya and world No.3 Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin. They will begin against Lee-Wang on Saturday.
151 As the country erupted in joy over the bronze medal win of the mens' hockey team at the Olympics, prime minister Narendra Modi juxtaposed the win to the opposition's stalling of parliament proceedings that peaked on Thursday with the youth Congress organising a 'Sansad Gherao' protest in Delhi under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's watch. Modi said at a time the country was setting new standards, "people" were stalling the parliament. Modi was interacting with beneficiaries of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in UP during which he also outlined the various achievements of the state government as well as slammed earlier governments for reducing the state to a mere "hub of politics", and not making any efforts to link it with the country's economic growth- a feat he said has been possible in recent years only when the state has developed the confidence of becoming the "powerhouse" of India's "growth engine". "Today, at the Olympics, our youth have taken a big leap forward in bringing back the glory of Hockey. After 40 years we have gotten to face this glorious occasion," Modi said. "On one hand , our country and youth are registering newer wins goal after goal. On the other hand, in the same country there are also some people who , driven by selfish political interests, are indulging in such activities that almost amount to a self goal." "They are not interested in what the country wants, what it's achieving and how it's changing. They are hell bent on hurting the country 's time and sentiments "For their political interests, they are continuously insulting the parliament- which is the pious centre for expression of public views," Modi said. "Today, the entire country is putting in effort to battle a once in a century crisis that has befallen mankind and these people instead are trying to win at how to disrupt works of nation building. But this grand country and its people cannot become hostage to such selfish and anti-national politics,' said Modi. Modi laid down recent achievements by the countryhow the country is at the threshold of achieving 50 crore vaccinations, July GST collections pointing to an economic recovery as well as exports value exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh crore for the first time in any month after independence. He also spoke of the trial of Make in India aircraft carrier Vikrant. "People who are only concerned about their own pad (position) cannot stop the country. New India is winning laurels not through pads but padaks (medals). Slipping into campaign mode for the 2022 polls, Modi said, "For decades , UP was always seen from behind the lens of politics.”
152 They are out of the summit clash, but still in for podium finish. The Indian men's hockey team's dream of Olympic gold after 41 years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last four stages but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games here on Tuesday. Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes), the tournament's highest goal-getter, scored a hat-trick while Loick Luypaert (2nd minute) and John-John Dohmen (60th) also struck to hand the reigning silver-medallists their second successive entry into the final of the Olympics. India's goals came from Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Mandeep Singh (8th). The Indians still have a chance to secure an elusive medal from the Olympics as they will feature in the bronze medal match on Thursday against Germany, who lost 1-3 to Australia in their semifinal clash. India's last appearance in the final of the Olympics came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, where they went on to win their last of the eight gold medals. The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday's disappointment as Belgium's all four goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four. Belgium's game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks. The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the match but could make use of just one. The Indians started slowly as Belgium had the initial burst of the match, controlling the proceedings for the first five minutes which also yielded them a goal. Belgium scored from their first attack, earning a penalty corner which was converted by Luypaert with a powerful flick in the second minute. The Indians came back strongly and changed the course of the match in a span of two minutes with two goals. India secured two penalty corners in the seventh minute, the second of which was beautifully converted by Harmanpreet for his fifth goal of the tournament. A minute later, Mandeep, who has been under pressure for his underwhelming form so far, gave India the lead with a fine field goal. Mandeep beautifully received a Amit Rohidas cross from the right, turned over and found the back of the net with a fierce reverse hit past Vincent Vanasch in front of the Belgium goal. India got another chance in the first quarter in the form of a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh's effort this time was saved by Vanasch. Trailing by a goal, the Red Lions came out stronger in the second quarter and pressed hard on the Indian defence which wilted under pressure, conceding as many as four penalty corners, the last of which was converted by Hendrickx to level the scores. Minutes later Sreejesh pulled of a reflex save to deny Dockier. Belgium secured their sixth penalty corner of the match soon but it was well defended by the Indians. A minute from halftime, India were awarded a penalty corner and the effort by Harmanpreet this time was wide off the target. The Belgians dominated in terms of circle penetrations after the change of ends but India defended stoutly with numbers to thwart any danger to their citadel. The Indians got another golden chance to take the lead, earning their fifth penalty corner in the 38th minute but Belgium, this time, defended well. With both the teams locked at two goals apiece after the third quarter, the stakes were high in the fourth and final quarter and it was the Red Lions who came out on top by breaching the Indian citadel thrice. Belgium went on the offensive and secured three consecutive penalty corners in the 49th minute and again it was Hendrickx, who rose to the occasion for his side to hand them a 3-2 lead. With a goal upfront, the Belgians kept up the pressure on the Indian defence, which was guilty of conceding three more penalty corners in quick succession, resulting in a penalty stroke for the world champions which was duly put into the goal by Hendrickx for his third goal of the match. Trailing by two goals, a desperate India withdrew goalkeeper Sreejesh for an extra player but the move backfired as Dohmen slammed home in an empty net from a counter to shatter India's hopes.
153 The podium has place for only the athletes who perform in front of the world. But there's always guiding hands and wise counsel that show the right path to a medal. The seven medals India won at Tokyo too owe a lot to the coaches who worked behind the scenes to ensure their wards succeeded on the biggest stage. Uwe Hohn (Head Coach) & Dr Klaus Bartonietz (Biomechanical Expert) Country: Germany Athlete: Neeraj Chopra Event: Javelin Throw Medal: Gold The javelin thrower's body is like a bow and the javelin an arrow. This is Dr Bartonietz's philosophy and it worked like a charm for Chopra. Bartonietz has immense knowledge about the intricacies of the event and is credited with making Chopra stronger, yet more elastic, in his movements. He was part of the core team which developed javelin-specific work-out machines German throwers swear by. UWE HOHN, the only man to throw the spear over 100 metres, coached Chopra when he won the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals in 2018. He roped in Bartonietz for his expertise in early 2019. Both Germans had worked with the Chinese national team earlier. Vijay Sharma (Chief National Coach) Country: India Athlete: Mirabai Chanu Discipline: Weightlifting 49kg Medal: Silver MIRABAI Chanu came under the guidance of Sharma, a former national champion, in 2014, the same year he took charge of the men's team for the Commonwealth Games. Sharma's own career as a weightlifter was curtailed because of a wrist injury. He has been a constant during the highs and lows faced by Chanu. After she failed to produce one legal lift in the clean and jerk at the 2016 Rio Olympic, it was Sharma, along with her mother, who coaxed her out of thoughts about retirement. Sharma joined the national camp in 2012 after UP, the state he coached, became national champions. Kamal Malikov Country: Russia Athlete: Ravi Dahiya Event: 57kg freestyle wrestling Medal: Silver Brought in to prepare Sushil Kumar for Tokyo Olympics' qualification, Malikov was meant to be a fitness trainer, a sparring partner and observer for India's two-time medallist. But once that was no longer feasible, Malikov was employed from April 2021 under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to help Dahiya. For the Indian wrestler, Malikov was able to procure prime sparring partners in Vladikavkaz (Russia). The 23-year old's defeat in the gold medal match at the Poland Open would prompt the 34-year-old coach and student to work harder at improving reaction times and the speed of counters. Dahiya is a product of wrestling coach Satpal Singh and the set-up at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. Shako Bentinidis Country: Georgia Athlete: Bajrang Punia Event: 65kg freestyle wrestling Medal: Bronze Bajrang's rise to become one of the top wrestlers in the 65kg category occurred after Bentinidis took over the reins of the 26-year-old. An animated coach, Bentinidis has facilitated sparring partners for Bajrang from the United States and Russia. The wrestler from Haryana, thus, travelled across the world looking for wrestlers who can attack him with speed. The goal - to improve his leg defence, an aspect that continues to be a weakness, and his reaction times. While still not perfect, the influence of Bentinidis has led to improvements in Bajrang's arsenal and an Olympic bronze medal to boot. Raffaele Bergamasco (High Performance Director) Country: Italy Athlete: Lovlina Borgohain Event: Women's welterweight boxing Medal: Bronze Son of an Olympian, Bergamasco was a five-time national champion and took part in the Beijing, London and Rio Olympics as a coach. After guiding the Italian women's team from 2001 to 2007, he took over their senior and junior men's sides and contributed to six Olympic medals. He was let go after a barren run in Rio, and found his way to India in 2017, orchestrating the country's best ever medal haul at Youth Boxing Championships (five gold, two bronze) that November. A month later, he was promoted to high performance director for senior women. Park Tae-Sang Country: South Korea Athlete: PV Sindhu Event: Women's singles badminton Medal: bronze Sindhu's game was based on strength and impressive hand speed, and she often overpowers opponents. But she needed more variety and dimensions to win consistently against the best players in the world. Enter Korean coach Park, who had chiselled into shape players like Sung Ji-Hyun, whose on-court movement had the smoothness of a swan in still water. Park not only gave Sindhu assurance in her stride, but importantly, worked long quality hours on her defence - always a target owing to her rangy frame. He would also inject confidence in Sindhu's game at the net. Where she would earlier swat at the shuttle and lift copiously to move the battle away from the forecourt, in Tokyo Sindhu expertly engaged with Akane Yamaguchi and didn't shy away from the dribbles. The smash-tap forced opponents to dig deep, and that mostly worked in the Indian's favour. Park was also animated - something Sindhu draws great energy from. Graham Reid Country: Australia Team: Men's hockey Medal: Bronze The stint with the Indian team was a shot at redemption for Reid, who was at the helm with Australia when they crashed out of the Rio Olympics in the quarterfinals with a 4-0 thrashing against the Netherlands. He has changed the team's psyche, making them less prone to making costly errors at inopportune moments. After the loss to Belgium in the semifinal, it was Reid's job to pick the team up for the bronze-medal playoff against Germany, and India gave one of their most rousing performances in a long time. Earlier in the tournament, after the 7-1 hammering against Australia, Reid ensured the team didn't panic and fought on level terms with all teams. He has toughened the team and history will record that he was in charge when India climbed the Olympic podium in hockey after a gap of 41 years.
154 "It was 2005 when I saw first Gurjant in Gurdaspur while he was taking trials for the Chandigarh Hockey Academy. He impressed me in no time with his agility and speed, and I knew that one day he would play for India," said Gurminder Singh, Coach of Gurjant Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh, players of the Men's Indian Hockey team, which grabbed the Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2021. Gurjant Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh had been training at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy under Coach Gurminder Singh. While Rupinder joined the Chandigarh academy in 2002 and remained there till 2008, Gurjant joined the academy in 2005 and trained there till 2011. Both players had later joined India Junior National Camp, said the Coach. Gurminder Singh's phone has been ringing since morning. "I have received countless calls today. This is a dream come true for all of us," he said gleefully. Speaking to The Indian Express about Gurjant, Coach Gurminder Singh said, "Since the beginning Gurjant had the speed in the game. After he joined the Chandigarh Academy, he further improved on speed and agility and later became the fastest goal scorer in India." He further said, "We held the trials at Gurdaspur (Punjab) in 2005, and I could see that Gurjant was very quick. He has worked hard on the game and made his country proud!" Talking about Rupinder, the Coach said, "Rupinder is a natural talent of hockey. His athletic physique, sporting attitude and other characteristics are the essential requirements which a defender in a Hockey team needs. Rupinder, who joined the first batch of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy in 2002, has brought several laurels to his state team as well." Known as 'Bob' among teammates, Rupinder has always been notorious, and would bunk school to train in the field, the coach said, adding that Gurjant had been a shy guy, who remained calm in school and in the field. Talking about their food habits, the Coach said that between training, both Rupinder and Gurjant did not have much time to go out. Their love for food remained limited to the hostel mess where they could eat anything that was served, while the rest of their diet was usually provided at the field. Speaking of their match Olympic match against Germany, the Coach said, "They were confident and had no pressure on them before the match. I had a word with Gurjant before the match, and he looked very relaxed. Both of them played outstandingly." Talking about the players currently training under him at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy, Coach Singh said, "I am hopeful that in the next Olympics apart from Gurjant, there will be at least four more players from the present batch." At a press conference on Thursday evening, Tejbir Singh Saini, Director, Chandigarh Sports Department, said that at present, many children are performing well in the Academy, adding that they will bring laurels to the place in the coming future. The hockey academy was conceived by late Punjab Governor Kt Gen J F R Jacob who had fondly hoped that it would one day become a cradle for future Olympians. The academy was set up to select and groom raw talent from villages.
155 Hockey in India is not just a sport; it is an emotion. And watching India at the Olympic Games is not for the fainthearted. The quarterfinal contest against Great Britain on Sunday was no exception. One needed steel to stay glued to the action. India's search for an elusive medal in its national sport has stretched to a painful 41 years. After winning the gold at the 1980 Moscow Games, the team met with disappointment at every Olympics since. On Sunday night at the Oi hockey stadium, the Men in Blue took a giant step to reverse the trend. Led by Manpreet Singh, India showed grit and determination to see off Great Britain's challenge with a 3-1 victory. The win marks a new beginning as it is India's first semifinal appearance in 49 years — if one were to exclude the competition at the 1980 Games which was played in the round-robin format. Prior to that, India qualified for the last-four at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where they finished with the bronze medal. India will face Belgium, who got past Spain 3-1. For India, the quarterfinal was in many ways the coming of age of the team, both mentally and game wise. They started the match with aggression and intent and when the tide turned against them at a crucial juncture, they soaked up pressure and did not stray from their strategy. The fact that Manpreet picked up a yellow card with six minutes on the clock did not unsettle the team. Also, the match was won on the strength of field goals as there were no penalty corners to take. India's game plan suggested they were going in for the attack but they did so at their pace, playing the waiting game to near perfection. They played hard and deep, covering their bases and controlling the proceedings even when ball possession was lost. The Indian forwardline has been under scrutiny for its lack of experience and execution in the last touch. But the forwards redeemed themselves on the day. In the 7th minute, Simranjeet Singh relayed a pass from the top of the circle for an unmarked Dilpreet Singh to rifle past goalkeeper Ollie Payne's legs. India could have stretched the lead in the quarter but failed to convert their chances. They accelerated at the beginning of the second quarter and it took Gurjant Singh just a minute to stretch India's lead. With Britain making inroads subsequently, India ensured a midfield game for the last 10 minutes before half-time. Having earned three consecutive penalty corners, Britain pulled one back off their last attempt through Samuel Ward in the third quarter. The goal added fire to Britain's challenge and they relentlessly attacked the Indian circle but the defence did not wilt. It also took some outstanding effort from the dependable PR Sreejesh to thwart the opposition. With Hardik Singh slotting home a Nilakanta Sharma pass on the counter, India had a 3-1 cushion with three minutes to go and they kept that intact. On the other side, Germany, who knocked out holders Argentina with a 3-1 scoreline, will face Australia, a team which came through 3-0 in penalties against the Netherlands after the match was tied at 2-all at regulation time.
156 Remember the day. The bronze that Indian men's hockey team won with a fighting, brave, heart-stopping 5-4 win over Germany will resonate in the annals of Indian hockey — no, Indian sport — for a long time to come. It will speak of not just turning a corner, but of a lifetime rolling over, as if in deep slumber all these four decades. What Manpreet Singh and his gritty men achieved on a muggy morning at the Oi stadium in Tokyo was not just to correct years of dejection by finally capturing an elusive medal at the Olympics. Crucially, what they were achieving was the affirmation of why hockey is still the national sport of the country. What's all the fuss about, the millennial Indian might ask? After all, over 70% of India's population wasn't even born when it last stood on the hockey podium – Moscow1980, for gold. Truth is, the game has changed in the last four decades, unrecognizable from when we were lords and masters of a sport that demanded grace and oozed class. On Thursday, we were winning bronze in Tokyo, in a new sport wrapped in an older idea. It was a medal as much needed to rejuvenate a sport as it was perhaps to shake off perceptions of old. Hockey was always India's first love, nothing united us like this sport of sticks and guile. Maybe it was its inherent trickery, the accent on control, speed and skill and the accompanying egalitarian ethos that won over everybody – the Sikh, the north-easterner, Anglo-Indian, south Indian, Adivasi, and north Indian, all nurtured a soft spot for the sport and that's why the disappointments of the past 40 years always hurt so much more.
157 South Korea proved to be India's nemesis for the second time at the Tokyo Olympics as the men's recurve team of Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav succumbed to the archery powerhouse 0-6 in the quarterfinals at Yumenoshima Park on Monday. Earlier, the mixed team of Jadhav and Deepika Kumari was ousted, going down to their S Korean rivals. They went on to pick the gold medal in both events. The men's team, however, began the day well getting past Kazakhstan troika of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin, Sanzhar Mussayev 6-2 in the first round of the elimination stage. But they made a shaky start against the S Korean team of London 2012 champion Oh Jin Hyek, Kim Woojin and the youngest archer at Tokyo Olympic, 17-year-old Kim Je Deok, when Das opened for India with an 8. Although Jhadav and Rai backed up well hitting 10s, none of the Indians could hit a 10 in the second round, which led South Korea to win the first set 59-54. India did make some improvement getting 57 in the second set, but that was not enough as the Koreans repeated their score of 59. India faltered again in the third set managing just 54 in spite of their rivals shooting well below par at 56. Bengal boy Das was totally off colour as he failed to hit even a single 10 in three sets in the quarters. Just hours earlier, he led from the front finding six 10s to take India past Kazakhstan. His teammates did provide him good support with Jhadav hitting four 10s and veteran Rai, in his third Games appearance, getting three 10s. But a single error proved costly. Overall while the S Koreans shot 13 10s, India could manage only 7. On the other hand while 8 was S Korea's lowest shot, which they hit once, India had four such scores.
158 The celebration over men's hockey team winning bronze is not just an Indian thing. The world is rejoicing the comeback of the once-dominant force to the podium and foreign experts associated with Indian hockey are no different. Australian great Ric Charlesworth, who was Indian hockey's technical director, expressed his joy after the Manpreet Singh-led side defeated Germany in the bronze-medal match in Tokyo on Thursday. “What a wonderful result by India. The medal is well deserved and well earned,” the Australian, who has coached the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos to many big trophies. Charlesworth said India's win is good not only for the country but also for the sport itself. “Of course, I think it's great for the game and for India. For hockey this is a wonderful outcome… now it is women's turn to beat Great Britain (for bronze),” he said. Charlesworth said he was delighted to see how Indian players responded to coach Graham Reid's plans. “I recommended Graham for the job and believe the players showed great resilience. I'm delighted,” he said. Former coach Jose Brasa of Spain, who was not just instrumental in introducing scientific training methods to Indian hockey but bringing goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to the mix, said the world watched India's comeback to the podium. “I am very happy to see India win today. If they can carry on the momentum, they will once again start winning gold at the Olympics,” Brasa, who coached the Indian team ahead of the 2010 World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. According to Brasa, Indian team's fitness has been the X-factor. “They are as fit as any other top team like Australia, Germany or Belgium. Although Indian players always had skills, they looked polished here and had great control over ball possession in most of the matches. Their fitness was outstanding,” the Spaniard said. “Also, it was great to see Sreejesh guiding players in the defence. He displayed immense grit at the goal.”
159 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covidappropriate behaviour, including maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks every time they venture out in the Village, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their countries. Some athletes posing for photographs and recording videos in the Village had removed their masks, while others, simply taking a stroll in the Village Park after their evening meals, had their masks on their chins. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Tokyo has hit another six-month high in coronavirus cases, one day before the Olympics. The 1,979 new cases on Thursday is the highest since 2,044 cases were recorded on Jan. 15. About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the Olympic competitions on Saturday. The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
160 Anxious moments spent glued to the television gave way to ecstatic celebrations Thursday morning in Jalandhar's Mithapur and Khusropur, the villages of four players including the captain of the Indian men's hockey team, as it beat Germany in the Tokyo Olympics and bagged a bronze medal. This is India's first hockey medal in over four decades. Captain Manpreet Singh and players Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar hail from Mithapur, which is no stranger to producing hockey greats. Former Indian team captain Pargat Singh, now Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, is from the same village. Hardik Singh, who scored the crucial goal on Thursday, is from Khusropur. Though Hardik's family was in Batala where his father, Superintendent of Police Virenderpreet Singh is currently posted, villagers left no stone unturned to celebrate the victory of the "village's son". In Mithapur, Mandeep's father Ravinder Singh played the dhol as the villagers burst crackers and handed out sweets. Manpreet and Mandeep's mothers were seen dancing alongwith hockey sticks. The celebrations went on for hours. The Indian captain's mother, Manjit Kaur, teared up, saying: "Over 12 years of his hard work has paid off today. I had told him to bring gold but I am happy that our team got a medal. My happiness has no limit today. When they lost in the semi-final my health deteriorated but I could muster the courage today to watch the match and see them win." Varun's father Brahma Nanad, who was a truck driver, said his son had seen many tough days during his hockey career. The families of the three players went to the village gurdwara to pay obeisance. "My heart was beating fast throughout the match but it went out of control in the last few seconds. I can never forget this moment in my lifetime," said SP Virenderpreet Singh, who himself was a hockey player. Hardik's mother said: "He was very upset after the semi-final. I told him to turn this defeat into victory in the next match and they did it. I had stopped watching the match when India was behind in the beginning and went to another room where I started praying and then my younger son came at the end of the match and told me they had won."
161 HOURS AFTER the Indian men's hockey team won their first Olympic medal in 40 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the victory to target opposition parties, saying while the country's youths were scoring goals on field, some with selfish political interests were scoring "self-goals" and disrespecting Parliament. Addressing beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojna (PM-GKAY) from Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing, the Prime Minister also termed August 5 as a date of achievements - abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, laying of foundation stone for Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2020 and Thursday's Olympic medal in hockey. "It was August 5 when two years ago the country strengthened the feeling of One India-Better India by removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. It was the same August 5 when last year we took our first step towards a grand Ram Temple. The work of Ram Temple is going on at great speed in Ayodhya. Also today, in the Olympic field, the youths of India took a big leap... in hockey. This golden moment came back after four decades," he said. "On one hand, our country is scoring goal after goal of victory, and on the other, some people, due to political self-interest, are doing things which make it seem that they are scoring self-goals." "These people have no interest in what the country wants, what he country is achieving and how the country is changing. They are wasting time and hurting feelings of the country. They are continuously disrespecting Parliament... The country is involved in fighting a massive pandemic, but they are competing to find ways to stop public welfare work," he said, targeting the Opposition for disrupting Parliament over the Pegasus issue. The country will not be held hostage by such selfish politics, Modi said, adding that some are trying to stop Parliament, but the people will not let them do that. He said the country is progressing rapidly on every front, as he listed India's performance at the Olympics, the recently achieved 50-crore Covid vaccination mark, GST collection figures, agricultural exports, the e-RUPI initiative and the launch of trials of indigenously built aircraft carrier Vikrant. Accepting that there is a major challenge of inflation at a time when the entire world is troubled, he assured the poor and middle-class that efforts were being made and inflation will be kept in check. Praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who participated in the event from Ayodhya, as both Yogi and Karmayogi, Modi said: "For the first time in the history of UP, there is fear in the mind of criminals and those oppressing poor and threatening the weak. The system which was once addicted to corruption and nepotism is now changing." Adityanath, who was in Ayodhya for the first anniversary of the bhoomi pujan of the Ram Temple, said the Prime Minister's dream of a new Ayodhya is being realised. "After a wait of more than 500 years, the construction of a grand Ram Temple started in Ayodhya on this very day last year, and the construction work is going on at full swing," he said.
162 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour, including maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks every time they venture out in the Village, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their respective countries. Some athletes posing for photographs and recording videos in the Village had removed their masks, while others, simply taking a stroll in the Village Park after their evening meals, had their masks on their chins. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Tokyo has hit another six-month high in coronavirus cases, one day before the Olympics. The 1,979 new cases on Thursday is the highest since 2,044 cases were recorded on Jan. 15. Earlier, on Wednesday night, panic gripped the Indian contingent after it was revealed that two IOA officials who have travelled to Tokyo for the Games, including IOA's secretary general Rajeev Mehta and Assam Olympic Association's (AOA) secretary Lakhya Konwar, and archery coach Gurung Mim had tested positive for Covid. However, it was later informed that they had put wrong entries in updating their health record on the organising committee's health monitoring app, which led to the false alarm. About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer M C Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the Olympic competitions on Saturday. The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
163 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart. Beniwal now teaches hockey at the Roshnabad Stadium where another Olympic star, Vandana Katariya, first got introduced to the sport.
164 After Denis Istomin's backhand went out and wide, Sumit Nagal threw his hands up, looked up to the sky and then put his face in his hands, trying to hide away his tears. The reaction was understandable. Nagal's 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4 win was the first in men's singles for India at the Summer Games since Leander Paes defeated Brazilian Fernando Meligeni for the bronze medal at 1996 Atlanta. An overwhelmed Nagal said he wasn't sure, given the tough conditions, if he would have managed to pull off the win if not for the fact that he was representing India at sport's biggest stage. “I am representing my country, playing in the Olympics for the first time, first win,” Nagal said after his match. “I was leading in the second set, serving for the match at 5-3. And then to lose the set from there, then come back and win when the weather is especially like this, it is super tough. “But playing for my country and having the name 'India' on it gave me the push, kept me alive in the match. If I was playing a Challenger I am not sure what I would have done, to be honest. “So, I am very happy with the result. That's why there was a bit of emotion as you could see.” The 34-year-old Istomin, who had earned his Olympic spot by clinching the Asian Games singles gold two year back, has two ATP Tour titles under his belt. A former world No. 33, the Uzbek had knocked out then defending champion Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Australian Open in 2017. He brought all his experience into play as he fought back from the brink of defeat and pushed the match into the decider. But Nagal's young legs eventually bailed him out in “hot and humid” conditions. “There was a bit of nerves, it was normal, I was expecting it,” the 23-year-old Indian said. “Two-three points … I didn't play them the right way, and ended up paying for it. At 4-5 he served well and then I might have had a chance in the tie-break but maybe I was a bit too aggressive.” Next up for the World No. 160 is Russian star Daniil Medvedev, who beat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik 6-4, 7-6. “I am very excited for this match, to play the world No. 2 on a big court. Can't ask for more. This is what we play tennis for, to live for these moments. I am going to enjoy it the most,” Nagal said. Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev called on organisers to delay the start times of Olympic tennis matches as players laboured in the sweltering Tokyo summer heat on the opening day of the tournament. World No.1 Djokovic asked why they can't start the matches at 3pm, reports AFP.
165 Sharath Kamal is now the last man standing for India in table tennis in Tokyo. The veteran, who received a bye in the first round, began his singles campaign with a 4-2 (2-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9) win over Portugal's Tiago Apolonia on Monday. But it was curtains for Indian women as both Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who lost their third and second-round clashes respectively. Manika —- who had shocked World No. 32 Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska on Sunday --- couldn't continue her good run as she went down to 10th seed Sofia Polcanova 0-4 (8-11, 2-11, 5-11, 7-11). Sutirtha, too, was no match for Portuguese Yu Fu, losing 0-4 (3-11, 3-11, 5-11, 5-11). Sathiyan, the India No. 2 in men's singles had lost earlier. Sharath, despite his win, will know that he has an uphill task ahead of him, because current Olympic champion Ma Long awaits him in the third round. The 39-year-old Indian even looked rusty in the opening game on Monday and one can be rest assured that Long will pounce on such lapses. “I don't know what happened in the first game. I could not connect bat with ball and was all over the place. From there, I was able to lift myself up,” Sharath said after the match. After going down in the opening game 2-11, Sharath found his rhythm to win the next two --- 11-8, 11-5. Tiago hit back by winning the fourth but Sharath closed out the 49-minute contest by pocketing the next two games. Eight-time former national champion Kamlesh Mehta felt Sharath looked more solid and grew in confidence as the game progressed. “Sharath has certainly worked hard on his game. He was more of a forehand player earlier but at the Olympics he has looked sharp with his backhand too,” Kamlesh told TOI on Monday. A much-improved backhand game allowed Sharath to attack from both flanks and that caused problems for Tiago. “My opponent expected a different Sharath but I surprised him with my backhand which was fantastic. All the work I have done on my backhand for the last six months paid off,” said Sharath. The Chennai man, though, has to raise his game by a few notches to be competitive against Long. Kamlesh believes Sharath should approach it as any other match. “Ma Long is an alltime great, and Sharath will be an underdog heading into the match. Sharath has nothing to lose and must take the match shot by shot. Sharath will have to bring in all his experience on Tuesday,” Mehta pointed out.
166 Here are the top 5 news updates of August 5, 2021: 1. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian men's hockey team clinch bronze, win medal after 41 years A resolute Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match of the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games today. The eight-time former gold-winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympic medal. Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for world no.3 India. Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour. 2. Prashant Kishor quits as Punjab chief minister's principal advisor Poll strategist Prashant Kishor today resigned as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's principal advisor, saying he was taking "a temporary break from active role in public life". Kishor's move comes with assembly polls in Punjab less than a year away. "Since I am yet to decide on my future course of action, I write to request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility. I take this opportunity to thank you for considering me for this position," he wrote in the letter. Kishor had managed the Congress' successful campaign in the 2017 polls and devised programmes such as "Punjab Da Captain" and "Coffee with Captain" to drum up support for the party during the polls. 3. Pegasus row: Allegations of snooping, if correct, are serious, says SC Allegations of Pegasus related snooping are "serious in nature" if reports on them are correct, the Supreme Court said today and asked the petitioners seeking probe into the Israeli spyware matter whether they have made any efforts to file criminal complaint on this. A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant stopped short of issuing notice on the pleas and took exception that one of the petitions has made individuals (Prime Minister and Union Home Minister) as parties. The apex court, which asked the petitioners to serve the copies of the pleas to the Centre so that somebody from the government is present before it on August 10 to accept notice, also questioned why the matter has suddenly cropped up now when it had come to light way back in 2019. 4. Sushant Singh Rajput case: A year on, Maha Congress questions CBI's 'silence' over probe into death of actor The Maharashtra Congress today questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation's "silence" over the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a year after it took over the probe into the case."It's been a year today since CBI took over the investigation of the unfortunate death of Sushant Singh Rajput from Bihar police. Registration of FIR by Bihar police was against article 177 of CRPC. Supreme court also had expressed satisfaction in the overall investigation by Mumbai Police," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted. He said it has been more than 300 days now since the AIIMS panel ruled out murder. "CBI is maintaining deliberate silence. This mockery of investigation by national investigation agencies is an apt example of how these agencies are being used by Modi government for their political agenda," he alleged in a tweet. 5. Sensex, Nifty scale fresh lifetime highs Extending its winning streak to the fourth straight session, equity benchmark Sensex ended 123.07 points higher at a fresh record today amid gains in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ITC. After scaling its lifetime peak of 54,717.24 during the day, the 30-share index settled 123.07 points or 0.23 per cent higher at its record high of 54,492.84. In similar movement, the broader NSE Nifty rose 35.80 points or 0.22 per cent to an all-time peak of 16,294.60. It touched an intra-day record of 16,349.45.
167 The 32-inch rectangular TV in Amravati-based archery coach Praful Dange's house could have passed for a circular target board on Wednesday as around 13 pairs of eyes fixated on it between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm. The wordless attention of his archery students towards the progress of Dange's former student, Satara's Pravin Jadhav, at the individual men's recurve archery rounds in the Tokyo Olympics was interrupted only by connectivity issues when their gaze darted from the TV to the three mobile phones in the room that were streaming the match simultaneously. Cheers that had shot up in the room like arrows during the first round when 25-yearold Jadhav knocked out World Number 2 Galsan Bazarzhapov from Russian Olympic Committee in straight sets became deflated verbal darts in the second round when Jadhav went down to United States' World Number 1 Brady Ellison without a fight. Ellison wasn't at his finest, but Jadhav's misses tilted the eliminations round in favour of the American who won with an easy 6-0. As one of many coaches who shaped Jadhav's journey from undernourished child sprinter to Maharashtra's first Olympian archer, Dange couldn't help but blame himself, too, for the poor show. “I'm not exactly sure what happened,” said Dange, who could not recognise his studious, calm ex-pupil in the archer on screen who seemed to flounder momentarily before firing arrows in the match against Ellison. The difficult weather conditions in the range would be a flimsy excuse, felt the coach. “Yes, it was windy, but then both the players are subject to the same conditions. We fell short in our preparation,” said an apologetic Dange, who recalled Jadhav's confident tone during their video call earlier that day. “He said he would play with all his heart.” Besides this assurance, what had filled Dange with hope that Jadhav could beat the American was the memory of an earlier contest from the pre-Covid times between Ellison and Jadhav that had ended in a tie-breaker. Though Jadhav had lost that match, “Ellison was in awe,” recalled Dange. Back in Phaltan taluka in Jadhav's hometown Satara, Vikas Bhujbal—the sports teacher who had prescribed athletics to 10-year-old Jadhav as an escape from his destiny as a wage labourer and who had seen the Tokyobound Jadhav off at Pune's international airport--was sorting gunny sacks of rice meant for mid-day meals even as his prodigy's match was on. “I can never get myself to watch any of his games. I'm a sports teacher but my heart is not that strong,” said a heartbroken Bhujbal, who couldn't recover from the fact that Jadhav lost the first set to Ellison 27-28, “by just one point”. “Luck wasn't on his side,” said Bhujbal. Dange, on his part, turned off the TV only after reading both respect and relief in the expression that ensued on the World Number One archer Ellison's face after his win on Wednesday. “It was the expression of someone who had dismissed a tough competitor.”
168 Some people questioned the way Narendra Modi's image dominated a congratulatory graphic put out by the BJP with the hockey legend pushed to a corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced on Twitter that the country's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, "will hereby be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" after the hockey legend. While many welcomed the renaming, several of them asked whether the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi would now be renamed after sportspersons too. Some questioned the way Modi's image dominated a congratulatory graphic put out by the BJP with Dhyan Chand pushed to a corner. "Puzzle of the day: Find #MajorDhyanChand in the picture below," a Twitter user posted. Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, who lauded the renaming of the award, tweeted: "Now I hope they can rename Narendra Modi Stadium and Jaitley Stadium also. Remove all politician names." Great decision by Modi Govt to rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Now I hope they can rename Narendra Modi Stadium and Jaitley Stadium also. Remove all politician names. While the renaming decision is in line with the Modi administration's knack for erasing the names of Nehru-Gandhi family Prime Ministers from government showpieces, its timing appears to have been carefully chosen. The move comes a day after the Indian men's hockey team won bronze at Tokyo - the country's first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years - refocusing national spotlight on the game. Modi said the decision had come under public pressure. "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views," he tweeted in the afternoon, without naming Rajiv Gandhi. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!" Dhyan Chand (1905-79), known as the "wizard of hockey", was part of India's gold-winning teams at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Union ministers and BJP politicians rushed to laud the decision, with cricketer turned parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir telling reporters: "Awards for sportspersons should be named after sportspersons." Fact-checking portal Boomlive reported that some ministers and news outlets shared the image of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry award, as that of the Khel Ratna Award. Modi had come under fire when the world's largest cricket stadium, in Gujarat, was renamed as the Narendra Modi Stadium last February after a refurbishment. The stadium was originally named after the country's first home minister, Vallabhbhai Patel. The BJP had justified the renaming on the ground that the Modi stadium was only a part of the larger Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave. In 2019, Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium was renamed after the late Union minister Arun Jaitley, who had been Delhi cricket chief - a decision opposed by former sportspersons like Bishan Singh Bedi. With Friday's government decision, the country now has two national sporting awards in Dhyan Chand's name, the other being the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games. The Khel Ratna is handed out for outstanding performance over the four years immediately preceding the award. The Congress said it welcomed any attempt to honour Dhyan Chand but advised the government not to use his name for petty "politicking" and suggested the renaming decision was a ploy to divert attention from the Pegasus snooping allegations and the farmers' agitation. "Dhyan Chand was a magician of hockey.... We welcome any attempt to honour him, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not have used his name in politicking, to serve his petty political interests," party communications chief Randeep Surjewala said. In June 2017, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had questioned the Modi's administration's systematic renaming - mostly after Sangh parivar icons - of government schemes that bore the names of former Congress Prime Ministers. Tharoor had in a tweet listed 23 of the Modi government's schemes and contended they were merely renamed versions of programmes launched by previous Congress or Congress-led governments. "Why we in @INCIndia insist this is a name-changing government, not a game-changing one!" Tharoor had said. For instance, the Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana was renamed as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
169 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart.
170 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany earlier this week, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His elder brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts,” said Beniwal, adding that it was also his “strict sense of discipline” that set him apart.
171 As the Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic bronze by defeating Germany, none, perhaps, cheered harder than Varun Beniwal. For Beniwal, a hockey coach who mentored Sumit — the midfielder who was part of the winning squad — it was nothing short of a personal win. “I have seen him overcome many financial struggles to be where he is,” Beniwal told TOI. Before the 25-year-old hockey player left for Tokyo last month, he was confident that the team would script a historic win — one that India has been waiting for 41 years, said Beniwal. India had not won an Olympic medal in hockey since 1980. “When we spoke before his trip, Sumit promised me that he would return with a medal. And he did it,” said Beniwal, who is now deputy district sports officer (Haridwar). For the most part of his hockey career, Sumit was forced to do odd jobs to make ends meet. His father is a daily wager in Haryana's Sonepat. “His brother had to sell his watch once to arrange money for him to travel to participate in a national level tournament in Secunderabad,” said Beniwal, adding that things turned better once the Indian junior hockey team, which Sumit was part of, lifted the 2016 men's hockey junior world cup in Lucknow. Beniwal had coached the team. “Sumit stood out because of his speed and solid instincts and strict sense of discipline,” said Beniwal.
172 A head of his semifinal clash, Alexander Zverev pointed out that Novak Djokovic could be beaten. He had done it twice already. On Friday, at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, the German demonstrated his point, derailing the world No.1's charge to a historic Golden Slam. Disbelief was writ large on the 24-year-old's face after he came back from a 1-6, 2-3 deficit to claim ten of the next 11 games to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory that put him into the Olympic final where he faces Karen Khachanov.Djokovic, who showed great heart in returning to the court for the mixed doubles semifinal, said, “I feel terrible. My game fell apart. I was leading (by) a set and a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves. I missed a lot of first serves from 3-2 in the second set.” Zverev apologized to Djokovic as the two men embraced at the net. The Serb's third semifinal run at the Games ended in defeat yet again. The 2008 bronze medallist will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta for a second bronze medal. Zverev credited a more aggressive approach for turning the match around. He clocked 44 winners while conceding 14 unforced errors on the day. “I needed to change something,” Zverev said. “I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, I tried to dominate that way.” The No. 4 seed, bidding to become Germany's first ever men's singles gold medallist, added, “It's an amazing feeling, knowing that you're going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany.” It wasn't Djokovic's day as he and Nina Stojanovic fell 6-7 (4), 5-7 to Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev. Earlier Khachanov produced a dominant display to move past Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Croatia's best-ever performance in tennis at the Olympic Games finished with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic clinching the men's doubles gold, with countrymen Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig forced to settle for silver. The top seeds fended off a late rally from Dodig and Cilic to win 6-4, 3-6 (10-6).
173 Ahead of his semifinal clash, Alexander Zverev pointed out that Novak Djokovic could be beaten. He had done it twice already. On Friday, at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, the German demonstrated his point, derailing the world No.1's charge to a historic Golden Slam. Disbelief was writ large on the 24-year-old's face after he came back from a 1-6, 2-3 deficit to claim ten of the next 11 games to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory that put him into the Olympic final where he faces Karen Khachanov.Djokovic, who showed great heart in returning to the court for the mixed doubles semifinal, said, “I feel terrible. My game fell apart. I was leading (by) a set and a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves. I missed a lot of first serves from 3-2 in the second set.” Zverev apologized to Djokovic as the two men embraced at the net. The Serb's third semifinal run at the Games ended in defeat yet again. The 2008 bronze medallist will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta for a second bronze medal. Zverev credited a more aggressive approach for turning the match around. He clocked 44 winners while conceding 14 unforced errors on the day. “I needed to change something,” Zverev said. “I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, I tried to dominate that way.” The No. 4 seed, bidding to become Germany's first ever men's singles gold medallist, added, “It's an amazing feeling, knowing that you're going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany.” It wasn't Djokovic's day as he and Nina Stojanovic fell 6-7 (4), 5-7 to Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev. Earlier Khachanov produced a dominant display to move past Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Croatia's best-ever performance in tennis at the Olympic Games finished with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic clinching the men's doubles gold, with countrymen Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig forced to settle for silver. The top seeds fended off a late rally from Dodig and Cilic to win 6-4, 3-6 (10-6).
174 PM Modi termed the men's hockey team's Olympic bronze medal win on Thursday “historic” for restoring the country's pride in a sport synonymous with national identity. The PM told wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who won a silver after losing the gold medal bout in a tough contest, that India is proud of him and that his success inspires the entire nation. Modi said he looks forward to personally congratulating him on August 15. “Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler. His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding,” Modi said. He also spoke to Dahiya's coach Anil Maan. “Today, the pride of hockey, which is our national identity, has been established after four decades,” he said, while speaking to the team members and coach Graham Reid in Tokyo. A video of the interaction at the players' end showed the players and Reid thanking the PM for his call. Reid said Modi's conversation with the team after its semi-final loss to Belgium had helped him motivate the players. After India's win, Modi tweeted the day will be etched in the memory of every Indian. “Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team.” Modi told captain Manpreet Singh, “You have scripted history”.
175 Life is often about regretting wasted opportunities. The grit and determination notwithstanding, the Indian men's hockey team passed up on the opportunity of winning the Olympic gold medal when they lost their semifinal match against Belgium 2-5. But they have another shot at glory left at the world's biggest sporting stage. A bronze medal which will help them climb the podium after an agonising 41-year wait. One team – Germany – stands in the way. The mood in the Indian camp is, “Bring on the Germans.” “I think we should forget about what happened in the semifinal and put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge,” said skipper Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze-medal playoff. Germany, who lost to Australia 1-3 in the semifinals, too will be hungry to redeem themselves. With possession hockey — which can wear down the best of oppositions — being their hallmark, they are bound to give India a tough fight for the medal. Both teams have been battlehardened over the last fortnight. Germany had four wins in the group stage and put out defending champions Argentina in 3-1 in the quarterfinals before going down to Australia. India ended their Pool matches with four wins and beat Great Britain 3-1 in the last-8 match before stumbling against Belgium. Both teams will go in to the match well acquainted with each other's individual and team strategies. The two teams last met in February this year, during one of India's rare overseas outings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In their two-match face-off India had beaten the Germans 6-1 in the opening fixture before being held to a 1-all draw.
176 Life is often about regretting wasted opportunities. The grit and determination notwithstanding, the Indian men's hockey team passed up on the opportunity of winning the Olympic gold medal when they lost their semifinal match against Belgium 2-5. But they have another shot at glory left at the world's biggest sporting stage. A bronze medal which will help them climb the podium after an agonising 41-year wait. One team – Germany – stands in the way. The mood in the Indian camp is, “Bring on the Germans.” “I think we should forget about what happened in the semifinal and put all our focus and energy into the game against Germany. The team has the experience of playing them in recent times. We are ready for the challenge,” said skipper Manpreet Singh on the eve of the bronze-medal playoff. Germany, who lost to Australia 1-3 in the semifinals, too will be hungry to redeem themselves. With possession hockey — which can wear down the best of oppositions — being their hallmark, they are bound to give India a tough fight for the medal. Both teams have been battlehardened over the last fortnight. Germany had four wins in the group stage and put out defending champions Argentina in 3-1 in the quarterfinals before going down to Australia. India ended their Pool matches with four wins and beat Great Britain 3-1 in the last-8 match before stumbling against Belgium. Both teams will go in to the match well acquainted with each other's individual and team strategies. The two teams last met in February this year, during one of India's rare overseas outings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In their two-match face-off India had beaten the Germans 6-1 in the opening fixture before being held to a 1-all draw.
177 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bikas told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bikas said.
178 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bicky told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bicky said.
179 On Friday, when the country rejoiced boxer Lovlina Borgohain's quarterfinal win, celebrating alone in his hostel room was a boy from Manipur, who had a 'hand' in the Olympic medal. Bicky Chand, 23, of Army Sports Institute's Boys' Sports Company, was Lovlina's sparring partner for more than a month. The decision to shift women boxers' camp to ASI, Pune, due to the surge in Covid-19 related cases in the Capital in May, played a crucial role in Lovlina's training ahead of the Tokyo Games. “After the team left from Pune, I went home on leave. I came back three days ago and am keeping myself in precautionary isolation for a few days. I saw the match on my phone alone in the room and was elated to see Lovlina didi win,” Bicky told TOI. Boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav, who is primarily in Mary Kom's team, but also oversaw Lovlina's training, said Bicky and another ASI boxer Karan helped Lovlina in overcoming her shortcomings. “Bikas and Karan helped Lovlina in working on her range. The boys were asked to help her in facing a speedy attack,” Yadav said from Tokyo. Lovlina's counterpunches during her match against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei were a result of dedicated training with her sparring partners. “She wanted me to attack her with speed. As I am shorter in height, she would bend backwards and work on her counterattacks. She specifically wanted me to train for those shots,” Bikas said. “I am a southpaw, while Karan is an orthodox boxer. She had planned to work on the variations and trained twice a day with us every day,” Bicky said.
180 Calm! This was the word written on top of the match board as the Indian men's hockey team came back into their dressing room at half time leading 5-3 in their bronzemedal match against Germany in Tokyo on Thursday. 30 minutes later though, the team, like the rest of the country, was anything but calm as they finally won an Olympic medal after a long gap of 41 years. It's so long that when they last won a medal, none of the current players were born. And cricket wasn't the most-watched game in the country as India's first World Cup triumph was still three years away. The wait was finally over when the ever-reliable PR Sreejesh remained 'calm' and kept it Germany's penalty corner in the dying seconds of the bronze-medal match. Chief coach Graham Reid said after the match that he had shown the team a picture of the bronze medal before the match and asked them to imagine what it would look on their neck. Not only did they imagine it, they eventually achieved it. “In the morning we spoke about the task at hand and what we have to do to achieve that. And when you eventually do that it's a very special feeling,” Reid said during the virtual press conference on Thursday. Things, however, didn't start too well for India as they conceded early and the coach believes the team was 'asleep'. But like true champions, they roared back into the match and earned the win. “We spoke about it that there will be times in matches like these that we will be in trouble and things will not go our way. So we needed to find another level and we all saw them do that. We saw them digging deep and playing fast, aggressive and attacking hockey and it all paid off,” he added. Harmanpreet Singh, one of the vicecaptains of the team and scorer of one of the five goals, meanwhile credited the team being together during the pandemic for their achievement. “It was a dream to win a medal and for this we have made a lot of sacrifices in the past one and a half years. But all this time we remained together as a family,” he said. As for Simranjeet Singh, who scored two goals, it couldn't have been more dreamlike. He wasn't even part of the main squad but added on later as a substitute. “There are 11 players on the field and the goal can go to any one of us. Every player makes a contribution. I just executed the finishing touches today. The goals belong to the entire team's effort,” he said.
181 Indian athletes and participants from 13 other nations, who are clubbed in Group 1 and 2 countries owing to the high viral load there, have been told by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (OC) to limit their movement inside the Games Village. They have been told to take utmost precaution during their visits to practice halls and dining area owing to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the campus. The athletes from these nations have been directed to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour, TOI has learned. The organisers feel athletes from India and 13 other nations pose a higher level of risk due to the presence of Covid-19 variants in their respective countries. The message has been communicated to the athletes by the chef-de-mission office in the Village. They have also been told to avoid venturing out unnecessarily in the Village area and keep their movements restricted. Panic over false Covid alarm Earlier, on Wednesday night, panic gripped the Indian contingent after it was revealed that two IOA officials who have travelled to Tokyo for the Games, including IOA's secretary general Rajeev Mehta and Assam Olympic Association's (AOA) secretary Lakhya Konwar, and archery coach Gurung Mim had tested positive for Covid. However, it was later informed that they had put wrong entries in updating their health record on the organising committee's health monitoring app. 20 athletes, six officials for opening ceremony About 20 athletes and six officials from the Indian contingent will attend the opening ceremony on Friday evening, IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra informed on Thursday. The contingent will be led by both the flag-bearers – boxer MC Mary Kom and men's hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh. The decision was taken in view of the number of matches scheduled on first day of the competitions on Saturday. IOA announces cash awards The medallists in Tokyo will receive cash awards from the IOA — gold winner Rs 75 lakh, silver Rs 40 lakh and bronze Rs 25 lakh. It's also been decided that a sum of Rs one lakh will be given to each athlete for representing the country.
182 'Ah, I did not see that question coming! but yes, that's the plan' Speaking exclusively to t2, the multitalented Somdev Devvarman shares his take on the GOAT debate, his plans for a music album, his love for egg rolls, and much more! What motivated you to move to the United States as a teenager and what impact did it have on your tennis and your personality? When I was 18, I was the best junior in the country (India). At that age, it was difficult to find an exact pathway to becoming a professional tennis player. I found it pretty challenging to do that from India. One is because most tournaments are in parts of Europe and America, and it is very expensive to travel. To do so without a coach is also hard. How does an 18 or 19-year-old self-reflect after every match? When I joined college at the University of Virginia, the pool was really strong. I got a degree and a scholarship. But I also got to evolve as a person and as a player. I had three coaches, eight or 10 teammates. If we got injured, we had experts to make sure we were fine and back on court. It was the most important part of my tennis life. Those four years really gave me the opportunity to grow, to mature, and become a better player. Tennis is a lonely sport, but to have teammates and be working towards a common goal can work wonders for young people. Earlier this month, Novak Djokovic levelled Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's singles Grand Slam honours list. You have played against all three. Who was the hardest to face and can you give us a definitive pick in the GOAT debate? All three of them play very differently. They pose different challenges, beat you in different ways. Roger attacks more than the other two, he has the ability to mesmerise you on court. Rafa beats you with brute force, Novak is tactically much better than you, he does not miss out on any opportunity. In terms of Grand Slams, you would imagine that Novak is the favourite right now. It is safe to say that Roger is past his prime. With Rafa, he is still up there among the top two players on clay, but with the other surfaces, he is more vulnerable than Novak to the next generation. I think Novak has the opportunity to hit 25 or 27 Slams, it does not look like he is slowing down. Novak is willing to do things with himself and his game that nobody else is willing to do. But each of these three is a giant of the game, everyone else is just along for the ride. I am just happy I got to be a part of the same era, that I got the chance to not just watch them, but play against them. In the recent past, you have spoken out against police brutality and racism. Are you disappointed that more Indian athletes do not take a stance on issues of social justice? There is no reason to be disappointed. To each their own. The first thing is to understand that everyone has their own problems in life. I certainly do not expect everyone to see things the way I do, but as long as I have the freedom to see things my way, I am happy enough with that. Probably, the more athletes start becoming self-sufficient in how they want to move their careers forward, the more they might want to be speaking out. Also, keep in mind that these things can be distractions. Professional sport is hard enough without the distractions, which take away your training routine, take away the mindset you need for success. At the same time, as a nation, I do believe it is important for the youth to speak up for what they believe is right. It is not a crime to speak your mind, right? As long as you do it respectfully. Over the last few years, we have seen you write, perform, and release a series of songs. Do you have any plans of releasing an album anytime soon? Ah, I did not see that question coming! But yes, that (releasing an album) is the plan. I am in no rush to do it, to be honest. I have spent a lot of time in the studio, but I have not spent enough time. I want to get my sound right, and I want to figure out exactly how I want to do it. An album is in the making, I have to just get a bunch of the musicians together, probably get a good producer on board, and then see what happens. You spent the early part of your childhood in Calcutta before moving to Chennai. What are your fondest memories of Calcutta and what do you love the most about the city? I love the egg rolls, the chaat... food basically. I did leave when I was eight years old, so probably too young to have clear memories. But those were happy times for me. I remember playing a lot of sports, kicking the ball around or playing cricket. I actually did not play tennis at all. But I like the culture over there, just the general vibe of Calcutta has always been really nice. As a man of many talents, what does the future hold for you? Where do you see yourself in five years' time? I have a hard time looking beyond three weeks! But five years... I will not go there because five years ago I would not have imagined that we would be here. But I hope that I have released at least two albums (in the next five years). And in terms of the other stuff- tennis, coaching, media- who knows! No idea. Watch Live action of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, on SONY SIX, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3 channels FACT FILE Just two years after turning pro, Devvarman enjoyed a splendid calendar year of 2010, winning the gold medal both at the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Games (in both singles and doubles) In 2011, Devvarman was honoured with the Arjuna Award, the same year in which he went on to achieve his highest ATP singles ranking of 62 Devvarman's best Grand Slam finish also came in 2011, when he reached the third round of the men's doubles (with Treat Conrad Huey) at the US Open Devvarman won the Delhi Open in both 2014 and 2015, before announcing his retirement from professional tennis aged 31 in January 2017 In 2018, Devvarman was felicitated with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award Your favourite film: Good Will Hunting Your favourite musician: Cat Stevens The funniest player on tour during your playing days: Andy Roddick Your favourite holiday destination: The last one I went to, Sri Lanka. I loved it Your favourite food: Egg rolls The one thing you cannot travel without: My guitar
183 After the Indian men's hockey team lost to Belgium in the Olympics semi-final, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, August 2, 2021, said wins and losses are a part of life and India is proud of its players. The Indian men's hockey team's dream of entering the Olympics final after 41-years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last-four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games. "Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men's Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts," Mr. Modi tweeted. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavours, he said, adding that "India is proud of our players". When the match was in progress, Mr. Modi tweeted, "I'm watching the India vs Belgium Hockey Men's Semi Final at #Tokyo2020. Proud of our team and their skills. Wishing them the very best!" The Indians still have a chance to secure an elusive medal from the Olympics as they will feature in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
184 The lone goal for Manpreet Singh's side came from Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute The Indian men's hockey team was thrashed 1-7 by world no.1 Australia in its second Pool A match of the Tokyo Olympics here on Sunday. Australia looked dominant from the onset and scored through Daniel Beale (10th minute), Joshua Beltz (26th), Andrew Flynn Ogilvie (23rd), Jeremy Hayward (21st), Blake Govers (40th, 42nd) and Tim Brand (51st) to post their second consecutive win at the Games. India's lone goal came from Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute. India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opening fixture on Saturday. The Manpreet Singh-led side will next play Spain on Tuesday.
185 Veteran Indian table tennis player A Sharath Kamal overcame a sluggish start to beat Portugal's Tiago Polonia in the second round to set up a clash with defending champion Ma Long in the Olympics on Monday. The 39-year-old struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11 11-8 11-5 9-11 11-6 11-9 in the 49-minute second-round contest. The Indian paddler now has a tough match ahead as he takes on the legendary Long, who is also the reigning world champion. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Long has won every singles title in the sport. Sharath's compatriot G Sathiyan had lost his men's singles second round from an advantageous position on Sunday to exit the competition. In the women's draw, Manika Batra moved to the third round with an upset win over world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine on Sunday.
186 The quarter-final draws will be clear once the group stage matches are over The Indian men's hockey team registered a comprehensive 5-3 win over hosts Japan to cement its quarterfinal spot with a second-place finish in Pool A at the Olympics on Friday. Already assured of a quarterfinal berth going into the match, India scored through Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) to register their third consecutive win at the Oi Hockey Stadium. By virtue of this win, India finished second in Pool A behind Australia with four victories out of five Games. The Kookaburras ended their pool engagements on top with four wins and a draw. India's lone defeat -- a 1-7 drubbing -- came at the hands of Australia. The top four teams from each pool of six qualify for the quarterfinals.
187 Full schedule of India at Tokyo Olympics on July 27 Shooting 10m air pistol mixed team qualification stage 1 - Manu Bhaker & Saurabh Chaudhary, Yashaswini Deswal & Abhishek Verma - 5:30 10m air pistol mixed team qualification stage 2 - 6:15 10m air pistol mixed team bronze medal match 7:30 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match - 8:07 10m air rifle mixed team qualification stage 1 - Anjum Moudgil & Deepak Kumar, Elavenil Valarivan & Divyansh Singh Panwar - 9:45 10m air rifle mixed team qualification stage 2 - 10:30 10m air rifle mixed team bronze medal match - 11:45 10m air rifle mixed team gold medal match - 12:22 Table tennis Men's singles third Round 3 - A. Sharath Kamal vs Ma Long (China) - 8:30 Badminton Men's doubles Group A - Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty vs Ben Lane & Sean Vendy - 8:30 Boxing Round of 16 - Lovlina Borgohain vs Nadine Apetz - 10:57 Hockey Pool A India Men vs Spain - 6:30 Sailing Women's laser radial Race 05, 06 - Nethra Kumanan - 8:35 onwards Men's laser Race 04, 05, 06 - Vishnu Sarvanan - 8:45 onwards Men's 49er Race 01, 02, 03 - K. C. Ganapathy & Varun Thakkar - 11:20 onwards All timings are in IST
188 India's men's hockey team lost 1-7 against Australia in their second Pool A match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. Dilpreet Singh scored a solitary goal for in the 12th minute of the 3rd quarter. Both teams won their opening games and will be looking to consolidate their position on top of their group with a win at the Oi Hockey Stadium. India beat New Zealand 3-2 in a closely contested encounter on Saturday. Australia come into the match on the back of a 5-3 win against hosts Japan. Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace for India against New Zealand and will be looking to add to his tally. Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh also starred, making some big saves towards the end of the match.
189 Indian men's hockey team defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their Tokyo Olympics opener on Saturday. Kane Russell opened the scoring for New Zealand in 6' before Rupinder Pal Singh equalised in the 10'. Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals through penalty corner in the 26' and 33' respectively. Stephen Jenness scored New Zealand's second goal just before the end of third quarter in 43rd minute to set up an intense finish. India's tight defence and some good saves by Srijesh ensured India save their lead till the end of the match to defeat the Black Sticks. Over at the Oi Hockey Stadium, Australia held off a comeback by hosts Japan for a 5-3 win in men's hockey Pool A. The Aussies took a 2-0 lead before the hosts struck back to edge ahead 3-2, with a goal each in the third and fourth quarters sealing the victory.
190 The star India table tennis player fought tooth and nail to take the second game from Long but eventually lost the men's singles contest 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11 Star India table tennis player Sharath Kamal said tactical preparation and mental toughness helped him put up a brave fight in a third-round match against China's Ma Long, the reigning Olympic and world champion, in Tokyo on Tuesday. Sharath fought tooth and nail to take the second game from Long but eventually lost the men's singles contest 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11. "My body language unnerved him. My message was you could be Ma Long but I will not give you the match on a platter. The third game was crucial. Had I won that it could have been a different story. Today everyone saw what I am capable of," Sharath told The Telegraph from Tokyo. "We (national coach Soumyadeep Roy and Sharath) did our homework well. We went through a lot of Ma Long's videos and broke down his style of play. You can't face him just like that."
191 I think it was one of the best matches I have played: Sharath India's Sharath Kamal overcame a sluggish start to beat Portugal's Tiago Apolonia in the men's table tennis singles second round at the Tokyo Games on Monday. The 39-year-old - the only Indian left in the fray - struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 in 49 minutes to set up a clash with defending champion Ma Long of China on Tuesday. Arguably the greatest table tennis player of all time, Ma Long has won every singles title in the sport, and is also the reigning world champion. However, with the way the 32-ranked Sharath played against his 59th-ranked opponent, it has given him immense confidence going into the round of 32 match against the mighty Chinese. "I think it was one of the best matches I have played. The first game I don't know what happened, I could not connect bat with ball. From there I could lift myself up," Sharath said. All timings in IST
192 Varun Kumar, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Harmanpreet Singh strike; Schuth Casella lone scorer for the South Americans The Indian men's hockey team stormed into the Tokyo Olympic quarterfinals with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over defending champions Argentina in their penultimate pool match on Thursday. After goalless first two quarters, India broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through Varun Kumar before Vivek Sagar Prasad (58th) and Harmanpreet Singh (59th) struck in the closing minutes of the match to seal the contest. Argentina's lone goal came from a penalty corner conversion by Schuth Casella in the 48th minute. By virtue of this win, India have consolidated their position in the second spot of Pool A with three wins and one loss out of four games, behind Australia. Argentina are struggling at the fifth spot in the six-team pool and need to beat New Zealand in their final preliminary match on Friday to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. The top-four make the last-eight stage from each group. India will play hosts Japan in their final pool match on Friday.
193 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Indian men's hockey team for winning an Olympic Medal after a gap of 41-years. Indian Men's hockey team won bronze medal, defeating Germany with 5-4 goals at Tokyo Olympic on Thursday morning. Chief minister Shivraj Singh tweeted, "Team India, you beaut! You did it after 41 years! Heartiest congratulations to Men's Hockey team as they have made India proud by bagging Bronze. Great show of grit, determination and perseverance. This team will inspire our generations to come. Cheers4India, #Tokyo2020 #Olympics." Notably, Madhya Pradesh's hockey star Vivek Prasad is also part of bronze medalist.
194 With a much-improved performance, India's men hockey team have pulled back a much-needed deficit of goal difference on points table with a 3-0 win against Spain at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday. India came into the match after getting hammered 1-7 by Australia. A clean sheet in this important pool A match helps India's cause of progressing from this round. Rupinder Pal Singh striked twice, once in 1st quarter through penalty stroke and second time in 4th quarter when the Spanish came forward to pull one back. Simranjeet opened the scoring for India in the first quarter as India finish first quarter with a 2-0 lead. After conceding seven against Australia, India's defence appeared to be tighter and won back some confidence that this Indian team can end India's long wait for a medal in hockey. Before the match against Spain, India had defeated New Zealand but lost to Australia.
195 The Indian trio of Pravin Jadhav, Atanu Das, and Tarundeep Rai failed to rise to the tough challenge against South Korea in the quarter-final of the men's archery team event here at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field on Monday. The South Korean team comprising of Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, and Oh Jinhyek defeated the Indian team 6-0 to reach the semis. The Koreans put immense pressure on India from the first arrow as they shot 10-10-9 for a 29 and India responded with 8-10-10. Korea then proceeded to shoot 10-10-10 to capture 2 points. In the second set, India responded well as they started with 9-10-10 and 10-10 but an 8 from Das on the last arrow handed another 2 points to the Koreans. The Koreans gathered two 59s in two sets. The Koreans kept their cool and captured the third set with ease as they scored 56 even though they did hit the first 8 of the game. But in the end, it was enough as the Indian trio had filled their sheet with 8s and 9s and lacked consistency. Earlier, the Indian team had defeated the Kazakhstani team of Abdullin Ilfat, Gankin Denis, and Mussayev Sanzhar 6-2 to reach the quarters.
196 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, spoke to the men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, head coach Graham Reid and Assistant Coach Piyush Dubey, congratulating the team on their bronze medal win in the Tokyo Olympics. Speaking to Mr. Singh over a phone call, the PM said "you have scripted history". During the conversation, the Prime Minister also remarked that Mr. Singh's voice wasloud and clear as compared to the day when India had lost to Belgium in the semi-finals. The Indian team captain thanked the Prime Minister for his constant encouragement. Hailing the Indian men's hockey team's win as historic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet said, "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team." The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, beating Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze medal at the ongoing Games on Thursday.
197 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Rs 1 crore cash reward for Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Indian Hockey Team members Vivek Sagar Prasad and Neelakant Sharma. He also announced that all Indian team players would be honoured. While Vivek belongs to Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Neelakanta Sharma had joined Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in 2011. Sharma played for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy for many years. He left the academy only after getting job in Petroleum Sports Promotion Board. The Indian Men's Hockey Team won the bronze medal defeating Germany with 5-4 goals at Tokyo Olympic on Thursday. "Today, the entire country is celebrating the victory. Our team played fantastic throughout the tournament. They defeated strong teams like Argentina, Germany, Japana etc. It is re-birth of Indian Hockey," Chouhan said. He further said that Rs 1 crore would be given to Vivek Sagar Prasad, who belonged to Itarsi Madhya Pradesh and Neelakant Sharma, who played for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.
198 THE.WAIT.HAS.ENDED. The men's hockey team did what every Indian has been dreaming off - winning an Olympic medal. The Indian side defeatedGermany 5-4 on August 5 at Oi Hockey Stadium to win the bronze medal. The stadium saw mixed emotions from the two sides as India won a medal after 41 years.Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and his men kept Germany at bay after taking the lead to take India on the podium. Soon after the win, netizens took to Twitter to express their happiness on winning the medal. As for the Indian men's hockey team, while Simranjeet Singh scored two goals for India along with Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh also added their names on the scoresheet.
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8 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTING GOODS (75%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); MOBILE GAMES (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%) Company: ADANI ENTERPRISES LTD (92%) Ticker: ADANIENT (NSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS523130 COMMODITY CONTRACTS DEALING (92%); SIC5051 METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES (92%); SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (75%); CLOTHING BY FUNCTION (75%); SPORTING GOODS (75%); MOBILE MEDIA (73%); MOBILE GAMES (72%); CLOTHING LABELS (67%); FASHION INDUSTRY (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
9 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%); BADMINTON (77%); BOXING (77%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (69%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
10 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (71%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
11 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (77%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (72%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (52%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (90%); RAFAEL NADAL (58%); ROGER FEDERER (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); NEW YORK, USA (79%); AUSTRALIA (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
12 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); AWARDS & PRIZES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); BOXING (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WRESTLING (73%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (76%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); INDIA (97%); UNITED KINGDOM (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
13 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (52%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); BELGIUM (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
14 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ANIMATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: ANIMATION (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (91%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
15 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); BELGIUM (90%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (56%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
16 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (71%); JAPAN (58%); SPAIN (56%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
17 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); POLICE FORCES (71%) Organization: ASHA (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
19 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); BELGIUM (90%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (56%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
20 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); AIR FARES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (68%); EXECUTIVES (66%) Company: INTERGLOBE AVIATION LTD (91%) Ticker: INDIGO (NSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS481111 SCHEDULED PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORTATION (91%); SIC4512 AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED (91%); AIRLINES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); AIR FARES (77%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
21 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (58%); AUSTRALIA (97%); INDIA (95%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
22 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (94%); MEXICO (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
23 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (67%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (67%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); FIREWORKS (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
24 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN (77%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FOOD INDUSTRY (76%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (89%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
25 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
26 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (67%); DIVIDENDS (62%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (99%); INDONESIA (72%); UNITED STATES (72%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
27 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (99%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
28 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); BASKETBALL (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (59%); INDIA (79%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
29 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); VOLLEYBALL (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: KERALA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
30 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); AIR FARES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (66%); EXECUTIVES (60%) Industry: AIRLINES (89%); AIR FARES (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
31 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ECONOMICS (75%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (75%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (52%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%); ENGLAND (67%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
32 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
33 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RACEWALKING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (65%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: AIRPORTS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (78%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
34 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); MEN (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
35 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPONSORSHIP (78%); COMPUTER SOFTWARE (66%) Geographic: MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
36 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
37 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (91%); MEXICO (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
38 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Company: PERFECTION AS (61%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); BELGIUM (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
39 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); RANKINGS (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (58%); ARGENTINA (97%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); PAKISTAN (73%); SPAIN (73%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
40 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); JOURNALISM (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (73%); TENNIS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); CRICKET (70%); WRITERS (64%) Industry: VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (73%); WRITERS (64%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); CZECH REPUBLIC (58%); ENGLAND (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
41 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Industry: CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (72%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
42 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); KERALA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
43 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); BOXING (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); FOLKLORE (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); DANCE (71%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (67%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (67%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (96%); ENGLAND (79%); CHINA (68%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
44 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); ATHLETES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (52%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
45 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BADMINTON (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); CHINA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); TALIBAN (77%); UNITED NATIONS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (71%); TERRORIST ATTACKS (71%); UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS (57%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (77%); AFGHANISTAN (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
47 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); RUNNING (73%); APPOINTMENTS (66%); ARMIES (52%) Industry: ARMIES (52%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); PUNJAB, INDIA (94%); INDIA (98%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); KENYA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
48 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
49 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
50 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); MEN (73%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
51 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SOCCER (72%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (78%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
52 Subject: SCHOOL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); GLOBALIZATION (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (75%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (75%); CONSTRUCTION SPENDING (73%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (72%); NEGATIVE NEWS (72%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (72%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (72%); CRICKET (70%); PUBLIC FINANCE (70%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (65%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (55%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE (74%); CONSTRUCTION SPENDING (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
53 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (72%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
54 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (93%); MEXICO (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
55 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); ATHLETES (72%); MEN'S SPORTS (72%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
56 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); BELGIUM (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
57 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); FILM (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%) Industry: FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); KAZAKHSTAN (88%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (77%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); NETHERLANDS (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); BELGIUM (65%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
59 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
60 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (72%); SPAIN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (72%); JAPAN (58%); SPAIN (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
62 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (91%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (90%); SPAIN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (73%); JAPAN (72%); AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND (58%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
63 Subject: VACCINES (94%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (86%); OLYMPICS (86%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); RESPIRATORY DISORDERS & INJURIES (78%); CORONAVIRUSES (77%); DISEASE IMMUNITY (77%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (77%); DEFAMATION (75%); US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 2016 (65%); US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 2020 (65%) Industry: VACCINES (94%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (77%); FARMERS & RANCHERS (76%); MOTOR VEHICLES (50%) Person: ANTHONY FAUCI (92%); JOE BIDEN (74%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TRIPURA, INDIA (93%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); INDIA (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
64 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); PANDEMICS (89%); POLITICS (89%); VACCINES (78%); DIWALI (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); FOOD SECURITY (72%); THIS DAY IN HISTORY (67%); OLYMPICS (65%); MEN'S SPORTS (60%) Industry: VACCINES (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
65 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (77%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
66 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%); ARGENTINA (94%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (73%); JAPAN (58%); SOUTH AMERICA (56%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
67 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (76%); WATER RESOURCES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
68 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); HARYANA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
69 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); CHILDREN (76%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (50%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
70 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
71 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
72 Subject: DEATH NOTICES & OBITUARIES (92%); BADMINTON (90%); DEATH & DYING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS COMMISSIONERS (78%); TENNIS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (77%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (76%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (54%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (54%); PRIME MINISTERS (52%) Company: METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP (52%) Ticker: MCB (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (52%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (52%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
73 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); POLITICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PUBLIC FINANCE (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (72%); BADMINTON (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
74 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); EMOTIONS (72%); SMALL BUSINESS (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
75 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (92%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
76 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); PAKISTAN (59%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
77 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
78 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PARALYMPICS (78%); STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (73%); WHEELCHAIR & DISABILITY SPORTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
79 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); EMOTIONS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (56%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
80 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); ARGENTINA (90%); SPAIN (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (73%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
81 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POOL & BILLIARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (78%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
82 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
84 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); FAKE NEWS (72%); NEGATIVE NEWS (72%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (60%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (58%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (58%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (87%); INDIA (95%); PAKISTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (79%); AFGHANISTAN (70%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
85 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
86 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SELFIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (64%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (64%) Company: XIAOMI INC (90%); QUALCOMM INC (53%) Ticker: 01810 (HKSE) (90%); QCOM (NASDAQ) (53%) Industry: NAICS334111 ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MANUFACTURING (90%); SIC3571 ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS (90%); NAICS334413 SEMICONDUCTOR & RELATED DEVICE MANUFACTURING (53%); NAICS334220 RADIO & TELEVISION BROADCASTING & WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (53%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (91%); SMARTPHONES (90%); CAMERAS (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SELFIES (78%); CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MFG (73%); TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT MFG (73%); LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (67%); MONITORS & DISPLAYS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
87 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (77%); BADMINTON (77%); CELEBRITIES (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (72%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
88 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (94%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (92%); BELGIUM (91%); GERMANY (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
89 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); WRESTLING (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); KAZAKHSTAN (57%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
90 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
91 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%); INTERNET VIDEO (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
92 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); ATHLETES (72%) Geographic: MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
93 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); GENDER EQUALITY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (57%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (57%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
94 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); WRESTLING (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); MURDER (67%); PRIME MINISTERS (64%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); HELSINKI, FINLAND (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); COLOMBIA (79%); BULGARIA (53%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
95 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
96 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (65%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%); JAPAN (58%); PAKISTAN (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
97 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (92%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
98 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); CONSUMERS (74%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); EXECUTIVES (67%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (52%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (51%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
99 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN (89%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (72%); EMOTIONS (67%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (72%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (92%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
100 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (90%) Geographic: INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
101 Subject: ARCHERY (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); RANKINGS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (77%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (76%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
102 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (90%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); MEXICO (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
103 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); BOXING (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); ARCHERY (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
104 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (68%) Industry: SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); ODISHA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
105 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOARDSPORTS (90%); EXTREME SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SKATEBOARDING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (72%); EMOTIONS (67%) Company: AL MUDON INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE CO KSCC (90%) Ticker: ALMUDON (KUW) (90%) Industry: NAICS531110 LESSORS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS & DWELLINGS (90%); SIC6513 OPERATORS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); JAPAN (90%); KUWAIT (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
106 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); PRIME MINISTERS (51%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (90%); PAKISTAN (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (74%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
107 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); KAZAKHSTAN (94%); GUATEMALA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
108 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (93%); GUATEMALA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
109 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (90%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Company: PERFECTION AS (66%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (60%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (77%); KYRGYZSTAN (77%); AZERBAIJAN (73%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (54%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
111 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); VIRAL VIDEOS (77%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); VIRAL VIDEOS (77%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
112 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CRICKET (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (91%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%); BELGIUM (73%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
113 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); CRICKET (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (90%); ENGLAND (79%); MEXICO (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
114 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (94%); FIREARMS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CROWD CONTROL (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (70%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (68%); POLICE FORCES (56%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
116 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
117 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); JAPAN (73%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
118 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (90%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
119 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (70%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
120 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); CRICKET (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (95%); BELGIUM (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
121 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); TRACK & FIELD (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (75%); ANCIENT HISTORY (73%); CLASSICS (73%); ARMIES (50%) Industry: ARMIES (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); POLAND (50%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
122 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); CONTUSIONS (78%); FACIAL INJURIES (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
123 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (92%); ARGENTINA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); JAPAN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); NETHERLANDS (88%); BELGIUM (79%); SOUTH AMERICA (55%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
124 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
125 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); ATHLETES (91%); BOXING (91%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); LONDON, ENGLAND (74%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
126 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PARALYMPICS (90%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BUSINESS EDUCATION (79%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (68%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (63%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); ODISHA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
127 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (91%); ATHLETES (90%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PARALYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BUSINESS EDUCATION (79%); CELEBRITIES (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (74%); WHEELCHAIR & DISABILITY SPORTS (73%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (68%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (63%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%) Industry: EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (90%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (90%); CELEBRITIES (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
128 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
129 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
130 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COMPANY STRATEGY (90%); OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); BRANDING (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Company: INOX LEISURE LTD (52%) Ticker: INOXLEISUR (NSE) (52%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); BRANDING (79%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MARKETING STRATEGY (78%); BRAND EQUITY (74%); MARKETING PLAN (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
131 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DRUG TESTING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); ARCHERY (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (53%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
132 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (95%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%); AKSHAY KUMAR (88%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
133 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (70%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
134 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (89%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
135 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); CHILDREN (87%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (72%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (66%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
136 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (68%); ORTHOPEDICS (67%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (65%) Industry: ORTHOPEDICS (67%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (95%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); WEST INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
137 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (67%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (91%); TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); INDONESIA (90%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
138 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); WRESTLING (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); AWARDS & PRIZES (76%); CELEBRITIES (75%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (65%); WEIGHTLIFTING (51%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (75%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
140 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Industry: TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (69%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
141 Subject: TENNIS (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACCREDITATION (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); GERMANY (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
142 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
143 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
144 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TALKS & MEETINGS (90%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
145 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (66%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (53%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
146 Subject: BASKETBALL (95%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); DEATH & DYING (71%); ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (64%); TRAFFIC FATALITIES (64%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (50%) Industry: TRAFFIC FATALITIES (64%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (50%) Person: MICHAEL JORDAN (79%) Geographic: SACRAMENTO, CA, USA (79%); CHICAGO, IL, USA (54%); UNITED STATES (96%); CROATIA (79%); NORTH AMERICA (79%); SERBIA (79%); FRANCE (78%); NIGERIA (66%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
147 Subject: RANKINGS (93%); ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTINGS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (72%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
148 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (68%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (79%); SPAIN (57%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
149 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (62%); MENTAL HEALTH (60%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
150 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (68%); JAPAN (86%); CHINA (71%); HONG KONG (71%); THAILAND (53%); NETHERLANDS (52%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
151 Subject: ELECTIONS & POLITICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); POLITICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); ECONOMIC CONDITIONS (89%); EMERGING MARKETS (88%); ECONOMIC RECOVERY (79%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (79%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); BUSINESS NEWS (74%); ECONOMIC GROWTH (74%); ECONOMY & ECONOMIC INDICATORS (74%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (74%); VACCINES (50%) Industry: VACCINES (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
152 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Company: PERFECTION AS (65%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (97%); BELGIUM (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
153 Subject: TRACK & FIELD (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); WRESTLING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (73%); BIOMECHANICS (71%); ATHLETES (69%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (91%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
154 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); CHILDREN (72%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (91%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
155 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); EMOTIONS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (79%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); MEN (73%); TRENDS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%); BELGIUM (73%); SPAIN (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
156 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (73%) Company: TALLGRASS ENERGY CORP (51%) Industry: NAICS211130 NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION (51%); NAICS211120 CRUDE PETROLEUM EXTRACTION (51%); SIC1321 NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS (51%); SIC1311 CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (51%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
157 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (90%); KAZAKHSTAN (71%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
158 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
159 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); VIRUSES (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
160 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); FAMILY (74%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (71%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
161 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POLITICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (72%); VACCINES (64%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (63%); HOSTAGE TAKING (62%); CORRUPTION (60%); AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS & IMPORTS (50%); ANNIVERSARIES (50%) Industry: VACCINES (64%); AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS & IMPORTS (50%); AGRICULTURE (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
162 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); CORONAVIRUSES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (77%); ARCHERY (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%); VIRUSES (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (65%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
163 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
164 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (73%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (89%) Geographic: ATLANTA, GA, USA (57%); AUSTRALIA (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (78%); UZBEKISTAN (76%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
165 Subject: TABLE TENNIS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
166 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (87%); PETITIONS (86%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); RESIGNATIONS (71%); LITIGATION (66%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (61%); SPYWARE (61%); LAW COURTS & TRIBUNALS (60%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%); SUPREME COURTS (60%) Industry: SPYWARE (61%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
167 Subject: ARCHERY (93%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (71%); WEATHER (68%); MALNUTRITION (66%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (55%) Geographic: MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (56%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
168 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); POLITICS (77%); FACT CHECKING (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (72%); CRICKET (69%); OLYMPICS (69%); WINTER OLYMPICS (63%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (95%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
169 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
170 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
171 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (66%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
172 Subject: TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (88%); SPAIN (55%); CROATIA (52%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
173 Subject: TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (88%); SPAIN (55%); CROATIA (52%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
174 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (91%); BELGIUM (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
175 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (62%) Geographic: GERMANY (96%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
176 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (62%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (62%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (62%) Geographic: GERMANY (96%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
177 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
178 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
179 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (56%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
180 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
181 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (73%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
182 Subject: TENNIS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (76%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); STUDENT EXPENSES & FINANCING (74%); TOURNAMENTS (69%) Organization: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (56%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%); RAFAEL NADAL (75%); ROGER FEDERER (75%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED STATES (90%); EUROPE (77%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
183 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (88%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
184 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (90%); NEW ZEALAND (57%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
185 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: UKRAINE (52%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
186 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (72%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
187 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
188 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); MEN (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (90%); NEW ZEALAND (88%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
189 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (91%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
190 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
191 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
192 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); POOL & BILLIARDS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ARGENTINA (91%); INDIA (91%); AUSTRALIA (78%); NEW ZEALAND (72%); JAPAN (58%); SOUTH AMERICA (58%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
193 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
194 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (91%); SPAIN (90%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND (57%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
195 Subject: ARCHERY (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
196 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); PRIME MINISTERS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%); BELGIUM (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
197 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (93%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
198 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: GERMANY (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
Classification
1 Men
2 Men
3 Men
4 Men
5 Men
6 Men
7 Men
8 Men
9 Men
10 Men
11 Men
12 Men
13 Men
14 Men
15 Men
16 Men
17 Men
18 Men
19 Men
20 Men
21 Men
22 Men
23 Men
24 Men
25 Men
26 Men
27 Men
28 Men
29 Men
30 Men
31 Men
32 Men
33 Men
34 Men
35 Men
36 Men
37 Men
38 Men
39 Men
40 Men
41 Men
42 Men
43 Men
44 Men
45 Men
46 Men
47 Men
48 Men
49 Men
50 Men
51 Men
52 Men
53 Men
54 Men
55 Men
56 Men
57 Men
58 Men
59 Men
60 Men
61 Men
62 Men
63 Men
64 Men
65 Men
66 Men
67 Men
68 Men
69 Men
70 Men
71 Men
72 Men
73 Men
74 Men
75 Men
76 Men
77 Men
78 Men
79 Men
80 Men
81 Men
82 Men
83 Men
84 Men
85 Men
86 Men
87 Men
88 Men
89 Men
90 Men
91 Men
92 Men
93 Men
94 Men
95 Men
96 Men
97 Men
98 Men
99 Men
100 Men
101 Men
102 Men
103 Men
104 Men
105 Men
106 Men
107 Men
108 Men
109 Men
110 Men
111 Men
112 Men
113 Men
114 Men
115 Men
116 Men
117 Men
118 Men
119 Men
120 Men
121 Men
122 Men
123 Men
124 Men
125 Men
126 Men
127 Men
128 Men
129 Men
130 Men
131 Men
132 Men
133 Men
134 Men
135 Men
136 Men
137 Men
138 Men
139 Men
140 Men
141 Men
142 Men
143 Men
144 Men
145 Men
146 Men
147 Men
148 Men
149 Men
150 Men
151 Men
152 Men
153 Men
154 Men
155 Men
156 Men
157 Men
158 Men
159 Men
160 Men
161 Men
162 Men
163 Men
164 Men
165 Men
166 Men
167 Men
168 Men
169 Men
170 Men
171 Men
172 Men
173 Men
174 Men
175 Men
176 Men
177 Men
178 Men
179 Men
180 Men
181 Men
182 Men
183 Men
184 Men
185 Men
186 Men
187 Men
188 Men
189 Men
190 Men
191 Men
192 Men
193 Men
194 Men
195 Men
196 Men
197 Men
198 Mendim(men1)[1] 198 5#Men's sports and women's sports combined
both<-dfnews_edit%>%
filter(grepl("MEN'S.*NARI|NARI.*MEN'S", Tags))
both newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
2 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
3 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
4 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
5 MINT August 7, 2021
6 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
7 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
8 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
9 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
11 MINT July 24, 2021
12 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
13 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
14 MINT July 24, 2021
15 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
16 MINT August 2, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
18 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
19 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
20 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
21 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
22 MINT August 1, 2021
23 MINT July 31, 2021
24 Hindustan Times July 26, 2021
25 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
26 MINT August 8, 2021
27 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
28 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
29 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
30 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
32 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
33 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
35 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
36 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
37 Hindustan Times July 26, 2021
38 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
39 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
40 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
42 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
43 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
44 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
45 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
46 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
48 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
51 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
52 MINT July 29, 2021
53 MINT August 6, 2021
54 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
55 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
56 India Today Online August 4, 2021
57 India Today Online August 3, 2021
58 India Today Online August 6, 2021
59 Indian Express August 7, 2021
60 The Telegraph (India) July 22, 2021
61 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
62 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
63 Indian Express July 23, 2021
64 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
65 DNA August 5, 2021
66 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
67 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
68 DNA August 7, 2021
69 DNA August 7, 2021
70 DNA July 23, 2021
71 DNA July 23, 2021
72 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
73 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021
74 Free Press Journal (India) July 23, 2021
75 Indian Express August 2, 2021
76 DNA July 31, 2021
77 India Today Online August 2, 2021
78 DNA July 27, 2021
79 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
80 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
81 DNA August 3, 2021
82 The Hindu July 28, 2021
83 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
84 Free Press Journal (India) July 22, 2021
85 Indian Express July 29, 2021
86 Indian Express August 7, 2021
87 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
88 The Telegraph (India) July 28, 2021
89 DNA August 1, 2021
90 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
91 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
92 Indian Express August 3, 2021
93 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
94 India Today Online August 5, 2021
95 India Today Online August 5, 2021
96 Indian Express August 3, 2021
97 DNA August 6, 2021
98 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
99 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
100 India Today Online August 8, 2021
101 India Today Online August 6, 2021
102 India Today Online August 6, 2021
103 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
104 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
105 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
106 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
107 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
108 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
109 Indian Express July 31, 2021
110 India Today Online August 5, 2021
111 Indian Express July 31, 2021
112 Indian Express July 31, 2021
113 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
114 DNA August 4, 2021
115 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
116 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
117 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
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1 The Tokyo Olympics 2020 enters the fifth day which will begin with the Indian women's Hockey team locking horns with defending Olympic Gold Medallists Great Britain in their third Pool A encounter. All eyes will be on ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu as she gears up for her second game in the tournament. Archers Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav and Deepika Kumari will also be in action in the individual 1/32 eliminations stage. Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh feature in the repechage semi-final A/B in lightweight Men's Double Sculls on Wednesday. Sailors KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar will participate in the 49er event. In the afternoon, shuttler Sai Praneeth will play his singles group play stage game. Olympics debutant, boxer Pooja Rani will look to bring out her A-game on Wednesday. Here is India's schedule on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics: Hockey India vs Great Britain in Women's Pool A - 6:30 AM IST Badminton PV Sindhu in Women's Singles Group Play Stage - 7:30 AM IST B Sai Praneeth in Men's Singles Group Play Stage - 2:30 PM IST Archery Tarundeep Rain in Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 7:31 AM IST Pravin Jadhav in Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 12:30 PM IST Deepika Kumari in Women's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 2:14 PM IST Rowing Arjun Lal Jat & Arvind Singh in Men's Double Sculls Semifinal A/B 2 - 8:00 AM IST Sailing KC Ganapathy and VarunThakur in 49er Men's Race 2, 3 & 4 - 8:35 AM IST Boxing Pooja Rani in Prelims - Round of 16 - Women's 75 Kg
2 Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday was a hot and cold affair. Shuttler PV Sindhu advanced into the Round of 16 with another comprehensive win, while the women's hockey team suffered their third straight defeat. B Sai Praneeth was eliminated, whereas archer Deepika Kumari sailed into the pre-quarters of the women' individual event. Taking part in her first Olympics, boxer Pooja Rani moved into the quarterfinals, one win away from a guaranteed bronze, joining Lovlina Borgohain, who won her round of 16 match a day ago. Day 6 promises to be engaging as shooters, boxers, archers, shuttlers and the men's hockey team are set for action once again. Here is India's schedule on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics: GOLF Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane - Men's Round 1: 4:00 AM IST ROWING Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh - Men's Lightweight Double Sculls Final B: 5:20 AM IST SHOOTING Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat - 25m Pistol Women's Qualification Precision: 5:30 AM IST HOCKEY Men's Match - India vs Argentina: 6:00 AM IST BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs Mia Blichfeldt - Women's Singles Round of 16: 6:15 AM IST ARCHERY Atanu Das vs Yu-Cheng Deng - Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations: 7:31 AM IST SAILING Vishnu Saravanan - Laser Men Race 7 & 8: 8:35 AM IST Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar - Men Race 5 & 6: 8:35 AM IST Nethra Kumanan - Laser Radial Women Race 7 & 8: 8:45 AM IST BOXING Satish Kumar vs Ricardo Brown - Men's Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Round of 16: 8:48 AM IST Mary Kom vs Ingrit Valencia - Women's Flyweight (48-51kg) Round of 16: 3:36 PM IST SWIMMING Sajan Prakash - Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 2: 4:16 PM IST
3 Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics wasn't great in particular for India as their top guns failed to make a mark. Boxers Pooja Rani and Amit Panghal faced eliminations, while Atanu Das bowled out of the Games as well. India shuttler PV Sindhu's hopes of repeating a silver-medal finish from five years ago in Rio, let alone better it, were dashed as she lost in straight games to World No. 1 Tai Tzu-Ying. In comparison to the first eight days, Day 9 is slightly less engaging for India with only limited events lined up on Sunday, but two of them hold a lot of significance. Sindhu still has a chance of ensuring a podium finish in her final game of the Tokyo Games, while history awaits the Indian men's hockey team. Here is India's schedule on Day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: GOLF Udayan Mane - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4 at 4:11 AM Anirban Lahiri - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4 at 5:55 AM EQUESTRIAN Fouaad Mirza - Eventing Cross Country Team and Individual at 4:15 AM BOXING Satish Kumar vs Bakhodir Jalolov - Men's Super-Heavyweight (+91kg) Quarterfinal at 9:36 AM BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Women's Singles Bronze Medal match at 5:00 PM HOCKEY India vs Great Britain - Men's Quarter-final at 5:30 PM
4 India men's hockey team defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. This is India's fourth-medal (and fifth confirmed) in Tokyo so far, other than weightlifter Mirabai Chanu who won silver in 48kg category, boxer Lovlina Borgohain who won bronze medal in women's welterweight category and shuttler PV Sindhu who won a bronze medal in women's singles competition. Tokyo Olympics Live Updates Day 13 India saw Germany take an early lead with Timur Oruz scoring within two minutes of the match. Germany troubled Indian defense in the first quarter, but could not find a way to extend their lead. In the 2nd quarter, India saw Simranjeet Singh scoring from a well-executed tomahawk shot, but defensive errors lead to Germany scoring two more goals within two minutes. Just when it looked India might be in trouble, two penalty corners for India yielded results as Hardik Singh scored on the rebound from the first one, while Harmanpreet Singh scored another with a superb dragflick onto the back of the nets to level the scores at 3-3 by halftime. The third quarter was where the tide completely shifted in India's favour as Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty stroke after Hardik Singh was tripped inside the scoring circle. Minutes later, Simranjeet Singh scored from open play after Gurjant Singh dribbled past German defence from right and pushed the ball to him in front of the goal. Simranjeet made no mistake and struck it in cleanly to extend India's lead. Lukas Windfeder pulled one back in the final quarter, but it was not enough for Germany to push it to the shootouts. Germany received a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the match, but Indai goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made a fantastic save as Manpreet Singh and co. scripted history in Tokyo. It was a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, and the 5-2 loss in the semifinal to the World Champions Belgium, India won all their games in Tokyo.
5 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday not only won gold for the country, but also helped it surpass the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. With his gold today in men's javelin throw, India's medal tally has gone up to 7 - highest so far in any Olympics. India now have one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. In the 2012 London Games, India had won six medals - two silver and four bronze. Until today, this was India's highest tally at the Olympics. But that changed today with Chopra's golden throw at the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old javelin thrower created history with his gold as he became the first to win a medal in athletics since the country started taking part in the Games in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. Among the athletes who have bagged medals in this season for India are Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and Men's Hockey Team. With 126 athletes across 18 sports disciplines, India had sent its biggest-ever contingent to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country. For India, first medal came in weightlifting, in which Mirabai Chanu won Silver. On the 7th day of the quadrennial event, Lovlina Borgohain secured the second medal for the country in boxing. She won Bronze. Ace shutter PV Sindhu, too, won Bronze by defeating Bing Jiao of China. Tokyo Olympics 2020 Winners for India Gold - Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin Throw) Silver - Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting: Women's 49kg ) Silver - Ravi Kumar Dahiya (Wrestling: Men's 57kg freestyle) Bronze - Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing: Women's Welterweight) Bronze - PV Sindhu (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Men's Hockey Team Bronze - Bajrang Punia (Wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle) This time, there were several notable firsts in terms of participation at Tokyo Olympics. For the first time in its history, a fencer from India (Bhavani Devi) had qualified for the Olympic Games. Bhavani won the first match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi of Tunisia and became the first Indian fencing player to win a match at Olympics. But in the second match, she lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet of France. Nethra Kumanan was the first ever female Sailor from India to qualify for an Olympic Games. Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj were the first Swimmers from India to qualify for an Olympic Games by achieving the 'A' Qualification Standard in Swimming.
6 While the Indian Men's Hockey team created history on Thursday by winning the Bronze medal at the Olympics against the Germany team, the Women's team is not far behind. They are set to play their match for the Bronze against 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain. The Men's team brought in a medal for India in Hockey after 41 years, and the entire country is celebrating. We talk to the team of Gold (2018), which revolved around the journey of India's first national hockey team to the 1948 Summer Olympics, and Soorma (2018) about this glorious moment: VINEET KUMAR SINGH I have been following the Olympics, because I have always had a special connect with sports. I have done three films based on sports too, on cricket, hockey and boxing. There is something about it which uplifts you, which needs discipline, consistency and dedication from you. I was waiting for this match, I am so happy with this win. I used to play hockey in my childhood too, there Olympians used to play. I would watch them play, they were my seniors. I am ecstatic at our win, I want to congratulate the entire country on this. Hamare players ki jitni tareef ki jaaye kam hai, har player ki tareef karni chahiye. Hockey is our national sport, and for the past 41 years we didn't get any medal. This is a big moment. REEMA KAGTI, Director I am delighted, it was lovely to watch the boys play. I think the whole team came together really well, it was great. I don't think it had anything to do with our film Gold (laughs), but it is indeed a golden moment. Like I said, it was delightful, and I am glad we are in some way reclaiming our tradition of hockey. I certainly hope this is the start of those old days. KUNAL KAPOOR This is very, very exciting of course. As a nation, we have waited for 41 years for this, it is such a historic moment. In Gold, I had a chance to play a character who lived in the golden era of Indian hockey where we were winning back to back Gold medals and were the most dominating team in the world. Seeing the spirit and determination this team has makes you believe that this is the direction we are headed in once again. ANGAD BEDI Well done team India, I could not be more proud of our boys in blue. A special mention for our very own great wall Sreejesh. What's even more amazing is to see the sport being watched so ardently and individual and team players are all doing so well. This Olympics has been a jump-start for every child with dreams to do well in any sport.
7 PV Sindhu has received support from Taapsee Pannu and Neha Dhupia after she lost the Badminton Women's Singles Semifinal to Tai Tzu Ying at the ongoing Olympics in Tokyo. On Saturday evening, Taapsee took to Twitter and expressed heartbreak over Sindhu's loss. In the tweet, the Haseen Dillruba star also shared her thoughts after Indian boxer Pooja Rani lost in the quarterfinals. Taapsee Pannu wrote, "(heartbreak emojis) for Pooja Rani and Sindhu ! We are going to come back stronger !" Neha Dhupia, addressing PV Sindhu, tweeted, "Well played @Pvsindhu1 . down but not out . we still stand a chance . all the best ! @WeAreTeamIndia #olympics #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020." Earlier in the day, actor Varun Dhawan was seen cheering for Sindhu. He shared a picture from the match, streaming on his television and wrote, "Let's go @pvsindhu1," adding an Indian flag emoji. On Saturday, PV Sindhu faced Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei in the Badminton Women's Singles Semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu lost the semifinals 18-21,12-21 in 40 minutes to Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu will now face He Bingjiao in the Bronze Medal match on Sunday. Pooja Rani, on the other hand, lost her quarterfinal match to China's Li Qian by unanimous decision in the women's middleweight 75 kg category. Taapsee also tweeted about the Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. "So the only team who defeated the Gold Medal winners in Tokyo 2020 men's doubles badminton are our boys ! I would like to see the glass half full. We have a bright future with @Shettychirag04 and @satwiksairaj And congratulations Chinese Taipei pair , see u next Olympics :)". India has so far won only one medal so far. Last week, Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the 49 kg category.
8 Tokyo Olympics Day 10 Full Schedule: The 13th day of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be action-packed as the men's hockey team and grappler Ravi Dahiya will look to win medals on Thursday. Manpreet Singh & Co will lock horns with Germany in the bronze medal match while Dahiya will compete in his final match in the 57kg men's freestyle category. Golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar would also be in action in the women's individual stroke play Round 2. Vinesh Phogat will start her campaign against Sweden's Sofia Mattinson in the women's 53kg freestyle event. Sandeep Kumar, Rahul Rohilla and Irfan K Thodi would be in action in the men's 20km race walk final. Wrestler Deepak Punia will also square off in the bronze medal match. Here is India's schedule on Day 13 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: 4:00 AM IST: Aditi Ashok in golf women's round 2 5:44 AM IST: Diksha Dagar in golf women's round 2 7:00 AM IST: India vs Germany in men's hockey bronze medal match 7:37 AM IST: Anshu Malik vs Valeria Koblova (ROC) in repechage round of women's freestyle wrestling 57kg 8:00 AM IST: Vinesh Phogat vs Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (Sweden) in women's freestyle wrestling 53kg 8:56 AM IST: Vinesh Phogat women's freestyle 53kg quarter-final (Subject to qualification) 1:00 PM IST: KT Irfan, Rahul Rohilla and Sandeep Kumar in men's 20km race walk event 3:25 PM IST: Vinesh Phogat women's freestyle 53kg semi-final (Subject to qualification) 4:20 PM IST: Ravi Dahiya vs Zavur Uguev (Russian Olympic Committee) in men's freestyle 57kg final 4:40 PM IST: Deepak Punia in men's freestyle wrestling bronze medal match 5:35 PM IST: Anshu Malik in women's freestyle wrestling 57kg bronze medal match (Subject to qualification)
9 The Indian cricketing fraternity lauded the women's hockey for their historic win at the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals over favourites Australia on Monday. Sachin Tendulkar led the way as the likes of Harbhajan Singh, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif took to Twitter to congratulate the Rani Rampal-led side for earning the right of India's first-ever semi-final appearance in the Games. Gurjit Kaur scored from the penalty corner in the 22nd minute that turned out to be the only goal and the difference between the two sides at the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo. "Yesterday the men's hockey team, today the women's hockey team. Absolutely loving it. Well done to the women's team for making it to the #Olympics semi-finals for the first time ever! The whole nation is behind you!" tweeted Sachin Tendulkar. "Way to go Indian Women's Hockey Team defeats Australia to reach the semi finals of Olympics 2020," wrote Harbhajan Singh. "Grit. Determination. Belief. Our women's hockey team is weaving a golden chapter in our history. A performance for the ages that seals the semifinal berth. Well done, girls," tweeted Mohammad Kaif. "Our girls have created history. Beaten #AUS in the quarter-final match of women's #hockey by 1-0 to seal their spot in SEMI-FINAL for the first time ever! Best wishes for the semis," wrote VVS Laxman. "Itni khushi shayad kisi jeet par mehsoos huyi hogi! Absolute Wow moment. First ever Olympics hockey semi-finals for our girls. Filled with pride. Chak De India," wrote Virender Sehwag. The odds were totally against India as in world no.2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them. "We are so happy, it is the result of hard work that we put in for several, several days. In 1980, we qualified for the Games but this time, we made the semifinals. It is a proud moment for us," Gurjit said after the match. "This team is like a family, we have supported each other and found support from the country as well. We are very happy," she added. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the narrow win over the Hockeyroos. How much it meant for the team and Indian hockey in general could be gauged from the emotions that were on display after the final hooter went off. The players screamed, hugged each other, and got into a huddle with their Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne with tears of joy rolling down their faces. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams.
10 Neeraj Chopra won a historic gold medal in men's javelin throw to make the Tokyo 2020 Games India's best ever Olympics campaign. Chopra scripted history on Saturday by becoming independent India's first athlete to win a medal in the track and field discipline. English-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in the 1900 Games, while representing India, which was then a British colony. Day 15 of the Games started off with a disappointment for India as golfer Aditi Ashok missed a medal by a whisker, as she finished fourth after staying in contention for a silver for the longest time. India though matched its best medal haul at a single Olympic Games after wrestler Bajrang Punia gave India its 6th medal of the campaign, which put it on par with the showing at the 2012 London Olympics. The icing on the cake came from Neeraj Chopra as he threw a distance of 87.58 in his second attempt to win the gold medal in the men's javelin throw. Chopra led throughout the final and his chances were boosted after hot favourite Johannes Vetter of Germany suffered a meltdown in the final to exit with a best throw of 82.52 metres. Tokyo Olympics: Day 15 Live Updates India's medal rush at Tokyo started with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu winning a silver medal. Badminton ace PV Sindhu added a bronze while boxer Lovlina Borgohain too won a bronze medal. Indian men's hockey team returned to the Olympic podium after a gap of 41 years by winning the bronze medal, while wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya won a silver medal. He was joined by wrestler Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze. The women's hockey team finished a creditable fourth and came very close to winning a historic medal. Kamalpreet Kaur came a creditable 6th in women's discus throw. But the big disappointments of the Games for India were the shooters, who drew a blank for the second straight Games despite several strong contenders in the fray. The archery team also failed to get any medals despite the the experienced Deepika Kumari participating in her third Olympics. The manner of her quarter-final defeat, where she hit several scores of 7, was a matter of disappointment. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and boxer Amit Panghal were also big contenders, who failed to deliver a medal. Here is the full list of medal winners for India from the 2012 London Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics Tokyo 2020 medal winners for India Gold - Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin Throw) Silver - Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting: Women's 49kg ) Silver - Ravi Kumar Dahiya (Wrestling: Men's 57kg freestyle) Bronze - Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing: Women's Welterweight) Bronze - PV Sindhu (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Men's Hockey Team Bronze - Bajrang Punia (Wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle) London 2012 medal winners for India Silver - Vijay Kumar (Shooting: Men's 25 m rapid fire pistol) Silver - Sushil Kumar (Wrestling: Men's 66kg freestyle) Bronze - MC Mary Kom (Boxing: Women's Flyweight) Bronze - Saina Nehwal (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Gagan Narang (Shooting: Men's 10 m air rifle) Bronze - Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestling: Men's 60kg freestyle)
11 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Canu wins the country's first medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. She won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weighlifting event. She became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in Olympics. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. Mirabai got off to a flying start after she completed her lift of 84 kg in the first attempt in snatch. Manipur-born weightlifter then proceeded to complete the 87kg weightlift with ease but failed to complete the 89kg lift in her last attempt. USA's Jourdan Elizabeth Delacruz posed the only challenge for the Indian weightlifter for 2nd place in the first half of the competition. Delacruz tragically missed equalling her personal best of 89kg -- which should have placed her in second spot -- when judges overruled her attempt.
12 Indian women's hockey team's first ever Olympic semi-final ended in a heart-break as they were edged out 2-1 by Argentina. India took an early lead through a penalty corner but Argentine captain Maria Noel Barrionuevo scored a brace to help the four-time Olympic medallists ensure at least a silver medal. Indian women will fight for the bronze medal, just like the men's team. Rani Rampal's team will take on 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal match, as the GBR team had lost the first semi-final to Netherlands. It was always going to be a tough task for the Indian women against the Argentinians, who have been medal winners at the Olympics on four occasions. The Argentinians won a silver at Sydney in 2000 and followed it up with bronze medals in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and then won the bronze medal again in London 2012. They are now assured of at least a silver medal, having missed out at Rio in 2016. It was a dream start for the Indian team as they won a penalty corner off their very first entry into the Argentine circle in the second minute of the first quarter. Gurjit Kaur converted in style as she took a clean strike, pushing the ball to the left of the Argentine goal-keeper low in the air, which beat the defence of the Latin Americans. Tokyo Olympics - India vs Argentina - Highlights Stunned by the early goal, the Argentine women pushed in attack but the Indian women defended bravely, just as they had done against Australia in the quarter-final. India stayed resolute to end the first quarter 1-0 up. Argentina knew they had to up the ante in the second quarter and they came out all guns blazing, pushing the Indians inside their half. The pressure yielded results as Argentina won back to back penalty corners and it was their captain, Maria Noel Barrionuevo, who scored a scintillating goal to equalise from the penalty corner. It was an inch-perfect strike that rifled past India goal-keeper Savita Punia's stretched left leg. India needed that jolt to get out of their slumber and the goal had its effect on Rani Rampal and company. The Indians made repeated circle entries and won two penalty corners towards the end of the second half but the Argentine defence stood strong. Tokyo Olympics - Day 13 - Live Updates The Indians had to contend with repeated Argentinian attacks from the left flank but managed to keep the score at 1-1 at the half-time hooter. But the balance had tilted and the Argentinians had clearly started to dominate the encounter. The Indians were left defending again in the early phases of the third quarter and Barrionuevo converted again from the penalty corner withing five minutes of the start of the third quarter. India needed to play freely in the fourth quarter and they started on the front foot. Captain Rani Rampal with a fabulous run in the opening minutes setting the momentum for the team. India won a penalty corner in the 6th minute but the 35-year-old Argentine goal-keeper saved Gurjit Kaur's attempt. India kept attacking and came close to equalising on a couple of occasions but it wasn't to be as Argentina held on to book a place in the final where they will take on the mighty Netherlands, the silver medallists from Rio Olympics.
13 Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu on Friday stormed into the semi-finals of women's singles badminton at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She defeated fourth-seeded Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash to keep her Olympic medal hopes alive. Sindhu, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, came into the match with an 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. She is the lone Indian in the fray in badminton after the Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were knocked out from the Tokyo Games. Reactions started to pour in on social soon after the Indian shuttler played the final shot and shouted out loud to announce her victory. People from the Indian cricket fraternity came forward to wish Sindhu on her terrific victory. Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer said, "She's a champion and she played like one. Superb Sindhu Storms into Semis! Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 ." Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also took to Twitter and congratulated Sindhu for qualifying for the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. Indian Premier League franchises wished the ace Indian shuttler on her success in Tokyo. Earlier on Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. After defeating Yamaguchi, she will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. (With Agency Inputs)
14 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins the country's first medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. She won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weighlifting event. She became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in Olympics. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. Mirabai got off to a flying start after she completed her lift of 84 kg in the first attempt in snatch. Manipur-born weightlifter then proceeded to complete the 87kg weightlift with ease but failed to complete the 89kg lift in her last attempt. USA's Jourdan Elizabeth Delacruz posed the only challenge for the Indian weightlifter for 2nd place in the first half of the competition. Delacruz tragically missed equalling her personal best of 89kg -- which should have placed her in second spot -- when judges overruled her attempt.
15 Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 2 India Schedule: Several Indian athletes will be in action on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics. While shooters Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Abhishek Verma will eye medals on Saturday, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will also look to earn a Tokyo podium finish. India men's and women's hockey team will also open their campaigns: Here is a look at the full schedule of Indian athletes on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics: (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) 5:00 AM: 10m Air Rifle Women's Qualification - Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan 6:00 AM: Mixed team archery - India (Deepika Kumari/Pravin Jadav) vs Chinese Taipei (LIN Chia-En/TANG Chih-Chun) 6:20 AM: Women's 49kg Weightlifting - Mirabai Chanu 6:30 AM: Men's Hockey - India vs New Zealand 7:15 AM: 10m Air Rifle Women's Final (Possibly Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan) 8:50 AM: Badminton - LEE Yang/WANG Chi-Lin vs RANKIREDDY Satwiksairaj/SHETTY Chirag AFTER 7:30 AM: Judo - Shushila Devi vs CSERNOVICZKI Eva AFTER 7:30 AM: Tennis - Sumit Nagal vs Denis Istomin 9:30 AM: Badminton - B. Sai Praneeth vs ZILBERMAN Misha 9:30 AM: 10m Air Pistol Men's Qualification (Abhishek Verma, Saurabh Chaudhary) 9:30 AM: Table Tennis - LIN Yun Ju / CHENG I Ching vs Sharath Kamal / BATRA Manika 12:00 PM: 10m Air Pistol Men's Final (Possibly, Abhishek Verma, Saurabh Chaudhary) 12:15 PM: Table Tennis - BATRA Manika vs Ho Tin-Tin 13:00 PM: Table Tennis - BERGSTROEM Linda vs MUKHERJEE Sutirtha 15:54 PM: Boxing Vikas Krishan vs OKAZAWA Sewonrets Quincy Mensah 17:15 PM: Women's Hockey - Netherlands vs India
16 India's Women's hockey team has qualified for the semis after it defeated the Australian team 1-0 in the quarter-final match today and register a historic win in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. India scored the victory goal after Gurjit Kaur scored from a penalty corner. The victory came a day after the men's hockey team qualified for the semi-final match and India's women team finished their Pool A proceedings in the fourth place with six points, riding on back-to-back wins over Ireland and South Africa. The top four teams from each pool made it to the knockout stage. The Indian women hockey team's best finish at the Olympics came on debut in Moscow back in 1980 when it ended up at the fourth position among six teams. In that edition, only six teams participated out of which India finished fourth in a round-robin format competition with no classification or elimination matches. After losing their first three matches against Netherlands, Germany and defending champions Great Britain, the Indian women made a brilliant comeback, defeating higher-ranked Ireland 1-0 and overpowering South Africa 4-3 to keep themselves in the hunt. The Rani-led forward line has been impressive throughout the the pool stages but the likes of Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami and Rani herself have squandered many chances. The Indians have also been below-par with penalty corner conversions so far with star drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur looking a pale shadow of herself. The team secured 33 penalty corners so far from five pool matches out of which it managed to utilise just four chances with all the goals coming through variations.
17 Actor Shah Rukh Khan has congratulated the Indian men's hockey team as they won an Olympic medal after 41 years. The Indian team beat Germany 5-4 and claimed the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal-getters for India. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came at the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. Earlier this week, Shah Rukh lauded the Indian women's hockey team's win against Australia at the Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne had tweeted a picture with the Indian team after they reached the semi-finals and had written, "Sorry family, I coming again later." Shah Rukh retweeted the post and wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." He was making a reference to his role in the movie Chak De! India. Sjoerd expressed his gratitude to the actor in another tweet. "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," he wrote. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh is currently busy with his upcoming project Pathan. It also features Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The film will mark Shah Rukh's comeback to acting. Fans saw him last in the 2018 film Zero, directed by Aanand L Rai.
18 As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are going on, fans have found a lookalike of singer Lady Gaga at the event. Recently, fans took to Twitter after they found similarities between Lady Gaga and Julyana Al-Sadeq, a Taekwondo athlete from Jordan. Sharing a picture of Lady Gaga's doppelganger Julyana Al-Sadeq, a fan wrote, "Why is Lady Gaga at the Olympics?" In the picture, Julyana was snapped mid-fight in her white dobok, chest pad and helmet. Another fan wrote, "Singer, actress, activist and now Olympian! Lady Gaga really does do it all!" "There can be a hundred people at the olympics and one of them is Lady Gaga competing for a taekwondo medal," tweeted a user. Another wrote, "Lady gaga said 'f*** grammys and oscars, i want a gold olympic medal now'." Lady Gaga will be seen next in House of Gucci along with actor Adam Driver. On Friday, MGM dropped the trailer of the upcoming film where the duo star as Mr and Mrs Gucci. The film, directed by Ridley Scott, details the assassination of Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver), the grandson of renowned fashion designer Guccio Gucci, and the downfall of the Gucci family fashion dynasty. House of Gucci is based on Sara Gay Forden's novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. The cast also includes Al Pacino, Jared Leto and Jeremy Irons. Filmed in Europe, the film marks Lady Gaga's first film since A Star Is Born, which earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. The film is slated to be released in the US on November 24. Lady Gaga will also join Tony Bennett for a pair of shows at Radio City Music Hall in August that are being billed as their final appearances together. According to Variety, the One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga shows will take place on August 3 and 5.
19 The country will watch with bated breath and pride when Rani Rampal-led team will take the turf for the Women's Hockey semi finals match against Argentina tomorrow at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Hopes for a medal soared higher than ever after the team beat three-time champions Australia in their quarter finals match and today as they inch closer to a historic moment, Bollywood celebrities are cheering them on and sending their best wishes for the match. Aparshakti Khurana Indian Women Hockey Team has made the whole country proud with their historic entry to the Semi Finals. My best wishes are with them for their match with Argentina tomorrow. Girls for the win! Indian Women Hockey Team for the win! Chakde Team India. Shruti Haasan So proud of these incredible women from India! I wish them all the best, and in my eyes, they are already winners. Dia Mirza We are so proud of our Women's Hockey Team for coming this far at the Olympics! My sincere wish for all the ladies is for them to play their best game and know that all of India is cheering for them and is so proud. Amyra Dastur The women this year have proven to be fearless and have inspired so many girls in India. I wish our Women's Hockey Team all the very best and can't wait to watch their performance. And of course, we want that gold brought back home! Sonu Nigam My love for Hockey is majorly because of my paternal grandfather who belonged to the Dhyanchand generation that revered Hockey in India. My blessings and best wishes to the Indian Hockey team for the match against Argentina. Shilpa Rao My best wishes and all great vibes to them. They are making us proud as Indians every single day. I'm going to be cheering from my house. Super proud that they are representing us at the Olympics. More power to them. Angad Bedi Fateh kar ke aana!!! We all as a nation are proud of each one of you. It's not about the gold, silver or bronze ..it's the respect which all of you have already earned. And representing your country is the biggest honour ever. Jai Hind! Jubin Nautiyal Our Women's Hockey team created history by qualifying into semi-finals at the Olympic games. I wish our team to play hard and enjoy their game. We are together in this and we as a nation love you. All the best wishes and love to them. Neha Dhupia This is a big shout out to the Indian Women's Hockey team. I'm a huge fan of sport. I have been following the Olympics very closely and seeing all the amazing women do so well. We still stand a chance in the Men's Hockey team as well. So all the best to them too. And as far as our women are concerned, yeah, go for gold, go for glory, and whatever it takes. I'm just telling you that I feel so positive about this and we're gonna bring back home a lot. Shaan So thrilled to learn that : India has become the only country to reach the final four in both the Men's and Women's Olympic Hockey Competitions. While our men still have a chance of bringing us a Bronze ... Let's keep our fingers crossed for Women'sTeam to go two steps further !!! #GirlPower #IndiaPower Nimrat Kaur Wishing our trailblazers tremendous luck and may the sky be the limit!!
20 Celebrations in and around the residence of Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a midfielder on Indian men's hockey team, were spontaneous in Kontha Ahallup area of Manipur's Imphal East district on Thursday as soon as the country got its bronze at the Tokyo Olympics by defeating Germany. People marched on the streets while some women performed Thabal Chongba, a popular traditional dance usually performed during the five-day Yaoshang festival in the state. Chief minister N Biren Singh also shared a video of the celebration on his social media accounts. On Twitter, he wrote, "Friends, family & neighbours of Nilakanta Sharma, midfielder Indian Men's Hockey team, came out & celebrated the historic win of bronze medal by Indian Hockey team at Tokyo Olympic today. Manipur is filled with so much joy today." Also Watch | PM Modi speaks to Manpreet, coach Reid after Olympic hockey bronze Congratulating India team and sharing a video chat with the 26-year-old Sharma on his Facebook page, Singh promised Nilakanta a job in the state along with a cash reward of Rs.75 lakh for making the country and state proud.Sharma is currently employed with in Indian Railways. Meanwhile, congratulating the team for the victory, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam said,"I congratulate the India men's team for ending 41 years medal drought. You made us proud. Now we're also praying for our women's team's victory in their bronze medal match (tomorrow)." Manipur Hockey also congratulated the India men's team. Since 1984, the state has produced seven Olympians from hockey alone. State's weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has made the country proud by clinching the nation's first silver medal in the 49 kg women's weightlifting category on the first day of the Tokyo Olympic 2020.
21 A disappointed Shah Rukh Khan tweeted minutes after the India women's hockey team lost the bronze medal match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics to Great Britain. The nail-biter concluded with India losing 5-4. Shah Rukh Khan, who'd been invested in the team's progress throughout the tournament, wrote in a tweet, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory." Shah Rukh, of course, famously played coach Kabir Khan in the hit 2007 sports drama Chak De! India, in which the character led an underdog women's hockey team to success. Previously, after the squad entered the semi-finals, Shah Rukh had tweeted, reposting coach Sjoerd Marijne's comment about being further delayed because of the team's progress, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," referring to his role in the Bollywood film Chak De! India." After the Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal win earlier this week, the actor wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Chak De! India, directed by Shimit Amin, became a critical and commercial success. It was a rare diversion from the usual romantic roles that Shah Rukh was known for playing on screen. The title track, composed by Salim-Sulaiman and performed by Sukhwinder Singh, became an unofficial anthem for Indian sports. Shah Rukh was last seen on screen in 2018's Zero, directed by Anand L Rai. He will make his acting comeback with the as-yet-unannounced Pathan, and has a bunch of rumoured films in the pipeline.
22 Ace badminton player PV Sindhu clinches the bronze medal for India after defeating China's He Bing Jiao 21-13 21-15 in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games' hopes of securing India's first-ever Olympic gold in badminton came crashing down as she slumped to a straight-game defeat against world no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's singles semifinals on Saturday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 here. It was Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
23 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu on Saturday lost semifinals of women's singles after facing world number 1 Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei. PV Sindhu lost 18-21, 11-21 to Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semifinal. Sindhu will face China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze-medal match tomorrow. Tzu Ying is currently ranked first in the BWF women's singles world ranking. On the other hand, Sindhu is placed seventh on the BWF leaderboard The champion had stormed into the semis with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attack to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza here. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The sixth seeded Indian came into the match with a 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
24 After the high of Mirabai Chanu winning India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Day 2 wasn't as bright for India, with some strong medal contenders finishing with disappointing results. Shooters Manu Bhaker, Divyansh Panwar and Deepak Kumar could not produce the desire results, while the men's hockey team took a 1-7 drubbing at the hands of Australia. The women's doubles tennis pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina faced a first-round exit, whereas swimmers Maana Patel and Srihari Nataraj clocked below personal bests. India did have reasons to cheer as paddler Manika Batra registered his first win, beating World No. 32 Margaryta Pesotska. Mary Kom and PV Sindhu won their respective round of matches in a medal-less day for India. The action now shifts to day 3 where more stars are in line, with Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty up in men's doubles badminton competition, and the India women's hockey team takes on Germany and more. Here is India's schedule on Day 3 of the Tokyo Fencing CA Bhavani Devi in Women's Sabre Individual Table of 64: 5:30 AM IST Archery Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav in Men's Team 1/8 Eliminations: 6:00 AM IST Men's Team quarter final (Subject to Qualification): 10:15 AM IST Men's Team semi final (Subject to Qualification): 11:47 AM IST Men's Team medal rounds (Subject to qualification): 12:45 PM IST Shooting Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Vir Bajwa in Skeet Men's Qualification: 6:30 AM IST Skeet Men's final (Subject to qualification): 12:20 PM IST Tennis Sumit Nagal in Men's Singles Round 2: To be decided Table Tennis Sharath Kamal in Men's Singles Round 2: 6:30 AM IST Sutirtha Mukherjee in Women's Singles Round 2: 8:30 AM IST Manika Batra in Women's Singles Round 3: 12:00 PM IST Badminton Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in Men's doubles: 9:10 AM IST Sailing Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race 2 and 3: 8:35 AM IST Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radical Race 3 and 4: 11:05 AM IST Boxing Ashish Kumar in Men's 75KG round of 32: 3:06 PM IST Swimming Sajan Prakash in Men's 200m Butterfly Heat 2: 3:50 PM IST Hockey India Women vs Germany Women Pool A Match: 5:45 PM IST
25 Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian women's hockey team's Dutch coach had hoped to part ways with the team on a high after a four-year stint. The way his team fought at this Olympics, he got his wish. Even though Marijne went running on to the turf to comfort the crying team after the loss to Great Britain in the bronze medal playoff, he started crying himself after getting the team in a huddle. It was his last match with the Indian women's team. The 47-year-old, who took over the reins in 2017, briefly switched to the men's team and came back to the women's set up in 2018, does not wish to extend his contract. Right now, he wants nothing more except to be home with his family. In the last four years, he had seen little of them. During the lockdown last year, the Dutch coach chose to stay with the team in a bubble in Bengaluru instead of leaving for the Netherlands. In Tokyo, the Marijne touch could be seen in the never-say-die spirit of the team. "I told them I can't take away your tears girls; we didn't win a medal but there is something big which you have won," Marijne said. "You won't realise now that you have won the hearts and you inspired all the people in India. I think this is the main thing, and slowly they will realize this. Today we are top-four in the world and we must not forget that. Yes, only one team can win and today it was Great Britain." Marijne said that he plans to write a book about his experience with the Indian hockey team. "They have inspired the whole of India and may be many more people. People of India are so proud of their country and that is what I like about India," Marijne said. "I know when it is not going well they also give it to you. But they are proud of their country and people cry. I have emotional messages from people-'I am watching it with my father, my son and I will never forget this for the rest of my life'." As soon as he began coaching the team, Marijne realized that one of the things that the team badly needed was more exposure tours and more top notch matches, the kind that you get from participating in the Pro League. "The girls are not used to these kinds of things (the pressure of top level matches)," he said. "We don't play Pro League, we don't have the World Cup (women) in India, we don't play Hockey India League. These things will be important to bring a change for the girls. Then they can take the next step and maybe next time they will be on the podium." The changes that Marijne could make along with his support staff and the enthusiastic participation of the squad involved making them more skilful, fitter and mentally stronger, all things that were on full display in Tokyo. "Today they are more consistent, physically stronger and we can change a match," he said. "It is about the mindset of never giving up, and that has changed. It is about how you are as a woman-that if I talk to you, I can talk looking straight in the eyes. The whole attitude, it is a culture change what we have done. The new girls coming in the team know that this is required. That is what happens in countries like the Netherlands. Young girls come into the national team and they know exactly what is required." Analytical coach Janneke Schopman, a two-time Olympic medallist with the Netherlands, will be the new coach.. "She is the best. She knows the system, the structure, she knows exactly what needs to be done and she is good with the girls," Marijne said. "But for me, if this was a journey with ups and downs, right now I'm up. And it is beautiful right here."
26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian contingent for their stupendous performance at Tokyo Olympics, where they won 7 medals - country's best-ever haul so far. As #Tokyo2020 draws to a close, I would like to congratulate the Indian contingent for their stupendous performance at the games. They personified the best of skill, teamwork and dedication. Every athlete who represented India is a champion. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 As the mega event draws to a close, Prime Minister Modi said that every athlete who represented India is a champion. He said that the medals India has won has certainly made the nation proud and elated. "At the same time, this is the time to keep working to further popularise sports at the grassroots so that new talent emerges and gets the opportunity to represent India in the times to come," the Prime Minister added. The medals India has won has certainly made our nation proud and elated. At the same time, this is the time to keep working to further popularise sports at the grassroots so that new talent emerges and gets the opportunity to represent India in the times to come. #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Government of Japan for hosting a well organised games. "A special thank you to the Government and people of Japan, especially Tokyo for hosting the well-organised games. To host it so successfully, in such times, gave out a strong message of resilience. It also demonstrated how sports is a great unifier.," he said. A special thank you to the Government and people of Japan, especially Tokyo for hosting the well-organised games. To host it so successfully, in such times, gave out a strong message of resilience. It also demonstrated how sports is a great unifier. #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 In this season, India won 7 medals - one gold, two silver and four bronze. Among the athletes who have won medals for India are Neeraj Chopra ( gold in men's javelin throw), Mirabai Chanu ( silver in weightlifting: Women's 49kg ), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver in wrestling: men's 57kg freestyle), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in boxing: Women's welterweight), PV Sindhu (bronze in badminton: women's singles), Men's Hockey Team (bronze) and Bajrang Punia (bronze in wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle). India won its first and only gold on Saturday, when Neeraj Chopra marched ahead of 11 other competitors in javelin throw. Mirabai Chanu was, in this season, the first athlete to win medal for the country. India had sent its biggest-ever contingent of 126 to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country.
27 A day after India won a historic bronze medal in men's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics, ace midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay expressed the wish to play for Uttar Pradesh in future if he is given a lucrative job offer in any government department in the state. The 27-year-old hockey player from Varanasi has been serving an oil company as assistant manager at Mughalsarai for the last seven years. Keen to play for his home state at the next nationals, Upadhyay said serving "your own state" is very important for a player like him. Similarly, women's team forward Vandana Katariya, who scored four goals including a hat-trick at the Tokyo Olympics where the Indian women's team finished a historic fourth, too expressed the desire to shift to UP after leaving the Railways. "Yes, I would love to do a job in UP, given the right opportunity," she said from Tokyo on Friday. "Many state governments across the country are offering lucrative jobs, including the post of deputy superintendent of police (DSP). I would love to serve my own state if given similar a job opportunity in the days to come," said Lalit, adding, "When I get to meet CM Yogi Adityanath Sir the next time, I will surely make an official request to him." The chief minister recently announced the re-launch of recruitment of sportspersons in almost all the government departments under a 2% quota system. The effort is being viewed as "great" support to the Uttar Pradesh sportspersons, many of whom have been playing for other states after getting jobs there. "As the CM said, the process of filling the 2% sports quota in government offices has begun. Soon, the government will come out with some more plans for sportspersons, including a raise in their prize money," a top government official said on condition of anonymity. "The government is committed to the development of sports and sportspersons. That's the reason why the chief minister himself addressed all the 10-Tokyo Games bound athletes from Uttar Pradesh through a virtual meeting. Thereafter, an additional sum of Rs.2 lakh for their preparation/kits was assured, besides sanctioning the mandatory Rs.10 lakh as participation fee," he said. As promised by the chief minister before the start of the Tokyo Games, all the 10 athletes and their families are expected to have a face-to-face interaction with Yogi Adityanath later this month at a function here. "We are in the process of finalising the date for the felicitation of all the 10 athletes and their families at a function here in the last week of this month," said the official. Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association secretary Anandeshwar Pandey, too, supported the demand of Uttar Pradesh athletes for jobs in their own state. "The UPOA has been fighting for this cause since long and this would be a great gesture by the state government if it offers suitable jobs to deserving candidates." "Filling sports quota vacancies in the state government is a very good move and I hope that many more would get suitable jobs in various departments in the near future," he said. "This is the way to bring all the migrant sportspersons back into our fold. It will help raise the sports standard of Uttar Pradesh at the national and international levels," he added. As per the government's scheme, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay would get Rs.1 crore for his bronze-medal win and an additional Rs.2 lakh as preparation fee, whereas nine others would be richer by Rs.12 lakh each. A steep raise in the prize money is also likely in the near future, according to those privy to the issue. "We are trying to ensure parity with the prize money for athletes of states like Haryana. If everything goes well, Uttar Pradesh too would offer one of the biggest purses to Olympic medallists," said another official. HOW UP ATHLETES FARED AT TOKYO GAMES Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (hockey, Varanasi): Bronze medal. Vandana Katariya (hockey, Meerut): Fourth position. Saurabh Chaudhary (pistol shooting, Meerut): Seventh position. Mairaj Ahmed Khan (skeet shooting, Bulandshahr): 25th position. Shivpal Singh (javelin, Varanasi): Failed to qualify for the finals. Annu Rani (javelin, Meerut): Failed to qualify for the finals. Seema Punia (discus, Meerut): Failed to qualify for the finals. Priyanka Goswami (walk-race, Meerut): Finished 17th. Satish Kumar (boxing, Bulandshahr): Lost in quarterfinal. Arvind Singh (rowing, Bulandshahr): 11th position.
28 Even though the Indian women's hockey team lost to Great Britain 3-4 in the match for the Bronze Medal in Tokyo Olympics, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, one of the midfielders in the team, who hails from Manipur, will be given a suitable government job and cash award, the chief minister said. Manipur chief minister Biren Singh assured Chanu during a video call conversation shared on his social media account on Friday, and said, "Spoke to Sushila Chanu right after I landed in Imphal. We may have narrowly missed the bronze medal today but the team's, as well as Sushila's performance in Olympics Women's Hockey has been exemplary." In the video call chat, Biren Singh, a footballer turned politician also informed Sushila that a suitable post will be created in the Youth Affairs & Sports department for her besides a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh, as announced earlier. Responding to a suggestion by Sushila, former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, for further development of hockey in Manipur, Biren said, "We're also planning to set up astroturf pitches for hockey at all district headquarters of the state." Stating that the Indian men's team's victory in the bronze medal match and the women's team entering the semi finals of the Olympics were remarkable, he also asked Sushila Chanu, the Indian team's backbone in the midfield, to convey his congratulations to the rest of the team for their splendid performances, saying, "I appreciate the team, really proud of you, you've made the nation proud." When asked about her feelings, 29 years old Sushila, who had led the national team in the Rio Olympics in 2016, said, "We have lots of players in Manipur including Olympians. Since hockey has become a popular game, I wish to develop both men's and women's hockey in our state." Of the 19 Olympians the state has produced since the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, seven are from hockey alone.
29 The typhoon off Tokyo Bay that was gathering pace since Saturday morning, when Aditi Ashok got within a single shot of winning what would have been the most unpredictable medal for India at the Olympics, finally blew in a couple of hours after Neeraj Chopra pierced the night sky with his spear at the Olympic Stadium. Chopra's gold, India's first ever in track and field, brought to a close the country's most successful outing at the Games in history. Then, as if on cue, began a downpour, washing away the heat and humidity that marked the 16 days of an extraordinary edition of the Olympics that ended on Sunday. Extraordinary - for Mirabai Chanu, winning a silver on Day 1 of the Games, something India has never done before; for PV Sindhu, becoming only the second person from India to win two individual Olympic medals; for Ravi Dahiya, winning a silver in wrestling, the only sport in which India has won a medal in each edition since 2008; for the Indian men's hockey team, once invincible at the Olympics, winning their first medal in 41 years and the women's hockey team making a breathtaking run that almost ended in a medal; and for Chopra, making the penultimate evening of the Games truly memorable for Indian sport, triumphant and cathartic. With a world junior record in 2016 and now an Olympic champion at 23, Chopra is truly on his way to becoming India's first global athletics icon- ahead even of the triumvirate of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George. Journalists from around the world wanted to know more about Chopra. "What kind of impact can it have on Indian sport, a country of a billion people?" Pekka Holopainen, a journalist from Finland, a country that produces some of the world's top throwers, was curious to know. By the time Chopra reached the Games Village on Saturday, dawn was about to break. Chopra slept with the gold close to his pillow. A few hours later, still sleepy, Chopra joined the few Indian athletes and coaches still left in the Village. Women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh and bronze-medal winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain were among those present when Chopra cut a golden cake. Here, in one frame, was the story of India's Olympics. Manpreet leading the men's hockey team, through some of the most nail-biting hockey imaginable, lifting themselves after a 7-1 defeat to Australia to claw their way into the semis and then outclassing Germany in the bronze medal playoff. Rampal, whose team had been written off before they even began the campaign, and who lost their first three games to stay true to that assessment, before mounting a comeback for the ages that took them to the semi-finals before losing 4-3 in the bronze medal match against Rio champions Great Britain. Borgohain, who became only the third boxer to win a medal for India at the Olympics. Each of them is hoping that their medals will come to mean more than just a sporting victory. They wish it will bring change-renew a once-great culture of hockey, strengthen the fledgling interest in boxing, or build a new platform for athletics. "To win a hockey medal after 41 years and for both teams to do well will go a long way to revive the sport in the country," said Manpreet. "The young hockey players will believe that they can come to the Olympics and win medals." "I have a feeling," said Chopra, "that the coming years for Indian sport will be even better."
30 A day after Hindustan Times highlighted the dilapidated condition of Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU's) Prithipal Singh Hockey Stadium, the sports department swung into action and began maintenance work on Friday. Wild vegetation around the stadium was chopped and gunny bags filled with cement were removed. Besides, the washroom and changing area were cleaned. As the city was soaked in celebration of Indian's bronze medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics, the local hockey stadium with its slippery turf, overgrown vegetation and crumbling infrastructure highlighted the indifferent attitude of the sports department and PAU authorities. Veteran hockey players including former hockey coach HS Bhullar, former Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal and veteran player Jagbir Grewal said that the authorities have finally woken up from their slumber. Former players celebrate women's team's performance Veteran hockey players gathered at PAU hockey stadium to celebrate the stellar performance of the women's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics. They distributed sweets to celebrate the occasion. Former hockey player Anil Sharma said that while men's hockey had seen it highs and lows, the women's team was considered underdogs before the Olympics. "What the girls have done is phenomenal. They have inspired an entire generation and we hope that more girls take up the sport," he said. Many former PAU and GADVASU students and officials, including Dr Lajwinder Singh Brar, Dr Ramesh Kumar and Dr Navdeep Singh, who had played hockey for the agriculture university, said that Tokyo had been lucky for India. Charanjit Singh, who had led India to a gold in the 1964 Olympics, was a student of PAU and had later served at the varsity.
31 The typhoon off Tokyo Bay that was gathering pace since Saturday morning, when Aditi Ashok got within a single shot of winning what would have been the most unpredictable medal for India at the Olympics, finally blew in a couple of hours after Neeraj Chopra pierced the night sky with his spear at the Olympic stadium. Chopra's gold, India's first ever in track & field, brought to a close the country's most successful outing at the Games in history. Then, as if on cue, began a downpour, washing away the heat and humidity that marked the 16 days of an extraordinary edition of the Olympics that ended on Sunday. Extraordinary - for Mirabai Chanu, winning a silver on Day 1 of the competitions, something India has never done before; for PV Sindhu, becoming only the second person from India to win two individual Olympic medals; for Ravi Dahiya, winning a silver in wrestling, the only sport in which India has won a medal in each edition since 2008; for the Indian men's hockey team, once invincible at the Olympics, winning their first medal in 41 years and the women's hockey team making a breath taking run that almost ended in a medal; and for Chopra, making the penultimate evening of the Games truly memorable for Indian sport, triumphant and cathartic. With a world junior record in 2016 and now an Olympic champion at 23, Chopra is truly on his way to becoming India's first global athletics icon - ahead even of the triumvirate of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George. Journalists from around the world wanted to know more about Chopra. "What kind of impact can it have on Indian sport, a country of a billion people?" Pekka Holopainen, a journalist from Finland, a country that produces some of the world's top throwers, was curious to know. By the time Chopra reached the Games Village on Saturday, dawn was about to break. Chopra slept with the gold close to his pillow. A few hours later, still sleepy, Chopra joined the few Indian athletes and coaches still left in the Village. Women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh and bronze-medal winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain were among those present when Chopra cut a golden cake. Here, in one frame, was the story of India's Olympics. Manpreet leading the men's hockey team, through some of the most nail-biting hockey imaginable, lifting themselves after a 7-1 defeat to Australia to claw their way into the semis and then outclassing Germany in the bronze medal playoff. Rampal, whose team had been written off before they even began the campaign, and who lost their first three games to stay true to that assessment, before mounting a comeback for the ages that took them to the semi-finals before losing 4-3 in the bronze medal match against Rio champions Great Britain. Borgohain, who became only the third boxer to win a medal for India at the Olympics. Each of them is hoping that their medals will come to mean more than just a sporting victory. They wish it will bring change - renew a once-great culture of hockey, strengthen the fledgling interest in boxing, or build a new platform for athletics. "To win a hockey medal after 41 years and for both teams to do well will go a long way to revive the sport in the country," said Manpreet. "The young hockey players will believe that they can come to the Olympics and win medals." "I have a feeling," said Chopra, "that the coming years for Indian sport will be even better."
32 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the decision to rename the Khel Ratna award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. In a tweet, PM Modi wrote: "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views." "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind," he added. "Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he further wrote. The announcement came a day after men's hockey team won a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. It was India's first medal win in hockey at the Games since the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. India women's hockey team also won the hearts of the nation despite missing out on a medal. The team led by Rani Rampal gave a thrilling contest to Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match but lost the match 3-4. India finished fourth in women's hockey, their best-ever finish at the Games. (More details awaited)
33 PV Sindhu, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medallist, on Monday took to her to her social media handles to share her thoughts after the historic win. Sindhu, after beating China's He Bing Jiao 21-13,21-15 in the bronze medal on Sunday, won her second Olympic medal after bagging silver in Rio 2016. She scripted more history as she became the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympics medals. (Complete Tokyo 2020 Coverage) Taking to her socials, she wrote: TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 10 BLOG "I appreciate all the well wishes and words of support from the bottom of my heart. I carried it all the way through and it means the world to me, just as this medal means everything for me to represent our nation. "The Tokyo Olympics has been an experience that I will not forget, from preparing for 5 years to stepping in the medal podium- each moment is forever etched with me. It's been a day and I still have no words to describe the feeling of holding an Olympic medal, it's always a dream come true each time. "It's never just been a solo journey for me to get where I am, I am incredibly thankful to the people in my life who have continuously been with me through it all. I cannot thank everyone, but please know that I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for each and every person who has been there with me and the journey does not stop here!" said Sindhu. The fact that Sindhu became only the fourth player to win women's singles medal in consecutive games bears testament to her historic feat. Meanwhile, speaking during the press conference right after her match, Sindhu quipped: "...I was blank, my coach was literally in tears, it was a big moment. I hugged him and said 'Thank you'. I didn't know what to do for 5-6 seconds, I shouted, so all emotions came together at that moment," she said during a virtual press conference." Sindhu is also the reigning world champion.
34 The first went to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu who set a new Olympic record with a successful 115 kg lift in clean and jerk. The second went to Lovlina Borgohain who, in her first Olympics, is now the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish, after Vijender Singh in 2008 and Mary Kom in 2012. PV Sindhu hauled in the third to become the first Indian woman to win two individual medals at an Olympics. At the time of writing, golfer Aditi Ashok could well bring home a silver. And the Indian women's hockey team made it to the semi-finals for the first time ever. Despite their 1-2 loss to Argentina, they fought hard against Great Britain in the match for the bronze, but unfortunately, lost 3-4. Silver or bronze don't matter as much as the distance. Chanu's mother sold samosas on the street. Borgohain's father worked at a tea garden. Women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal's mother was a domestic worker, her father, a cart-puller. There's another distance to consider. It's the 21-year-long one from the 2000 Sydney Olympics when 25-year-old weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari first brought home a bronze. Of the five individual medals won so far this Olympics, women have won three. Women's hockey has come a long way from 2010, when charges of sexual harassment against then coach, MK Kaushik, led to the revelation that women players were expected to wash their coach's clothes. Now, states such as Odisha have set up the infrastructure to tap into India's sporting culture for men and women, providing opportunities to scores of athletes and also reaping dividends for India. Today's women athletes also have the luxury of an earlier generation of role models: Kunjarani Devi, MC Mary Kom, Anju Bobby George and PT Usha. Behind the glitter of the medals lies a story of personal grit. Poverty and marginalisation cut across gender, but women face special discrimination that ranges from fighting to be born to being allowed to play a sport. "Women face so many restrictions, from their mobility and the way that they dress to the social pressures that prevent girls from taking up sport, particularly contact sport," says former national-level volleyball player Kanta Singh, now, country programme manager at United Nations Women. There is change within families too, says Singh. Cash awards, government jobs and recognition have led more families to encourage their daughters to play. Perhaps the biggest change can be seen among the women themselves. Sport, says Sharda Ugra who has spent most of her career writing on men's sport, has given women freedom, power and confidence. It "makes us brave," Rani Rampal told Ugra. It also sends a message. "People in my village now think it's okay to want their daughters admitted into a good college in another place," goalkeeper Savita Punia told Ugra. "They tell my parents, Savita can go so far away, to other countries, other states, why can't we send our daughters to another district?" Now, that's a good distance to cover. Namita Bhandare writes on gender The views expressed are personal
35 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Rs.301cr spent on New Parliament building and Central Vista Avenue till date The minister added that the estimated expenditure on these two projects over financial year 2021-2022 was Rs.1,289 crore. Cloudbursts linked to climate change, say experts; Centre asks for proof A rise in temperature in the Himalayas and its relation to cloudburst is a subject of research, but warming of the Indian Ocean is a clear indication of climate change, experts said. Tokyo Olympics: India go down 1-2 in semis to Argentina; will fight for bronze in women's hockey Tokyo Olympics: Indian women will fight for the bronze medal, just like the men's team. Rani Rampal's team will take on 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal match, as the GBR team had lost the first semi-final to Netherlands. Allegations made by Honey Singh's wife in her 120-page plea: Beat her for leaking marriage pics, hid wedding ring Singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has been accused by his wife Shalini Singh of domestic abuse and adultery. She has filed a 120-page petition, detailing all her allegations against him. Suhana Khan channels Boho Chic vibes in Rs.3k outfit with Gauri Khan in Serbia While Gauri Khan went for shorts and sneakers, Suhana Khan opted for a more Bohemian and breezy look, wearing a floral and paisley printed, full sleeved tie up crop top along with a matching skirt that had a thigh-high slit. Check it out. 'I had objected in writing when PM Modi's interview was edited': Jawhar Sircar
36 Rani Rampal and her team waited with bated breath for several hours after edging past South Africa 4-3 on a hot and humid afternoon for their second win at Tokyo Olympics. The Ireland vs Great Britain contest - the last of Group A - would decide the fate of the Indian women's hockey team, whether it would continue to stay in the Japanese capital or return home on the next flight home. Anxiety gave way to elation when defending champions Britain beat Ireland 2-0 later in the evening, paving the way for India to enter the quarter-finals of the Olympics, something that has never happened before. Though India finished fourth in Moscow 1980 - when women's hockey was introduced at the Games - the knockout format didn't exist back then with the top-3 in the league phase winning medals. They had to wait another 36 years before qualifying for Olympics. But at Rio 2016 they had a dismal outing, finishing last and without a win. But just like the men's team regrouped after their 1-7 humiliation at the hands of world No.1 Australia, the women too fought their way back into contention in Tokyo after getting drubbed in their first three games against world champions Netherlands (1-5), Germany (0-2) and holders Britain (1-4). Sjoerd Marijne's team first edged past 2018 World Cup runners-up Ireland 1-0 on Friday and then beat South Africa on Saturday at the Oi Hockey Stadium to finish fourth - out of six teams - and qualify for the last eight behind Netherlands, Germany and Britain. Katariya's hat-trick If Rampal and Navneet Kaur were the heroes of the win against Ireland, it was Vandana Katariya on Saturday, who became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. Katariya scored in the 4th, 17th and 49th with Neha Goyal getting one in the 32nd. "The most important thing is that we won and got the three points," said India chief coach Marijne. "It's not easy to play in the current conditions - it's 35 degree Celsius so the girls made a good effort." India started aggressively, making circle penetrations early on, immediately earning a penalty corner, which they failed to convert. Moments later, Navneet made a brilliant run from the right and passed the ball to Katariya, who tapped in to give India the lead. South Africa put India under pressure in the last few minutes of the first quarter and found a way to equalise via Tarryn Glasby (15th). India again went ahead by putting continuous pressure on South Africa, earning another short corner where Katariya deflected Deep Grace Ekka's drag-flick to help India take a 2-1 lead. India made several circle penetrations in the second quarter, but it was South Africa who again levelled the score through captain Erin Hunter (30th) via a short corner. Minutes into the second half, India earned a penalty corner, converting it for a 3-2 lead with Goyal deflecting skipper Rampal's pass. But Marizen Marais (39th) soon got the ball in the Indian circle and found the back of the net to make it 3-3. Katariya once again came to India's rescue when she diverted Gurjit Kaur's drag-flick to record her hat-trick. "We started the match very well but gave the South Africans too much space while defending," said Marijne. "We were good in our offensive game, created opportunities, scored penalty corner goals so I am happy about that." India will now face Group B toppers Australia in the quarter-final on Monday.
37 South Korean archers clinched gold in the Olympics men's team event on Monday, again, extending their reign and winning the country's third archery gold at the Tokyo Games. This was the men's team's sixth Olympics gold since team events were introduced in 1988. Kim Je-deok, already a South Korean television talent show star as an archery genius at 17, was the heart and soul of this team, egging on his seniors Kim Woojin (29) and 39-year-old Oh Jin-hyek throughout their golden run. They beat India in the quarters, Japan in the semis and Chinese Taipei in the final. Every step of the way in every match, the Koreans found something special to pull ahead. In the quarters, India shot a 54 (out of a possible 60) in the first set in reply to Korea's opening of 59. In the second set, Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav and Atanu Das shot a 57 and it brought smiles to their faces. Korea replied hitting 59 again. During the semi-final tie-breaker against hosts Japan, chasing 28 out of a possible 30, Kim Je-deok needed to hit a 10 to keep South Korea in the match. He hit the bullseye. In the final, Chinese Taipei shot 58 in the second set. South Korea replied with a perfect 60. Over the years, South Korea have simply pulled out exactly the right shot at the right time, bettering opponents just when they felt they had a chance. On Sunday, the South Korean women bagged their ninth consecutive team gold in Olympics. In fact, the women's team is yet to lose a single match at the Games since Seoul 1988. This is a dominance to beat all stories of invincibility at the Olympics--no other team in any sport has a record as unblemished. South Korean coach Lim Chae Woon had a couple of stints with the Indian team between 2000-2010. Throughout his tenures, he said India did not have a big enough pool of archers to build a world beating team. According to Rathin Dutta, a former World Archery official, Koreans are introduced to archery at the primary school level. The screening begins there and continues through high school and university. After graduation, top corporate houses, which have their own archery teams, recruit these archers. According to Dutta, in 2012 before the London Games, there were 33 corporate archery teams in Korea. And Korea's elite pool of archers was around 150 strong. At that time, India's not so elite pool including men and women was 16. Another Korean coach, Moon Beck Woong, who was recruited by India's Mittal Champions' Trust before the London Games had said South Korea had built a replica of the Beijing Games venue for its archers to train more than a year before the competition's start. India had not sealed their Olympic qualification berths till a couple of months before the Games. In the lead up to this Games, the Korean archers again got to practice in range that was a replica of the Tokyo venue. The other aspect both Lim and Woong stressed on was mental conditioning. Kim Youngsook of the Korean Institute of Sports Science, who is the team's mental conditioning coach since 2012, told World Archery recently: "In other sports, sports psychology is typically only about 20 to 30% of performance. In archery, it's probably closer to 80%. The real deciding factor of performance in archery is an archer's mental strength and confidence." Koreans archers and coaches are generally very secretive about what they really do to improve mental strength. According to Lim, bungee-jumping and sessions held on the sidelines of packed baseball stadiums were often used to enhance an archer's concentration and overcome fear.
38 For India, the big takeaway from the Tokyo Olympics is the return of hockey to national consciousness. The men's team lost in the semi-finals on Tuesday, but remains in contention for a bronze. The women's team will compete in the semi-finals on Wednesday, after having entered the final four for the first time in history. But behind this success lies what can be called the Odisha model. With chief minister Naveen Patnaik taking the lead, Odisha has been the main sponsor of Indian hockey teams (both men and women, both senior and junior) in recent years. It has provided funds, infrastructure, facilities, and hosted global tournaments in a bid to recapture the special place Indian hockey had in world sport. And this is now paying dividends. This is a remarkable example of a state taking ownership of a loved sport and helping turn it around by focusing on excellence. And it is an example for other states to follow. Odisha isn't the richest or most developed of states - yet, with pure political will, it was able to find resources for hockey. If all - or even a set of ten - Indian states picked a sport each, made the state the hub for sport infrastructure, and provided the financial resources to be able to equip teams to compete on the world stage, India's rather dismal record - including in the current Olympics if one goes by the overall tally of medals - could well change. This will also strengthen national integration - all players from across the country will find a new home. It will add to the brand and image of the host state; Odisha's association with hockey now is an example. It will even help the federal discourse - states will feel empowered to take the initiative and lead the way. The Odisha model of State-supported sporting excellence is worth replicating.
39 Minutes after the Indian men's hockey team won an Olympic medal after 41 years, the Centre as well various state governments announced major monetary rewards for the players, and rightly so. In the Indian sporting system, a medal at the Olympics results in a windfall for the athlete, or in this case, a team. Most players in the bronze medal winning team had to struggle as young players to get access to the basic requirements of the game - gear, equipment, an artificial turf. And they deserve recognition and encouragement, both symbolic and material. This rationale should also be extended to the Indian women's hockey team, who did not win a medal and lost in the bronze medal playoff to Great Britain. But the players lifted a nation's spirit with their grit, talent, and determination. There is good reason to treat the women as winners too. The women's team only began getting attention and support - in terms of funding, coaching systems, facilities, tech support - in the last four years. Experts had predicted that the women won't make it out of the group stages. The team was beaten in the first three matches. But then, there was a nearly miraculous turnaround. India beat 2018 World Cup runners-up Ireland, South Africa, and three-time Olympic champions Australia to qualify for the semi-finals. Then they fought till the end against the defending Olympic champions, Great Britain, losing 3-4. For a team that didn't even qualify for the Olympics for 36 years until Rio 2016, this fourth place finish is nothing less than a victory. It should be celebrated just like we still revel in perhaps the most famous fourth place finish in India's sporting history - the late Milkha Singh in the Rome 1960 400m final. The fact that many women players in the team come from a history of socio-economic marginalisation - captain Rani Rampal's father was a cart-puller - and yet beat all odds to emerge as champions, even if they didn't win a medal, deserves recognition. Young girls picking up hockey sticks should know that they can make a career out of the sport. The Haryana government has made a start by announcing a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh for each of the nine players from the state who competed in Tokyo. But others should follow suit and celebrate India's hockey champions, men and women, who have given a new lease of life to a sport that's integral to India.
40 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Covid-19: Karnataka allows places of worship to reopen, processions still banned The Karnataka government on Saturday gave further relaxations in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) curbs, allowing places of worship to open from Sunday. However, these establishments will have to strictly adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour and Standard Operating Prcedures (SOPs) issued by the concerned departments, an order from the state government said. Covaxin for kids: Covid-19 vaccine trial results may be out by September, says AIIMS chief Bharat Biotech's Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine trials for children are currently underway and its results are likely to be out by September, said Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Thackeray to visit flood-affected Mahad, Taliye; over 100 killed, 90,000 rescued Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday will visit the flood-affected area Mahad by helicopter from Mumbai. He will also visit Taliye village where 40 houses were buried due to landslide. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in women's 49kg category Mirabai Chanu on Saturday won a silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition to open India's counter at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Manipur athlete lifted a total weight of 202 kgs to win the medal. Why Tokyo 2020 may be India's best Olympics ever Masaba Gupta reveals 'one thing' she came to know only after mom Neena Gupta's book was released Fashion designer-actor Masaba Gupta has revealed the 'one thing' she wasn't aware of until her mother actor Neena Gupta's autobiography Sach Kahun Toh was released. Taking to Instagram on Friday, Masaba conducted an Ask Me Anything session. Ola Electric scooter customers to get 'Hypercharger' support in 400 cities Ola Electric scooter customers will get charging support from its Hypercharger setup installed in 400 Indian cities with over 100,000 locations/touchpoints. Ranveer Singh experiments with retro fashion in Gucci's Rs.2.7 lakh tracksuit Gucci and Ranveer Singh have become synonyms in Tinsel town and the recent set of pictures of v's live wire are enough to back our claim. After triggering a meme fest with his snazziest look where he channelled actor Jared Leto and Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele, Ranveer left fans gushing over his dapper form in a block pattern sweatshirt and shades from the Italian fashion brand and is now back to raising the bar of men's fashion goals in tracksuit style. Neena Gupta posts video of herself eating at a restaurant, it's highly relatable A post shared by actor Neena Gupta about visiting a restaurant has now created a chatter online. If you are someone who misses eating out, then there is a high possibility you will relate to her reaction while visiting an eatery.
41 Moments after the Indian women's hockey team beat the much-fancied Australians in Tokyo Olympics' quarter-final on Monday morning, 74-year-old Naveen Patnaik stood on the verandah of his official residence Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar to record a congratulatory video message for the Indian eves. "What a terrific game by our women's hockey team against Australia," said Patnaik, wearing a black tee and pyjama. The previous evening, Patnaik was seen standing and clapping for the Indian men's team that beat Great Britain to enter an Olympics semifinal after a gap of 49 years. It was a game that Patnaik helped when not many others came forward. Like when Sahara backed out from sponsoring the Indian hockey teams in 2018, the Odisha government signed a Rs.100 crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's hockey teams over the next 5 years. Describing the 5-year sponsorship deal as Odisha's gift to the nation, Patnaik then described the game as a way of life in his state's tribal region "where children learn to walk with hockey sticks". There was recognition on and off social media for the critical support his government extended to the game that he once played as a member of the Doon school hockey team. He was then the goalie. India dominated the world hockey scene as hockey wizard Dhyan Chand led the national team to three successive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. But after the defeat in the 1980 Moscow Olympic finals, the game lost much of its popularity in India. Odisha helped give the game a much-needed push starting with the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in 2014. In 2017, his government also sponsored Kalinga Lancers club that won the Hockey India League in January and followed up by hosting Hockey World League in December 2018 when Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium hosted World Cup Men's Hockey tournament. The following year, Odisha hosted FIH Men's Series Finals and Olympic Hockey Qualifiers 2019 and even the FIH Pro League in 2020. India is set to host the 2023 edition of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, after successfully organising it in 2018. In 2023, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will again host the World Cup Hockey for Men for the second time. In Rourkela of Sundargarh district, Patnaik government is building the country's biggest hockey stadium with a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators that will be named after tribal leader Birsa Munda. To further strengthen the hockey ecosystem in Sundargarh, Odisha is also planning to lay a synthetic hockey turf in each of the 17 blocks of the district. "Odisha is the sports capital of India thanks to the vision of Naveen Patnaik," said Odisha sports minister Tusharkanti Behera. "It's not just hockey, but our government is patronising many other sports disciplines starting from rugby to football." Just before the pandemic hit India last year, the first-ever Khelo India University Games was held in Odisha in which 4,000 athletes from 176 universities participated in 211 events in 17 sports events over a period of 10 days. In 2019, the state government tied up with Olympian gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to start a Targeting Performance Centre at the Kalinga Stadium complex. The centre's services would include performance enhancement, injury prevention and management, biomechanics, physiology testing and training, recovery as well as strength and conditioning training. In his home district of Ganjam, Patnaik is setting up an integrated sports complex that would have a synthetic athletic track, multi-purpose indoor hall, aquatic complex, basketball and volleyball courts, yoga hall, medical room and a 150-bed sports hostel, with a proposed expenditure of Rs.43 crore. In November last year, his assembly constituency of Hinjili got a 500-seating capacity centrally air-conditioned stadium. Rishabh Jaiswal, who runs Sports Ethos, a sports science and medicine institute in New Delhi, said Odisha's government's sponsorship of games including hockey was a key element in creating a healthy sports ecosystem in the country. "Odisha government deserves a lot of credit for the rise of an Indian hockey team over last 5 years. The Naveen Patnaik government's public-private partnership for sports is a model for all states to follow," said Jaiswal. Some believe that Naveen Patnaik generous support may be an effort to create a legacy for the politician who has ruled Odisha for 21 years on the trot. To be sure, his father Biju Patnaik is credited as one of the makers of modern Odisha for delivering signpost projects such as Paradip port, Rourkela Steel plant, Hirakud dam and Bhubaneswar airport. "Naveen perhaps wants to leave a legacy through sports and erase the image of Odisha as a state that is known for its poverty or punching bags of natural disasters," said Gyana Ranjan swain, a political science professor. Incidentally, he was the first CM in Odisha to have made a hockey player a Rajya Sabha MP. Of course, Patnaik won't be the first to use sports to make a political statement. In 1995, Nelson Mandela used the Rugby world cup to get South Africa out of the isolation of world sports. The celebration of the Olympic Games in Greek city-states was an occasion for the rulers to discuss important political issues and form political and military alliances. While the Olympic games of 1964 sought to present a new, pacific Japan to the world, South Korea in 1988, China in 2008 and Brazil in 2016 have used the Olympics to mark their emergence on the world stage. Back home, Patnaik's critics agree that his decision to support hockey made a world of a difference. "He has given hockey a new lease of life through sponsorship and raised the profile of the state in the process. I only wish the money could be spent more on grassroots," said Prasad Harichandan, former Odisha Congress president.
42 Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday took a dig at prime minister Narendra Modi over the rechristening of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, tweeting that he expected PM Modi to rename the award after himself, "just like he did with Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad." "First, Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium was renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium. I was hoping that he (PM Modi) will rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Award after himself. I was shocked when he named it after Major Dhyan Chand," a rough translation of Singh's tweet, posted in Hindi, read. However, Singh was not the only Congress leader to make this analogy. Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, too, demanded that the Narendra Modi Stadium be restored to its original name after Sardar Patel, the country's first home minister. "Major Dhyan Chand has inspired many young Indians. Our current Olympic teams will continue to bring the necessary attention to Hockey. I hope the government will also award the Bharat Ratna to Major Dhyan Chand," Gogoi posted on Twitter. Earlier, PM Modi took to Twitter to announce that the country's highest sports award is being renamed after legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. "I have been getting requests from many citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. Respecting their sentiment, the award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," the prime minister had tweeted. The announcement was made just hours after the Indian Women's Hockey team finished fourth in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, going down 4-3 to 2016 gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal clash. If successful, this would have been the team's first-ever Olympic medal. On Thursday, the men's team had defeated Germany 5-4 to finish third, clinching its first Olympic medal in 41 years. The Khel Ratna Award was instituted in 1991-92, and named after former PM Rajiv Gandhi. The refurbished Narendra Modi Stadium, meanwhile, was inaugurated in February this year. With a seating capacity of more than 130,000, it is the world's largest cricket stadium, surpassing Australia's Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
43 India has an Olympic track and field gold. In itself, that is breathtaking. But Tokyo 2020 has been a landmark Games for India in more than one way. Even the medal tally - India's best ever with seven - doesn't do justice to the breakthroughs India's athletes have made, the number of medal contenders India had, and those who opened new routes. So, along with Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain, Ravi Dahiya, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and the men's hockey team - all champions - it is important to remember others. Bhavani Devi, the first fencer from India to compete at the Olympics; Nethra Kumanan, the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Games; Aditi Ashok, who, in a star-studded field of the world's best women golfers, missed out on a podium finish by one shot; or the Indian women's hockey squad who made a giant leap that almost took them to a medal. All these names suggest two heartening trends. One, it symbolises a welcome shift where women are overcoming social obstacles to shine. Two, it highlights the difference that proper training in the right kind of environment makes. India's sport governing bodies have done well to step back from seeking to control every aspect of an athlete's career and allowing them the freedom to choose their coaches and training bases. The federations must now build a wide base for their sport by creating infrastructure, but of the right kind, and giving access to the maximum number of young people possible. Devi almost gave up on fencing because in India, the sport has almost no presence. This is understandable- fencing's cultural roots lie in Europe and it is expensive. But what about running tracks? Astroturfs? Wrestling mats? Punching bags? Javelins? Neeraj Chopra, a truly gifted athlete who has made the nation proud, also got lucky in some ways. He was spotted early, at 16, by a great coach; he had time to build on the fundamentals, and was then carefully nurtured by a succession of great coaches. Most athletes in most sports in India don't get that care till they have already reached an elite level of performance. But as challenges persist, there is little doubt that India's success at Tokyo is both visible - in terms of the medals - and invisible - in terms of progress across disciplines. The stage is set for Paris and beyond.
44 Unshakeable self-belief dissipated the air of disbelief at the Oi Hockey stadium in Tokyo on Monday. When the final hooter sounded,the Indian women's hockey team were through to their first Olympics semi-final, beating three-time champions Australia, a team they had beaten just once in seven previous encounters in the last five years. Every player in blue ran wildly across the turf; they hugged and they collapsed on the turf. They screamed in joy at the sky. Their coach cried. This was a team that lost all its matches in Rio 2016, including a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Australia. A team that qualified for the Olympics only once before Rio and now Tokyo - in 1980, when women's hockey was first introduced. A team that started their Tokyo campaign with three losses, before mounting gritty comeback wins in the next two matches to make the quarterfinals. A team that was supposed to be brushed aside by the mighty Aussies. What made the victory sweeter was that it captured the story of Indian hockey's dramatic turnaround. Less than 24 hours earlier, the men's hockey team made it to their first semi-final in 49 years. They play world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning. The heroics from the women's team may be just the boost they needed. "For Indian hockey, this is a proud moment. Both men and women's teams are in the semi-final," women's team captain Rani Rampal said. "I believe when team sports do well it brings the country together." Monday's result shattered statistics, and a reputation. The Indian team played with calm, even when they were under siege from the Aussies, who had nine penalty corners in the match. Each of those was saved. Australia also had a shot, through Ambrosia Malone, that hit the post in the second minute of the match, but that was as close as they would get. India too hit the frame, four minutes later, when Vandana Katariya - who scored a hat-trick against South Africa in India's previous encounter - hoicked a pass across the face of goal that Rampal tried to tap in at the far post. India got just one penalty corner, and Gurjit Kaur shrugged off her indifferent form to score perhaps the most important goal in Indian women's hockey thus far, with a drag-flick in the 22nd minute. It was the breakthrough they needed, and India held on to the lead like their lives depended on it. Australia repeatedly made circle penetrations - 17 through the match, compared to India's nine - but found the path to the goal crowded by Indian players, who ran untiringly up and down the pitch. Deep Grace Ekka was rock solid, holding the defence together and making critical interceptions, stopping shots and winning one-on-one duels. Goalkeeper Savita Punia was always at the right place at the right time, making a number of superb saves. That the Indian team was unfazed by the attack showed in the poised way in which they made counter-attacks, passing their way out of their danger area with poise and confidence and sprinting up in attack. Australia, their every attack thwarted, grew more and more frustrated. There were nervous moments towards the end, but still no panic when Australia got a penalty corner via referral with six minutes left. "We were talking in the dugout that they will not get the PC, just stay calm and we were saying that we are almost there, just five more minutes, (we need) to keep the ball upfront," Rampal said. That penalty corner saved, Australia immediately got another one. This one resulted in a goalmouth scramble that must have been hair-raising for the Indian coaching staff. As the clock ticked down the final 10 seconds, you could already hear the shrieks of joy from the dugout. The Australian women covered their faces and dropped to the turf. The Indians raced across it, hugged each other, and celebrated with abandon. "I told the girls that the most important thing is to stay in the moment," said coach Sjoerd Marijne. "They were very good in defence and won those crucial one-on-one tackles that gave us a lot of confidence." India will play Argentina in the semi-final, a team they know well, having toured the country earlier this year. They played three matches against the senior Argentina team there, losing two and drawing one. The start to the Indian campaign in Tokyo could not have been worse. Three straight losses meant they had to win their final two group stage matches to have a chance of progressing to the quarters. This is when the turnaround started. Victories against Ireland and South Africa kept them afloat. Then they earned a bit of luck when England beat Ireland, allowing for India to finish fourth in the group and qualify for the knockouts. "We never lost belief in ourselves. Rio gave us very unhappy memories and we had put in so much work in the last five years, that we believed we could bounce back," said Rampal. "We wanted to go out there and give it our all." In contrast, Australia had enjoyed an irrepressible run to the quarterfinals by topping their Group, winning all five matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one. India, in contrast, had conceded 14 and scored seven before the quarterfinal. None of that mattered.
45 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Babul Supriyo edits resignation post, deletes 'won't join any party' part Hours after posting the news of his exit from politics on Facebook, Babul Supriyo on Saturday edited the post a little bit, triggering speculation of whether his road to any other party remains open or not. 'They can fast, not my business': Bommai says will implement Mekedatu project Karnataka's new chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that the state will get Centre's approval regarding the Mekedatu drinking water project over the Cauvery river. Tokyo Olympics 2020: PV Sindhu loses semi-final to Tai Tzu-Ying, to compete for bronze medal PV Sindhu lost to top-seed Tai Tzu-Ying 18-21, 12-21 in the semi-final of the women's singles badminton on Saturday but remains in contention of a podium finish. Richa Chadha backs Shilpa Shetty in Raj Kundra case, slams those 'blaming women for mistakes of men' Richa Chadha, commenting on the negativity directed at Shilpa Shetty amid Raj Kundra's arrest in a porn case, criticised the act of 'blaming women for the mistakes of the men in their lives'. WhatsApp launches Billie Eilish animated sticker pack; Here's how to download it Last month, WhatsApp rolled out an animated sticker pack to celebrate the Pride month. And now, the company has collaborated with US singing sensation Billie Eilish for a new animated sticker pack. Worse impact of Delta variant on pregnant women: Health experts Amid rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, several top UK health officials have urged expectant mothers to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as soon as possible. SBI's 'Monsoon Dhamaka' offer: Bank waives off processing fee on home loans State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday announced a special "Monsoon Dhamaka" offer for its customers under which homebuyers will be able to avail loans without any processing fee till August 31.
46 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Nitish Kumar reiterates demand for caste-based census Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday reiterated his demand for a caste-based census, saying it will help in better decisions for the people's development and welfare. 'Supreme leaders will decide': Pralhad Joshi on if he would replace Yediyurappa Union minister Pralhad Joshi, whose name is doing the rounds as a successor of Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, on Saturday said no one has spoken to him about this and he was not aware that BS Yediyurappa has been asked to resign or not. 'Afghanistan situation dangerous': Indian embassy in advisory for its nationals The embassy of India in Afghanistan has issued a security advisory for its nationals living in the war-torn country. Alia Bhatt slays the post pandemic fashion in a plus size black T-shirt T-shirts are subject to the whims of the fashion elite but Bollywood celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and other Tinsel Town divas, stylists and fashion lovers alike have taken a liking for oversized tees this summer. You can train like an Olympian with Snapchat's new AR lens The Tokyo Olympics have just kicked off and India won its first medal today. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won silver in weightlifting in the women's 49kg category. 'Twitter's magic has worked': Anand Mahindra reconnects with friend after 52 years If you follow Anand Mahindra on Twitter, chances are you've seen his recent post where he shared a throwback image from his school days. Ashutosh Kaushik says he lost out on marriage proposals due to his videos: 'Ladki wale dekh lete the' Reality television star Ashutosh Kaushik, who won MTV Roadies 5.0 and Bigg Boss 2, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking removal of certain pictures, videos and articles from the internet, citing his 'Right to be Forgotten'.
47 It was a do or die situation for the women's hockey team on Monday morning as they faced world number 2 Australia in the knock-out round but they registered an easy win and entered the semi-finals for the first time in the history of Olympics. A penalty corner goal by defender Gurjit Kaur in the second quarter of the match and extra-ordinary saves by Savita Punia, assured India's victory 1-0. The team will take on Argentina in the next match. Nine members of this historic team are from Haryana. Three of them are from Kurukshetra-- skipper Rani Rampal, forwards Navjot Kaur and Navneet Kaur, all belong to the small town of Shahbad, almost 200 kilometres from the national capital. Rani Rampal's family is elated over the victory and is celebrating by exchanging sweets with relatives and neighbours. Youngest of the three siblings, she started playing hockey in Class 5 when she showed interest in the sport after watching girls of her age going to play in a ground near her school. Her father, Rampal, 55, who drove a horse-cart almost all his life to feed the family, said that this is a result of the hard work of all the daughters in the team. While her mother Ram Murti, 53, said that her "zidd" took her to this level. "We've been through very tough times and we couldn't afford even a hockey stick for our daughter. It was her determination and the guidance of her coach Baldev that she earned this honour. She was earlier denied entry by the coach himself as she was weak. But she wanted to play and Baldev also helped her with equipment and diet," Rampal told Hindustan Times. He further added, "We were clueless about the sport. At that time, girls were not even allowed to step outside, but despite all this, I told her to do what she wanted. Today, I would urge all the fathers to treat their daughters as equals to sons. Sons might back out one day, but daughters will definitely make you proud." Another local girl, Navjot Kaur, was also inspired by other girls going to a hockey ground near their house on Devi Mandir Road. Eldest of the three siblings, Kaur, 25, started playing at the age of 10, when she was in Class 6, her father Satnam Singh, a shocker mechanic said. Haryana sports minister and ex-captain of the Indian men's hockey team, Sandeep Singh, also congratulated the team for the victory. "Hopefully this time, the Olympic medal will be ours," he wrote on Twitter. Home minister Anil Vij also spoke to Rani Rampal over the phone to congratulate the team.
48 The bronze-winning performance of Indian men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics has revived hopes of India returning to its hockey super power status, but a 26-year-old former full-back from Odisha who once represented the state in senior national men's championship has been working as a migrant labourer to make ends meet. Playing for Gangpur-Odisha hockey team (one of the associate teams of Hockey India) in 2013 and 2014 senior men's hockey championship, Santosh Majhi, a tribal from Lulkidihi village of Sundargarh district, stood out for his resolute defence in several games. But 7 years later, Majhi's world is far removed from the world of hockey as he migrated to Goa last year to work in fishing vessels for Rs.6,000 a month. "I have no other way than to go out to work. I have no future left in hockey though I would have loved to play," Majhi said from his home in Lulkidihi village, which has produced at least two Olympians in Deepgrace Ekka of women's hockey team and Ignace Tirkey of the men's team. With at least 7 international players to its credit, Lulkidihi is considered a nursery of hockey in Odisha along with Saunamara village, from where former India captain Dilip Tirkey hails. Like most tribal kids in Sundargarh district, Majhi took to hockey at the age of 11 when he joined the sports hostel at Panposh. For his daily wager father, sports promised a getaway from the drudgeries of life. In the hostel he shone as a defender and played for the Hockey Gangpur team in 2013 and 2014. After leaving the sports hostel in 2015, he played for Paradip Port Trust in All India Major Ports Hockey Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but could not get a job there. Majhi said in 2016, he had tried for a job in Indian Army through sports quota, but was disqualified during a medical test over varicose veins issue. His problems have also been compounded as he could not complete his higher secondary exam in 2016 after suffering a fracture in his hand. Arun Kumar Sahu, a social activist of the area, said it is disturbing to see players like Majhi struggle for a living. "As the state government and centre are spending crores of rupees over hockey, it will be good to rehabilitate players like him," said Sahu. Odisha sports secretary Vineel Krishna said though Majhi represented Gangpur Odisha in senior nationals, he did not secure any position. "The state government has a policy of giving government jobs to all medallists but he is not eligible for a job as per the notification of home department," he said.
49 The bronze-winning performance of the Indian men's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics has certainly rekindled popular interest in hockey, but a 26-year-old former full-back from Odisha who once represented the state in senior national men's championship has been working as a migrant labourer to make ends meet. Playing for Gangpur-Odisha hockey team (one of the associate teams of Hockey India) in 2013 and 2014 senior men's hockey championship, Santosh Majhi, a tribal from Lulkidihi village of Sundargarh district stood like a rock defending his team's goals from the marauding forwards of the opponent teams. But 7 years later, Majhi's world is far removed from the world of hockey as he migrated to Goa last year to work in fishing vessels for Rs.6000 a month. "I have no other alternative than to go out to work. I have no future left in hockey though I would have loved to play," said Majhi from his home in Lulkidihi village that has produced at least two Olympians Deepgrace Ekka of the women's hockey team and former Olympian Ignace Tirkey. With at least 7 international players, Lulkidihi is considered as the nursery of hockey in Odisha along with Saunamara village from where former captain of the Indian hockey team, Dilip Tirkey hails. Like most tribal children in Sundargarh district, Majhi took to hockey at the age of 11 when he joined the sports hostel at Panposh. For his daily wage earner father, sports promised a getaway from the drudgeries of life. In the hostel he shone as a defender and played for the Hockey Gangpur team in 2013 and 2014. After leaving the sports hostel in 2015, he played for Paradip Port Trust in All India Major Ports Hockey Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but could not get a job there. Majhi said in 2016, he had tried for a job in the Indian Army through the sports quota, but was disqualified during the medical test over a varicose veins issue. His problems have also been compounded as he could not complete his higher secondary exam in 2016 after suffering a fracture in his hand. Arun Kumar Sahu, a social activist of the area, said it is disturbing to see players like Majhi struggle for a living. "While the state government and the Centre are spending crores for hockey, it would be good to rehabilitate players like him," said Sahu. Odisha sports secretary Vineel Krishna said though Majhi represented Gangpur Odisha in senior nationals, he did not secure any position. "Though the state government has a policy of giving government jobs to all medallists, He is not eligible for a job as per the notification of the home department," he said.
50 Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian women's hockey team's Dutch coach had hoped to part ways on a high after a four-year stint. The way his team fought at this Olympics, he got his wish. Even though Marijne went running on to the turf to comfort the crying team after the loss to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off, he started crying himself after getting the team in a huddle. It was his last match with the Indian women's team. The 47-year-old, who took over the reins in 2017, briefly switched to the men's team and came back to the women's set up in 2018, does not wish to extend his contract. Right now, he wants nothing more except to be home with his family. In the last four years, he had seen little of them. During the lockdown last year, the Dutch coach chose to stay with the team in a bubble in Bengaluru instead of leaving for the Netherlands. In Tokyo, the Marijne touch could be seen in the never-say-die spirit of the team. "I told them I can't take away your tears girls; we didn't win a medal but there is something big which you have won," Marijne said. "You won't realise now that you have won the hearts and you inspired all the people in India. I think this is the main thing, and slowly they will realize this. Today we are top-four in the world and we must not forget that. Yes, only one team can win and today it was Great Britain." Marijne said he plans to write a book about his experience with the Indian hockey team. "They have inspired the whole of India and may be many more people. People of India are so proud of their country and that is what I like about India," Marijne said. "I know when it is not going well they also give it to you. But they are proud of their country and people cry. I have emotional messages from people-'I am watching it with my father, my son and I will never forget this for the rest of my life'." As soon as he began coaching the team, Marijne realized that one of the things that the team badly needed was more exposure tours and more top notch matches, the kind that you get from participating in the Pro League. "The girls are not used to these kinds of things (the pressure of top level matches)," he said. "We don't play Pro League, we don't have the World Cup (women) in India, we don't play Hockey India League. These things will be important to bring a change for the girls. Then they can take the next step and maybe next time they will be on the podium." The changes Marijne could make along with his support staff and the enthusiastic participation of the squad involved making them more skilful, fitter and mentally stronger, all things that were on full display in Tokyo. "Today they are more consistent, physically stronger and we can change a match," he said. "It is about the mindset of never giving up. It is about how you are as a woman-that if I talk to you, I can talk looking straight in the eyes. The whole attitude, it is a culture change what we have done. The new girls coming in the team know that this is required. That is what happens in countries like the Netherlands. Young girls come into the national team and they know exactly what is required." Analytical coach Janneke Schopman, a two-time Olympic medallist with the Netherlands, will be the new coach.. "She is the best. She knows the system, the structure, she knows exactly what needs to be done and she is good with the girls," Marijne said. "But for me, if this was a journey with ups and downs, right now I'm up. And it is beautiful right here."
51 With around 10 minutes to go and India leading 1-0 against Australia in the women's hockey quarter-final, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne afforded a quick smile to the on-field camera panning towards him in Tokyo. Miles away in Coorg, Mir Ranjan Negi, too, watched India cling on to the lead with a grin on his face. Moments after the final hooter went off and the scoreline remained static, Marijne began sobbing. Negi, holidaying yet following every second of the action on TV, did the same. "I was crying after the game. I have never felt so elated in my life," Negi said. Negi is the former India goalkeeper whose career was thrown in turmoil after facing the wrath of the public after India's 1-7 defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games final. After years spent in oblivion, Negi returned to hockey in a coaching role with the men's team, followed by more successful stints with the women. He was the goalkeeping coach of 2002 Commonwealth Games gold-winning side and also the assistant coach of the team that won the 2004 Asia Cup. Negi's real-life tale was the reel-life inspiration for a popular film Chak De! India, which was released in 2007 and became synonymous with anything to do with women's hockey in the country. "This is the real Chak De! moment," Negi said of India's stunning win that earned the women their first-ever Olympic semi-final berth. "Movies can have all their charm but when something like this happens in real life, it's an entirely different feeling. It's incomparable. All my happy memories while coaching the women's team came rushing back after the win." Like with the men on Sunday, Negi believes this will be a watershed moment in the history of Indian hockey. Even more so for the women's game, which tends to be more distant from the limelight. "I feel this win will mark a new era in Indian women's hockey, and hockey in the country overall. The women needed a memorable victory like this. Women's hockey has often been sidelined, with nothing much to talk about. Today, everybody is talking about it, which was desperately needed. These women are winners after this show, even if they are to lose the other matches," he said. Negi was left happily surprised in the manner in which the Indians - who qualified as the fourth team from Pool A only by winning their final two matches after three losses - scripted the fighting victory over the unbeaten Aussies, who had conceded just one goal in their pool matches. "Nobody expected this team to beat Australia. But they all played like tigresses, pouncing on the ball and showing amazing commitment and character. They played like a team possessed. They didn't look like the same team that played the group matches. To keep a one-goal lead against Australia is not easy," Negi said. That's where, the former goalkeeper felt, this side has developed immensely. Apart from the work done on the speed and stamina of the women to match the top teams, Negi said the defensive game of the team has shown marked improvement. It was visible in the quarter-finals, where the players looked composed even as the Aussies kept making circle penetrations without success in the dying stages of the game. Australia also earned nine penalty corners (PC) in the entire match, converting none. "I have never seen any team defending these many PCs against a team like Australia. The work done on the defence has been a major change in this team," Negi said.
52 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu sailed into the women's singles quarterfinals after beating Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games at the Tokyo Olympics badminton competition here on Thursday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, notched up a 21-15 21-13 win over 13th seed Blichfeldt in a 41-minute match. Sindhu will next face the winner of the match between Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and Korea's Kim Gaeun. On Wednesday, Sindhu had defeated world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu is the lone Indian badminton hope left in fray after B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign ended in agony in the men's competition. He went down in straight games to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands for his second defeat in Group D. On Tuesday, the men's doubles team of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy suffered a heartbreak after failing to make the quarterfinals despite winning two matches in their group.
53 Indian women's hockey team today displayed a spirited fight before losing out to Great Britain 3-4 in the bronze medal playoff match in the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian women's team made a remarkable turnaround after going down 0-2 to make it 3-2 at halftime. However, Great Britain skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb scored the equaliser in the third quarter of the game. Grace Balsdon gave Great Britain the lead in the fourth quarter helping Great Britain to take the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Goalscorers for India: For India, Gurjit Kaur scored a brace and Vandana Kataria scored a goal The men's team rewrote history on Thursday as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match.
54 India men's hockey team won the hearts of the nation after they defeated Germany in a thrilling bronze medal match to add to India's tally at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Indian team led by captain Manpreet Singh came from behind twice to win the encounter 5-4 as India won their first Olympic medal in men's hockey since 1980. Wishes poured in as the President of India Ramnath Kovind, along with several big political leaders took to Twitter to applaud India's big achievement in Tokyo and praised the team for ending a 41-year-long wait for a medal at the Games in hockey. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Highlights: India vs Germany Here is a look at some of the reactions: Manpreet Singh dedicated the medal win to the frontline workers after the match. India could add another medal in hockey in Tokyo as the women's team will also compete in the bronze medal match on Friday.
55 Amritsar Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Friday said that along with the Kartarpur Corridor, governments of India and Pakistan should also discuss opening a corridor to Nankana Sahib, the birth place of first Sikh master Guru Nanak. "The removal of the Nishan Sahib from a gurdwara by the Taliban in Afghanistan is condemnable. The Centre must ensure the safety of Sikh shrines in Afghanistan and the Sikhs living there. The repeated harassment of Sikhs in Afghanistan is injustice to minorities," she added. The president also called up players of the victorious hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics. "Both men and women hockey teams have done well, with Punjab sending some good players. All of them deserve appreciation."
56 The ongoing budget session of the Assam Assembly was adjourned for thirty minutes on Wednesday during the semi-final match of boxer Lovlina Borgohain at the Tokyo Olympics. Special arrangements were made inside the Assam Assembly premises to watch the semi-final match of the Assamese pugilist. at the Tokyo Olympics after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli. On July 30, Lovlina Borgohain won her quarter-finals match in the welterweight category of women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics by beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei with a final score of 4-1. She is only the third Indian boxer after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh to win a boxing medal for India at the Olympics. ALSO READ: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Lovlina Borgohain for her outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics and said her name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Congratulations to Assam's daughter @LovlinaBorgohai for bringing home the bronze medal in #Olympics boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement." Congratulations to Assam's daughter for bringing home the bronze medal in boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement. - Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) Assam minister Ashok Singhal said that it is a great moment for Assam and the entire country. "She played very well as a debutant. She has a bright future," said Ashok Singhal. ALSO READ: Graphic Assam Assembly adjourned for 30 minutes for Lovlina's semi-final match at Tokyo Olympics
57 The proceedings in the ongoing are likely to be adjourned for 30 minutes on Wednesday during the semi-final match of Lovlina Borgohain will be up against world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the on Wednesday. The Assam Assembly is likely to adjourn for half an hour on Wednesday from 11 to 11.30 am. Dr Numal Momin, deputy speaker in the Assam Assembly, told India Today over the phone that the proposal for adjournment has been given to the Speaker of the Assam Assembly. ALSO READ: "The decision is yet to be finalised. But I hope the Speaker will accept the proposal," Dr Numal Momin said. On July 30, match in the welterweight category of women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics by beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei with a final score of 4-1. By virtue of a place in the semi-final, Lovlina Borgohain has already assured India of at least a bronze medal. She is only the third Indian boxer after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh to win a boxing medal for India at the Olympics. ALSO READ: Graphic Assam Assembly likely to be adjourned for 30 minutes during Lovlina's Olympics semifinal on Wednesday
58 Amitabh Bachchan is an avid social media user and is fond of sharing viral WhatsApp messages with his fans and followers on Twitter. Recently, the 78-year-old actor shared an analogy of men and women's Indian hockey performance at Tokyo Olympics. The tweet shows how the two teams beat the countries the other one lost to. The main message is, the Indian men's hockey team beat the teams that beat the Indian women's hockey team, and vice versa. BIG B'S TWEET SUMMARISES INDIAN HOCKEY TEAMS' PERFORMANCE AT TOKYO OLYMPICS In men's hockey at the Olympics 2020, the Indian team won a bronze medal against Germany, while Indian women's hockey team gave a tough fight to Britain in the bronze play-off. , among others. The Whatsapp message that's going viral and caught Amitabh Bachchan's attention, is the statistics of Indian hockey team's performance at the Olympics is showcased. The tweet reads, "T 3989 - Girls lost to Great Britain Boys beat them.... Boys lost to Australia, Girls beat them..... Girls lost to Argentina Boys beat them.... Girls lost to Germany, Boys beat them!!!! #Hockey #Olympics (sic)." T 3989 - Girls lost to Great Britain Boys beat them.... Boys lost to Australia, Girls beat them..... Girls lost to Argentina Boys beat them.... Girls lost to Germany, Boys beat them!!!! - Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) AMITABH BACHCHAN TO RETURN WITH KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 13 Kaun Banega Crorepati is all set to return with its 13th season with Amitabh Bachchan as its host. Ahead of the premiere, which is based on a village where the people are trying to raise funds for their school building. They register for KBC to get the funds and when one of them gets selected, everyone helps him to prepare for the quiz show. Sharing the promo, Amitabh Bachchan wrote of Instagram, "KBC13 Wapas aa rahe hain ... KBC pe .. #StayTunedForPart2 #ComingSoon #KBC13 @SonyTVOfficial (sic)." WHAT'S MORE ON THE WORK FRONT? . The film also stars Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. Amitabh will be seen next in Emraan Hashmi-starrer Chehre. He also has Goodbye with Rashmika Mandanna and Brahmastra with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt lined up. Apart from these, Big B will be seen in Mayday, The Intern and Jhund. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Amitabh Bachchan tweets viral WhatsApp message on Indian hockey at Tokyo Olympics. Seen yet?
59 Haryana chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, on Friday, announced that a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh would be given to each sportsperson from the state who finished in the fourth position in the Olympics. Till now there was no provision in the state's Sports Policy for such players. "According to the Sports Policy of the state, there is a provision to give incentive money to the players who cannot win medals in these games. As per this provision, each player participating in the Olympic Games is being given an incentive amount of Rs 15 lakh. An amount of Rs 5 lakh has already been given to these players prior to the Olympics. The remaining Rs10 lakh will be given to the players on their return after completion of the Olympics", Khattar said. Addressing a press conference in Rohtak, Khattar said, "In the sports policy, a provision has been made to give Rs 6 crore to a player who wins a gold medal in the Olympics, Rs 4 crore to a player who wins silver, and Rs 2.5 crore to a player who wins a bronze medal. Though till now, in this policy, there was no provision for giving a cash reward to players who finished fourth in the Olympics. But from now onwards, a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh will be given to each player of the state who finished fourth". "The state government would also be felictating the players who win any medal in the Olympics", Khattar announced. "Indian men's hockey team has brought laurels to the country after 41 years by winning the bronze medal. It is a matter of great pride that two players from Haryana were part of this winning team. The women's hockey team lost out on a bronze medal by a whisker. Nine players of Haryana played in this team and a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh each will be given by the government to all these nine players," Khattar added. "We have only 2 per cent of the country's population, but about 25 per cent of participants in the Tokyo Olympics are from Haryana, which is a matter of pride", Khattar said. Hooda demands Rs 50 lakh for every Olympic participant "The government should give at least Rs 50 lakh as prize money to every participant of Tokyo Olympics from Haryana. Wrestler Bajrang Punia and the women's hockey team put up tremendous performances throughout the tournament and one performance should not decide the support that is extended to them. Today, the whole world is acknowledging their talent. The loss of just one match cannot dampen their spirits. The women's hockey team may have missed out on a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, but this team has achieved something that the country was waiting for decades. Even getting the fourth position in a sporting event like the Olympics is not an ordinary success. The splendid performance of the women's hockey team is an indicator of the bright future of hockey. In such a situation, the state government should also leave no stone unturned in the honor and respect of the players of the team. Haryana government should honour all the participating sportspersons of the state in the Olympics by giving them prizes of at least Rs 50 lakh each and a suitable position. Also, the honour money of medal-winning players should be increased further," Hooda said in a statement issued on Friday.
60 Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the opening round of the men's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics, starting in Tokyo on Friday. Nagal, who qualified for the Games last week after large-scale withdrawals, was pitted against the lower-ranked Uzbek in the draw on Thursday. A first-round win for the 23-year-old Indian, ranked 160, could see him face second-seeded Russia's Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Alexander Bublik in his opening round match. In women's doubles, six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will lock horns with the Kichenok twins -- Nadiia and Lyudmyla -- of Ukraine in the opening round. Interestingly, Mirza had paired up with Nadiia after returning from her maternity leave to win the Hobart Open last year. How Nagal made the Olympics cut Nagal on Friday made the cut for the men's singles event of the Tokyo Olympics as large-scale withdrawals pushed him inside the qualification mark and the Indian tennis player is now hoping that competing at the biggest stage will settle a "few things" that are bothering him in his career. Nagal was ranked 144 on June 14, when ATP rankings were to be considered for direct entries but consistent withdrawals helped him. "I knew it (cut-off) was gonna drop. Things are different this year, compared to any other Olympics. Nonetheless, I feel very happy. I am getting a chance to represent the country. I can't complain much about it," Nagal said from Germany. The 23-year-old Nagal will enter the Olympics with some disappointing results this season as he has suffered seven first round defeat on the Circuit, including at the Australian Open. In six Challenger events, he made the quarterfinals only thrice. His best performance has been making the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires in March. His ranking has dropped to 154 after beginning the year at 137. "To be honest, I have been struggling with a few things, I am not going to name it. Getting into Olympics will hopefully change things in my career. It's going to be amazing experience. I will give my 100 per cent on the court," he said.
61 Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu on Thursday celebrated the Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, saying that they have made the country proud. The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed the Olympic medal after 41 years, beating a plucky Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match at the ongoing Games at Tokyo. However, amid the virtual celebrations on social media, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar mistakenly congratulated the Indian women's hockey team, who are yet to play for the bronze. He wrote, "Go girls!!! So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff." He later deleted the tweet and posted it without the "go girls" part. Needless to say, Farhan was brutally trolled for his gaffe, given that he essayed the role of late Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh, in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', who represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Farhan was last seen in the sports drama 'Toofaan'. Directed by Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, 'Toofaan' revolves around the journey of a local goon, Ajju Bhai (Farhan) becoming a professional boxer, Aziz Ali. Actors Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal are also a part of the movie, which released on Amazon Prime Video on July 16.
62 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has congratulated ace badminton player PV Sindhu for winning bronze medal in women's badminton in Tokyo Olympics. Chief Minister also congratulated the hockey team for their achievement. Expressing happiness, the CM said that PV Sindhu has not only won medal but also honoured India by her wonderful performance. She has won brilliantly while playing against the Chinese player. Many junior players will be inspired by this victory. "What a remarkable performance! @Pvsindhu makes us proud once again! Heartiest congratulations on winning the Bronze medal in Badminton at Tokyo. My best wishes for all the future games. You have inspired a lot of budding badminton players today," Chouhan said in a tweet. He has also congratulated all sports lovers on winning this medal by tweeting in this regard. The CM has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Indian men's hockey team for defeating Britain in Tokyo Olympics. He said that hockey players of India have performed remarkably in the quarterfinal match. This victory is amazing. India has got such a victory after 41 years, when we have reached the semi final match. The CM has extended best wishes to the Indian Hockey team for the next match.
63 Tokyo Olympics 2020 opening ceremony: At the Parade of Nations, India will enter 21st of the 205 contingents. How is the order decided? At the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, India will be 21st out of 205 contingents in the Parade of Nations. The United Arab Emirates will be among the first 10 entrants, while Australia and Austria will enter after Ukraine and Uruguay. Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony: How is the order decided? The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language in the host city. The announcers first call out a country's name in French and English - the official languages for the Games according to Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter - and then the chosen language. For example, at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, nations entered according to the 'Hangul' alphabetical order, while at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the Cyrillic alphabet was used. Are there any exceptions to the rule? The Parade of Nations always begins with Greece, the host of the ancient Olympics and the first modern one. And the host nation always closes out the ceremony. This year, in order to promote future editions, the IOC wanted the next two Olympic hosts to precede Japan. So, the order at the end on Friday will be 2028 hosts United States, 2024 hosts France and Team Japan. In another change to the traditional marching order, the Refugee Olympic Team will follow Greece at number two. What would be the order at the Tokyo Olympics? The teams will enter according to their names in Gojuon - Japan's fifty-sound phonetic order, which is also used in dictionaries. India (Indo in Japanese transliteration) will march in at No. 21, with boxer Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh as flag-bearers. The Russian contingent, which has been disallowed to use the country's name, flag, and anthem due to doping-related sanctions, will compete under the acronym ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and will be third to enter after Greece and the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR). According to the Japanese alphabetical order, UAE (Arabu Shuchokoku Renpo) will come before Algeria (Arujeria). Australia (Osutoraria) and Austria (Osutoria) will be No. 37 and 38, respectively, coming after nations such as Uzbekistan (Uzubekisutan) and Uruguay (Uruguai). Has Japan always utilised the same alphabetical order? No. Athletes competing at Japan's past three Olympics - the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano - marched according to the English alphabet to promote international understanding. According to the Kyodo news agency, "the decision to thrust the Japanese language into the spotlight at the iconic parade of athletes was made in the hope of promoting Japan's culture on the world's biggest stage." Has the chosen language led to any notable incidents at past opening ceremonies? Both Spanish and Catalan were the official languages at the 1992 Barcelona Games. But due to the political sensitivity around the issue of language in the region, the French alphabetical order was used for the Parade of Nations. Not to offend either group, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and Barcelona mayor Pasqual Maragall spoke French at the press conference on the opening day instead of Spanish or Catalan. According to the Chinese stroke system used at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the five athletes from Guinea were the first ones to enter after openers Greece. Australia were 202nd, just ahead of Zambia, according to the number of strokes required to write the first character of the country's names. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Greek team - usually the first to enter - entered last as the hosts. According to the Greek alphabet, the two-athlete strong Saint Lucia ( ) were the first ones to enter before a crowd of 77,000 - almost half the size of the small island nation's population. "It will be an awesome feeling to be the first team into the stadium in front of the world," marathoner and Saint Lucia flag bearer Zepherinus Joseph told The Guardian on the eve of the ceremony. "Usually, we are at the end of the alphabet and the TV companies go to an ad break when St. Lucia appear, but this time the world will get a chance to see us and our flag."
64 After a sedate start by the Indians at the Tokyo Olympics on the 10th day, PV Sindhu and the men's hockey team lifted the spirits of the crores of people in the country with their wins in their respective encounters, on Sunday. The victories were historic in their own way. Shuttler Sindhu scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to collect two medals at the Olympics after defeating China's He Bingjiao (21-13, 21-15) for the bronze medal. Later, Manpreet-led hockey team made it to the Olympic semifinal after 49 years. They beat Great Britain 3-1 to cruise into the last four, on Sunday. The day started with Satish Kumar (+91kg) putting up a gutsy performance against reigning world champion Bakhodir Jalolov, but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek as the Indian boxer made a quarterfinal exit. Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, Satish lost 0-5, but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance. Indian equestrian, Fouaad Mirza, picked up 11.20 penalty points and was placed 22nd after the cross-country round at the Olympics, on Sunday. A good round in the individual showjumping qualifier on Monday will ensure that Mirza, India's only equestrian at the Olympics in over two decades, and his horse Seigneur Medicott remain in the top 25 and make the eventing individual jumping final in the evening. With this win, Sindhu becomes the second Indian after Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals. She had won a silver in the last Olympics in Rio after losing in the final to Carolina Marin. Sindhu had earlier lost to world no. 1, Tai Tzu Ying, in the last four on Saturday. The immaculate Sindhu, who was off colour on Saturday, came back with renewed vigour on Sunday. She has not dropped a single game at this year's Olympics in the five matches that she won and her ten match wins at the Olympics. Incidentally, the most for an Indian badminton player. Saina Nehwal, who won bronze at the London Olympics in 2012, and the only other Indian badminton player to medal at the Olympics, is second with nine. Sindhu is also only the fourth women's singles player to get successive medals at Olympics after Susi Susanti (gold in 1992 and bronze in 1996), Bang Soo-Hyun (silver in 1992 and gold in 1996) and Zhang (gold in 2004 and 2008). Sindhu had looked in tremendous form throughout the tournament and she started off confidently to open up a 4-0 lead in the opening game. She set the tone of the match early and the Chinese player was playing catch up throughout as Sindhu almost led from start to finish. The eight-time former Olympic champions scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win. Great Britain's lone goal was scored by Sam Ward from a penalty corner in the 45th minute. India will take on world champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980 Moscow Games but there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams participated in the event. For a country that gave the world stalwarts like Major Dhyan Chand and Balbir Singh Senior among others, it has been especially painful to watch the hockey teams' Olympic debacles before this edition. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games where they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. It was the edition in which American swimming legend Mark Spitz won seven gold medals, a feat which was overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists at the Olympic Village. Belgium defeated Spain 3-1 in another quarterfinal to seal their place in the last four round. The other semifinal of the men's hockey competition will be played between Australia and Germany. Medals Tally 1 China 24 14 13 51 2 US 20 23 16 59 3 Japan 17 5 9 31 4 Australia 14 3 14 31 5 ROC 12 19 13 44 6 GB 10 10 12 32 7 France 5 10 6 21 8 SKorea 5 4 8 17 9 Italy 4 8 15 27 10 Holland 4 7 6 17 59 India 0 1 1 2 Indians in action today @ the Games ATHLETICS 7.25: Dutee Chand in Women's 200m Heat 16.30L Kamalpreet Kaur in Women's Discus Final EQUESTRIAN 6.00: Eventing Second Hose Inspection 13.30: Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Jumping 17.15: Eventing Individual Jumping Final HOCKEY 8.30: India vs Australia in women's SHOOTING: 8.00: Sanjeev Rajput and Aishwary Pratap Singh ar in Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Qualification 13.20: Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Final
65 Russian wrestler defeated India's Ravi Kumar Dahiya 7-4 in the gold medal match in men's wrestling 57kg category in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya has won the silver medal in his first Olympic Games after losing to Russia's Zavur Uguev in the gold medal match by points. Russian wrestler's strong defence kept Ravi Kumar at bay as the latter tried his level best to break his defence and pin him down for the two-pointers. Uguev took an early lead, first with sliding Ravi out of the circle and then the two-pointer but Ravi stormed back and the match hanged in the balance and went into the second round. In the second round too, Uguev's defence remained decisively strong as he didn't let Ravi have any points from the same and despite another two-pointer for the Indian wrestler, the Russian had a three-point lead and he won the gold medal on points, thereby handing silver medal to India. Ravi Kumar Dahiya became the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal after Sushil Kumar's win in the 2012 London Olympics. By the virtue of this win, India won its 5th medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, PV Sindhu's bronze medal win in women's singles Badminton, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze medal in boxing and Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal.
66 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday congratulated the Indian women's hockey team for their performance at Tokyo Olympics and announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh each to nine players from the state. Taking to Twitter, Manohar Lal Khattar said: "Haryana Government will award Rs 50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympics women's hockey team who are from Haryana. I congratulate the Indian team for their praiseworthy performance at the Tokyo Olympics." The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match at the ongoing Games in Tokyo on Friday. With this loss, the Indian women's team finished fourth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, meanwhile, team Great Britain captured their third consecutive Olympic medal. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no. 4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men's team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching a bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany.
67 Readers write in from Calcutta, and Chennai Fall short Sir - It was heartening that P.V. Sindhu managed to bag a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. But it was sad to see her slip during the semi-final. She seemed a bit sluggish on the court after her win in the quarter-finals; it did not look like she had the determination to fight, to go for gold. Encouragingly, the hat-trick of goals by Vandana Kataria enabled the Indian women's hockey team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympics after four decades. Now that the men's hockey team has won the quarter-final against Great Britain, fans are hoping the women's team, too, will play with aggression and confidence while taking on Australia in the upcoming game. We wish them all the very best. Indians are desperate for more medals. N. Mahadevan,Chennai Sir - Every four years, forecasts are made on how many medals India will win at the Olympics, a practice that leads to widely polarized opinions. A leading data and technology company, Gracenote, had foretold that India would finish the Tokyo Olympics with 19 medals, four of them being gold. Such hopes seem to have little chance of being fulfilled. Be it because of a faulty rifle, poor judging or loss of focus, the majority of Indian athletes have not been able to gain a toehold as far as the Olympics are concerned. This is no different from any other year at the Olympics. But it is pointless to blame athletes for this. India does not encourage sports, and those who take it up have to brave insurmountable odds. One can hardly play well when one bears the burden of having to perform just to live a decent life. Players must be given the assurance that irrespective of how they perform, they will have livelihood options that enable them to take care of themselves and their families. More important, sports must be made integral to education. At the school level, 'physical training' classes that pass for sport education prepare students for next to nothing. In most schools there is one measly PT period a week, which is taken lightly since its grades do not have an impact on the student's promotion at the end of the year. If India wishes to win more medals, sports must be taken seriously early on in life and be taught on a par with the curriculum. Riya Ghosh,Calcutta Not fun and games Sir - Cricket may be India's most popular sport, but nothing matches the ability of football to tug at a Bengali's heartstrings. A huge part of the emotionally high-strung club games at the Maidan tents and the Salt Lake stadium were the snacks and sweets that were ferried around for the supporters. While football fans are now missing the snacks as much as the games, few are thinking of the fate of the vendors whose livelihoods have been disrupted drastically. Fans should come together to help them out. Kallol Pramanik,Calcutta
68 Bajrang Punia beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match as India earned their sixth medal in Tokyo Olympics. Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia beatKazakhstan'sDaulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match in the men's 65kg freestyle category in a one-sided game as he overcame his opponent's strong defence, again and again, to gain two-pointers one after another to give India their 6th medal of the Tokyo Olympics. Bajrang gained an early lead of one point because of the activity clock and one more point in the first three minutes after he took Niyazbekov outside the circle. However, a 2-0 lead doesn't mean anything as it is just one move away. Bajrang, however, was more threatening, more dominant in the second round. Overcoming his opponent's several attempts of defending his leg-hold, Bajrang didn't leave any chance and kept him at hbay and eventually won the match on points 8-0. Bajrang had lost his semi-final bout to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev 5-12 and then had to go through the medal match bout to win the bronze. With Bajrang's win, India have levelled their London 2012 medal tally following Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze in Boxing, PV Sindhu's bronze in Badminton women's singles, Indian men's hockey team's bronze and Ravi Kumar Dahiya's silver in wrestling.
69 Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58 metres throw in his second attempt. It has happened, it has finally happened. What India has rued for years - an Olympic medal in Track and Field has finally happened. India'sNeeraj Chopra won a Gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58-metre throw in his second attempt. Neeraj, who was in the second position in the chronology started the event with a stupendous throw of 87.02 metres at the Olympics Stadium in the final on Saturday. With these two throws, Neeraj had almost confirmed a medal for India as he bettered his 86.6-metre throw in the qualifying round and many believed that if he equals that mark in the final, he could win a medal. But it was just the start. However, it felt like it was Neeraj's day and not for anyone else as themedal favourite, Germany's Johannes Vetter as after a couple of throws of sub-82, he failed to throw it more than that and remained at No 9 and failed to qualify for top eight. Finland's Lassi Etelatalo started with two throws of around 79 metres and qualified for the next round with an 83.28-metre throw, but couldn't go beyond that. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, another top-scorer in the qualifying round,after a decent start with 82.40 even after it didn't come out of his hand as he would have liked to, bettered it with 84.62 in his third throw and qualified for the top 8 at fifth position, but couldn't go beyond that. However, it was the Czech Republic duo ofJakub Vadlejch and Vtezslav Vesel, who took silver and bronze medals with them respectively.Vesel qualified at second position for Top 8 with a throw of 85.44 but couldn't better it, however, Vadlejch did with a superbthrow of 86.67 metres in the final round to confirm a second place. But, in the end it was Neeraj Chopra, who in just his second attempt ensured a Gold medal for India, first in Track and field, second overall after Abhinav Bindra's medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in shooting. By the virtue of this win, this is also India's best-ever Olympics as far as the medal tally is concerned as this was the seventh medal in Tokyo Olympics.India have surpassed their London 2012 medal tally of six medals following Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze in Boxing, PV Sindhu's bronze in Badminton women's singles, Indian men's hockey team's bronze and Ravi Kumar Dahiya's silver in wrestling.
70 It will be an action-packed Saturday for the Indian team on Day 2 of Tokyo Olympics with hockey team, Mirabai Chanu, boxer Vikas Krishnan in action. The much-awaited 32nd Olympic Gamescommenced on Friday in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. However,it wasn't a dream start for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. ArcherDeepika Kumari who is ranked at the top position in the world rankingsfinished at the ninth spot in the qualifying round. Meanwhile, it will be an action-packed Saturday for the Indian Olympics team on Day 2 of theTokyo Olympics 2020, with the hockey team, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Vikas Krishnan, shuttler Sai Praneeth and Shooter Apurvi Chandela in action. Manika Batra, India's table tennis star will also play her first match on Saturday. Let's have a look at the schedule of Indian athletes on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Mixed Team Eliminations (Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari) -6:00 AM Men's Doubles Group Stage - Group A (Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin) -8:50 AM Men's Singles Group Stage - Group D (Sai Praneeth vs Zilberman Misha) -9:30 AM Women's Welterweight Round of 32 (Lovlina Borgohain) -8:00 AM Men's Welterweight Round of 32 (Vikas Krishan) -9:54 AM Men's Pool A - India vs New Zealand -6:30 AM Women's Pool A - India vs the Netherlands -5:15 PM Women's -48kg Elimination Round of 32 (Sushila Devi) - 7:30 AM Men's lightweight double sculls Heats (Arjun Lal, Arvind Singh) - 7:50 AM Women's 10m Air Rifle Qualification (Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela) - 5:00 AM Women's 10m Air Rifle Final (Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela - if qualify) - 7:15 AM Men's 10m Air Pistol Qualification (Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma) - 9:30 AM Men's 10m Air Pistol Final (Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma - if qualify) - 12:00 PM Men's and Women's Singles Round 1 (G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee) -5:30 AM Mixed Doubles Round of 16 (Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra) -7:45 AM Women's Doubles - Sania Mirza, Ankita RainaSumit Nagal - Men's Singles Women's 49kg Medal Round (Mirabai Chanu) -10:20 AM.
71 India will be the 21st on the list of the contingent during the March past, which has been decided according to the Japanese alphabetical order. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Today is the official opening of the much-awaited 32nd Olympic Games.India is fielding more than 120 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. Last known,28 athletes and six officials of the Indian contingent are to join at the opening ceremony. The Olympics Games will see the participation of around 11,000 athletes from 205 countries. They will be competing for 339 gold medals across 33 sports. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 will see India's largest contingent to feature at the mega sporting event ever. At the opening ceremony, India will be 21st out of 205 contingents in the Parade of Nations.The United Arab Emirates will be among the first 10 entrants, while Australia and Austria will enter after Ukraine and Uruguay. So how is the order decided as to who will enter at which spot during the opening ceremony? India will be the 21st on the list of the contingent during the March past, which has been decided according to the Japanese alphabetical order. The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language of the host city. The announcers first call out a country's name in French and English - the official languages for the Games according to Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter and then the chosen language. As an exception, the Parade of Nations always begins with Greece, the host of the ancient Olympics and the first modern one. The host nation also always closes out the marching ceremony. This year, in order to promote future editions, the IOC wanted the next two Olympic hosts to precede Japan. So, the order at the end of the ceremony will be 2028 hosts United States, 2024 hosts France and Team Japan. In another change to the traditional marching order, the Refugee Olympic Team will follow Greece at number two. The teams will enter according to their names in Gojuon - Japan's fifty-sound phonetic order, which is also used in dictionaries. India (Indo in Japanese transliteration) will march in at No 21, with boxer Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh as flag-bearers. The Russian contingent will compete under the acronym ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and will be third to enter after Greece and the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR). Russia hasbeen disallowed to use the country's name, flag, and anthem due to doping-related sanctions, According to the Japanese alphabetical order, UAE (Arabu Shuchokoku Renpo) will come before Algeria (Arujeria). Australia (Osutoraria) and Austria (Osutoria) will be No 37 and 38, respectively, coming after nations such as Uzbekistan (Uzubekisutan) and Uruguay (Uruguai). In the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano also athletes marched according to Japanese alphabetical order.
72 India's No. 6 seed PV Sindhu will take on China's No. 8 seed He Bing Jiao in the Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on Sunday evening. Sindhu lost her semi-final 21-18, 21-12 in 40 minutes to world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. He Bing Jiao went down to compatriot and top seed Chen Yu Fei of China 21-16, 13-21, 21-12 in 79 minutes in the other semi-final. PV Sindhu had reached the final of the Rio 2016 Olympics badminton women's singles, and went down to Carolina Marin of Spain to finish with the silver medal. Head-to-head As per the Olympics.com, World No. 7 PV Sindhu has a 6-9 win-loss record against the world No. 9 and 24-year old He Bing Jiao. The 26-year old Indian won their most recent meeting at the World Tour Finals in straight games in December 2019 to end a string of three successive losses to the Chinese player. He Bing Jiao, who plays left-handed, won the women's singles bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships in Nanjing. PV Sindhu has shown added dimensions to her game at the Tokyo Olympics. She has moved and defended better, appeared calmer and made fewer errors. She has also not been pinned to the deep backhand corner much, apart from in the match against Tai Tzu Ying. A powerful forehand crosscourt slice played from behind the shoulders has stood out among Sindhu's weapons. It remains to be seen if these will be enough to overcome the challenge posed by He Bing Jiao. Timings (IST) August 1, Sunday Women's singles bronze medal match PV Sindhu (India) vs He Bing Jiao (China) - 5:00 PM IST Where to watch The Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match will be telecast live on the Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India. Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 3 HD, Sony TEN 4 and Sony TEN 4 HD will broadcast Tokyo 2020 in regional languages. Live streaming of the Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match will be available on Sony Liv. Live broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.
73 Indore: On the second day of Tokyo Olympics, Free Press welcomed former international hockey player and coach Mir Ranjan Negi as guest editor on Saturday. A goal keeper, who went on to coach the Indian men and women hockey teams, Negi was quite optimistic about the hockey team representing the country in Olympics this time. "It is the best team in last many years to go to Olympics. I am quite confident of podium finish this time," he said confidently. He was all praise for weight-lifter Meerabai Chanu, who won silver medal in 49 kg category on Saturday. "This is a good start for the country and good omen too," he said. For the beginners, mega-hit movie Chak De India was inspired by Negi's exploits, with Shahrukh Khan essaying his role in reel life. He was quite happy with Team India's 3-2 victory over New Zealand in their opening match at Tokyo Olympics. "It is a positive sign. Team's exploits will kick start revival of Indian Hockey," he said. He was optimistic that not only men but even women team would surprise people. "The situation of women hockey is not good. It's same as was depicted in Chak De movie. No sponsors, no support. But still the girls have been performing well. They keep on boosting each other and play as a terrific unit," he said. Negi, who hails from Indore, was part of the coaching team that guided Dhanraj Pillay-led team to Asian Games title triumph in 1998. He was also the coach who guided the Indian Eves to the Commonwealth Games title in 2002. Turning to men's hockey team, he said that the current team was playing as a unit. Every player was performing, particularly the senior players. At global tournaments like Olympics, seniors hold the key for any team as they always perform at the big stage, he added Praising goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who executed a full-stretch dive to his right to deny New Zealand the equalizer and moments later, pulled off another remarkable save in open play to ensure Team India's winning campaign on Saturday, he said, "Goalkeeper is quite crucial and Sreejesh is currently playing his best hockey." The former coach also applauded Harmanpreet who was denied hat-trick in the opener by New Zealand goalkeeper's brilliance. "Currently, we are fourth best team in the world. The good thing is we have beaten the top three teams in major tournaments, so it's good sign for us," he said. He gave his semi-final list as "India, Holland, Germany and Australia with Argentina and Spain being the dark horses." Though he was quite hopeful of a good medal haul, he refused to give the numbers. "It is quite tough. All sports activities across the globe have remained in limbo for the last one year owing to corona. So we are unaware of how players have prepared for this tournament.
74 India's Sumit Nagal will begin his Tokyo Olympics men's singles tennis campaign against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin. The Indian women's doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will face the Ukrainian Kichenok twin sisters Liudmyla and Nadiia in the first round, as reported by Olympics.com. While Istomin is currently ranked 197 as compared to Nagal's ranking of 160, the 34-year old Uzbek has been ranked as high as world No. 33 at one point. He had also defeated the current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in five sets in the 2017 Australian Open. If he manages to get past Istomin, the 23-year-old Nagal will run into world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev. The 25-year old Russian has been a finalist at the Australian Open and the US Open. Leander Paes was the last Indian to reach the second round in men's singles at the Olympics, back in Atlanta 1996 when he went on to win the bronze medal. While it will be Ankita Raina's maiden Olympics, Sania Mirza will be playing her fourth Olympics and is quite familiar with her women's doubles first-round opponents. Sania Mirza had paired up with Nadiia Kichenok to win the women's doubles title at the Hobart Open last year, the tournament where the Indian veteran had made her comeback after childbirth. At the Qatar Open in March this year, Sania Mirza, partnering with Andreja Klepac, had defeated the 29-year old Kichenok sisters in the round-of-16 in the women's doubles. In the second round, Mirza and Raina could face the eighth-seeded American pair of Nicole Melichar and Alison Riske. In the quarter-finals, they could be up against the third seeds from the Netherlands, Kiki Bertens and Demi Schuurs. Tennis matches at Tokyo 2020 will be held from 24 July to 1 August at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo. While the men's singles category at the Tokyo Olympics has 64 players and will be played over six rounds, women's doubles has 32 players and will involve five rounds. Indian tennis draw for Tokyo Olympics Men's singles Round 1 Sumit Nagal vs Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) Women's doubles Round 1 Sania Mirza/Ankita Raina vs Liudmyla Kichenok/Nadiia Kichenok (Ukraine)
75 Actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Kapil Sharma, Preity Zinta, Sagarika Ghatge, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher and others left heartfelt messages for Indian men and women's hockey teams, lauding their performances at Tokyo Olympics. Several Bollywood stars joined in to wish the Indian men and women hockey teams for reaching the semi-finals in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. While the women's team defeated Australia on Monday to seal the spot for the first time in the history of Olympics, the men's squad beat Great Britain at the Olympics for the first time in 49 years. Shah Rukh Khan, who played the popular role of Kabir Khan in Bollywood hit film Chak De India, wished Team India in all his wit on Twitter. He wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Others who took to their social media handles and wrote messages for the real-life champions included actors Preity Zinta, Kapil Sharma, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher and others left heartfelt messages for Team India on social media. Chak De India actor Sagarika Ghatge also wished the team. Congrats to the women & men of #HockeyIndia for reaching the Olympic semifinals. So excited & extremely proud of both our Women & Men's teams Here's wishing them all the very best & hope to see history being written in Blue #Olympics2020 #JaiHind #GoForGold #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/BN9iOEFZJv - Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) August 2, 2021 What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020 - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 2, 2021 Randeep Hooda tweeted, "What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020." Preity Zinta wrote, "Congrats to the women & men of #HockeyIndia for reaching the Olympic semifinals. So excited & extremely proud of both our Women & Men's teams. Here's wishing them all the very best & hope to see history being written in Blue #Olympics2020 #JaiHind. #GoForGold #Tokyo2020." Here's how the B-town stars celebrated India's big win at the Olympics. Goosebumps and tears. What a moment #hockeyindia #Olympics2020 - Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) August 2, 2021 - Vineet Kumar Singh (@vineetkumar_s) August 2, 2021 Proud of you girls n boys #hockeyindia #OlympicGames #TokyoOlympics #IndiaAtTokyo2020 - Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) August 2, 2021 Yahoo!!! This is awesome.... congratulations #TeamIndia #hockeyindia #OlympicGames # - Karenvir Bohra (@KVBohra) August 2, 2021 Indian men hockey team will play world champions Belgium on Tuesday for a place in the final, hoping to win the first medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. On the other hand, the women's team will face Argentina on Wednesday.
76 PV Sindhu is taking on the second seed and World No1 Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying in Badminton Women's singles semi-final in the Tokyo Olympics. One of the biggest matches of the Tokyo Olympics as far as India's medal hopes are concerned, Badminton star PV Sindhu is up against the World No 1 and the second seedChinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semi-final in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. Sindhu had defeatedJapan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals in straight sets 21-13, 22-20 in a game that lasted 56 minutes. The reigning World champion won the first game easily by Yamaguchi stormed back in a spectacular game of long rallies, which was just classic mouthwatering badminton for 15 minutes. However, Sindhu came back from 18-20 and won four points in a row to finish 22-20 and advance to the semi-final. PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying Live streaming The match is currently being telecasted on Sony Ten1, Sony Ten 2 and is being live-streamed on SonyLiv on Olympics Spotlight 2. Live Scores and Updates Sindhu took an early lead against Tai and won a flurry of points after which the Taipei star came back to take a 13-12 lead in the first game. Sindhu came back to level; the scoreline and took two points in a row but Tai smashed back and brought the scoreline to 14-14. The encounter went back and forth, however, Tai came back with some outstanding smashed and gameplays to win the set 21-18 and led 1-0 in the semi-final. Sindhu started the second set on a strong note with a 2-1 lead but Tai came back strongly as she overcame every Sindhu smash to respond it with much more aggression and took a 10-6 lead before her one shot got entangle in the net. But, Tai was relentless in her pursuit as she didn't give Sindhu any chance and kept playing with her and her stamina. In the end, Tai Tzu Ying proved too good for Sindhu, defeating her 21-18, 21-12 in two straight sets.
77 Indian athletes are making everyone proud with their performance at the Tokyo Olympics. After PV Sindhu scripted history in the women's singles bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday (August 1), the women's and men's hockey teams qualified for the semis. Bollywood celebs are lauding and praising this milestone on social media. BOLLYWOOD CELEBS LAUD INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Bollywood celebs including Anushka Sharma, Preity Zinta, Taapsee Pannu and more have lauded and appreciated the Indian women's hockey team for reaching the semis in the Tokyo Olympics. This is India's biggest win in women's hockey as the team is playing in the Olympics only for the third time. While Anushka wrote, "India creates history again!! Congratulations to the Indian women's hockey team on qualifying for the semi-finals (sic)," Taapsee Pannu wrote, "Chakk de!!!Into the semis with Rani Rampal and her queens!!! (sic)." Disha Patani tweeted and wrote, "What an inspirational performance by the Indian women's hockey team! #Tokyo2020 #GirlPower (sic)." What an inspirational performance by the Indian women's hockey team! - Disha Patani (@DishPatani) See more wishes here Earlier on Sunday (August 1), the Indian men's team also reached their first-ever semi-final at the Olympics. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Taapsee Pannu, Disha Patani hail Indian women's hockey team for reaching Olympic semis
78 Men's singles player Sumit Nagal was blown away by world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. While India's hopes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ended as far as tennis is concerned, new possibilities have emerged as Sumit Nagal and Sania Mirza have found their names in the entry list of the mixed doubles events. However, this does not mean that they will be playing in the event. The draw is set to be announced on Tuesday. India tennis so far: On Monday, men's singles player Sumit Nagal was blown away by world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. Nagal had entered the second round after having won his first-round match against Uzbekistan Denis Istomin. This was India's first men's singles win at Olympics in 25 years. Nagal's exit came after the doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina were knocked out in the first round of women's doubles. They were defeated by Ukrainian twins Nadiia and Liudmyla Kichenok on Sunday. Sania and Ankita had won the first set and were leading 5-2 in the second set and yet went on to lose the match 6-0, 6-7, (8-10). Tennis at Olympics: Elsewhere, World No.1 and Wimbledon champion Ash Barty lost against Sara Sorribes-Tormo of Spain, 4-6, 3-6, while home favourites in Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori progressed. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Alexander Zverev, and Petra Kvitova all made winning starts to their singles campaigns.
79 The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands that are piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor. She said such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but violations of the council's guidelines are treated as a violation of government rules. Indian athletes, including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names with neither permissions nor contracts. On Thursday, the men's hockey team defeated Germany to claim the bronze medal, which many brands and corporate CEOs said “felt like a gold”. Team captain Manpreet Singh dedicating the medal to Covid-19 warriors too became a trend. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies like Brandonwheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. “Advertisers shall not, without permission from the person, firm or institution under reference, contain any reference to such person, firm or institution which confers an unjustified advantage on the product advertised,” states the ASCI code.
80 Novak Djokovic squares off with Hugo Dellien; Indian men's hockey team take on New Zealand in opener with an eye on the first podium finish in 41 years. The day of the Opening Ceremony started with Deepika Kumari and the Indian men's archery contingent grabbing the limelight. Kumari grabbed the ninth spot in the women's ranking event, while Pravin Jadhav outlasted Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai. Jadhav finished ahead of the experienced Das and Rai as India managed ninth-place finishes in both the men's team and mixed team rankings of the Games archery competition at the Yumenoshima Park. Now it's time to look at the next day's featured events of the Tokyo Olympics: Shooting (Women's 10m air rifle) (5:00 am IST) - Apurvi Chandela and Elevanil Valarivan Both Chandela and Elavenil will enter the competition with plenty to look forward to, despite the occasional blips here and there. Three-time ISSF World Cup gold medallist Chandela has endured a bit of rough time in the run up to the Games, having contracted Covid-19 and then testing negative just in time to board the flight for the Indian team's training-cum-competition tour of Croatia. The 21-year-old Elavenil, world number 1 and considered one of the country's finest rifle shooters after some fine performances since breaking into the senior team, will certainly fancy her chances too. Hockey -- Pool A (Men's) (6:30 am IST) - India vs New Zealand Ranked fourth in the world, India would be looking to break their over four-decade-long Olympics medal drought. Their last of the eight gold medals came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. India will play New Zealand in their opener on Saturday and Mandeep said they are geared up for the job ahead. "We are now allowed to interact with other teams. Today was the first day we also got to play on the main competition pitch and no doubt, it is a fantastic stadium. We are eager to play our first match against New Zealand," he said. Tennis (Men's Singles) (7:30 am) -- Novak Djokovic vs Hugo Dellien Novak Djokovic will take on Bolivia's Hugo Dellien in the first round on Saturday. The Serb will be aiming for his first ever Olympic gold medal, with an eye on the historic Golden Slam, provided he wins the US Open down this year. Djoker, after winning a bronze in 2008, failed to secure a podium finish in 2012 and 2016. Djokovic is in prime form this year after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Taking Djoker down won't be easy. Tennis (First round) -- (7:30 am IST) Sumit Nagal vs David Istomin Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the opening round of the men's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics. Nagal, who qualified for the Games last week after large-scale withdrawals, was pitted against the lower-ranked Uzbek in the draw on Thursday. A first-round win for the 23-year-old Indian, ranked 160, could see him face second-seeded Russia's Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Alexander Bublik in his opening round match. Table Tennis (Round of 16) ( 8:30 am IST)-- YJ Lin/IC Cheng vs S Achanta/Manika Batra The world number one duo from Chinese Taipei are a tough challenge for A Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra. The Asian Games bronze-medallists were brilliant in the Olympic qualifiers and ended up winning the competition. However, in the run up to the Olympics, Sharath and Manika got only three sessions to train together before they boarded the flight to Tokyo. Men's 10m air pistol (Qualification) (9:30 AM) -- Sourabh Chaudhuary & Abhishek Verma The highly-skilled Saurabh Chaudhary will have a few Olympic and world champions standing in his way to glory at sport's biggest showpiece. Alongside Abhishek Verma, Chaudhary will be part of the first competition day action in the men's 10m air pistol event. Table Tennis (Women's Singles) (12:15 pm) -- Manika Batra vs Tin-Tin Ho The unseeded Manika is expected to beat Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in the first round and is drawn to meet 20th seed Margaryta Pestoska in the second. If she manages to win her second match, the 62nd-ranked Indian meets 10th seed Sofia Polcanova from Austria for a place in the pre-quarterfinals. Weightlifting (49kg) -- Mirabai Chanu (10:20 am) Former world champion Mirabai Chanu will be in focus for her high medal-winning chances at the Tokyo Olympics as the Indian hopes to exorcise the ghosts of a disappointing Rio Games and write a new chapter in the country's weightlifting history. Competing in the 49kg category, Chanu is being considered a sure shot medal prospect for India as her personal best of 205kg is only second to China's Hou Zhihui's effort of 213kg in the eight-woman field. The hype is similar to the one five years ago in Rio, where Chanu could manage only one lift from her six attempts and thus could not get an overall total in the women's 48kg event. The diminutive Manipuri will desperately hope for a different script this time round, one that involves a podium. Here are the other events India will be part of: Equestrian - Individual dressage grand prix day 1 Table tennis - Men's singles preliminary round - 5:30 Table tennis - Women's singles preliminary round - 5:30 Archery - Mixed team round of 16 - 6:00 (Pravin Jadav and Deepika Kumari vs Chinese Taipei) Judo - Women's 48kg all rounds - 7:30 Rowing - Men's lightweight double sculls heats - 7:50 Boxing - Women's welterweight - 8:00 Shooting - Men's 10m air pistol qualification - 9:30 Archery - Mixed team medal rounds - 10:45 Shooting - Men's 10m air pistol final - 12:00 Badminton - Men's doubles -- Chirag Shetty & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy vs Lee Yang & Chi-Lin Wang (Taipei) - 12:20 Badminton - Men's singles - B. Sai Praneeth vs Misha Zilberman (Israel) - 13:00 Boxing - Men's welterweight round of 32 - Vikas Krishan vs Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa - 15:54 Hockey - India Women vs Netherlands - 17.15
81 After Sahara's exit in 2018, the Odisha government took over the reins of sponsorship of the national hockey teams both at junior and senior levels. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has a special significance in the Indian sporting arena for not just sending the largest contingent of players representing the country, in the biggest sporting event, but also the remarkable performance of the players in a variety of sporting events. But what has particularly been overwhelming is theentry of the men's and women's hockey teams in the Olympics semifinals. Today we look at the success story behind India's performance in the field of hockey after a lull of more than four decades. But before we delve into the details, you all must have noticed Odisha written in bold letters right in the front of the jersey of both men and women hockey players. So what is the connection of Indian hockey with the state of Odisha? Moments after the Indian women hockey team created history by beating three times hockey world champion Australia in thequarter-finals of theTokyo 2020 Olympics, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sent out a congratulatory video message for the players. The success of both hockey teams holds a special significance for Odisha. To begin with,the current vice-captains of both the men's and women's hockey teams are from Odisha. With the likes ofIndian professional sprinterDutee Chand, Odisha has also over the years produced several national-level hockey players. The state has simultaneously stepped up to develop the sports infrastructure and sponsor national teams. After Sahara's exit in 2018, the Odisha government took over the reins of sponsorship of the Indian national hockey teams both in the junior and senior levels. The Odisha government signed round Rs 150 crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's hockey teams over the next 5 years. This was the first time that a state government had decided to sponsor a national team. In collaboration with the Tata group, in 2018 the state government set up theOdisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (HPC) at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. It was opened with a vision to groom the upcoming sporting talent in hockey and produce world-class sportspersons. This Centre has commenced its boys' resident programme at the Kalinga Hockey Complex for which 31 cadets have been selected for the programme. It also has 12 grassroots centres, at which over 2,500 young trainees are being trained. The state has hosted major hockey tournaments in the last five years. It hosted the World Cup in 2018, the 2014 Champions Trophy, and the Hockey World League final in 2017. Odisha forthe second time is the host ofthe Men's Hockey World Cup, which is to be played in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in 2023. In Rourkela, the Patnaik government is building the country's biggest hockey stadium with a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators that will be named after tribal leader Birsa Munda. Odisha is also planning to lay a synthetic hockey turf in each of the 17 blocks of the Sundargarh district. Of the 20 sports hostels in the state, two in Sundargarh are dedicated to hockey. The first-ever Khelo India University Games was held in Odisha in which 4,000 athletes from 176 universities participated in 211 events in 17 sports events over a period of 10 days.
82 Reigning world champion P.V. Sindhu advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of women's singles badminton event at the Tokyo Olympics after beating Hong Kong's NY Cheung in a group J match in Japan on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Indian, who had claimed a silver medal in the last edition in Rio, prevailed over world No. 34 Cheung 21-9 21-16 in a 35-minute match to top the group. This was Sindhu's sixth win over Cheung in as many meetings. World No. 7 Sindhu will meet Denmark's world number 12 Mia Blichfeldt, who topped Group I. Sindhu has a 4-1 head-to-head record against Blichfeldt, whose only win against the Indian was at the Yonex Thailand Open earlier this year. The shuttler from Hyderabad, seeded sixth, had defeated Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel in her opening match. Sindhu used her repertoire of strokes, and her ability to vary the pace troubled the Hong Kong player, making her run around the court. The Indian will then come up with a perfect placement. Cheung got a few points with her deceptive cross court returns but she committed many unforced errors to have any chance of putting pressure on the Indian. Sindhu led 6-2 early on before galloping to 10-3. She committed a rare error before entering the interval at 11-5. The Indian didn't have any trouble after resumption as she zoomed to 20-9 and pocketed the opening game when Cheung netted a return. Cheung was looking to script an incredible turnaround in the second game as she extended the rallies and with Sindhu too struggling to control the shuttle, the duo moved 6-6 and 8-8. Sindhu also made judgement errors before sending the shuttle wide again to hand over a slender one point advantage to her opponent. Cheung tried to put pressure on Sindhu but the Indian wriggled out with her better strokeplay which included a few straight down the line smashes. Sindhu moved to 19-14 before grabbing six match points but she missed the lines again and netted a shot to squander two match points before sealing it with a smash. Later in the day, B. Sai Praneeth will take on M Caljouw of Netherlands in his second and final men's singles Group D match. On Tuesday, Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy suffered a heartbreak after they failed to qualify for the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics despite winning two matches in their group. The Indian duo had emerged victorious against the England pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in their final Group A match but still missed out on qualifying for the quarterfinals after the three pairs ended with same points and games won was considered to identify the qualifiers.
83 Golfer Aditi Ashok also in medal contention; Gold continues to escape the grip of Indian wrestlers For the Indian contingent, the ongoing Tokyo Olympics has been about more than just medals. And today was one such day where the spirit of sport silencedthe demanding clamour for a podium finish. The women's hockey team might have lost to Great Britain, but their performance had a rare pedigree which will be forever bookmarked in Games history. Popular names from all walks of life took to social media to praise Rani Rampal and company. Looking beyond hockey, Bajrang Punia might have lost in the semi-final, but there's still hope for another podium finish. But the gold medal continues to escape Indian wrestlers at the Olympics. As far as golfer Aditi Ashok is concerned, keep your eyes peeled on her performance on Saturday. Here's a round-up of all that went down in Tokyo today: India women in history books The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as they lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off but the stout-hearted side managed to record their best ever finish at the Games. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no.4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. India's best performance in the Olympics before this was a fourth-place finish in the 1980 Moscow Games but there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams competed in a round-robin format and the top two featured in the final. The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men's team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany. The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at half time. But a desperate Great Britain gave their everything in the second half and scored two goals to snatch the match from India's hands. Shot at bronze for Bajrang, Seema Bisla out Bajrang Punia's perennial leg-defence weakness came to haunt him at the big stage as he lost the men's freestyle 65kg semifinal to three-time world champion Haji Aliev here on Friday and he will now fight for bronze medal. Rio Olympics bronze-winner Aliev of Azerbaijan consistently attacked Bajrang's legs and twice got himself into position from where he could roll the Indian comfortably for easy two-point throws. Trailing 1-4 after the first period, Bajrang looked for a big attack but Aliev very smartly effected a counter take down, placing his shoulder close to the thighs of Bajrang and threw the Indian for a huge 8-1 lead. The Azerbaijani was losing steam and Bajrang got two take-downs to reduce the deficit but the required big move never came. Under 30 seconds left in the bout, Bajrang desperately looked for an attack but Aliev did not let him do that by gripping him in strong body-lock. Debutant Indian wrestler Seema Bisla could not find a way to get out of the defensive trap of Tunisia's Sarra Hamdi and lost her 50kg opening round 1-3. The 27-year-old could not make her moves as Hamdi applied the body lock to great effect, never allowing Seema to initiate a strong attack. There were hardly any moves in the bout with Hamdi getting two of her three points on push out and one on Seema's passivity. Hope from Aditi Ashok Indian golfer Aditi Ashok carded a three-under 67 in the third round to hold on to the second position and remain in strong contention for the country's maiden Olympic medal in the sport on Friday. The Bengalurean, who has her mother, Maheshwari, on the bag, shot five birdies against two bogeys and moved to 12-under, three strokes adrift of leader Nelly Korda of USA who carded a two-under 69 in the penultimate round. Four players -- New Zealand's Lydia Ko (66), Australia's Hannah Green (67), Demark's Kristine Pederson (70) and Japan's Mone Inami (68) -- shared the third spot with totals of 10-under 203. Aditi fired five birdies and two bogeys on the day. She was three-under after picking up shots on fourth, sixth and seventh holes before bogeys on ninth and 11th pulled her back. However, she made amends with birdies on the 15th and 17th to keep herself in the hunt for a historic medal. The other Indian golfer in fray, Diksha Dagar, remained in the lower half of the leaderboard after an erratic one-over 72, her third successive over-par card of the week. Athletics: High and dry National record holder Priyanka Goswami was among the leading pack around the halfway mark but eventually finished 17th while compatriot Bhawna Jat ended at 32nd in the women's 20km race walk event. In the men's 50km event, Gurpreet Singh pulled out after the 35km mark due to cramps under hot and humid conditions as the Indian race walkers ended their disappointing campaign. The 25-year-old Priyanka clocked 1 hr 32 minute 36 seconds, well outside her personal best of 1:28:45 which she had come up with during the National Open Race Walk Championships in February. The event was held under hot and humid conditions. Priyanka was in the leading pack from the beginning and was the front runner when she crossed the 8km mark but slowly she dropped down later on. Bhawna, on the other hand, failed to keep pace with the leading pack and was behind from the beginning to eventually end at 32nd with a time of 1:37:38. The 25-year-old Indian has a personal best of 1:29:54.
84 New Delhi, July 22: Ten Indian hockey enthusiasts including two from Mumbai who were to land in Tokyo on the opening day of the Olympics, will now have to watch hockey on television. All of them were going to watch and support the Indian hockey teams at any Olympics for the first time. These ten persons in the 30 to 65 age group from different Indian cities are members of the core group of the One Team One Dream (OTOD) and were looking forward to watching and cheering for the Indian men and women hockey team. Following an announcement by the Japanese government that no spectators would be allowed at the Olympic Games, they abandoned their travel plans. They were to be joined by 11 other OTOD members and Persons of Indian Origin from Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. One Team One Dream is a group of passionate hockey lovers who follow the Indian national hockey team around the world. The OTOD was formed in 2010 after some hockey lovers met during the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in India. Their dream is to see India win at the Olympics and win the World Cup again,The group is easily recognised at the hockey events with their white turbans and white head scarves. Mr Leo Anthony Devadoss, a banker turned Coordinator of the group who once represented Karnataka State at the junior level, said that while 18 OTOD members had booked in a private apartment in Shinagawa and made an advance payment of Rs 2 lakh, their friends from Canada, Finland and Malaysia had made their own arrangements. Mr Anthony has also volunteered as a coach at the Dhanraj-Ballal hockey academy. " Mr Raja Namdhari , a sports goods dealer in Delhi is actually the driving forcing behind One Team One Dream. Our OTOD members were excited about meeting after a year and a half. We last met at FIH Pro League in Bhuvaneshwar in January 2020. It is not just about the money we lost. We are worried about the opportunity we lost. We are confident that the hockey men's team will make it the victory stand and we hope that the Indian women's hockey team will make it to the quarter finals. They have it in them to beat any team in the world. We are lucky that the Mumbai based sole ticketing agent of the Tokyo Olympics has promised to reimburse a certain per centage of the ticket money which will be refunded by the Tokyo Olympic Committee. The apartment owner has been very understanding and he has agreed to refund us the amount. It is however a very huge disappointment but it has been softened by the knowledge that the no spectators policy at the Games is in the interest of public health. We were also looking forward to buying tickets for boxing, wrestling and badminton.'' Mr Devadoss acknowleded help from Mr Siegfred Aikman, the national coach of the Japanese men hockey team. " Mr Iakman has been a good friend of OTOD. We met Mr Aikman, designated as the FIH (International Hockey Federation) High Performance coach, at the 2018 World Cup in Bhubaneshwar. He was guiding us regarding our tour to Tokyo. So was my friend's mother, Dr Yashoda, a second generation Japanese paediatrician who runs a private clinic in Bengaluru. She was also to go to Tokyo to watch the games as many of her archer son, Rakshak's friends were going but even she is not going now as there are no spectators.'' Mr Devadoss said that the OTOD group is now planning to meet in Bengaluru from August 1 to 6. " We will miss the live action at the Oi hockey stadium would have been only three miles from Shinagawa city where we were to stay. We will now be watching the quarter finals, semi finals and finals of the men and women's hockey team. We have arranged for a big screen to be put up just for our group. On August 4, we have arranged for a lunch and reached out to 17 Bengaluru based hockey Olympians. Of them, eight hockey Olympians including Arjun Halappa, Sabu Virkey, Poonacha, Bharat Chetri, Ashish Ballal, Nikin Thimaiyya V.R. Raghnunath and S.K. Uthappa have promised to join us. Hopefully, we will be able to persuade them to join us in cheering for the Indian women hockey team at the semi final match the same day.''
85 Athletes are taking a stand against it by wearing unitards instead of leotards, and in one case, tight shorts have replaced bikini bottoms. While medal tallies, new world records and spectacular upsets generally dominate the conversation around Olympics, this time, another important topic has repeatedly come into the limelight - the 'sexualisation of sport'. The phrase first hit headlines when the German women's gymnastics team wore unitards as their uniform at the sporting event, instead of the traditionally favoured leotards. Flipping a new page The German women's gymnastics team made headlines with their chosen wardrobe. The four-member team, comprising Sarah Voss, Pauline Schaefer-Betz, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui, wore red and white full-body unitards to the qualifying rounds of the Olympics. The team had a discussion before the event and decided to wear the unitards as a "move that was designed to promote freedom of choice and encourage women to wear what makes them feel comfortable." The team had worn unitards to their practices as well. It had also worn the unitard at the European championships in April. The unitard and leotard are both skin-tight garments usually made of lycra and spandex, their stretchability making them the perfect choice for gymnastics and dance. The unitard worn by the German team is essentially a skintight suit, which covers the athletes' body right from the ankles to their wrists - a departure from tradition. Women gymnasts for the longest time have worn the bikini-cut leotard, a skin-tight one-piece attire that covers the torso and leaves the thighs bare. French acrobat Jules Leotard is often credited with the creation of the eponymous attire, worn by women athletes and dancers for more than a century. Male gymnasts, on the other hand, wear body-covering outfits. The Olympic rule book allows athletes to wear full-body suits, but the rare times that an athlete has chosen to opt for it has been because of religious reasons. The case of the German women's gymnastic team is not the only costume controversy that made headlines in the sporting world in recent times. The Norwegian women's beach handball team, which was competing at the European Beach Handball Championship, decided to shed the usual bikini-bottoms worn for a match for a pair of tight shorts. The Norwegian team decided to go with shorts as the bikini-bottom was not suitable for a sport that involves diving in the sand, and additionally, was seen as degrading to women by some. The team was fined 1,500 euros by the European Handball Federation for their decision. The Norwegian Handball Federation is fully supporting their team and has accepted the fine. Pop star Pink has also offered to pay the fine on behalf of the team. The decision of the German women's team has received widespread global support. Celebrated US gymnast and four-times Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles has applauded it, but said she will keep wearing the bikini-cut leotard as it 'makes her appear taller while competing'. As a direct outcome of the German team's stand, the Olympic Broadcasting Services has called for a clampdown on the showcase of "overtly sexualised images of female athletes". The International Olympic Committee have refreshed and updated their 'portrayal guidelines', and have asked for 'gender-equal and fair' broadcasts of their events. The new guide points include suggestions like: "Do not focus unnecessarily on looks, clothing or intimate body parts"; and 'reframing or deleting a 'wardrobe malfunction' ... to respect the integrity of the athlete."
86 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had to suffer disappointment when she finished outside the medal bracket after 72 holes of the women's individual event by just one shot. Who is she, and how did she miss out on an Tokyo Olympic medal? After being in second position for almost the whole duration of the tournament and raising hopes of an unexpected podium place, Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had to suffer disappointment when she finished outside the medal bracket after 72 holes of the women's individual event by just one shot. Nevertheless, it was a hugely creditable performance by the 23-year-old, who matched some of the best players in the world on such a big stage under intense pressure. In fact, there was some speculation that the tournament could be decided after 54 holes due to inclement weather. In that case, Aditi would be coming home with a silver medal. Who is Aditi Ashok? The Bengaluru native is currently the 200th-ranked woman golfer in the world. She plays on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LPGA Tour in the United States. She featured at the 2016 Rio Olympics as well, finishing 41st. Aditi has three LET titles to her name and two on the Indian circuit, both of which she won as an amateur. She is the first Indian to play and win on the LET and finished second on the European circuit in 2016, also clinching the Rookie of the Year honour. She has been recording high finishes on the tough LPGA Tour as well, but a maiden win has eluded her so far. How did Aditi Ashok make it to the Tokyo Olympics? Though the Tokyo Olympics field was limited to 60 players, it was not totally based on world rankings. The aim was to get players from as many countries as possible to show the broad-based and global popularity of golf. The top nations - such as the United States and Korea - could only send a limited number of their top players so many of the big names missed out, with some even choosing to give the Olympics a miss. Aditi was placed 45th in the list of players eligible for the Games. The only other Indian in the field was Diksha Dagar, who finished tied 50th after four rounds. The men's tournament, which was held earlier during the Olympics, had two Indian participants in Anirban Lahiri (tied 42nd) and Udayan Mane (56th). How did Aditi miss out on a medal? Golf is a game of fine margins. Very often, inches are the difference between a putt dropping into a hole or just lipping out. Aditi was fighting for a podium place against some of the best players in the world. Eventual gold medallist, Nelly Korda of the United States, who led almost from start to finish, is the world no. 1 and a Major winner. Silver medallist Inami Mone is ranked 28th while New Zealand's bronze medallist Lydia Ko is ranked 11th. It must be emphasised that in such an elite company, Aditi didn't choke or falter. It's the top players who raised their games to claim their medals. Aditi dropped just five shots over the four days but if one has to be super-critical, four of them came in the final two rounds. With rounds of 67, 66, 68 and 68, the Indian was consistent throughout. What may have worked against her was her inability to make any birdies over the final four holes on Saturday. In comparison, Mone and Ko each had two birdies and a bogey over that stretch. The one shot gained proved decisive in Aditi being edged out of the playoff to decide second and third places. Did Aditi's game betray her on the final stretch? By her own admission, driving off the tee is not Aditi's biggest strength. She is an excellent putter and displayed this prowess throughout the competition. She was frequently missing fairways on Saturday, which made it difficult for her to get her approach shots close to the hole. She scrambled well for the most part, but with Mone and Ko shooting 65s in the final round, Aditi's 68 fell short of what was required. In the final analysis, if something will give her sleepless nights, it's the missed putt on the 17th hole. In her estimation, she hit a perfect putt and was expecting it to drop, but maybe the golfing gods were not on her side on that one. She had an outside chance of a birdie from 25 feet on the last hole, and gave it a go, but it wasn't meant to be. How will Aditi's performance impact the bigger picture in Indian golf? The Olympics is the biggest stage in the sporting world and many people, who may not be interested in or understand the intricacies of golf, would have been following Aditi's progress as there was a chance of a medal. Though she missed out, it could increase interest in India and show the wider world that India can also produce quality woman golfers. Indian male golfers have made their presence felt on the international tours off and on, and Aditi's achievement will show that the sport has a wide base in the country across both genders.
87 The women's team, led by Rani Rampal, have improved by leaps and bounds in the last five years India's men's and women's hockey teams will begin their campaigns on Saturday. While Manpreet Singh and Co. take on New Zealand in a Group A match early in the morning, the women's team face tough opponents in the Netherlands in the evening. Going by form and current ranking, the men start as favourites against New Zealand as after 2016 Rio Olympics, the Manpreet Singh-led side has beaten the Black Sticks eight times out of the 11 encounters between the two sides. But India's chief coach Graham Reid has asked his men to stay on guard and take one match a time in pursuit of the podium finish here. "New Zealand never give up. This attitude of theirs makes them dangerous opponents," said Reid. Former India player Viren Rasquinha, the other day, sounded bullish on the team's chances of winning a medal after 41 years. "This is the best chance for a medal. Our last chance was in Sydney Olympic Games when we missed out on a place in the semi-finals. This team has improved consistently and beaten all the top teams over the last Olympic cycle," he said during an interaction facilitated by Sony. The women's team, led by Rani Rampal, have improved by leaps and bounds in the last five years. "Rani is a great leader and a lot relies on her shoulder. She has to inspire the entire forward line. She cannot do it alone," Rasquinha said. Badminton battles All eyes will be on the highly skilled Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma in the men's 10m air pistol event. But before that, the fate of Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan - in the women's 10m air rifle event - will be decided. A good outing for either of them means India will win its first medal in the Tokyo Games. In badminton, men's singles player B. Sai Praneeth and the pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will be in action. The 13th-seeded Praneeth will hope to make a dream Olympic debut when he begins his campaign against Isreal's Misha Zilberman, ranked 47th. In men's doubles, Chirag and Satwik will go up against Chinese Taipei's world No. 3 Lee Yang and Wang Chi Lin. PV Sindhu begins her quest to bring the elusive gold medal on Sunday. In weightlifting, a lot of hope will be on Mirabai Chanu, a favourite to win a medal in the 49-kg category.
88 Here's a round-up of all that went down at the Games on day five Going by all that's happened at the Tokyo Olympics today, there's hope for more medals for the Indian contingent. And the forerunners are PV Sindhu, Deepika Kumari and pugilist Pooja Rani. But there's a dissapointing twist to the tale as well. The Indian hockey women's team slumped to their third straight defeat, going down 1-4 to Great Britain, and B Sai Praneeth collapsed 14-21 14-21 to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands in 40 minutes for his second defeat in Group D. Here's a round-up of Indian athletes participating in the Olympics on day five of competitions: Archery: Deepika Kumari beats Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (USA) 6-4 in second round The world number one archer survived some anxious moments before getting past the US teenager and keep Indian medal hopes alive. Deepika lost the first set by one point but she bounced back strongly with three 10s in a row to take a 4-2 lead. She, however, failed to wrap up the match in the fourth set as she misfired a six in her second arrow. The 18-year-old American made it 4-4, winning the set by one-point (25-24). In the winner-takes-all fifth set, Deepika had two 9s to start with before finishing with a poor 8. Needing a 10 in her last arrow to force a shoot-off, Jennifer signed off with a nine in what was a promising campaign for the American teenager. Tarundeep Rai beat Oleksii Hunbin (Ukraine) 6-4 in men's individual first round match, and then lost to Itay Shanny (Israel) in the shoot-off in second round. Pravin Jadhav beat Galsan Bazarzhapov (Russian Olympic Committee) 6-0 in men's individual first round, but lost to Brady Ellison (USA) 0-6 in the second round. Badminton: PV Sindhu qualifies for the pre-quarterfinals, Praneeth bows out Reigning world champion PV Sindhu stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of women's singles badminton event but B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign ended in agony in the men's competition. Sindhu, who had claimed a silver medal in the last edition in Rio, beat world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 in a 35-minute match to top Group J. However, 13th seed Praneeth failed to bring his 'A' game to the table once again, going down 14-21 14-21 to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands in 40 minutes for his second defeat in Group D. The world no 15 Indian had earlier lost his opening round to Israel's Misha Zilberman. World no 29 Caljow, with this win, topped the group to qualify for the knockout stage. Only the group toppers advance to the knockout stage. Boxing: Pooja Rani storms into the quarters Two-time Asian champion Indian boxer Pooja Rani (75kg) out-punched Algeria's Ichrak Chaib in her opening bout to enter the quarterfinals of her maiden Olympic Games. The 30-year-old Indian clinched it 5-0, thoroughly dominating a rival 10 years her junior. The Haryana-boxer was in command with her right straights and also benefitted immensely from Chaib's lack of balance in the ring. All three rounds were a story of Rani's domination as Chaib, also appearing in her maiden Olympics, just could not figure a way to connect cleanly. All Rani had to do throughout the bout was counter-attack as Chaib failed spectacularly in trying to hit powerfully, her wild swings mostly missing the target area. Hockey: Third straight loss for India eves The Indian women's hockey team wasted chances galore to lose 1-4 against defending champions Great Britain, their third consecutive preliminary stage defeat which reduces the side's chances of qualifying for the Olympic quarterfinals. The Indians were guilty of wasting opportunities in their first two games and the trend continued on Wednesday at the Oi Hockey Stadium as Great Britain punished them through strikes from Hannah Martin (2nd and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute) and Grace Balsdon (57th minute). This Great Britain's second consecutive win in Pool A. For India, Sharmila Devi scored the lone goal in the 23rd minute. The Indians needed at least a point from this game to be safe but they now will have to win their remaining two matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. Rowing: Arjun, Arvind fail to qualify for medal round Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh failed to qualify for the men's lightweight double sculls final after finishing sixth and last in the second semifinal. Arjun and Arvind clocked 6:24.41 to finish last in the six-team semifinal 2 at the Sea Forest Waterway. The top three pairs in each of the two semifinals qualify for the final. Arjun and Arvind have, however, produced the best-ever Olympic performance by Indian rowers by reaching the semifinals. They will finish at least at the 12th spot. While Arjun assumes the role of the bower, Arvind is the team's stroker. The two had finished fifth in their heats on Saturday. The event includes two rowers in a scull boat using two oars each. The long, narrow and broadly semi-circular in cross-section boats help to reduce the drag. Sailing: KC Ganapathy, Varun Thakkar languish The Indian pair of K Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar languished at 18th after four races in the men's skiff 49er sailing event. The Indian duo finished 18th, 17th and 19th in the three races on Wednesday. They finished 18th in the first race on Tuesday in 19-team race at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. Eight more races and a medal round remain in the competition. On Tuesday, Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan finished way behind the leaders, ending at 22nd and 33rd spot in the respective events after six races. Saravanan finished 23rd and 22nd in the fifth and sixth race in the men's laser event while Kumanan was 32nd and 38th in the two races of the women's laser radial event.
89 Indian shuttler PV Sindhu will face China's He Bingjiao in the Bronze medal match of women's singles after losing her semi-final against Tai Tzu-Ying. Indian Badminton star player PV Sindhu is still alive in the Tokyo Olympics and is under medal contention as she plays in the Bronze medal match against China's He Bingjiao on Sunday. Sindhu was outplayed by the second seed, World No 1, Chinese Tapei'sTai Tzu-Ying, in the semi-final of the women's singles event. Sindhu's flawless campaign came to a stuttering halt as Tzu-Ying was just too good on the day for the Indian shuttler, who won a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Sindhu was exceptional in the first set and responded to Tzu-Ying shot for shot and the set was heading towards a close finish as it was tied at 16-16 at one stage but the Tzu-Ying just finished the game on a high and took the set 21-18. The second set was more of one-way traffic as Tzu-Ying didn't give Sindhu any chance and attacked her every strength and won the game 21-18, 21-12 and qualified for the final. While Sindhu was out of the Gold medal contention, the medal hopes are still alive as she plays in the bronze medal match. The match will start in the evening on Sunday, here are all the details of the match. When will PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match start? ThePV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match will begin at 5 PM IST on Sunday, August 1. Where will PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match be played? ThePV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match will be played at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1. Which TV channels will broadcast PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match? The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
90 'You've got to learn to survive a defeat. That's when you develop character.' This was Mantra of the Indian women hockey team, who silenced all the critics by upstaging the mighty Australians 1-0 to make history and book their place in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics hockey. After three defeats in the league, the three wins thereafter - against Ireland, South Africa and Australia, made the difference for Rani Rampal and her girls. Playing cool and completely composed, these girls made Australians look mere spectators as they took to the field on Monday. "They were amazing and the comeback after three defeats with three wins, shows the grit, determination and the positive thinking by the entire team," said former Indian skipper and coach Joaquim Carvalho while talking to FPJ soon after the match. "I would say that the defeats were wake up calls for these girls, who have changed the face of Indian women's hockey with this achievement. I am sure they have more to prove," added Carvalho, who feels this is the stepping stone for hockey to get a facelift in India. Both men and women are just one match away from a medal, and going by the approach, hockey pundits are sure medals in hockey are not far way for India. While women scripted history, the men's team defeated Great Britain on Sunday to enter the last four following a 41-year gap. Coming into the match, the odds were totally against India, as world No 2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them in the last eight round. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the win, against a side which had everything in their favour. The North Pitch of Oi Hockey stadium, had all Indians, including the think tank consumed in the moment. While Australian women was on the knees well aware of what had struck them. It was scene of Agony and Extacy, as the Indians team walked out from the pitch, every individual whether Indian or not, in whatever role he or she was at the venue, gave them huge round of applause. Calling it perfect team work which did it for Indians, the Moscow gold medal winning team member MM Somaya, "It is the entire team, from the goal keeper all the players. They all contributed to the victory. But I would faulter if I fail to mention Savita Punia under the Indian bar who was exceptionally good," said Somaya who feels from here any team can. "It's the biggest moment for Indian hockey. Men's and women's team in semis. I'm super proud of the team," said skipper Rani Rampal after the match. "This team is like a family, including the coaching staff. Our entire country supports us and everybody's prayers are with us," an elated Gurjit Kaur the goal scorer. Their route to semis Men: 25 Jul 2021: India lost to Australia 1-7 1 Aug 2021: India beat Great Britain 3-1 (QF) Women: 28 Jul 2021: India lost to Great Britain 1-4 2 Aug 2021: India beat Australia 1-0 (QF) India at a glance Athletics Dutee Chand 7th and last in women's 200m Heat 4; fails to qualify for semifinals. Kamalpreet Kaur sixth in women's discus final with a best throw of 63.70m. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza 25th in eventing jumping individual qualifier; 23rd in final. Shooting Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar 21st and Sanjeev Rajput 32nd in men's 50m rifle 3 positions qualification; fail to qualify for final. Medals tally 1 China 29 17 16 62 2 US 22 25 17 64 3 Japan 17 6 10 33 4 Australia 14 4 15 33 5 ROC 12 21 17 50 6 GB 11 12 12 35 7 France 6 10 7 23 8 Germany 6 6 11 23 9 South Korea 6 4 9 19 10 Holland 5 7 6 18 62 India 0 1 1 2 Indians in action today @ the Games ATHLETICS 5,50: Annu Rani in women's javelin throw Qualification 3.45: Tajinderpal Singh Toor in men's shot put Qualification HOCKEY 7.00: India vs Belgium in men's semifinal WRESTLING 8.30: Sonam Malik vs Bolortuya Khurelkhuu (Mongolia) in women's 62kg. Live on Sony Ten 1 HD/SD, Sony Ten 2 HD/SD. Doordarshan Network will also broadcast the same in India.
91 Gold was the colour of Alexander Zverev's Olympic debut. It was the shade of his mettle too. The German dominated with his serve, dropping just 11 points on his delivery, to power to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who knelt on the court, his face buried in his palms at the end of the 81-minute contest, was in stirring form as he became the first German man to win a singles gold. Zverev said, “I couldn't feel anything. I wasn't playing for myself. I was playing for my whole country. This is so much bigger than anything in the tennis world — in the sports world.” Zverev, who secured a rare win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, rallying from a set down, became the second German to win an Olympic singles gold, matching Steffi Graff's achievement at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Boris Becker and Michael Stich finished on top of the podium in the men's doubles in 1992. Zverev has struggled with a string of personal and professional issues in the last couple of years. He was accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, Russian Olya Sharypova, a former junior tennis player. He also had a messy change of management besides earning the tag of being difficult to coach. In the US Open final last year, the German led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love, he was even serving for the Championships at 5-3 in the fifth set, but the Austrian rallied to the title. The Tokyo victory then, the biggest of the world No. 5's career, should lift him as much for the prize as for the emphatic manner in which it was achieved. Meanwhile, Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova won a 'very special' first gold medal for the Czech Republic in tennis, ending Belinda Bencic's dreams of a double triumph for Switzerland with victory in the women's doubles final. Siniakova and Krejcikova, the top seeds at Tokyo 2020, and three-time Grand Slam champions, beat Bencic and Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-1 on a sweltering afternoon. The mixed doubles gold went to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev, who beat Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev in an all-Russian final 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 13-11.
92 As India celebrates the entry of the men's and women's hockey teams in the Olympics semifinals, the success holds a special significance for Odisha, which has been at the forefront of supporting the sport. Not only are the current vice-captains of the men's and women's teams from Odisha, but the state has over the years produced several national-level hockey players and stepped up to develop infrastructure and sponsor national teams. When in 2018, the state government decided to sponsor the Indian national hockey teams (men/women, junior/senior) for a tenure of five years, replacing Sahara, it was the first time that a state government had decided to sponsor a national team. The government had pledged Rs 150 crore for the purpose. "The state government would like to continue to partner and provide the best facilities to the teams. The main objective is to bring back the glory of Indian hockey. Indians have an emotional connection with hockey, which is believed to be the national game of the country. Therefore, Odisha will extend all possible support in the coming years," Secretary, Sports and Youth Department, Government of Odisha, Vineel Krishnan said. The state has hosted major tournaments in the last five years. It hosted the World Cup in 2018, the 2014 Champions Trophy, and Hockey World League final in 2017. It is also the host for the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup, to be played in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. "Not just in India, but even on the world forum, for a state to step up and support a sport, the contribution of Odisha is immense. The fact that national teams have camped in Bhubaneswar ahead of major tournaments is a manifestation of how we have progressed in terms of infrastructure and logistical support," former Indian hockey captain and chairman of Hockey Promotion Council Dilip Tirkey said. With the World cup in mind, the state cabinet in March this year approved the 'State-level Sports Infrastructure Development Project' for development of infrastructure at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, and construction of International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, at an estimated cost of Rs 356.38 crore. The Rourkela stadium will be the largest in India, with 20,000 seating capacity. In 2018, collaborating with Tata group, the state government established a Hockey High Performance Centre at Kalinga Stadium. It also has 12 grassroot centres, at which over 2,500 young trainees are being trained. Of the 20 sports hostels in the state, two in Sundargarh are dedicated to hockey. The state government is now working to set up 17 astro turfs in all 17 blocks of the district. "Indians used to dominate hockey till the arrival of synthetic turfs. It is important for our kids to start playing on synthetic turfs. Therefore, we are investing Rs 200 crore for 20 hockey training centres. The state will provide professional coaching based on sports science from a young age," Krishnan said. The state has over the years produced greats like Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Lazarus Barla and Sunita Lakra. The current Indian team has Birendra Lakra, vice-captain of men's team, and Deep Grace Ekka, vice-captain of women's team. The common link between them all is their home district of Sundargarh. In Sundargarh, a mineral district in northern Odisha, hockey is more than just a sport. With the recent performances at the Olympics, the district has erupted in joy. "We get queries about hockey even from remote villages. Due to the pandemic, we could not conduct the talent search, but enquiries have not ceased. We are confident that with the infrastructure development and overall boost to the sport, we will produce more and more national players from here," said Sundargarh District Sports Coordinator and senior hockey coach Milton Bilung. "Deep was 11 when she started training under me. Over a decade a lot has changed. With the current boost to the sport, many children are more interested in hockey," Tejkumar Xess, senior coach of the state hockey team and Deep's uncle, said. Veteran players are also rooting for talent from other districts. "Of late, players have emerged from Deogarh and Sambalpur as well, but we wish to focus on districts like Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri as well, and set up nursery training centres," Tirkey said. "As a coach, the only gap we feel is the lack of coaches for all districts of the state. We are just four coaches. If every district has a coach, healthy competition within districts will help develop our young players better," Xess said.
93 A group of about 50 morning walkers and hockey enthusiasts were elated the moment men's and women's hockey teams made into semi-finals and decided to cheer for the teams irrespective of the results. On Thursday morning, while India defeated Germany in a nail-biting match to claim bronze in the Olympics, the team of morning walkers celebrated the victory in a 'special dress' designed for the occasion. Likewise, former hockey players who represented the state in national events, opined that this will certainly boost the national games and will urge the government agencies to develop the infrastructure. The day men's and women's hockey teams entered into semi-finals, these hockey enthusiasts, who have been meeting each other every day on morning walk at Central park, decided to wear a 'special dress' and wave the tricolour. “It is a proud moment for our countrymen. Of course, this will urge the government to develop more infrastructure and the corporates to shell out money from their CSR funds for hockey. It was a thrilling match and we enjoyed every bit of it,” said Pawan Sharma, one of the members of the group. Mahendra Singh, another member from the group, said, “The way our women's team is playing, they are surely going to get a bronze. It is high time that government agencies and corporates come together to boost the infrastructure in hockey.” Meanwhile, former players also advocated the need to improve facilities for hockey and athletics. “It is a pity that in many of the grounds in India, they don't even have separate washrooms for girls. Men's team played well but what has surprised me the most is the commitment of the girls to hockey. With this performance, I am sure hockey will get its glory back,” said Ashok Mehta, a former hockey player who had represented Rajasthan in various national events and played at various positions, including centre forward and right full back. Former players were glued to their TVs since morning and kept discussing the match. “It was a thrilling contest. I literally forgot everything this morning to witness this historic moment. I am sure the girls will also make us proud on Friday,” said DK Sharma, a former hockey player from Rajasthan who had played as right back.
94 Farhan Akhtar congratulated the Indian women's hockey team instead of the men's hockey team for winning a bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. He tweeted 'go girls' but later deleted it. However, the screenshot of his tweet has gone viral on social media now. FARHAN AKHTAR MISTAKENLY CONGRATULATES INDIA WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Soon after the Indian men's hockey team won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Farhan Akhtar too posted a message. But, instead of the men's team, he praised the Indian women's team. Farhan Akhtar's deleted post read, "Go girls. So proud of teamindia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal.. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 Hockey (sic)." The actor then posted another tweet that read, "So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey (sic)." So proud of for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) On Farhan Akhtar's recent congratulatory post, netizens have started a meme fest. Take a look at some of them: - Gunasekhar (@Gunned21) Honest mistake - Aman Goel (@Merci_Arsene) Don 3 Chahiye Mereko !! - Tausif (@TausifSRKian01) - sailor (@sailorsmoon) - Keshav (@keshavcric) Jawed bhai inko bronze nahi mila hai. - Nilesh (@coolneel99) The Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. It's after 41 years that the Indian hockey team has won a medal at the Olympics. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Farhan Akhtar congratulates India women's hockey team, deletes tweet, screenshot goes viral
95 The Indian men's hockey team on Thursday rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after the gap of 41 years, match of the ongoing Games in Tokyo. Right now, the heart of every Indian is brimming with pride. This is the team's third bronze medal. After their stupendous win at the Olympics, congratulatory messages started pouring in from Bollywood celebrities and political leaders. #ChakDeIndia started trending on Twitter after Indian Men's Hockey team's historic win. Netizens have taken to social media to laud their marvelous effort. Chak De India became a slogan of sorts for millions of people, especially hockey fans. Chak De India was a 2007 sports drama that starred Shah Rukh Khan as the coach of the Indian women's national field hockey team. Directed by Shimit Amin, the film released in 2007. The film also starred Vidya Malavade, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge, Chitrashi Rawat and Anaitha Nair. Fans started flooding social media with words of praise for the Indian national men's hockey team. Take a look at some of the best tweets below: history created by it's really proud moments as a Indian - sachin yadav (@sachinyadav_00) CHAK DE INDIA song stealing limelight in background!!! - SRK Fan (@SRKxSK) Congratulations india - (@JyotiTh53324034) This is what called patience, hardwork and belief. We are proud of team India yeah its bronze for us at - We Move (@Addicted_To_Leo) History created what a comeback Breath Taking Moment Well Done India - CA Durgesh Kumar (@DK_IndiaHope) Emotions of 130 Crore Indians is Represented in this moment - ABDUL (@AbdulSRKian01) India defeated Germany to win bronze in an edge-of-the-seat match in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic #ChakDeIndia trends online after Indian Men's Hockey team's historic win. Best reactions
96 Men's sport in India may be in need of urgent bucking up - an Olympic medal has not been won since London 2012. In this period, spanning the Games in London, Rio and Tokyo, Indian sportswomen have added seven medals across four sports. PV Sindhu has now become the first Indian woman to win a medal at successive Games. The success of women at the Olympics has meant a broadening of the pyramid base from the traditional hubs. It isn't just the wrestlers from Haryana, gymnasts from the east, shuttlers from Hyderabad and lifters from Manipur. Tokyo 2020 has also turned the glittering spotlight on a fencer from Chennai and a boxer from Assam. With the best of sport now available on smartphones, ease of communication because of social media and hyper-efficient search engines, there's no telling when and where a dream gets kindled, watching women sports stars perform and win consistently. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar didn't just dream up a high difficulty vault for the Rio Olympics, she took her effort to the logical conclusion, came within striking distance of a medal. Sindhu ensured that Saina Nehwal's bronze was upgraded to silver and elevated badminton to a mainline television sport, before she returned to the Olympics for a bounce-back bronze. Perhaps the greatest first day at the Olympics for India was when Mirabai Chanu demolished her demons of failure from four years ago to chase down a weightlifting silver, a score of years after Karnam Malleswari's feat barely registered. Mary Kom refuses to go gently into the fading dusk of her career at 38. Another pugilist from the Northeast, Lovlina Borgohain from Assam, has picked up the baton. At the start of Week 2, all eyes are on wrestler Vinesh Phogat, five years after Sakshi Malik salvaged India's twelve-day-long zero count at Rio. Most hearteningly, India's women's hockey team has come to the party, beating mighty Australia. It seems women go to the Olympics focussing on the podium, and work backwards on the effort needed to get as close to the target as possible. Keenly aware of the deficiencies of opportunities and facilities, and of the slim chances they might be afforded given societal traditions, they don't waste time to get going. Like Nehwal and Mirabai, they take disappointment to heart, and return to work harder. Like Lovlina and Sakshi, they go out there, fearless but without hubris, not giving themselves the cushioning of a "next time" - the sort of second-chances, for instance, that this time's medalless Olympic debutant Saurabh Chaudhary or Amit Panghal might be glibly given. PT Usha, Sania Mirza, Anju Bobby George - they are not just bright stars streaking across TV screens, but role models for countless young women. PV Sindhu went to eight majors and brought home medals from seven. India's sportswomen deliver on their promises, time and again. They get the job done.
97 India fought back brilliantly from a two-goal deficit to beat Germany 5-4 in a high-intensity goal-fest to win bronze at the Olympics on August 5. Thursday (August 5) proved to be one of the most memorable days in the history of Indian hockey. The men's team, led by Manpreet Singh, defeated Germany 5-4 to win bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. This is India's first-ever medal at the Olympics since 1980 Moscow and 12th overall in the showpiece event. Twitter was swarmed with congratulatory wishes for the team. From the Prime Minister, sporting legends and Bollywood stars, everyone termed the win as historic. However, one person who got it all wrong was actor Farhan Akhtar, who mistakenly congratulated the women's hockey team for the win, instead of the men. Though he instantly releaised his mistake and deleted his tweet, it was too late by then. A few netizens had immediately taken a screenshot of Farhan's 'wrong tweet' and used it to troll the 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' actor on the micro-blogging site. "Super stuff by Farhan Akhtar. As per him today Indian women showed exemplary Fighting Spirit and they have won us 4th medal. Ab log keh rahe honge to sahi he hoga Well, he has deleted the tweet now," wrote a Twitter user. "These tweets are enough to prove that he is on high weed. Male version of @aliaa08 @FarOutAkhtar," tweeted another. "Match bhi dekh liya Karo toofan," tweeted yet another user. "@FarOutAkhtar was following the hockey match just like the way he knew about what CAA is while attending a protest. #Hockey #hockeyindia #farhanakhtar #TokyoOlympics," wrote another Twitter user. India fought back brilliantly from a two-goal deficit to beat Germany 5-4 in a high-intensity goal-fest to win bronze, the country's first medal in men's hockey at the Olympics after a gap of 41 years. It was a dream come true for billions of hockey fans as India came back from 1-3 down to score an impressive 5-4 win that reminded its fans of the glory days when the Indians were a force to reckon with in world hockey.
98 The following are the reactions from some of the players and coach Reid Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh summed it up best, terming India's come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Germany in the bronze-medal play-off match at the Tokyo Olympics as a "rebirth" of Indian hockey. Others, including captain Manpreet Singh and head coach Graham Reid, too were ecstatic, not holding back celebrations after the stunning win on Thursday morning. The following are the reactions from some of the players and coach Reid: Manpreet Singh (captain): I don't know what to say right now... A fantastic feeling... The effort, the game, we were 1-3 down. I think we deserve this medal. We have worked so hard, the last 15 months were difficult for us also. We were in Bangalore and some of us were down with Covid-19. We would like to dedicate this medal to the doctors and frontline health workers who have saved so many lives in India. It's a great feeling, the best feeling. We came here for the gold, we won bronze... it is still a great thing. It's a great moment for all hockey fans. It's just a start here, it hasn't finished (with this bronze). PR Sreejesh (goalkeeper): This is a beautiful game. We have given the people of India a reason to pick up hockey, to play the game. I was prepared for everything today, these 60 minutes... I'm playing hockey for the last 21 years and I just said to myself one thing: 'Take the experience of 21 years and just play those 60 minutes'. Even for the last penalty corner, I said the same thing to myself: 'Sree, you worked hard for the last 21 years and this is what you want to do now, that one save'. I did it, and we are on the podium now. Harmanpreet Singh (vice-captain): A special moment for every Indian... A big achievement. We have made a lot of sacrifices but our focus was on being mentally stronger. In the last 15 months, we lived as a family in Bangalore. We were completely shut from the outside world. We were just focussed on our job. The women's team has achieved a phenomenal feat. They have already made the country proud. We will definitely go there (to the ground) to support them tomorrow (Friday). Graham Reid (head coach): I know that not just India, this group too has been waiting for a medal for a fairly long time. I know how much hockey means to India and I am privileged to help play a part in that. Before the game, I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens... For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well.
99 While India's men hockey team has made it to the seminfinals of Tokyo Olympics 2020 by beating Great Britain on Sunday, the British High Commissioner to India congratulated Indian Team for entering semi-finals. Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India praising India's hockey team wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations to Flag of India for their victory against Flag of United Kingdom in the Field hockey stick and ball - next stop Flag of Belgium for a Sports medal #Tokyo2020." By beating Great Britain on Sunday, India entered semifinals for first time in 49 years in Tokyo Olympics. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. It was Super Sunday for India as the team coached by Australia's Graham Reid rode on a scintillating performance by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to outwit Great Britain in the fourth and final quarterfinal, setting up a last-four clash with reigning World Cup winners Belgium. Australia take on Germany in the other semifinal. Victory over Belgium will put India in the final for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Olympics when they beat Spain to win their eighth and last gold medal in Olympics hockey. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu became only the second Indian and the country's first woman to win two Olympic medals, securing a bronze after a straight-game win over world no.9 He Bing Jiao of China in the badminton women's singles third-place play-off here. Sindhu, who has returned with medals from each of the big-ticket events such as the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the BWF World Tour Finals in the last five years, outwitted eighth seed Bing Jiao 21-13 21-15 to add a bronze to the silver that she had secured at the 2016 Rio Games.
100 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has appointed Team India's hockey player Vandana Katariya as the brand ambassador of the state's Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development. The announcement was made at a programme organized to felicitate the recipients of the Tilu Rauteli Award and the Anganwadi Workers Award on Sunday. This programme was held at the IRDT Auditorium at Survey Chowk. CM Dhami further stated that the prize money for the aforementioned accolades will be doubled from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 beginning next year. Uttarakhand Education Minister visits Vandana's family Uttarakhand Sports Minister Arvind Pandey paid a visit to hockey player Vandana Katariya and her family in Haridwar district's Roshanabad village and wished her a bright future. He also honoured Vandana's family by presenting them with bouquets and shawls in recognition of their daughter's accomplishment. "Vandana is a role model for today's youth, and everyone should learn from her. Players will soon come from all around Uttarakhand, inspired by her," he said. Arvind Pandey added, "The Uttarakhand government has enacted a sports policy under which government jobs are earmarked for athletes who win medals at the international and national levels. Separate funds are also being arranged for training the players." Uttarakhand govt announces Rs 25 lakh for Vandana Katariya Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh to Vandana Kataria for her stellar performance at the Tokyo Olympics. "We are proud that Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya made an unforgettable contribution to India's great performance in women's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. In recognition of this, she would be given a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh," Pushkar Singh Dhami had said. Read | Graphic Uttarakhand appoints hockey player Vandana Kataria Women, Child Development ambassador
101 The Trinamool Congress (TMC) opposed the renaming of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, saying it was a "dirty trick" by the central government on Friday. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award would be called from now onwards. Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, "This is a dirty trick. Rajiv Gandhi was a martyr. He laid down his life for the country." Continuing the attack on the Prime Minister, the Rajya Sabha MP then suggested that instead of renaming the Khel Ratna, PM Modi should have changed the name of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera after Major Dhyan Chand. WATCH: "It would've been better if they had renamed the Narendra Modi Stadium. That would've been a better tribute to Dhyan Chand," said Sukhendu Sekhar Ray. Major Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. India had dominated hockey for decades on the world stage and they were invincible at the Olympics. Dhyan Chand had played key roles in winning gold medals for India in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Meanwhile, PM Modi's decision to rename the Khel Ratna Award came a day after the in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and hours after the . ALSO READ: WATCH: Graphic 'Dirty trick': TMC opposes renaming of Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand
102 The Indian women's hockey team missed out on the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 despite a tough fight. The team lost 3-4 to Great Britain in the bronze play-off. While the entire nation is sad as the team couldn't make history, they definitely inspired an entire generation. Shah Rukh Khan, who is also heartbroken, shared an inspiring message for the team. SHAH RUKH KHAN SAYS WELL PLAYED INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM While the Indian women's hockey team lost to Britain in the Olympic bronze play-off, they inspired millions with their efforts. Shah Rukh Khan is heartbroken by the defeat, but at the same time impressed with the team's performance. He took to Twitter to share an inspiring message for the team. He wrote, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory (sic)." Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) BOLLYWOOD CELEBS ARE PROUD OF THE INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Many Bollywood celebrities took to social media to express how proud they feel about the Indian women's hockey team. Boman Irani wrote, "You did us proud #WomensHockeyTeam. You have inspired young and old. Takes much more than a medal to do that. #indvsgbr #TokyoOlympics2020 (sic)." You did us proud . You have inspired young and old. Takes much more than a medal to do that. - Boman Irani (@bomanirani) The Indian women's hockey team has done themselves and India proud with a valiant effort at the Tokyo Olympics. Rani Rampal's team lost the Hockey Bronze Medal match 3-4 to the Rio Olympic champions at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Friday. ALSO READ | ALSO WATCH | Graphic Heartbroken Shah Rukh Khan says Indian women's hockey team inspired everyone
103 Criticism follows soon on BJP's policy of renaming everything in sight Hockey wizard's son says sports awards should always be named after sportspersons The Central Government's move to rename the highest sports honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand has won both praise and criticism from the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision through micro blogging site Twitter on Friday, a day after Indian men claimed bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. Ashok Dhyanchand, son of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, has welcomed the move to rechristen the award after his late father. The title, launched in 1991-92, is the highest sports honour one can get in India. Ashok Kumar said it was the right time to take a decision as the nation was celebrating the achievements of men's and that of the women's hockey teams in Olympics. Ashok said, "Sportspersons sacrifice a lot to carry forward the legacy of a game and to make a mark. Rajiv Gandhi was an excellent Prime Minister. It is always suitable to name the sports awards after players." "The decision should have been taken long before. Perhaps, the increasing popularity of hockey because of historic performance of men's team and that of women brought this to PM's notice," he added. "I have always said that my father should have been honoured with Bharat Ratna. I believe now is the time," added Ashok. A Twitter user, AD Dixit (@ADixit0806), said, "Sports award should be named after sportsman of course... what's there to crib about it?" Another user, Aatmasaat (@SarvGunaSampann) wrote, "Yes, yes! Major Dhyan Chand supremacy. #ILoveMyHockey" Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of India. Dhyan Chand played an important role in getting the gold for India at Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Criticism Galore Many have urged Prime Minister to apply the same theory of naming sporting institutions after sportspersons and not politicians to other institutions as well. Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh shared an article about rechristening on Twitter and captioned it, "Earlier the name of Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad was changed to Narendra Modi Stadium. I was surprised when he did it (rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) in the name of Major Dhyanchand ji." A Twitterati @MRRai57714468 said, "Praiseworthy! Now it's time for Narendra Modi Motera stadium, Arun Jaitley stadium and Atal Bihari Vajpayee mountaineering institute, for starters!" Another social media user Rutvik Subhedar (@rutviksubhedar) said, "This is an attempt to divert attention from issues. The renaming of the award will benefit players as much as the renaming of Planning Commission did to people. Same old policy: Rename everything in sight"
104 On the day before a big game, Gurgaon student Abhishek Yadav and his friends would invariably be making plans for a screening of the game in their neighbourhood. All those plans are on track this time too. The difference this time is that it is not for a cricket match, but hockey! In fact, many across the country plan to watch the Indian men's and women's teams battle it out in the Olympic semi-finals today and tomorrow, respectively. Ritika Agarwal, who has never watched hockey before the Olympics, tells us, “Because of COVID, we aren't doing a grand screening but a group of friends will get together, wear India jerseys and watch the games together. It's about cheering for the Indian team at the Olympics. What can be bigger than this?” Most of those making such plans are firsttime fans or people who have very little knowledge of hockey. They are relying upon more knowledgeable friends to help them make sense of the game. “My only knowledge of hockey is from Chak De! India,which I watched years ago. When I watched the women's quarter final, I was surprised to see the game duration is no longer the famous 70 minute. It has quarters. I had to constantly text an office colleague to understand what was happening,” says Pranshu Singh, a Delhi resident. Aatish Malhotra, a cricket fanatic-turned hockey fan, says, “When I learnt the men's team is playing against Belgium, I thought it would be an easy game. It was only after my friend told me that they are the current World Champions, I realised how good they are. The semi final is an early morning game on a working day but I will still go over to my friend's house to watch it.” The hype around these two historic games seems to have taken the sheen off Indian cricket team's upcoming game against England, which begins on Wednesday. Anshu Kumar, a student, tells us, “I am a cricket fan but even I know that Test matches happen very frequently. An Olympic semi final is a once-ina-lifetime event." There are plans for divine petitioning too. Residents of several sectors in Gurgaon organised a havan at a temple in Sector 5 before the men's quarter final and plan to organise prayer meets for both the teams over the next two days. Amid this craze, the loyal hockey fans are ecstatic about this spotlight on 'their' game. Udit Shah, who has been a hockey fan for over two decades, says, “I have been explaining hockey and its basic rules to so many of my friends who have never followed the game. They all want to watch the semi finals now. I couldn't be prouder of the teams. I just hope this newfound fandom for hockey persists even after the Olympics.”
105 On the day before a big game, Abhishek Yadav, a student, and his friends would invariably be making plans for a screening of the game in their neighbourhood. All those plans are on track this time, too. The difference this time is that it is not for a cricket match, but hockey! In fact, many across the country plan to watch the Indian men's and women's teams battle it out in the Olympic semifinals today and tomorrow, respectively. Ritika Agarwal, who has never watched hockey before the Olympics, tells us, “Because of COVID, we aren't doing a grand screening, but a group of friends will get together, wear India jerseys and watch the games together. It's about cheering for the Indian team at the Olympics. What can be bigger than this?” Most of those making such plans are first-time fans or people who have very little knowledge of hockey. They are relying upon more knowledgeable friends to help them make sense of the game. “My only knowledge of hockey is from Chak De! India, which I watched years ago. When I watched the women's quarter final, I was surprised to see the game duration is no longer the famous 70 minute. It has quarters. I had to constantly text an office colleague to understand what was happening,” says Pranshu Singh, a Delhi resident. Aatish Malhotra, a cricket fanatic-turned-hockey fan, says, “When I learnt the men's team is playing against Belgium, I thought it would be an easy game. It was only after my friend told me that they are the current World Champions, I realised how good they are. The semi final is an early morning game on a working day, but I will still go over to my friend's house to watch it.” The hype around these two historic games seems to have taken the sheen off Indian cricket team's upcoming game against England, which begins on Wednesday. Anshu Kumar, a student, tells us, “I am a cricket fan but even I know that Test matches happen very frequently. An Olympic semi final is a once-in-a-lifetime event.” There are plans for divine petitioning, too. Residents of several sectors in Gurgaon organised a havan at a temple before the men's quarter final and plan to organise prayer meets for both the teams over the next two days. Amid this craze, the loyal hockey fans are ecstatic about this spotlight on 'their' game. Udit Shah, who has been a hockey fan for over two decades, says, “I have been explaining hockey and its basic rules to so many of my friends who have never followed the game. They all want to watch the semi finals now. I couldn't be prouder of the teams. I just hope this newfound fandom for hockey persists even after the Olympics.”
106 OLYMPIC WIN When Kannan Bose enrolled into the physical education course at YMCA College, Nandanam, in 2005-06 under Kannan Pugazhendi it was more of a necessity than a career choice. His father, unable to support his son's dreams of pursuing cricket, wanted him to learn physiotherapy. Initially disinterested, Kannan saw how Pugazhendi used to treat injured players and realised it could be a way for him to stay connected to sports. The Little Mount youngster soon learned the ropes of becoming a physiotherapist and his journey culminated on Thursday in a bronze medal when India men's hockey team defeated Germany in a third-place playoff match. Part of the Indian team's support staff, Kannan's presence in Tokyo also ensured Tamil Nadu, which had the record of sending players each time the Indian hockey team won a medal at the Olympics, didn't go unrepresented this time around as well. Kannan though wasn't the only one from TN. Hailing from Coonoor district, video analyst Ashok Kumar C has been an important member of the back room staff for the past two years and preparing the team with vital data about opponents. While Kumar has been a former district-level hockey player, Kannan's initiation into the sport has been accidental. When the India hockey team's physiotherapist David Macdonald quit last September, the team was desperately looking for a replacement. In stepped Kannan on dragflicker Rupinderpal Singh's recommendation and the Chennai-based physiotherapist played a key role in helping the India players stay fit. It was a tricky assignment for Kannan as he didn't have prior experience of working with hockey players, having worked mostly with cricketers till then. Aware of the pitfalls he knew he had to make a difference. “I took it as a challenge. But the players and the coach (Graham Reid) made it a smooth ride as they trusted my methods over these 10 months. I am happy that I didn't let them down as the players hardly suffered any big injuries in the lead up to the Olympics,” Kannan, who will turn 40 on Friday, told TOI from Tokyo. Kumar, who has worked with the India junior boys' and girls' teams earlier, said the dearth of video analysts in hockey incited him to take it up as a profession. “Every year a handful of coaches would emerge in our sport. But video analyst in Indian hockey was unique. So I took it up after completing my mechanical engineering degree from Coimbatore,” the 30-year-old said. With their Olympics assignment done for now, both want to return to their families. While Kumar hasn't seen his family in one-and-a-half years, Kannan was with his four-year old son last February when Hockey India gave the team a two-week break. “I couldn't travel because I contracted Covid. So I can't wait to go back to my family in the Nilgiris and show them the medal,” said Kumar. Email your feedback with name and address to
107 OLYMPIC WIN When Kannan Bose enrolled into the physical education course at YMCA College, Nandanam, in 2005-06 under Kannan Pugazhendi it was more of a necessity than a career choice. His father, unable to support his son's dreams of pursuing cricket, wanted him to learn physiotherapy. Initially disinterested, Kannan saw how Pugazhendi used to treat injured players and realised it could be a way for him to stay connected to sports. The Little Mount youngster soon learned the ropes of becoming a physiotherapist and his journey culminated on Thursday in a bronze medal when India men's hockey team defeated Germany in a third-place playoff match. Part of the Indian team's support staff, Kannan's presence in Tokyo also ensured Tamil Nadu, which had the record of sending players each time the Indian hockey team won a medal at the Olympics, didn't go unrepresented this time around as well. Kannan though wasn't the only one from TN. Hailing from Coonoor district, video analyst Ashok Kumar C has been an important member of the back room staff for the past two years and preparing the team with vital data about opponents. While Kumar has been a former district-level hockey player, Kannan's initiation into the sport has been accidental. When the India hockey team's physiotherapist David Macdonald quit last September, the team was desperately looking for a replacement. In stepped Kannan on dragflicker Rupinderpal Singh's recommendation and the Chennai-based physiotherapist played a key role in helping the India players stay fit. It was a tricky assignment for Kannan as he didn't have prior experience of working with hockey players, having worked mostly with cricketers till then. Aware of the pitfalls he knew he had to make a difference. “I took it as a challenge. But the players and the coach (Graham Reid) made it a smooth ride as they trusted my methods over these 10 months. I am happy that I didn't let them down as the players hardly suffered any big injuries in the lead up to the Olympics,” Kannan, who will turn 40 on Friday, told TOI from Tokyo. Kumar, who has worked with the India junior boys' and girls' teams earlier, said the dearth of video analysts in hockey incited him to take it up as a profession. “Every year a handful of coaches would emerge in our sport. But video analyst in Indian hockey was unique. So I took it up after completing my mechanical engineering degree from Coimbatore,” the 30-year-old said. With their Olympics assignment done for now, both want to return to their families. While Kumar hasn't seen his family in one-and-a-half years, Kannan was with his four-year old son last February when Hockey India gave the team a two-week break. “I couldn't travel because I contracted Covid. So I can't wait to go back to my family in the Nilgiris and show them the medal,” said Kumar. Email your feedback with name and address to
108 Ahead of Wednesday's semi-finals with Argentina, Team India defender calls home to seek her parents blessings Team India defender Nikki Pradhan is going through a mix of emotions ahead of the women's hockey semi-finals against Argentina in Tokyo on Wednesday. Around 5.30pm (IST) on Tuesday when it was 9pm in Tokyo, Nikki rang up her elder sister Shashi Pradhan to share her feelings and seek the blessings of her parents. "Tomorrow is a high-pressure match. She sounded confident for sure. But, I also sensed a bit of nervousness in her tone ahead of the big day. It was 9pm and she was off to bed after dinner and just wanted to speak to us and seek blessings," Shashi told The TelegraphOnline. On Monday, Indian women's team scripted history by entering into semi-final for the first time since 1980 when female hockey began in Olympics. The Indian side thrashed Australia 1-0 in a nail-biting match that went down the wire. On the Indian men's team lost to Belgium by 5-0 in their semi-final match on Tuesday and all eyes are now glued on the women's squad. Shashi, who has played hockey herself, and is currently working for Indian Railway in Ranchi, added that Nikki told her the team morale was high after the quarter-final win against Australia. "But she was upset the team couldn't do well in the earlier matches. Extreme heat conditions could be a reason, she said. She said Monday's match brought back confidence and coordination among team members also improved. In the end, it all depends how they play as a unit on a particular day." Earlier on Tuesday, Shashi and her parents Soma Pradhan and Jitan Devi were at Project Building where the state sports department organsied a function to hand over job letters to 12 sports persons and also provide special cash awards to those taking part in the Olympics. This year, three players-Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete (both hockey) and archer Deepika Kumari _ are representing the country from Jharkhand in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Chief minister Hemant Soren provided their parents with Rs 5 lakh as a token of appreciation. He also promised to sanction more funds after the players returned from Tokyo. "Our beti (girls) who have made it to Olympics are our pride. I have planned many more things for them upon their return," he said, adding that his government was committed to promotion of sports and games in Jharkhand. State sports secretary Pooja Singhal said that out of 40 players who were selected for direct jobs under the new sports policy, 12 couldn't get appointment letters in the past due to technical reasons. "Today, all 12 received their letters. Players were from disciplines like archery, cycling, wushu, athletics and karate. They were inducted as sub- inspectors and inspectors of police," she said.
109 Is this the first time the US and Russia have been involved in an Olympic spat? How have the Americans been with athletes from other nations with tense diplomatic ties? The big story from the first week of Tokyo 2020, is the return of the bitter US vs Russia rivalry. In a throwback to the Cold War era, the two sporting superpowers have crossed swords on field and have also indulged in wars of words off it. Rio Olympics gold-medalist US swimmer Ryan Murphy, after getting dethroned by Russian star Evgeny Rylov, hinted that the race wasn't fair. "I've got 15 thoughts, 13 of them would get me into a lot of trouble. It is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year, that I am swimming in a race that's probably not clean," he said. His comments alluded to Russia's infamous doping scandal in 2014, which prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to ban the country from competing in international sports using the Russian flag or the country's name. In Tokyo the entire Russian contingent competes for the 'Russian Olympic Committee (ROC),' and their national anthem is not played after a gold medal win. There have been other episodes at Tokyo that have brought out the acrimony between the long-time political and sporting rivals. Was this a solitary incident of a player questioning a Russian achievement? No. When Simone Biles, the popular American gymnast pulled out of the Olympics citing mental health problems, the women's ROC team won the country's first gold medal in the team all-around event since 1992 - when Russia competed as the 'Unified Team' of former Soviet states. This technically made it Russia's first-ever gold in this event. Later in a press conference, an American journalist asked the ROC team if they would have won if Biles competed, to which Russia's 16-year-old Viktoria Listunova replied: "That is not a very good question, I would say. Simone Biles is human." On Wednesday, World No 2 men's tennis player Daniil Medvedev was left furious at his press conference when he was asked if Russian players carry the 'stigma of cheaters.' "This is the first time I haven't answered a question. You should be ashamed," he replied. Has the ROC responded? On Friday the ROC responded to Ryan Murphy's comments on Twitter through a series of posts. "Oh how our victories rile certain peers. Yes, we're here, at the Olympic Games. Absolutely justifiably, whether you like it or not ... You need to learn how to lose. Not everyone is able to. The old organ grinder again started playing the song about Russian doping." On the Russia Today website, reporter and presenter Danny Armstrong wrote a scathing piece on the issue under the headline - "Whiny American athletes & bitter US media should learn to lose gracefully without blaming Russia." His column panned not just the US athletes but also the media. "If Olympic medals were given out for histrionic temper tantrums at losing, the USA's athletes and media would be runaway winners. Maybe then they would stop blaming Russia for their defeats. Sure, if you can't attain attention by finishing atop the podium, achieve it by attempting to knock the winner off their perch with a bolo punch of passive-aggression in one fell swoop of disparagement, discrediting and degrading comments, especially if they are a country whose name no one is legally allowed to utter, to make sure everyone talks about only you." Is this the first time the US and Russia have been involved in an Olympic spat? Infamously, both countries boycotted the Olympics held in the rival nation during the Cold War. The Americans did not turn up at the Moscow Games in 1980, and the Russians skipped the next edition in Los Angeles in 1984. How have the Americans been with athletes from other nations with tense diplomatic ties? On July 28, the US men's basketball team came up against Iran - at a time when the two nations have been embroiled in a diplomatic standoff. Yet the reception before and after the match was cordial and warm. American coach Gregg Popovich later commented during a media session: "In general, people in different countries get along a whole lot better with each other than their governments do. If people in all of these countries were running the show, things would be a whole lot better. When you involve politicians, it becomes much more complicated with self-interests, ideologies and personal agendas. "The Olympics here are a venue and a time where sport transcends all that petty c*** that you get from governments. There's no surprise that the coaches would enjoy meeting each other, talking to each other, and players showed sportsmanship. We just wished that that was real life, which we all have to live through."
110 "Sattar minute, sattar minute hai tumhare paas...". Shah Rukh Khan's iconic lines from Chak De! India is remembered to date. The expressions, the patriotic feeling and of course, Shah Rukh Khan makes the monologue the heart of Chak De! India. The film is more of an emotion than a movie. Written by Jaideep Sahni, the Shimit Amin directorial venture, that will turn 15 on August 10, has become especially relevant now thanks to the exemplary performances by the women's and men's hockey teams at Tokyo Olympics 2020. The may have lost the semis against Argentina at Tokyo Olympics 2020, but the sounds of Chak De! India kept resonating in our ears as the team made it to their maiden Olympic semis. No mean feat. On the other hand, the men's hockey team won the bronze at the Games, 41 years after Moscow Olympics 1980. So, since hockey is the mood of the nation now, we dedicate our Throwback Thursday to the brilliance that was Chak De! India and what makes it a cult classic. HOW CHAK DE INDIA TACKLES SEXISM, RACISM, STEREOTYPING AND ENCOURAGED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT The story creates a bridge between the women athletes in the country and the audience. Chak De! India narrates a fictional story about the Indian women's national field hockey team, that was loosely inspired by the Indian team's win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. SRK impresses us with his performance as the captain of the Indian team, Kabir Khan, who misses a do-or-die penalty shootout against arch-rival Pakistan in the final of a world championship. The loss created national outrage and triggered charges of match-fixing, leading to his ouster. Years later, he returns as the coach of the women's hockey team, and as he pushes them towards their goal, he redeems his lost honour too. Chak De! India managed to arouse many emotions, including that of patriotism, anger against sexism and, of course, an insight into the prevalent racism in the country. SRK's determination to make 11 women work together and play together, erasing the idea of state and inculcating the idea of one nation, touches your heart. This was the first film in many years that concentrated on a sport other than cricket. Moreover, it concentrated on a women's game, something so rare in the country. At the same time, the film broke many stereotypes. It was a film way ahead of its time. PERFORMANCES THAT STAYED WITH YOU FOR YEARS Minus the occasional hamming, Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan goes out of the way to touch your heart with his performance. Right from the hurt he felt when he was ousted from the men's hockey team to the pride in his eyes when the women's hockey team wins, SRK beautifully portrays all the emotions with extreme ease. But, Chak De! India is not a one-man show. The star cast included Vidya Malavade, Anaitha Nair, Tanya Abrol, Shilpa Shukla, Arya Menon, Shubhi Mehta, Chitrashi Rawat, Kimi Laldawla, Masochon Zimik, Sandia Furtado, Nichola Sequeira, Sagarika Ghatge, Kimberly Miranda, Raynia Mascerhanas, Nisha Nair. Although all the girls were newcomers, their performance managed to impress. Many have become actors in the Hindi film industry, all thanks to the film. Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan in Chak De India! THE DIALOGUES One of the things that definitely come to mind when we talk about Chak De! India are the dialogues. The first dialogue that to date has stayed with many Indians who watched the film is Sattar Minute. SRK's monologue where he addressed all the members of the Indian women's hockey team in the dressing room was one of the most inspiring cinematic moments we've ever seen. Another dialogue that remains etched in our minds is when SRK made the girls realise that they represent the country and not for their states. The dialogue goes, "Mujhe states ki naam na sunayi dete hai, na dhikai dete hai. Sirf ek mulk ka naam sunayi deta hai, I-N-D-I-A." Power-packed performances, strong dialogues and a plot that has stayed with us since 2007, Chak De! India is a masterpiece. Here's celebrating Chak De! India and more importantly, our Indian women's and men's hockey teams for their exemplary performances. ALSO WATCH | ALSO READ | Graphic How Shah Rukh Khan inspired billions with Chak De India. On Throwback Thursday
111 Lovlina Borgohain ducked a punch, swayed away from another, and smiled at her Taiwanese opponent. Just another 23-year-old having fun at the Games. That's what she set out to do. In her welterweight quarter-final against former world champion Nien-Chin Chen, which the Indian boxer won via a split-decision, her only plan was to have no plan. "This time, I went in with a free mind, without any strategy," she said. It worked. The girl who followed her elder twin sisters, Licha and Lima, to a kickboxing club in Guwahati, where she was spotted by coaches who steered her towards boxing, is now an Olympic medallist. Lovlina shuffle-stepped and punched her way into the welterweight semi-finals and assured India of its second medal in the Tokyo Olympics. It is India's first boxing medal since Mary Kom's bronze at the London Olympics and the third in history. India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. Rio Olympics silver medallist P V Sindhu swept aside home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a 21-13, 22-20 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying, considered the queen of deception, on Saturday. The men's hockey team, meanwhile, finished their group stage commitments with a 5-3 win over Japan to finish second in their group, a creditable finish after slumping to a 7-1 defeat to top-placed Australia earlier in the week. The women's hockey team, too, kept their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-final alive with a 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up Ireland. They will have to beat South Africa on Saturday to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. But the highlight of the day for India was Lovlina's stunning win over Chen. The boxer from Baramukhia in Assam was the lesser favourite of the two heading into the bout; partly because of the Taiwanese boxer's quality and partly because of her own history of lacking confidence on big stages. But on Friday, she came bouncing out of the tunnel, shadow-boxed her way into the ring, and when Chen, looking to become her country's first boxing medallist at the Olympics, rushed out the moment the bell sounded, Lovlina didn't hold back as well. "I just wanted to hit her," she said. She was street-smart as well. Tall for her weight category, the 5'10" Indian kept her distance from her opponent, not getting into brawls that Chen prefers. She made use of her range to rip through punches with her spiteful right hand and snuck in body shots in a cagey opening round. In the second period, she moved smoothly around the ring to avoid being a stationary target while connecting her fists to Chen's skull with remarkable force and precision. It was an uncharacteristically nerveless and confident performance and by the end of the second round, it was clear that Lovlina was on course for an upset win. When the final bell sounded after the third round, where Lovlina had fun more than she fought, she punched the air and embraced her coaches. "I knew mid-way through the bout that I had won so I was enjoying myself," she said. "I have been working hard for eight years, making a lot of sacrifices. This was one day to make all of it count." This time last year, however, an Olympic podium seemed far away. When the pandemic hit and the country went into a lockdown last year, Lovlina went home to be by the bedside of her ailing mother, who was in hospital with a kidney problem. When she returned to the national camp in Patiala, she tested positive for Covid. It didn't affect her a lot and she resumed training without any fuss. But her mother's condition continued to trouble her and it was only when the family found a donor that Lovlina was able to focus on training without any psychological burden. She chose not to get drawn into the hype or make a sappy thanksgiving speech after merely securing a medal. "I have a gold medal to win, so this can wait," she said. A gold medal is in sight now - just two more wins - but before that, the Indian boxer will have to overcome a mighty tough opponent in the semi-final. Lovlina will face the reigning world champion from Turkey, Busenaz Surmeneli, in the last-four bout on August 4. "The fact that I am assured of a medal takes some pressure off," she said. "So I will just try to be fluid once more and see where that takes me." It could take her where no Indian has reached so far.
112 India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. PV Sindhu progressed to the semi-finals while both men's and women's hockey teams enjoyed group outing wins. Lovlina Borgohain ducked a punch, swayed away from another, and smiled at her Taiwanese opponent. Just another 23-year-old having fun at the Games. That's what she set out to do. In her welterweight quarter-final against former world champion Nien-Chin Chen, which the Indian boxer won via a split-decision, her only plan was to have no plan. "This time, I went in with a free mind, without any strategy," she said. It worked. The girl who followed her elder twin sisters, Licha and Lima, to a kickboxing club in Guwahati, where she was spotted by coaches who steered her towards boxing, is now an Olympic medallist. Lovlina shuffle-stepped and punched her way into the welterweight semi-finals and assured India of its second medal in the Tokyo Olympics. It is India's first boxing medal since Mary Kom's bronze at the London Olympics and the third in history. India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu swept aside home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a 21-13, 22-20 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying, considered the queen of deception, on Saturday. The men's hockey team, meanwhile, finished their group stage commitments with a 5-3 win over Japan to finish second in their group, a creditable finish after slumping to a 7-1 defeat to top-placed Australia earlier in the week. The women's hockey team, too, kept their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-final alive with a 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up Ireland. They will have to beat South Africa on Saturday to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. But the highlight of the day for India was Lovlina's stunning win over Chen. The boxer from Baramukhia in Assam was the lesser favourite of the two heading into the bout; partly because of the Taiwanese boxer's quality and partly because of her own history of lacking confidence on big stages. But on Friday, she came bouncing out of the tunnel, shadow-boxed her way into the ring, and when Chen, looking to become her country's first boxing medallist at the Olympics, rushed out the moment the bell sounded, Lovlina didn't hold back as well. "I just wanted to hit her," she said. She was street-smart as well. Tall for her weight category, the 5'10" Indian kept her distance from her opponent, not getting into brawls that Chen prefers. She made use of her range to rip through punches with her spiteful right hand and snuck in body shots in a cagey opening round. In the second period, she moved smoothly around the ring to avoid being a stationary target while connecting her fists to Chen's skull with remarkable force and precision. It was an uncharacteristically nerveless and confident performance and by the end of the second round, it was clear that Lovlina was on course for an upset win. When the final bell sounded after the third round, where Lovlina had fun more than she fought, she punched the air and embraced her coaches. "I knew mid-way through the bout that I had won so I was enjoying myself," she said. "I have been working hard for eight years, making a lot of sacrifices. This was one day to make all of it count." This time last year, however, an Olympic podium seemed far away. When the pandemic hit and the country went into a lockdown last year, Lovlina went home to be by the bedside of her ailing mother, who was in hospital with a kidney problem. When she returned to the national camp in Patiala, she tested positive for Covid. It didn't affect her a lot and she resumed training without any fuss. But her mother's condition continued to trouble her and it was only when the family found a donor that Lovlina was able to focus on training without any psychological burden. She chose not to get drawn into the hype or make a sappy thanksgiving speech after merely securing a medal. "I have a gold medal to win, so this can wait," she said. A gold medal is in sight now - just two more wins - but before that, the Indian boxer will have to overcome a mighty tough opponent in the semi-final. Lovlina will face the reigning world champion from Turkey, Busenaz Surmeneli, in the last-four bout on August 4. "The fact that I am assured of a medal takes some pressure off," she said. "So I will just try to be fluid once more and see where that takes me." It could take her where no Indian has reached so far.
113 On December 18, 2016, a collective roar had reverberated Lucknow's Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium etching the moment in the history of Indian hockey. India had decimated Belgium 2-1 to lift the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup, making Harjeet Singh's team only the second after the 2001 squad, led by Gagan Ajit Singh, to clinch the coveted title. Five years on, as many as eight players of the 2016 squad are once again set to take on Belgium, this time in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, on Tuesday. These eight players – Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Sumit Walmiki, Nilakanta Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Krishan Pathak – are all pumped up to repeat the decimation of Belgium to enter the finals. Of these, Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh had struck one goal each in the 2016 encounter to lead India to historic win. Besides these eight players, hockey enthusiasts from Uttar Pradesh are also pinning their hopes on Varanasi lad Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, an experienced player who is expected to sharpen Indian attack. India has reached the last four stages for the first time in 49 years since 1972. The 1980 event, where India won gold, was played in a round robin format, with the top two teams playing the final. The men's semi-final match comes a day after Indian women's hockey team scripted history on Monday by storming into the Olympic Games semi-finals for the first time, stunning three-time champions Australia. Lauding both the men's and women's teams for reaching the semi-finals, former international hockey player and UP sports director RP Singh said: “Playing semi-finals in Olympics is no mean achievement and our teams have been playing exceptionally well. Our players' spirits are high and they will surely win accolades for India and set new milestones.” “Hockey is close to every Indian's heart and our victory will inspire young players. I wish success to our players,” Singh said.
114 However, a new study says that a team or player winning a bronze medal in sports is happier than a team or a player winning a silver medal. Winning is nice, and so is not losing but the biggest medal is happiness. On Wednesday, the Indian women's hockey team lost to World No 2 Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final. This came just a day after the men's hockey team lost to Belgium in the semi-final. Millions of Indians must have seen this match on TV and it was like heartbreak for them to see the team lose despite the spirited performance by the teams. Now the question here is, will you curse the players on this defeat or encourage them for further games? What should a country of 135 crores, which is waiting for the Gold medal in hockey for 40 years, do? When a situation like this arises, people look at it in two ways. The first approach is where they suddenly start asking questioning why the team did not win? Even though these people wouldn't talk about the hockey team for years, they will be quick to raise questions after the defeat because some people of India have become champions in questioning the sportspersons and soldiers. The second approach is, in such times, you talk to your players and encouraged them. They should be told that we are with them in victory and in defeat. A human brain either flies with hope or forgets to spread its wings and clings to the ground reality. Somewhere between these two, happiness is lost, but if reality and expectations are balanced with each other, the scales of happiness become heavy. It's true that anyone would prefer the gold medal or silver medal over a bronze. However, a new study says that a team or player winning a bronze medal in sports is happier than a team or a player winning a silver medal, and if it is in Olympics, then the happiness increases even more. This study was conducted by the University of Iowa in the US and using photographs of previous Olympic Games. The researchers analysed the facial expressions and reactions of players when they go to the podium to collect their medals. After studying the medal ceremonies of five Olympic Games, it was found that Bronze medal winners are happier than those who won silver medals. The Silver medal is given to the player who loses in the final. This means that while taking the medal on the podium, somewhere, there is a regret in the player's mind that had he/she tried more, it could have been a gold medal. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the regret of losing in the final reduces the happiness of the silver medal. Whereas, the team or player winning the Bronze medal wins their match to reach the podium. The players feel that something is better than nothing and they have still won a medal for their country. Here, the colour of the medal does not disturb the colour of happiness. On Sunday, when Indian shuttler PV When Sindhu won her bronze medal, she was happier than the Taiwanese player, who lost in the final. It was the Taiwanese player who defeated Sindhu in the semifinals, but she lost to the Chinese player in the final and the regret of this defeat affected her happiness, while Sindhu, who lost to her, looked happier. Photo via Twitter Similar pictures were seen at the 2014 Winter Olympics during a Figure Skating event. The South Korean player had lost in the final and had to settle for the silver medal, while the Italian player who won the Bronze Medal had happiness on her face. In a study conducted on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, it was also found that even though Silver is ranked second in the medal list, in the case of happiness, Bronze Medal is at number two. So don't let your happiness go down because if the hockey teams win their bronze medal match, they will be happier than the silver medal-winning teams.
115 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey — those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956.” Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-yearold Ashutosh Sharma. “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
116 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted “This team reflects the spirit of New In dia – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rani Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
117 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Delhi resident Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey – those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956.” Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Delhi-based former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-year-old Ashutosh Sharma from Noida, “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
118 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted, “This team reflects the spirit of New India – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rani Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
119 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted, “This team reflects the spirit of New India – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rami Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
120 Shah Rukh Khan wrote that the players in the women's hockey team have inspired many Indians and that, in itself, is a victory. The Indian women's hockey team might have lost the match for the Olympics bronze medal against Great Britain but they have certainly inspired many Indians, believes Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The Pathan actor took to Twitter after the match and shared that he was heartbroken but applauded their effort anyway. He shared on Twitter, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory.." Shah Rukh Khan famously played the coach of the Indian women's hockey team in the 2007 hit Chak De India where he leads the team to victory in an international championship. SRK's character Kabir Khan in the film was loosely inspired by senior hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. The hockey team's coach Sjoerd Marjine also took to Twitter soon after the match and thanked the followers for their support. He shared, "We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger. We have made Indians proud again and we inspired millions of girls that dreams CAN come true as long as you work hard for it and believe it! Thanks for all the support! Flag of India." He also responded to SRK's tweet and wrote, "Thank you @srk for all the love ! It's great to have support from the best in Bollywood. It's time for Chak De part 2, what say?" Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar had a minor misstep on Twitter Thursday when he congratulated the Indian women's hockey team instead of the men's hockey team for their bronze medal win at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor among many others were joyously wishing them and amid these wishes came in Farhan's tweet, which he deleted soon after. His now deleted tweet read, "Go girls. So proud of teamindia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal.. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 Hockey." The tweet went missing shortly after and then the Toofan actor shared, "So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey."
121 When Vandana Katariya was a child, she was told her love for sports was unbecoming of a girl. So, she would sneak away, forage for tree branches and practise away from the prying eyes of elders in Uttarakhand's Roshnabad village. But Vandana found one defender when everyone else around her wanted her to drop her passion, her father. When he died three months ago, she couldn't make it home. She had to keep training. On Saturday, she became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics and part of India's first women's hockey team to make it to the quarterfinals. “We are nine siblings. Grandmother would ask her to pay attention to household chores and learn how to cook, not waste time playing,” her elder brother Shekhar, 36, told TOI. Those in her village didn't like the idea of a girl joining boys in sports either. “But father supported her. He was the only one to do so.” Their father, Nahar Singh Kataria, had been a wrestler himself. At the foothills of the Shivalik hills, Roshnabad was practically off the map when Vandana was growing up. In 2000, Roshnabad got its own stadium. “It changed the life of local girls, including Vandana,” said Manish Pal, a local sports enthusiast. But it was kho-kho that got Vandana into her first organised sports event. “She played division-level khokho with her elder sister Reena,” Haridwar district sports officer SK Dobhal told TOI. “Around 2001, local hockey coach Krishna Kumar recruited many girls to form a women's hockey team. Vandana was one of them.” Vandana was playing at a school tournament in Roshnabad when Meerut-based coach Pradeep Chinyoti spotted her. “I encouraged her to move to Meerut and train. In the three years she spent here (2003 to 2006) before moving to Lucknow, I saw she had great speed. And she never missed practice,” he told TOI. “Her family wasn't too happy she had moved away. Only her father backed her. Her hard work got her into the national juniors' team.” She was at the Lucknow Sports College then. She worked her way up and made it to the national women's team. Since then, she has played more than 200 international matches. When news of her feat broke, her village burst into celebrations. Crackers went off, songs were sung and the village that once wanted her to stop playing was proud of her. “Father always said she would make Roshnabad famous,” Shekhar said. “When he died, she wanted to drop everything (she was training for the Olympics in Bengaluru then) and come home. But we told her what father would have — stay, focus and bring us a medal.” (With inputs from Mohammad Anab in Dehradun)
122 When Vandana Katariya was a child, she was told her love for sports was unbecoming of a girl. So, she would sneak away, forage for tree branches and practise her moves, away from the prying eyes of disapproving elders in Uttarakhand's Roshnabad village. But Vandana found one defender when everyone else around her wanted her to drop her passion -- her father. When he died three months ago, she couldn't make it home. She had to keep training. On Saturday, she became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics and part of India's first women's hockey team to make it to the quarter-finals. Her elder brother Shekhar, 36, told TOI, “We are nine siblings. Grandmother would ask her to pay attention to household chores and learn how to cook, not waste time playing.” Those in her village didn't like the idea of a girl joining boys in sports either. “But father supported her. He was the only one to do so.” Their father, Nahar Singh Kataria, had been a wrestler himself. At the foothills of the Shivalik hills, Roshnabad was practically off the map when Vandana was growing up. In 2000, Roshnabad got its own stadium. “It changed the life of local girls, including Vandana,” said Manish Pal, a local sports enthusiast. But it was kho-kho that got Vandana into her first organised sports event. “She played division-level kho-kho with her elder sister Reena,” Haridwar district sports officer SK Dobhal told TOI. “Around 2001, local hockey coach Krishna Kumar recruited many girls to form a women's hockey team. Vandana was one of them.” Kumar's son Ravi said, “We'd train together every evening. She was in Class III or IV then. She'd keep playing kho-kho whenever she could. Dad told her one day that if she wanted to make a name, she had to focus on hockey… In fact, her sister Reena, who won a medal at the 2010 National Games, was also trained by dad.” Vandana was playing at a school tournament in Roshnabad when Meerut-based coach Pradeep Chinyoti spotted her. “I encouraged her to move to Meerut and train. In the three years she spent here (2003 to 2006) before moving to Lucknow, I saw she had great speed. And she never missed practice,” he told TOI. “Her family wasn't too happy she had moved away. Only her father backed her. Her hard work got her into the national juniors' team.” She was at the Lucknow Sports College then. She worked her way up and made it to the national women's team. Since then, she has played more than 200 international matches. When news of her feat broke on Saturday, her village burst into celebrations. Crackers went off, songs were sung and the village that once wanted her to stop playing was proud of her. “Father always said she would make Roshnabad famous,” Shekhar said. “When he died, she wanted to drop everything (she was training for the Olympics in Bengaluru then) and come home. But we told her what father would have — stay, focus and bring us a medal.” (With inputs from Mohammad Anab in Dehradun)
123 Body and mind remain sites of contestation in women's sports The wisdom of the adage, "Mens sana in corpore sano", can be understood as the need for the mind and the body to be conjoined, figuratively speaking, as a healthy unit. It may be the twenty-first year of the twenty-first century but the unhealthy practice of the policing of the bodies and minds of women, including athletes, continues to thrive. The Norwegian women's beach handball team has been locked in a battle with the sport's governing bodies to wear less-revealing uniforms for some time now. After repeated complaints about the mandatory bikini bottoms were reportedly ignored by the administration, the team wore shorts - the standard outfit when it comes to the men's team - during a recent game in protest. They were fined 150 euros per player for this 'transgression'. Ironically, puritanism can also lead to reverse shaming. For instance, the ace tennis player, Serena Williams, has often faced criticism for her 'revealing' outfits. These contradictory pulls and pressures of a dated morality reveal the strange intersections of - a tussle between? - the male gaze and morality. The manifestation, inevitably, is the institutional regulation of women's sartorial choices. In 2012, the Badminton World Federation tried to force female players to wear skirts in order for them to "look feminine and have a nice presentation". This camouflaging of the male gaze - it is perhaps most discernible in fields like cinema and sports that put the spotlight on women's bodies - in an aesthetic argument reeks of hypocrisy. Cutting the cloth either way makes little sense when it comes to women: whether they are asked to reveal or cover skin, the visibility of their bodies renders their skills - the ideal criterion of sporting performance - invisible. Female athletes, hearteningly, are pushing back in a bid to sensitize sporting federations into acknowledging the agency and autonomy of women players. In the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, German gymnasts decided to take a stand against the sexualization of their bodies by donning full-body suits. More such 'transgressions' would be welcome, but are they enough to set right the distorted priorities? Ensuring a gender representative turf would require an assault on entrenched sexism at multiple levels. This should include addressing a whole range of anomalies, from discriminatory pay scales between men and women players - the top two female tennis players together earned around $30 million less than the highest-paid male tennis player - to enforced dress codes and the unapologetic objectification of the body by mass culture. That still leaves the scars of the mind. The pressure - coercion - to adhere to the codes of sexism puts women performers under unprecedented psychological stress. There is not only expectation to excel but also excel while ticking the boxes of allurement, consumption and vicarious gratification - each element being integral to the fate of women's sport being a profitable enterprise. Is it any wonder then that Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics and Naomi Osaka from the Roland-Garros and the Wimbledon? These courageous decisions - putting body and mind over all else - only go to show that both these spheres remain sites of larger contestations.
124 Shahabad, about 170km from Delhi, is a town like any other in Haryana. Parents prefer girls who keep their dupattas firmly in place, come home before dark and marry before they get too opinionated. Yet some girls have managed to trade their modest salwar kameezes for shorts and the rolling-pin for a hockey stick. All courtesy a patch of 91.4m x 55m astro turf at the Shahabad Markanda hockey stadium that has become a nursery for Indian hockey in the last three decades. Now famous as the stomping ground of current hockey captain Rani Rampal, Shahabad has produced several other national and international-level players, including Rani's teammates in the Olympic team Navjot Kaur and Navneet Kaur and former India men's team captain Sandeep Singh. Rani and her team's performance this week may just have made the path less arduous for girls like 19-year-old Parashdeep Kaur from Sulakhni village who exudes confidence as she darts from one end of the stadium to the other. “It is my dream to represent India in the Olympics as a drag flicker,” she says. (Drag flick is a scoring technique.) And she's putting in the hard work. Parashdeep is among the 300 girls and boys who train at the stadium every day come rain, shine or pandemic. Girls' team coach Neha says there is a growing interest among parents to send their daughters to train at Shahabad. “I have received 15-20 calls just this week, some from other states, seeking a place for their daughter at our stadium but I had to refuse,” she says. There's simply no more room. On most days the stadium is packed to the rafters as children practise in two shifts —from 5:30am to 7:30am and then in the afternoon from 4pm to 7pm. There's nothing fancy about the facilities. The stadium has a couple of rooms for an office and some rudimentary gym equipment. It has neither provision for a hostel accommodation for children living away from Shahabad, nor does it provide food like it used to earlier. Yet the enthusiasm among children and their parents remains unwavering. Government coach Sukhwinder Singh, who is training another 300 girls and boys at a ground near a local school, says demand has outstripped facilities and the area needs better infrastructure. “Our ground does not have an astro turf but yet parents want us to take in their children. If we refuse to take a child, they start crying and pleading,” he says. Hockey was not always this popular, especially in a cricket-crazy country like India. Veteran coach Baldev Singh, credited for training Rani and nearly 60 other international players during his 20-year stint at Shahabad, recalls spending hours convincing parents to send girls for practice. “I had to become a part of their family. If they fell ill, I visited them, if they didn't have enough money, I provided milk or fruits, and if their parents were reluctant, I would try and talk sense to them,” he says. The 69-year-old says that initially his attempts at establishing a girls' team was akin to a scandal. “But when the girls started performing at the national and international level, people shut up,” he says. Even now Parashdeep is the only girl from her village who plays the sport and has been training for five years. “People keep telling my father that he should get me married. They comment on my clothes and the fact that I leave at 4am for practice but my family is very supportive.” Loveleen, 14, who has been playing since she was in class 6, says she is addicted to the game. She plays as a 'deader' who has to stop the penalty shot strategically so that the striker can hit a goal. Pressures of “settling down” might be on the mind of nosy relatives and neighbours but not her. “I want to play for India like Rani (Rampal) didi,” she says. Coach Neha says that the mindset is slowly changing. “Even if the parents do not have enough food for themselves, they make sure the children get a good diet,” she says. Coach Baldev feels Indian hockey has come out of “ventilator support.” He adds, “We must use the momentum that the Olympics have brought to invest in better infrastructure and coaches for the future.” The Indian women's hockey team which narrowly missed out on a medal in Tokyo, need not despair. The fiery 16 have already ignited a passion in a million minds and hearts.
125 After landing at Delhi Airport from Japan, the Indian Women's Hockey Team were escorted with other athletes to Hotel Ashoka in the national capital. The women's team at the hotel cut a cake and sing the National Anthem as Hockey India felicitated them upon their return to the country. While the men's hockey team won bronze, the women's hockey team lost to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off. The Indian women's hockey team began badly but raised its level towards the end of the group stages and made it to the last four after defeating world No. 2 Australia in quarter-finals. However, it lost to Argentina in the semis and then Great Britain in the third place play-off. However, India did not let down the women team for not bagging medal at the Olympics. Praises were poured on the team from across the country. Assistant coach Ankitha B.S, earlier in the day said that the Indian women hockey team's sterling performance at the Olympic Games has shown that the sport is still alive and kicking in the country. "Now everyone is talking about hockey. In India, the talk surrounds only cricket. But after this event, each household is talking about hockey. Being a hockey player, coach I can say the marvellous performance by the women's team has shown the world that hockey is still alive," Ankitha told IANS on Sunday night. "We might not have won a medal, but surely we have won hearts." "After the defeat in the final stages, it was emotional for all coaches, supporting staff as well as players. We knew that what we had to achieve, we achieved. Opposition team players from Argentina and the United Kingdom, came back to our players after seeing them crying their hearts out after the loss," added Ankitha. "Being on the winning side, they told our girls that we have done well. The British team had initially thought the match against India would be a cakewalk. After the game, they described the performance of Indian women's hockey team as 'really amazing' and they complimented by saying 'great job'," Ankitha recalled.
126 As the women's hockey team was still on the pitch celebrating their monumental effort in the quarterfinal, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne made a quick dash to the dugout and made a video call to his family in Den Bosch, The Netherlands. The moment was captured on camera and revealed the emotions behind the Dutchman's grim game-face. There was no holding back of emotions. The tears flowed freely as he spoke in halting Dutch. Marijne's journey from The Netherlands to India has been dotted with tragedy, sacrifices, dreams and goals. A little over a year before the 47-year-old made the India move, he lost his parents Jos Marijne and Elly van der Steen. He was very close to his father Jos, who dreamt of his son making an impact in some capacity at the Olympics. Alas, Jos didn't live to see the day. Life has been a rollercoaster ride for Marijne since February 2017, when he first joined the India women's team. The following year, in September, he was moved to the men's team after Roelant Oltmans was removed. The musical chairs continued. In less than nine months, Marijne was back with the women's side, swapping places with Harendra Singh in the middle of an Olympic cycle. Marijne was home on holiday when the switch was announced. Many believed he wouldn't return given the uncertainties of the job. But he had unfinished business. In Wayne Lombard he had a scientific advisor who put the players through the grind. In 2019, he ensured his former ward and Dutch defender Janneke Schopman came on board as analytical coach. Marijne, the coach and person, is a strict disciplinarian. Ten days before the nationwide lockdown last year, he was heading home for a break but returned from the airport because he wasn't sure if he would be allowed back, which in turn could disrupt the team's training schedule. Since then, this team has been driven by the 'we can' spirit instilled by Marijne.
127 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Delhi resident Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey – those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956,” he adds. Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Delhi-based former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-yearold Ashutosh Sharma, “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
128 Dear Reader, It has not been an easy phase for the Hindi film industry. You'd say it hasn't been an easy phase for anyone out there and you'd be correct, but let's talk about movies for a bit because Akshay Kumar has promised something big this week. So Khiladi Kumar or Bharat Kumar, whatever you love to call him, . The film will be screened exclusively in theatres. In 3D. Talk about being back with a bang. Now in the Far East, Indian hockey teams have won medals and hearts, with the Prime Minister calling up the teams to congratulate them. You can get all updates from the Tokyo Olympics Moving on to the kitchen, our pick is an easy Rasmalai recipe because we spotted . Whip up a plate of goodness this weekend but don't forget to work out. . From the bookshelf, we have Pantheon by Sam Bourne - British journalist Jonathan Freedland, that is. From the world of OTT, you have a range of options, from the anthology Navarasa, to Bigg Boss OTT, which is being hosted by Karan Johar for now. More when you get . For now, stay safe and keep the mask on. Here's your Weekend Planner. WHAT'S TRENDING? India is in Chak De! mode after India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian men's team beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match on Thursday to win their . Soon after their win, as the nation rejoiced. The women's hockey team, however, failed to clinch the bronze and lost the match to Great Britain. , but then, let's acknowledge that it was a tremendous performance by the girls. Chak De, indeed! For India, overall, it has been a glorious week as boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a medal for India after she clinched the bronze in the women's boxing welterweight category (64-69kg). . Badminton world champion , following up on her silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals at the Games. Sports aside, there was enough pandemonium on social media after a video showing surfaced on social media. As the incident sparked outrage on Twitter, an FIR was registered against the woman. As for Covid, . Also, the World Health Organisation has said that the . The cumulative number of coronavirus cases reported globally could exceed 200 million by next week, it added. So, remember the drill wear a mask, wash your hands and get the vaccine. SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE "Japanio, Sushi ko Vikaspuri aane se rok lo," comedian Gaurav Kapoor ranted in a video that he posted on Instagram on Delhi food. The clip, needless to mention, went viral on social media and we suggest you ! Also, here's a super cute video of a . We loved it. What about you? WHAT'S ON MY PLATE? Recently, . Guess what they gorged on? Well, they had some pooris, aloo-sabzi, mutton, pulao and rasgullas. Did that make your mouth water? Then this weekend, why not try making some delectable Indian dessert? How about some Rasmalai? We have the perfect recipe which is hassle-free and we bet you are going to love every bite of it. For making Rasmalai you will be needing 12 store-bought rasgullas, 1 tin condensed milk, 2 cups of milk, 1/8th tablespoon cardamom powder, few strands of saffron and chopped pistachio and almonds for garnishing. You can use store-bought rasgullas for your Rasmalai. First, squeeze out the syrup from the balls otherwise it will not soak up the milk properly. Pour milk and condensed milk into a pan and bring it to a boil. Add saffron and cardamom powder and simmer it for 5 to 6 minutes until the milk blends well. Reduce the flame and add in your rasgullas. Cover it and simmer it for a few minutes. Don't overcook or else the rasgullas can break. Garnish with chopped nuts, after it's done. You can serve it hot or cold. DON'T STOP WORKING OUT Looking for some fitness inspiration this weekend? Well, you must turn to Vicky Kaushal who is sweating it out at the gym for that envy-inducing fit body. He shared a picture of himself from his workout session and oh boy, we must agree he is working really hard for that toned and chiselled body. . and she is making the most of her time at home. However, Ankita, who is a fitness enthusiast just like her husband Milind Soman, is not missing out on her daily workout or running sessions. She is continually sharing pictures and videos from her early morning run and she sure is having a wonderful time in Guwahati. Ankita is giving no excuses to escape from her daily workout sessions, and so shouldn't you. FROM THE BOOKSHELF If you are a history fanatic, Sam Bourne's Pantheon might be the perfect pick for you. Written by journalist Jonathan Freedland under the pseudonym Sam Bourne, the book is set in the 1940s. The story revolves around James Zennor, a young Oxford don, who has been kept out of the war due to his injury. One morning, he returns home to find that his wife, Florence, along with his young son, Harry, have disappeared leaving only a note declaring her continuing love for James. Pantheon, a thriller, is a page-turner and will keep you curious till the very end. On a gloomy evening with your cuppa coffee, the book is the perfect end to the day. FASHIONABLY YOURS Fashion has always been a major part of Hindi movies. However, not many actresses wore international designers like Chanel or Dior in films, until Sonam Kapoor shook things up a bit with Aisha. As the film completes 11 years today, August 6, let's revisit . MOVIES AND MAGIC Theatres are finally opening up (again) after what looks like a check in the second wave of the novel coronavirus. And what better way to do that than by announcing a big film? So, . Well, we've waited long enough for this, so 3D toh banta hai. How does the trailer look? We tell you . But what's the one thing that's grabbing headlines more than Akki? It is Lara Dutta as Indira Gandhi. The transformation is just surreal. See . This weekend you also get to witness , with Karan Johar as the host. We doubt there will be any coffee here, but we do know that the audience will play a crucial role in deciding the contestant's punishments. More on that in our OTT section. Speaking of OTT, Mani Ratnam's Navarasa dropped on Netflix today. . The buzz in B-town is that . Neither party have confirmed it yet, but going by their fruitful relationship, we're low-key excited. Meanwhile, Mona Singh wrapped up Laal Singh Chaddha, and we got to see some cool BTS pics and clips, featuring Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. Check it out . As we get closer to Independence Day, bigger movies are set to arrive - Shershaah and Bhuj: The Pride Of India will be hogging the limelight. So until that big-binge moment comes, breath a little. There's enough content to browse through in the meantime. INTO THE WORLD OF OTT ON VOOT What to watch: Bigg Boss OTT You'll like if you've liked: Bigg Boss Bigg Boss OTT is set to premiere on Voot on August 8. The show will be hosted by Karan Johar. Some of the contestants participating in the show are Neha Bhasin, Ridhima Pandit, Karan Nath and Zeeshan Khan. The first six weeks of the six-month run of Bigg Boss 15 is being called Bigg Boss OTT. ON NETFLIX What to watch: Navarasa You will like it if you liked: Putham Pudhu Kaalai Netflix's Navarasa is a nine-film anthology jointly produced by Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan. Each story revolves around the nine emotions (nava rasas), which include fear, anger, compassion, romance, valour, laughter, wonder, peace and disgust. Navarasa is directed by popular directors like Rathindran Prasad, Arvind Swami, Bejoy Nambiar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Sarjun KM, Priyadarshan, Karthick Naren, Karthik Subbaraj and Vasanth, and features Vijay Sethupathi, Prakash Raj, Revathi, Ashok Selvan, Priyadarshan, Yogi Babu, Nedumudi Venu, Remya Nambeesan, Arvind Swami, Prasanna, Sai Siddharth, Poorna, Siddharth, Parvathy, Pavel Navageethan, Suriya and Pragya Martin, among others in pivotal roles. What to watch: Cooking With Paris You will like it if you liked: The Simple Life Can Paris Hilton cook? We will get the answer to this question in Netflix's Cooking With Paris. In this show, we see Paris trying her hands at cooking and failing at it. But that won't stop the star from hosting her own series. She collaborated with some of her celebrity friends including Kim Kardashian and Demi Lovato, among others. Not just cooking, we also see Paris go grocery shopping and compile a proper meal. The popstar also learns about things like fresh ingredients, unique recipes and intriguing appliances. The show has been inspired by Paris's viral YouTube video by the same name. ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO What to watch: S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies You will like it if you liked: The Dead Don't Die S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies is Amazon Prime Video's new science-fiction action series. The story follows drug lord Alonso Marroqu í n. He escapes from a prison in Mexico and hides in the middle of the desert. When a team of soldiers attempt to capture him, they come across the horrendous result of a failed United States Army genetic experiment. They turn into a new breed of zombies, leading to a battle. What to watch: Cruel Summers Season 1 You will like it if you liked: The Society The 10-episode teen drama series is told over three summers in the 90s. There are two girls in the middle of the story. When one goes missing mysteriously, the other seemingly takes her place. This has repercussions for everyone around them. ON ZEE5 What to watch: Dial 100 (August 1) You will like it if you liked: The Family Man 2 Starring Manoj Bajpayee and Neena Gupta, Dial 100 showcases how one phone call can turn people's lives upside down. While Manoj Bajpayee makes continuous attempts to save his family, Neena Gupta is adamant to avenge her son's death. ON DISNEY+HOTSTAR What to watch: Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union You will like it if you liked: House Of Cards Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union is a biopic, which is being released as a three-part documentary series. It will showcase the personal and political journey of former President Barack Obama. TUNE IN TO TV What to watch: Super Dancer - Chapter 4 Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday) Super Dancer - Chapter 4 is judged by Geeta Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty and Anurag Basu. However, Shilpa will be missing from the dance reality show this weekend as well after her husband Raj Kundra's arrest in a porn racket. Meanwhile, Sonali Bendre will be seen as a special guest on the show. The contestants will be impressing the actress with their dance performances on her songs. What to watch: Dance Deewane 3 Where to watch: Colors TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday) Dance Deewane 3 is judged by Tushar Kalia, Madhuri Dixit and Dharmesh Yelande. This weekend, Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh and Nora Fatehi will be seen as special guests on the show. They will be getting especially impressed by contestants Papai and Antara's performance. The show is hosted by comedian couple Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa. What to watch: Indian Idol 12 Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday) This weekend, Indian Idol 12 will welcome filmmaker Karan Johar as a special guest in its semi-finale episode. It will also host Bachpan Ka Pyaar star Sahdev Dirdo on the show. What to watch: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 Where to watch: Colors TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday) This week 12 KKK 11 contestants will fight it out by performing daredevil stunts on the show. Last week Sourabh Raaj Jain was eliminated and Nikki Tamboli was welcomed back on the show. It will be interesting to see who gets out of the stunt-based reality show this week. (Compiled by , , , , , , , . ) Graphic Your Weekend Planner August 6: Akshay Kumar brings Bell Bottom joy to theatres
129 The fortunes of the men's and women's hockey teams have been shaped well by their goalkeepers — PR Sreejesh and Savita Punia. Both seasoned players have steered the teams to the semifinals, thwarting oppositions, soaking up the pressure and motivating their teammates. While they go about protecting their respective citadels, they are bound by the common fibre of Olympic glory. As individuals, Sreejesh and Savita are as different as chalk and cheese. Off the field, Sreejesh, 35, is a born prankster and a man who enjoys the company of books the most. Savita, on the other hand, is soft-spoken and shy. The 29-year-old's stressbuster is Hindi music. On the field, they display a similar kind of controlled aggression. The similarity does not end there. They have both trained without specialised goalkeeping coaches for a couple of years now. While former Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chetri helped out Savita until his sudden exit in late 2019, Dutchman Dennis van de Pol has been the stopgap consultant for the men's team, but his training went virtual in September last year due to Covid-19. The duo, while mentoring younger goalkeepers in the team, have also been there for each other. As both teams spent 15 months at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru, Sreejesh and Savita discussed their skill sets, training and fears as custodians, who have no place to hide when they make a mistake. In fact, Sreejesh is Savita's favourite goalkeeper. In an interview with TOI, Savita, who hails from Jodhkan village in Sirsa, Haryana, had said, “Sreejesh has always been one of my favourite players. Even when he was injured he showed so much positivity.” The helping hand Sreejesh offered has held Savita in good stead. “We used come to the ground to watch Sree bhai, just before our training session. He gave us a lot of valuable tips, watched videos of our matches and highlighted my mistakes,” Savita had pointed out. Sreejesh, on the other hand, has worked on his skills all by himself. Speaking about chiselling his game in the build-up to the Olympics, he had said, “Since 2012, we have had only consultant coaches. They fine-tuned my basics. I started watching my own videos, rectifying mistakes and talking to our coaches. But there is a limit to self-learning but the past 8-9 years have helped me become self-reliant.” Two goalkeepers, two goals and one direction. That's the story of India's custodians, Sreejesh and Savita.
130 India's hockey players have managed to make a lot of disparate and some sparring entities happy at the same time India's hockey players have achieved the impossible off-field with their performance in the Tokyo Olympics. They have managed to make a lot of disparate and some sparring entities happy at the same time. The feminists are happy and the chauvinists are happy. The real coaches --- Graham Reid and Sjoerd Marijne --- are happy and reel coach, Kabir Khan, is also happy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is happy; after all he motivated them. Aditya Chak De Chopra must be happy for the Olympian replug of a nearly 15-year-old film. Akshay Kumar is also happy; he tweeted his congratulations to the men's team for "rewriting history". And it is perhaps safe to assume that after he is done filming Prithviraj Chauhan, Rakhsha Bandhan and Ram Setu, Akki will start rewriting Love in Tokyo into Bronze in Tokyo. Say cheese Let's see who else is happy? The cribbers are happy. It would all have been too hearty and saccharine and bhaichara but then Farhan Akhtar congratulated the women's team for the medal haul and gave them (cribbers) something to beat someone up about. Jharkhand is happy. First, chief minister Hemant Soren had a smart TV installed at defender Salima Tete's parents' home in Simdega district so they could watch their daughter play. And after the win, they have one more reason to cheer - Soren has promised every team member Rs 50 lakh. As you reap... Haryana is happy, in Punjab Captain has reason to smile, MP is happy, Manipur is happy, and even the presently troubled Mizoram is happy. Cash awards after the Games, backslapping after the Games, photo sessions and attention after the Games --- if one can straightaway reap an Olympian harvest without dwelling on the sowing, who will not be happy. Odisha and Naveen Patnaik, of course, have good reason to be euphoric - the state sponsored the women's and men's teams after Sahara backed out in 2018. What about the spirit of Dhyan Chand did you ask? Is The Wizard smiling down from the heavens at one of the most prestigious sporting awards of the country being renamed after him? Maybe, maybe not. Major Chand, who won gold in three Olympic Games wrote in his autobiography, "You are doubtless aware that I am a common man, and then a soldier. It has been my training from my very childhood to avoid limelight and publicity. I have chosen a profession where I have been taught to be a soldier, and nothing beyond that."
131 DELHI DIARIES: UP Congress yearns for an alliance, Bihar underplays floods Hockey seems to have regained at least some of its lost glory in India with the spectacular performances of the men's and women's teams at the Tokyo Olympics. Hockey lovers across the country are singing paeans to the Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, for having given India's national game a new lease of life by sponsoring both teams at a critical juncture in 2018 when Sahara decided to withdraw its sponsorship. Patnaik, who used to be the goalkeeper of his school hockey team, came to the rescue of the game immediately by signing a five-year deal said to be worth over Rs 100 crore. For a cash-strapped state like Odisha, this was a big sacrifice to make but Patnaik had no hesitation making the decision as the future of hockey was in jeopardy. Odisha, thus, became the first state of the country to officially sponsor the two teams. As the men's team clinched bronze at Tokyo, ending a 41-year medal drought at the Olympics, the team was as much in focus as the CM of Odisha with social media being flooded with praises for Patnaik. Even the Opposition leaders have been forced to admit Patnaik's contribution to the game. The CM, thus, seems to have killed two birds with one stone. While he has successfully restored hockey's lost glory in India, he has also made himself politically unassailable with his popularity at an all-time high. Stronger together The euphoria about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra transforming the Congress in Uttar Pradesh has finally disappeared and there is a strong yearning for an alliance for the upcoming assembly elections. While Congress leaders had dreamt of a dramatic revival, even talking of forming the government with Priyanka being projected as the CM candidate, their dreams have now been punctured. Many leaders privately concede that the situation is not good even though an organizational machinery has been put in place across the state. While critics and dissenters predict doom, even those supposed to be playing an important role in the Priyanka regime admit that Covid-19 derailed revival efforts and the party is not in a position to win in most constituencies in spite of having gained in strength. The Congress hopes an alliance with the Samajwadi Party will be beneficial for both and the Bharatiya Janata Party can then easily be kicked out of power. Even Priyanka does not rule out the possibility of an alliance. The SP leader, Akhilesh Yadav, has expressed willingness to tie up with smaller parties, particularly the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Jayant Chaudhary, but avoided mentioning the Congress. He has even talked of winning 400 out of the 403 seats, demonstrating confidence of a comeback. The Congress can hope the collective pressure of all Opposition parties will compel Yadav to go for an alliance. The show of unity during the ongoing parliamentary session is bound to bring all the parties under pressure to form a coalition. Out of sight Floods are ravaging large swathes of Bihar this year too, but there is a difference. The state government is not sharing data related to flood-affected areas, population, and relief works. Once or twice a month some half-baked figures are released, which do not give a clear picture of the devastation brought by the deluge. Asked about this change, a senior official shared that "some vested interests don't want to put the data in the public domain because it may lead to questions on relief works. There is another possibility that the state coffers are empty and the government has decided to downplay everything." Incidentally, the CM, Nitish Kumar, is yet to announce elaborate relief measures and compensation for flood victims this year. But Kumar is busy handling the pandemic. He wanted to see firsthand how well the people in Patna, Vaishali and a few other districts were following Covid-19 protocols. He set out with his entourage and saw no crowds, clean streets, and a thin presence of people, many of whom were masked. He returned satisfied and lifted most of the restrictions imposed. Unnerved by this development, the intelligentsia probed into what had happened and found out that whenever Kumar wants to inspect anything, all the officers concerned are duly informed about his impending visit. They smoothen and refurbish everything to the satisfaction of the CM. It happens with all welfare and development schemes too. Ignorance is bliss? Internal battles A recent function to mark the change of guard in the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee left party members with mixed emotions. While they were happy that a new team under Bhupen Kumar Borah was finally taking charge, the former state unit president and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Ripun Bora, left most people zapped when he spoke about the intense power struggle to oust him. He wished his successor would be able to concentrate on checking the BJP effectively instead of protecting his chair like he did for most of his tenure. Most felt this was unwarranted; leaving many hurt and embarrassed. Bora's remark was lapped up by the media, leaving most wondering whether the rise of the BJP is responsible for the Congress's fall or if it is the latter's self-destructive streak. Footnote The socialist moorings of the Karnataka CM, Basavaraj Bommai, has not gone down well with his hard-coreHindutvavadiparty colleagues. Son of the former CM, SR Bommai, of Janata Party, Bommai Jr was part of the Janata 'parivar' before joining the BJP in 2008. But the "socialist" label has stuck. If the "socialist" foundation of Bommai Jr is already an issue, the BJP government is in for some turbulence in the coming months.
132 The women lost 1-2 but there is no shame in that India women put up a valiant fight against Argentina in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games on Wednesday. They lost 1-2 but there is no shame in that. Winning and losing are part of the game. What the likes of Rani Rampal, Savita Punia, Sushila Chanu and Gurjit Kaur have achieved is unbelievable. Because of them, women's hockey in India has got a new dimension. There will now be a lot of interest in the game. Women's hockey has its own appeal. I am told that in Argentina, when the men play, around 10,000 fans turn up. But to see the women's team in action, 25,000 would be at the stands on any given day. Indian women's hockey needs backing and this fairy-tale performance will give them just that. Frankly, after watching both the semi-finals - the men's on Tuesday and women's a day later - I can proudly say that chief coach Sjoerd Marijne's girls have performed better. There is nothing to get disappointed about as we still have a chance to win the bronze medal. On Friday, India play Rio Olympics champions Great Britain who had helped us qualify for the knockouts by beating Ireland on July 31. India played outstanding hockey in both the knockout games against Australia and Argentina. They were not scared of their more industrious rivals and refused to yield an inch. If they play the same way against Great Britain, we have a very good chance of bagging a medal. In knockout matches, India had taken the lead first. How the team reacts if it concedes would be interesting to see. On Wednesday, I think India got the goal a bit early. Gurjit once again found her name on the scoresheet - she scored the all-important goal against Australia too - and after that India somehow went into a shell. Argentina won more midfield skirmishes that pegged our defence back. Also, Argentina did not allow India to play short passes, their strength, which forced the latter to play long balls. The second goal India conceded was unlucky. Maria Barrionuevo's flick crashed into the board after getting a deflection off Sushila Chanu's leg. Barrionuevo had also equalised by converting a penalty corner. Barrionuevo and goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi were the two players who were brilliant for Argentina. The men's team chase their first medal in 41 years when they take on Germany in the bronze medal play-off match on Thursday. I hope they find a place on the podium. A former India captain, Gurbux Singh was a member of the 1964 gold medal-winning hockey team.
133 With the Indian women hockey team creating history in Tokyo by beating Australia to book berth in the last four, the Sangam city broke into celebration. Afterall, the Prayagraj divisional office of North Central Railways (NCR) is the 'karmabhoomi' of two players from the Indian squad, including Monday's sole goal scorer Gurjit Kaur. Gurjit is posted in the personnel section of Prayagraj division of NCR. Apart from her, Nisha Wasi also works here. Since early morning, fellow hockey players of Gurjit and Nisha, office colleagues, their coach Pushpa Tiwari, Ravi Patel, sports officer and several other staff members of NCR along with hockey fans of the city were glued to their TV sets to watch the live telecast of the match. The game fever reached its peak when their familiar face, Gurjit scored in the second quarter off the only penalty corner that India got to push the three-time Olympic champions onto the backfoot. “Both Gurjit and Nisha were promising players since their induction way back in 2016. As the years passed, their game showed notable improvement and they made it to Indian team. Since their selection, we all were confident of a splendid performance from them," said Pushpa Tiwari, the hockey coach at NCR since 2010. The Indian win was also special for the newly appointed GM of the NCR, Pramod Kumar, as he had arrived in the city for the first time on Monday after taking the charge. “This is a proud moment for all of us. We wish Indian team to perform to its best and bring laurels to the nation”, he said. Likewise, divisional railway manager (DRM), Prayagraj, Mohit Chandra said, “It's a proud moment for Prayagraj Division. Gurjit has made the nation proud and we wish best of luck to her and the rest of the team for the games ahead”. After the Indian win, TOI also spoke to another local lad and former India captain and member of Indian Olympic Games, Danish Mujtaba. “Both, the men and women hockey team of the country are so very special that I am short of words. One thing is for sure that the achievement of our women hockey team would be remembered in the entire history of Indian women hockey and I am sure that they are not going to get satisfied with just a place in semis and will bring us the first gold of this tournament. Now is the payback time for the men's team as we lost to Belgium in the previous Olympics and have a chance to take the revenge on August 3,” said Mujtaba. Mujtaba had played in both the London and Rio Olympic games. Commenting on the achievement of the Indian team, president, NCR sports association, Sharad Mehta said, “We are trying to give the best possible environment to our sportspersons so that NCR could give its best to the nation in the field of sports.”
134 Indian women's hockey has always flown under the radar, living in the shadow of men's hockey in the country. When Rani Rampal and Co entered the fray at the Tokyo Olympics, a place in the quarterfinals was predicted by a few optimists. Even that came under the scanner after three straight losses in the pool matches. But the brand of hockey they have played over the past 15 days has been all heart and soul. Reaching the semifinal was a feat achieved with a win against the Australians. Up against world no. 2 Argentina in the last-4 match, they put up a good fight and shed a few drops of blood (Navneet Kaur) as well before going down 1-2. In a match where they gave their all, at least in the first and final quarters, the Indian team was eliminated from gold medal contention by a team which was leagues ahead in experience and more importantly bigstage exposure. India had their moments but floundered especially in injection, trapping and penalty corners. India stay in the hunt for a momentous podium finish and take on Great Britain in the bronze-medal playoff on Friday. India had lost to Britain 1-4 in the league stage. Meanwhile, in the final, Argentina will match up against Netherlands, who outclassed Britain 5-1 in the other semifinal clash. India were off to a blazing start with Gurjit Kaur getting her dragflick past an Argentine defender and goalkeeper Maria Succi in the second minute. The defence did well to soak up pressure until the end of the quarter. Argentina stormed the Indian defence early in the second quarter with Julieta Jankunas and Maria Trinchinetti fetching them two penalty corners in as many minutes. They got the equaliser soon, skipper Noel Barrionuevo, a veteran of 337 caps, on target in the 18th minute. The Las Leonas had the better of exchanges and possession as they used the left flank, giving little room for India to play their game. Although India managed to avert further damage, Argentina had started to chip away at their rivals' game plan. India found it hard to dribble or make short passes and employed long hits which were checked by the opposition's experienced backline. Also, there were gaping holes between the Indian midfield and forwardline, which allowed Argentina a greater share of ball possession. Argentina's raids wore the Indian defence down and each time they took their eyes off the ball or stumbled with their footwork inside the circle, they gave away penalty corners. This led to the matchwinner in the 36th minute. Barrionuevo, the 37-year-old defender with a lethal dragflick as her main weapon, slotted home off a penalty corner. There were a few anxious moments with the umpire seeking a referral, which went in Argentina's favour. India stepped on the pedal, fought tooth and nail for another goal, another chance to stay alive in the match. With 17.4 seconds for the final hooter, they went for a referral, seeking a penalty corner which was turned down.,
135 Higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine loses to the world no. 62 in the women's singles third round India's table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women's singles third round but G Sathiyan succumbed to the pressure on his Olympic debut to exit the men's singles competition in Tokyo on Sunday. While the 26th seed Sathian was expected to beat world number 94 Hong Kong's Siu Hang Lam in his second round match after getting a first round bye, the same cannot be said about Manika, whose gritty approach under pressure proved decisive against her higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine. Manika, ranked 62, made a remarkable comeback after losing the first two games to prevail 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 in a second round match that lasted 57 minutes. She meets Austria's Sofia Polcanova on Monday for a place in the round of 16. If Manika manages another upset, it will be a significant achievement for the Indian in her second Olympics. Like her first round match, she did not want the national coach in her corner on Sunday but her personal coach Sanmay Paranjape was seen in the gallery. However, the way she fought throughout the game, it showed she was supremely confident about her abilities and did not any need any court side support. Down and out after the first two games and trailing even in the third, Manika somehow clawed her way back into the match. She used the pimple rubber to good effect thereafter and combined it with a more offensive approach. The match saw long rallies, slow as well as fast ones, as Manika twiddled with her bat amazingly to find forehand and backhand winners. The sixth game which she won after trailing 2-5 turned the tide in her favour decisively. The timeout worked as she reeled off nine points in a row to give herself five game points before levelling the match at 3-3. With momentum in her side, Manika controlled the deciding game and sealed the match with a forehand cross court winner. Earlier, world number 38 Sathiyan had a commanding 3-1 lead but lost four games in a row to lose 3-4 to lower-ranked Lam from Hong Kong. "It is heartbreaking but I will come back stronger. I was playing really well initially. I was aggressive and serving well but after the fourth game he started to slow down the pace and started receiving better," Sathian told PTI. "The rallies got longer and I started to feel the pressure. I was a little bit passive from the fifth game onwards. I should have continued being aggressive despite his variation in pace. I just made the error of playing it safe. "Credit to him also. He did not make much mistakes in the last two games," Sathiyan added. The first game was tight but the Hong Kong player pulled away from 6-6 with his forehand at work. Sathiyan switched gears after the opening game with ease. He not only put up a stout defence but levelled the match when Lam hit a return out on a ferocious forehand. Sathiyan raced to a 5-1 lead in the third game in a dominating fashion and kept going strong as Lam's game fell apart and in no time and Sathiyan had a 2-1 lead in his pocket. But there was a twist in the tale with Lam drawing parity by taking the next two games. Sathiyan saved two game points in the sixth game to keep Lam under pressure but made an error on third game point. In the deciding game, Lam opened up a 5-2 lead with crushing forehand winner after a time out. Lam completed the upset win when Sathiyan made a backhand error. For someone who thrives on fast and long rallies, Sathiyan felt he was not aggressive enough after taking a 3-1 lead in the match while his opponent raising his game.
136 Basketball legend Kobe Bryant once said, “turn every setback into a comeback.” This will be the Indian women's hockey team's mantra when they face a resurgent Great Britain in the battle for bronze. Rani Rampal and her gritty girls' journey to the bronze-medal playoff is nothing short of a fairy tale. From participants, they graduated to medal contenders with sheer grit and determination backed by fitness. On Friday morning, they face the toughest test of their careers when they take on Great Britain for a place on the podium. Great Britain had handed India a 4-1 loss in Pool A, their third on the trot in the group stages. It was after that defeat that India had regrouped and advanced in the competition, a run which was halted by a narrow 1-2 defeat against Argentina in the semifinals. Defending champions Britain, on the other hand, went out of the gold-medal contention, losing 1-5 to Netherlands. Both teams come into the contest battered but not broken. To cover the distance to the podium, India will have to bridge the holes in their game, especially in the midfield and backline. They have to be alert, play upfront and ensure they don't concede penalty corners. The role of drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur will be crucial and Deep Grace Ekka will have to lead the pack of defenders. The new-look Indian team has shown energy and capability of beating higher ranked teams and will look to use the opportunity well on Friday. “An Olympic medal is a medal. If you win gold that is nice but still bronze is a medal, so we will fight for that medal and we will focus on the next match,” said skipper Rani. To start with they can draw inspiration from the men's team.
137 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medal-winning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Full report on
138 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medalwinning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it's a way of life, especially in the tribal areas where it is said that children learn to walk holding hockey sticks.
139 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medal-winning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it's a way of life, especially in the tribal areas where it is said that children learn to walk holding hockey sticks. Odisha was the only state that had its own professional hockey team, Kalinga Lancers, which participated in the Hockey India League and emerged as champion in the last edition in 2017. The state has a system of sports hostels that has been providing hockey coaching to thousands, with some of them going on to represent India. Odisha has also hosted all the major international hockey tournaments held in India in the last few years. The roadmap is ambitious. “To enable budding talent to practice on astroturf, the state is constructing 20 hockey training centres at a cost of Rs 200 crore. A professional coaching programme at the grassroots level will ensure that a large number of children get attracted to hockey and take it up as a career,” Krishna said.
140 The reigning world Champion Sindhu reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Yamaguchi. PV Sindhu has defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals of women's badminton singles on Friday, in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The reigning world Champion Sindhu reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Yamaguchi. Sindhu defended brilliantly to defeat Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza. The match sawYamaguchi stage a turnaround and level it in Game 2 after being down in the first set, and even starting down in the second. However, Sindhu made a stronger comeback and got the score to 20-20 only to win it later on. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The Indian ace shuttler had defeated Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark on Thursday. She is the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage. More to follow...
141 Manika Batra was beaten by Austria's Sofia Polcanova in straight sets in the third round of Women's singles in Table Tennis. India's table tennis star Manika Batra bowed out of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in the third round of Women's singles after losing to Austria's Sofia Polcanova. Polcanova defeated Manika in the game that lasted just 27 minutes in straight sets by 4-0 at the Metropolitan Gym. The contest was a contest till the first set only where Manika took some great points and made her opponent struggle but the Austrian took the set eventually 11-8. After which it was all Polcanova as she won the second set by 11-2 and Manika's struggle continued. Austrian continued her splendid form in the following sets as well and won them comfortably 11-5, 11-7 and qualified for the next round. Earlier, Sharath Kamal progressed to Round 3 of Men's singles but Manika's campaign has been cut short as she and Sharath were eliminated from Round of 16 in the mixed doubles. Sutirtha Mukherjee too lost her singles game in the second round on Monday to Portugal's Fu Yu.
142 Reigning world Champion PV Sindhu kept India's hopes of winning a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton alive as she reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi here on Friday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attack to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza here. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The sixth seeded Indian came into the match with a 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
143 India's dream of a gold medal on their maiden entry into the knockout stages of the women's hockey competition came to a premature end when the team lost 1-2 to Argentina in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics here on Wednesday. However, Indians still celebrated as we are very proud of our hockey team. People across the country took to social media to send greetings and wishes to the girls. However, two upper caste men began circling Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village, Haridwar. A report by the Times of India informs that the men burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled casteist slurs at her family. Katariya's family alleged that the men said that the team lost because it had "too many Dalit players". An FIR is yet to be registered but an inquiry has been set up. One of the accused has been detained by police. The news of the casteist attack has left the nation shocked and enraged. many have come out in support of the Katariya family and have condemned the actions of the upper caste men. Here's what people are saying.
144 CITY SPORTS The Karnataka government will honour the seven Tokyo Olympics medallists soon, sports minister KC Narayana Gowda said in a statement. They include gold medal winner Neeraj Chopra (athletics), silver medallists Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Ravi Dahiya (wrestling) and bronze winners Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), PV Sindhu (badminton) and Bajrang Punia (wrestling) and the men's hockey team. The state will also felicitate the three Olympians from Karnataka — Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in women's golf, Fouaad Mirza (equestrian) and Srihari Nataraj (swimming). With the second wave of Covid-19 receding, competitive tennis will resume in Karnataka with the AITA TS 3 U-12 tennis tournament that kicks off at the KSLTA courts in Bengaluru from Monday. Three other tournaments in as many weeks are lined up for August. The tournaments will be conducted under strict Covid protocols to safeguard the interests of players, parents, coaches and officials and will be played over three days only with a maximum of 32 players. The tournaments to be held from September will see the participation of players from across the country.
145 All timings in Indian Standard time * Equestrian - Eventing dressage day 1, session 1 (5am) * Golf - Men's Round 2 (5.22am) * Shooting - Women's 25m pistol qualification rapid (5.30am) * Archery - Women's individual 1/8 eliminations (6.00am) * Athletics - Men's 3000m steeplechase, round 1, heat 2 (6.17am) * Golf - Men's Round 2 (7.39am) * Athletics - Women's 100m round 1, heat (8.10am) * Hockey - Women's Pool A, vs Ireland (8.15am) * Boxing - Women's 60kg Round of 16 (8.18am) * Athletics - Men's 400m hurdles round 1, heat 5 (8.27am) * Sailing - Men's 49er, race 7, 8 &9 (8.35am) Women's one person dinghy laser radial, race 9 & 10 (8.35am) * Boxing - Women's 69kg, quarter final 2 (8.48am) * Shooting - Women's 25m pistol final (subject to qualification) (10.30am) * Sailing - Men's one person dinghy laser, race 9&10 (11.05am) * Archery - Women's individual quarter finals onwards, subject to qualification (TBD) * Badminton - Women's singles quarter finals (1.15pm) * Equestrian - Eventing dressage day 1, session 2 (2pm) * Hockey - Men's Pool A, vs Japan (3pm) * Athletics - 4X400m mixed relay, round 1, heat 2 (4.42pm)
146 The Indian side created history and entered their maiden Olympic hockey semifinals as they stunned the three-time champions. UPSET - that's what world No. 2 Australia must be feeling after they were defeated 1-0 by the Indian women's hockey team in the quater-finals at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. The Indian side created history and entered their maiden Olympic hockey semifinals as they stunned the three-time champions in an intense last-eight tie. Soon after, netizens poured in praises for the girls as they recalled Shah Ruk Khan's Chak de India movie. A day before this, the Indian men's team entered the Olympic semifinals following a 49-year gap.
147 All timings mentioned are in Indian Standard time * Fencing - Women's sabre individual table of 64 (5.30am) * Archery - Men's team 1/8 elimination (6am) * Shooting - Skeet men's qualification (6.30am) * Table Tennis - Men's singles round 2 (6.30am) * Tennis - Men's singles round 2 (Matches from 7.30am) * Table Tennis - Women's singles round 2 (8.30am) * Sailing - Men's one person dinghy, laser radial (8.35 am) * Badminton - Men's doubles group play stage (9.10 am) * Archery - Men's team quarter final, if India qualify (10.15am) * Sailing - Women's one person dinghy, laser radial, race 3 & 4 (11.05am) * Archery - Men's team semi final, if India qualify (11.47am) * Shooting - Skeet men's final (12.20pm, if shooters qualify) * Table Tennis - Women's singles round 3 (1.00pm) * Boxing - Men's 75kg round of 32 (3.06pm) * Swimming - Men's 200m butterfly, heats (3.50pm) * Hockey - Women's Pool A Germany vs India (5.45pm) All timings in IST
148 India's poster girl for badminton, PV Sindhu, seeded sixth, lost Badminton Women's Singles Semifinal 18-21,12-21 in 40 minutes to second seed Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei. Sindhu will now face He Bingjiao in the Bronze Medal match on Sunday. With sharp drop shots, Tzu-Ying, the World No. 1, used Sindhu' height to her advantage to boss the game and eventually put an end to PV Sindhu's impressive campaign at Tokyo Olympics. More to follow...
149 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India's highest sporting honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been rechristened as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award was earlier named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi but has now be renamed in honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. The change comes following the commendable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. PM Modi took to social media to make the announcement and said he had been getting many requests from citizens about the same. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. India made a lot of progress in hockey at the Olympics as the men's team won the bronze medal and the women came in at the fourth spot. The prime minister added that there is a renewed interest towards the sport across India and this is a very positive sign. The prestigious award carries a prize money of Rs 25 lakh.
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1 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BOAT RACING (89%); ROWING (89%); ARCHERY (78%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); BOATING & RAFTING (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
2 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); ROWING (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); BOAT RACING (73%); BOATING & RAFTING (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
3 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOLF (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
4 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTINGS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (52%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
5 Subject: 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (97%); BELGIUM (71%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
6 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
7 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%) Industry: EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); STREAMING MEDIA (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); INDIA (93%); CHINA (75%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
8 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); RACEWALKING (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (78%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
9 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); EMOTIONS (69%) Company: BEST INC (54%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (54%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (54%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (54%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
10 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); BOXING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); ARCHERY (72%); GOLF (70%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (88%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
11 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
12 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (56%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); ARGENTINA (99%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (78%); LATIN AMERICA (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
13 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); CRICKET (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (67%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (58%); THAILAND (52%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
14 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
15 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); ARCHERY (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%) Company: ABHISHEK CORP LTD (85%) Industry: NAICS313110 FIBER, YARN & THREAD MILLS (85%); SIC2281 YARN SPINNING MILLS (85%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (56%); INDIA (94%); NETHERLANDS (79%); NEW ZEALAND (55%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
16 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
17 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); FILM (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (64%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (64%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); MEXICO (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GRAMMY AWARDS (78%); MUSIC (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); ACADEMY AWARDS (75%); GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (75%); NOVELS & SHORT STORIES (70%); FILM DIRECTORS (67%); GRANDCHILDREN (66%) Company: GUCCI GROUP NV (95%) Industry: NAICS316992 NARI HANDBAG & PURSE MANUFACTURING (95%); SIC3171 WOMEN'S HANDBAGS & PURSES (95%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (90%); FASHION DESIGNERS (90%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GRAMMY AWARDS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); MOVIE FILMING (76%); MOVIE RELEASE DATES (76%); ACADEMY AWARDS (75%); GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (75%); FASHION & APPAREL (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (67%); FASHION DESIGN (66%) Person: ADAM DRIVER (92%); AL PACINO (79%); JARED LETO (79%); JEREMY IRONS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (74%); EUROPE (73%); UNITED STATES (67%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
19 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
20 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); FESTIVALS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (75%); VIRTUAL EVENTS (75%); TRENDS & EVENTS (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); WEIGHTLIFTING (63%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (54%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (54%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (54%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FESTIVALS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
21 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); FILM DIRECTORS (87%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); FILM (71%) Industry: FILM DIRECTORS (87%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); FILM (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
22 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (92%); CHINA (73%); TAIWAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
23 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); RANKINGS (76%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
24 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (89%); BOXING (78%); FENCING (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); SWIMMING (75%); ARCHERY (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
25 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
26 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (92%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (94%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
27 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); EMPLOYMENT SEARCH (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); MIDDLE MANAGEMENT (72%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (94%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
28 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%); EMOTIONS (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
29 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRITERS (86%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: WRITERS (86%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
30 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%) Organization: MINNESOTA WILD (57%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
31 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRITERS (85%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: WRITERS (85%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
32 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (75%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
33 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); BADMINTON (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); EMOTIONS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
34 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); ATHLETES (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); WOMEN (90%); DISCRIMINATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); FAMILY (88%); NEGATIVE NEWS (86%); FEMINISM & WOMEN'S RIGHTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT (75%); VOLLEYBALL (73%); GOLF (70%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (69%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (69%); SEXUAL HARASSMENT (64%); UNITED NATIONS (60%); UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS (60%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
35 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CLIMATE CHANGE (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); INTERVIEWS (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (73%); DOMESTIC OFFENSES (72%); MARRIAGE (71%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (71%); NARI SPORTS (69%); HIP HOP CULTURE (66%); RAP MUSIC (66%); DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (65%); PETITIONS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); HIP HOP CULTURE (66%) Geographic: HIMALAYAS (59%); INDIAN OCEAN (59%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%); SERBIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
36 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%); NETHERLANDS (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
37 Subject: ARCHERY (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HIGH SCHOOLS (75%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (60%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOLS (75%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (60%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (91%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
38 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPONSORSHIP (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
39 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (51%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
40 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (93%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (92%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); WEIGHTLIFTING (87%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); VACCINES (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (71%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (71%); VIRUSES (71%); NARI SPORTS (71%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (66%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (64%); BIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE (62%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (50%) Company: GUCCI GROUP NV (84%) Industry: NAICS316992 WOMEN'S HANDBAG & PURSE MANUFACTURING (84%); SIC3171 WOMEN'S HANDBAGS & PURSES (84%); FASHION & APPAREL (88%); FASHION DESIGNERS (85%); VACCINES (78%); PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY (77%); FASHION INDUSTRY (70%); CLOTHING LABELS (67%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (66%); MOTORCYCLES (65%); RESTAURANTS (64%); FASHION DESIGN (62%); MEN'S CLOTHING (62%) Person: ALESSANDRO MICHELE (77%); JARED LETO (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (56%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (93%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
41 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); CHILDREN (66%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (60%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (96%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
42 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (94%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (88%); MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (79%); VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
43 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RUNNING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (73%); TRENDS (72%); GOLF (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (97%); EUROPE (78%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
44 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); WOMEN (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
45 Subject: COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (87%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (77%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (75%); OLYMPICS (74%); NARI HEALTH (74%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (71%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); BADMINTON (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); WATER RESOURCES (69%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (67%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (67%); SARS (67%); VACCINES (65%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (64%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (62%); VIRUSES (61%) Company: STATE BANK OF INDIA (85%); FACEBOOK INC (57%) Ticker: SBIN (NSE) (85%); SBID (LSE) (85%); FB (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (85%); SIC6021 NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS (85%); NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (75%); BANKING & FINANCE (65%); VACCINES (65%) Person: BILLIE EILISH (90%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); RESIGNATIONS (77%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); EMBASSIES & CONSULATES (68%); MEN'S SPORTS (65%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%); NARI SPORTS (65%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN (78%); STYLISTS & IMAGE CONSULTANTS (76%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); REALITY TELEVISION (66%) Geographic: BIHAR, INDIA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); AFGHANISTAN (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
47 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FAMILY (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); OLYMPICS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
48 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DAY LABORERS (76%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (75%); ARMIES (71%); MIGRANT WORKERS (71%); BONE FRACTURES (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); ARMIES (71%); MARINE VESSELS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (95%); GOA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
49 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (75%); CHILDREN (72%); MIGRANT WORKERS (71%); WAGES & SALARIES (63%); BONE FRACTURES (60%); ARMIES (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); MARINE VESSELS (68%); ARMIES (51%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (95%); GOA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
50 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
51 Subject: NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); WOMEN (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: CAMERAS (72%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (92%); ASIA (73%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
52 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JAPAN (58%); HONG KONG (55%); NETHERLANDS (53%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
53 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
54 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
55 Subject: SIKHS & SIKHISM (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); NARI SPORTS (74%); TALIBAN (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); AFGHANISTAN (88%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
56 Subject: BOXING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (67%) Industry: BUDGETS (73%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (53%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (76%); ASSAM, INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
57 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%) Industry: BUDGETS (73%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (54%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); FILM (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); FUNDRAISING (74%); FILM DIRECTORS (62%); SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FILMS (62%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (62%); SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FILMS (62%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (94%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: GERMANY (93%); ARGENTINA (92%); AUSTRALIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
59 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); TOURNAMENTS (71%); POPULATION SIZE (68%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (94%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
60 Subject: TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MATERNITY LEAVE (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (77%); EMOTIONS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HOBART, AUSTRALIA (71%); UZBEKISTAN (88%); AUSTRALIA (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (78%); UKRAINE (57%); GERMANY (53%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FILM (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (79%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); BOXING (72%); TRACK & FIELD (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (79%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (54%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
62 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
63 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); 2014 SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WINTER SPORTS (89%); 2018 PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); DICTIONARIES & THESAURI (70%) Industry: PRESS AGENCY RELEASES (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); HOKKAIDO, JAPAN (79%); JAPAN (94%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (92%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (92%); INDIA (90%); GREECE (88%); TAIWAN (79%); UZBEKISTAN (79%); FRANCE (71%); UKRAINE (57%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
64 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); EQUESTRIAN SPORTS (90%); HORSES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
65 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BOXING (77%); BADMINTON (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); INDIA (92%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (91%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
66 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
67 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (77%); CURRICULA (76%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (66%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (56%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
68 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); AZERBAIJAN (58%); KAZAKHSTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
69 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BOXING (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); BADMINTON (73%); FIELD HOCKEY (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (70%); PAKISTAN (58%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
70 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ROWING (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (72%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (72%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (78%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
71 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); DICTIONARIES & THESAURI (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (92%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (92%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (92%); GREECE (88%); TAIWAN (79%); UZBEKISTAN (79%); AUSTRIA (72%); UKRAINE (72%); FRANCE (69%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
72 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (71%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (71%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (71%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (65%); HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION (60%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); EAST CHINA (78%); INDIA (95%); CHINA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
73 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Company: BEST INC (58%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (58%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (58%); MOVIE REVIEWS (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); NEW ZEALAND (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
74 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RANKINGS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (71%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); HOBART, AUSTRALIA (57%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (92%); UKRAINE (88%); UZBEKISTAN (88%); NETHERLANDS (53%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
75 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); WOMEN (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (74%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (74%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
76 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (90%); INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
77 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
78 Subject: TENNIS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (77%) Person: ASHLEIGH BARTY (79%); GARBINE MUGURUZA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (79%) Geographic: INDIA (88%); UZBEKISTAN (55%); SPAIN (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
79 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (52%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
80 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (51%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (89%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); BOLIVIA (79%); CROATIA (54%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
81 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (70%) Company: TATA GROUP (74%) Industry: NAICS541330 ENGINEERING SERVICES (74%); NAICS311920 COFFEE & TEA MANUFACTURING (74%); SIC4911 ELECTRIC SERVICES (74%); SIC3312 STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES (INCLUDING COKE OVENS) & ROLLING MILLS (74%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (74%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ODISHA, INDIA (97%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
82 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); HONG KONG (73%); JAPAN (59%); THAILAND (56%); NETHERLANDS (51%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); GERMANY (79%); AZERBAIJAN (50%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
84 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SPORTING GOODS (73%); DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS (71%); TICKET SALES (65%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (73%); TICKET SALES (65%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SOUTH INDIA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (97%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); JAPAN (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
85 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); HANDBALL (89%); WOMEN (89%); CELEBRITIES (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); FINES & PENALTIES (67%); DANCERS (65%); BEACHES (64%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (90%); SWIMWEAR (89%); CELEBRITIES (79%); DANCERS (65%) Person: PINK (50%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); NORWAY (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
86 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (72%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); UNITED STATES (87%); EUROPE (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
87 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); BADMINTON (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (51%); INDIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
88 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (77%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%); UKRAINE (53%); HONG KONG (51%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
89 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (61%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
90 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
91 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DOMESTIC OFFENSES (76%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (74%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (71%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%); UNITED STATES (72%); CZECH REPUBLIC (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
92 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (76%); CABINET OFFICES (75%); EMOTIONS (73%) Company: TATA GROUP (58%) Industry: NAICS541330 ENGINEERING SERVICES (58%); NAICS311920 COFFEE & TEA MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC4911 ELECTRIC SERVICES (58%); SIC3312 STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES (INCLUDING COKE OVENS) & ROLLING MILLS (58%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (58%); SPONSORSHIP (89%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
93 Subject: SPORTS FANS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: RAJASTHAN, INDIA (90%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
94 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%); AKSHAY KUMAR (72%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
95 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); EMOTIONS (71%) Company: BEST INC (58%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (58%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (58%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%); AKSHAY KUMAR (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
96 Subject: ATHLETES (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (69%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (69%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (54%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (88%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); ASSAM, INDIA (89%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
97 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); SPORTS FANS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Company: TWITTER INC (84%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (84%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (75%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
98 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%); WOMEN (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (68%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (67%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (53%) Industry: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (67%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (88%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
99 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (99%); UNITED KINGDOM (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); BELGIUM (88%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
100 Subject: APPOINTMENTS (92%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (91%); CHILDREN (90%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (73%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (73%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (72%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (96%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
101 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
102 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
103 Subject: GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); MOUNTAIN CLIMBING (73%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (78%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
104 Subject: SPORTS FANS (90%); CRICKET (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ENGLAND (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
105 Subject: SPORTS FANS (90%); CRICKET (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); ENGLAND (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
106 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (90%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (78%); CRICKET (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS INJURIES (77%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
107 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (90%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (78%); CRICKET (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS INJURIES (77%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
108 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (92%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
109 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & NATIONAL SECURITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COLD WAR (78%); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DIPLOMATIC SERVICES (77%); SCANDALS (74%); TENNIS (73%); WRITERS (72%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (69%); MENTAL HEALTH (69%); MENTAL ILLNESS (69%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (68%); PRESS CONFERENCES (66%) Industry: WRITERS (72%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (94%); UNITED STATES (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); RACE & ETHNICITY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WOMEN (89%); FEMINISM & WOMEN'S RIGHTS (78%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (78%); ATHLETES (75%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); SPORTS TAMPERING (75%); NEGATIVE NEWS (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); PAKISTAN (59%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
111 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); KICKBOXING (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); BADMINTON (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); LONDON, ENGLAND (70%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (90%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
112 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); KICKBOXING (77%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (68%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (54%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (70%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (90%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
113 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (88%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
114 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); RESEARCH REPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: IOWA, USA (79%); INDIA (90%); BELGIUM (57%); UNITED STATES (52%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
116 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
117 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS FANS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
118 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
119 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
120 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); WOMEN (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (84%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (84%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
121 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (69%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (92%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
122 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (68%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (91%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
123 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); NARI SPORTS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (89%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); TENNIS (89%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (84%); SHAMING (79%); EQUAL PAY (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); FINES & PENALTIES (73%); HANDBALL (73%); BADMINTON (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); WAGE DISCRIMINATION (64%); WAGES & SALARIES (60%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (50%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (75%) Person: SERENA WILLIAMS (51%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
124 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTING GOODS (73%); OLYMPICS (69%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
125 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (91%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 10, 2021
126 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
127 Subject: SPORTS FANS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
128 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); ATHLETES (74%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); BOXING (73%); BADMINTON (69%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (69%); PRIME MINISTERS (54%) Industry: ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (78%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (92%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (76%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
129 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); INTERVIEWS (79%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (52%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (52%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
130 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%); PHOTOGRAPHY (69%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: PHOTOGRAPHY (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); AKSHAY KUMAR (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); MIZORAM, INDIA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); ODISHA, INDIA (74%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
131 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (78%); ELECTIONS (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); POLITICS (70%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (91%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); BIHAR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
132 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Company: SA DAY MANUFACTURING CO (69%) Industry: SIC2899 CHEMICALS & CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS, NEC (69%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (94%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (87%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
133 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (69%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
134 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
135 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (92%); UKRAINE (73%); HONG KONG (72%); AUSTRIA (55%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
136 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BASKETBALL (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); OLYMPICS (73%) Person: KOBE BRYANT (79%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (74%); NETHERLANDS (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
137 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
138 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (71%); OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (71%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
140 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JAPAN (73%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
141 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Company: METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP (56%) Ticker: MCB (NYSE) (56%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (56%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (56%); CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: AUSTRIA (90%); INDIA (58%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
142 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (55%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (57%); THAILAND (56%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
143 Subject: ABUSE & NEGLECT (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUBSTANCE ABUSE (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (74%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
144 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TENNIS (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (72%); GOLF (70%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); WEIGHTLIFTING (57%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
145 Subject: BOXING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); EQUESTRIAN SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Company: RADIAL INC (66%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (66%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (66%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (66%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (66%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (66%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
146 Subject: WINTER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
147 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); FENCING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SWIMMING (70%) Company: RADIAL INC (91%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (91%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (91%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (91%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (91%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (91%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (91%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
148 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
149 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021dim(both)[1] 149 4both<-both%>%
mutate(Classification="MenAndWomen")
both newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
2 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
3 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
4 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
5 MINT August 7, 2021
6 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
7 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
8 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
9 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
11 MINT July 24, 2021
12 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
13 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
14 MINT July 24, 2021
15 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
16 MINT August 2, 2021
17 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
18 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
19 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
20 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
21 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
22 MINT August 1, 2021
23 MINT July 31, 2021
24 Hindustan Times July 26, 2021
25 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
26 MINT August 8, 2021
27 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
28 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
29 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
30 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
32 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
33 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
35 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
36 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
37 Hindustan Times July 26, 2021
38 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
39 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
40 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
42 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
43 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
44 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
45 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
46 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
47 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
48 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
49 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
50 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
51 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
52 MINT July 29, 2021
53 MINT August 6, 2021
54 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
55 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
56 India Today Online August 4, 2021
57 India Today Online August 3, 2021
58 India Today Online August 6, 2021
59 Indian Express August 7, 2021
60 The Telegraph (India) July 22, 2021
61 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
62 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
63 Indian Express July 23, 2021
64 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
65 DNA August 5, 2021
66 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021
67 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021
68 DNA August 7, 2021
69 DNA August 7, 2021
70 DNA July 23, 2021
71 DNA July 23, 2021
72 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
73 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021
74 Free Press Journal (India) July 23, 2021
75 Indian Express August 2, 2021
76 DNA July 31, 2021
77 India Today Online August 2, 2021
78 DNA July 27, 2021
79 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021
80 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021
81 DNA August 3, 2021
82 The Hindu July 28, 2021
83 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
84 Free Press Journal (India) July 22, 2021
85 Indian Express July 29, 2021
86 Indian Express August 7, 2021
87 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021
88 The Telegraph (India) July 28, 2021
89 DNA August 1, 2021
90 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021
91 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021
92 Indian Express August 3, 2021
93 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
94 India Today Online August 5, 2021
95 India Today Online August 5, 2021
96 Indian Express August 3, 2021
97 DNA August 6, 2021
98 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021
99 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021
100 India Today Online August 8, 2021
101 India Today Online August 6, 2021
102 India Today Online August 6, 2021
103 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021
104 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
105 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
106 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
107 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
108 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021
109 Indian Express July 31, 2021
110 India Today Online August 5, 2021
111 Indian Express July 31, 2021
112 Indian Express July 31, 2021
113 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
114 DNA August 4, 2021
115 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
116 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
117 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
118 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
119 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021
120 Indian Express August 6, 2021
121 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 1, 2021
122 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 1, 2021
123 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021
124 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021
125 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021
126 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
127 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
128 India Today Online August 6, 2021
129 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
130 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
131 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021
132 The Telegraph (India) August 5, 2021
133 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021
134 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021
135 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021
136 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
137 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
138 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
139 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021
140 DNA July 30, 2021
141 DNA July 26, 2021
142 Free Press Journal (India) July 30, 2021
143 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021
144 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021
145 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021
146 DNA August 2, 2021
147 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021
148 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021
149 DNA August 6, 2021
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1 The Tokyo Olympics 2020 enters the fifth day which will begin with the Indian women's Hockey team locking horns with defending Olympic Gold Medallists Great Britain in their third Pool A encounter. All eyes will be on ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu as she gears up for her second game in the tournament. Archers Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav and Deepika Kumari will also be in action in the individual 1/32 eliminations stage. Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh feature in the repechage semi-final A/B in lightweight Men's Double Sculls on Wednesday. Sailors KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar will participate in the 49er event. In the afternoon, shuttler Sai Praneeth will play his singles group play stage game. Olympics debutant, boxer Pooja Rani will look to bring out her A-game on Wednesday. Here is India's schedule on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics: Hockey India vs Great Britain in Women's Pool A - 6:30 AM IST Badminton PV Sindhu in Women's Singles Group Play Stage - 7:30 AM IST B Sai Praneeth in Men's Singles Group Play Stage - 2:30 PM IST Archery Tarundeep Rain in Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 7:31 AM IST Pravin Jadhav in Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 12:30 PM IST Deepika Kumari in Women's Individual 1/32 Eliminations - 2:14 PM IST Rowing Arjun Lal Jat & Arvind Singh in Men's Double Sculls Semifinal A/B 2 - 8:00 AM IST Sailing KC Ganapathy and VarunThakur in 49er Men's Race 2, 3 & 4 - 8:35 AM IST Boxing Pooja Rani in Prelims - Round of 16 - Women's 75 Kg
2 Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday was a hot and cold affair. Shuttler PV Sindhu advanced into the Round of 16 with another comprehensive win, while the women's hockey team suffered their third straight defeat. B Sai Praneeth was eliminated, whereas archer Deepika Kumari sailed into the pre-quarters of the women' individual event. Taking part in her first Olympics, boxer Pooja Rani moved into the quarterfinals, one win away from a guaranteed bronze, joining Lovlina Borgohain, who won her round of 16 match a day ago. Day 6 promises to be engaging as shooters, boxers, archers, shuttlers and the men's hockey team are set for action once again. Here is India's schedule on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics: GOLF Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane - Men's Round 1: 4:00 AM IST ROWING Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh - Men's Lightweight Double Sculls Final B: 5:20 AM IST SHOOTING Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat - 25m Pistol Women's Qualification Precision: 5:30 AM IST HOCKEY Men's Match - India vs Argentina: 6:00 AM IST BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs Mia Blichfeldt - Women's Singles Round of 16: 6:15 AM IST ARCHERY Atanu Das vs Yu-Cheng Deng - Men's Individual 1/32 Eliminations: 7:31 AM IST SAILING Vishnu Saravanan - Laser Men Race 7 & 8: 8:35 AM IST Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar - Men Race 5 & 6: 8:35 AM IST Nethra Kumanan - Laser Radial Women Race 7 & 8: 8:45 AM IST BOXING Satish Kumar vs Ricardo Brown - Men's Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Round of 16: 8:48 AM IST Mary Kom vs Ingrit Valencia - Women's Flyweight (48-51kg) Round of 16: 3:36 PM IST SWIMMING Sajan Prakash - Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 2: 4:16 PM IST
3 Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics wasn't great in particular for India as their top guns failed to make a mark. Boxers Pooja Rani and Amit Panghal faced eliminations, while Atanu Das bowled out of the Games as well. India shuttler PV Sindhu's hopes of repeating a silver-medal finish from five years ago in Rio, let alone better it, were dashed as she lost in straight games to World No. 1 Tai Tzu-Ying. In comparison to the first eight days, Day 9 is slightly less engaging for India with only limited events lined up on Sunday, but two of them hold a lot of significance. Sindhu still has a chance of ensuring a podium finish in her final game of the Tokyo Games, while history awaits the Indian men's hockey team. Here is India's schedule on Day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: GOLF Udayan Mane - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4 at 4:11 AM Anirban Lahiri - Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 4 at 5:55 AM EQUESTRIAN Fouaad Mirza - Eventing Cross Country Team and Individual at 4:15 AM BOXING Satish Kumar vs Bakhodir Jalolov - Men's Super-Heavyweight (+91kg) Quarterfinal at 9:36 AM BADMINTON PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao - Women's Singles Bronze Medal match at 5:00 PM HOCKEY India vs Great Britain - Men's Quarter-final at 5:30 PM
4 India men's hockey team defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. This is India's first Olympic medal in hockey since they won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. This is India's fourth-medal (and fifth confirmed) in Tokyo so far, other than weightlifter Mirabai Chanu who won silver in 48kg category, boxer Lovlina Borgohain who won bronze medal in women's welterweight category and shuttler PV Sindhu who won a bronze medal in women's singles competition. Tokyo Olympics Live Updates Day 13 India saw Germany take an early lead with Timur Oruz scoring within two minutes of the match. Germany troubled Indian defense in the first quarter, but could not find a way to extend their lead. In the 2nd quarter, India saw Simranjeet Singh scoring from a well-executed tomahawk shot, but defensive errors lead to Germany scoring two more goals within two minutes. Just when it looked India might be in trouble, two penalty corners for India yielded results as Hardik Singh scored on the rebound from the first one, while Harmanpreet Singh scored another with a superb dragflick onto the back of the nets to level the scores at 3-3 by halftime. The third quarter was where the tide completely shifted in India's favour as Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty stroke after Hardik Singh was tripped inside the scoring circle. Minutes later, Simranjeet Singh scored from open play after Gurjant Singh dribbled past German defence from right and pushed the ball to him in front of the goal. Simranjeet made no mistake and struck it in cleanly to extend India's lead. Lukas Windfeder pulled one back in the final quarter, but it was not enough for Germany to push it to the shootouts. Germany received a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the match, but Indai goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made a fantastic save as Manpreet Singh and co. scripted history in Tokyo. It was a good journey for India men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in their opening group game, and then picking up wins over Germany (2-0), Spain (3-1), Argentina (3-1), and Japan (5-3) in the group matches. Barring the 7-1 defeat against Australia, and the 5-2 loss in the semifinal to the World Champions Belgium, India won all their games in Tokyo.
5 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday not only won gold for the country, but also helped it surpass the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. With his gold today in men's javelin throw, India's medal tally has gone up to 7 - highest so far in any Olympics. India now have one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. In the 2012 London Games, India had won six medals - two silver and four bronze. Until today, this was India's highest tally at the Olympics. But that changed today with Chopra's golden throw at the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old javelin thrower created history with his gold as he became the first to win a medal in athletics since the country started taking part in the Games in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. Among the athletes who have bagged medals in this season for India are Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and Men's Hockey Team. With 126 athletes across 18 sports disciplines, India had sent its biggest-ever contingent to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country. For India, first medal came in weightlifting, in which Mirabai Chanu won Silver. On the 7th day of the quadrennial event, Lovlina Borgohain secured the second medal for the country in boxing. She won Bronze. Ace shutter PV Sindhu, too, won Bronze by defeating Bing Jiao of China. Tokyo Olympics 2020 Winners for India Gold - Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin Throw) Silver - Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting: Women's 49kg ) Silver - Ravi Kumar Dahiya (Wrestling: Men's 57kg freestyle) Bronze - Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing: Women's Welterweight) Bronze - PV Sindhu (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Men's Hockey Team Bronze - Bajrang Punia (Wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle) This time, there were several notable firsts in terms of participation at Tokyo Olympics. For the first time in its history, a fencer from India (Bhavani Devi) had qualified for the Olympic Games. Bhavani won the first match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi of Tunisia and became the first Indian fencing player to win a match at Olympics. But in the second match, she lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet of France. Nethra Kumanan was the first ever female Sailor from India to qualify for an Olympic Games. Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj were the first Swimmers from India to qualify for an Olympic Games by achieving the 'A' Qualification Standard in Swimming.
6 While the Indian Men's Hockey team created history on Thursday by winning the Bronze medal at the Olympics against the Germany team, the Women's team is not far behind. They are set to play their match for the Bronze against 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain. The Men's team brought in a medal for India in Hockey after 41 years, and the entire country is celebrating. We talk to the team of Gold (2018), which revolved around the journey of India's first national hockey team to the 1948 Summer Olympics, and Soorma (2018) about this glorious moment: VINEET KUMAR SINGH I have been following the Olympics, because I have always had a special connect with sports. I have done three films based on sports too, on cricket, hockey and boxing. There is something about it which uplifts you, which needs discipline, consistency and dedication from you. I was waiting for this match, I am so happy with this win. I used to play hockey in my childhood too, there Olympians used to play. I would watch them play, they were my seniors. I am ecstatic at our win, I want to congratulate the entire country on this. Hamare players ki jitni tareef ki jaaye kam hai, har player ki tareef karni chahiye. Hockey is our national sport, and for the past 41 years we didn't get any medal. This is a big moment. REEMA KAGTI, Director I am delighted, it was lovely to watch the boys play. I think the whole team came together really well, it was great. I don't think it had anything to do with our film Gold (laughs), but it is indeed a golden moment. Like I said, it was delightful, and I am glad we are in some way reclaiming our tradition of hockey. I certainly hope this is the start of those old days. KUNAL KAPOOR This is very, very exciting of course. As a nation, we have waited for 41 years for this, it is such a historic moment. In Gold, I had a chance to play a character who lived in the golden era of Indian hockey where we were winning back to back Gold medals and were the most dominating team in the world. Seeing the spirit and determination this team has makes you believe that this is the direction we are headed in once again. ANGAD BEDI Well done team India, I could not be more proud of our boys in blue. A special mention for our very own great wall Sreejesh. What's even more amazing is to see the sport being watched so ardently and individual and team players are all doing so well. This Olympics has been a jump-start for every child with dreams to do well in any sport.
7 PV Sindhu has received support from Taapsee Pannu and Neha Dhupia after she lost the Badminton Women's Singles Semifinal to Tai Tzu Ying at the ongoing Olympics in Tokyo. On Saturday evening, Taapsee took to Twitter and expressed heartbreak over Sindhu's loss. In the tweet, the Haseen Dillruba star also shared her thoughts after Indian boxer Pooja Rani lost in the quarterfinals. Taapsee Pannu wrote, "(heartbreak emojis) for Pooja Rani and Sindhu ! We are going to come back stronger !" Neha Dhupia, addressing PV Sindhu, tweeted, "Well played @Pvsindhu1 . down but not out . we still stand a chance . all the best ! @WeAreTeamIndia #olympics #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020." Earlier in the day, actor Varun Dhawan was seen cheering for Sindhu. He shared a picture from the match, streaming on his television and wrote, "Let's go @pvsindhu1," adding an Indian flag emoji. On Saturday, PV Sindhu faced Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei in the Badminton Women's Singles Semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu lost the semifinals 18-21,12-21 in 40 minutes to Tai Tzu-Ying. Sindhu will now face He Bingjiao in the Bronze Medal match on Sunday. Pooja Rani, on the other hand, lost her quarterfinal match to China's Li Qian by unanimous decision in the women's middleweight 75 kg category. Taapsee also tweeted about the Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. "So the only team who defeated the Gold Medal winners in Tokyo 2020 men's doubles badminton are our boys ! I would like to see the glass half full. We have a bright future with @Shettychirag04 and @satwiksairaj And congratulations Chinese Taipei pair , see u next Olympics :)". India has so far won only one medal so far. Last week, Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the 49 kg category.
8 Tokyo Olympics Day 10 Full Schedule: The 13th day of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be action-packed as the men's hockey team and grappler Ravi Dahiya will look to win medals on Thursday. Manpreet Singh & Co will lock horns with Germany in the bronze medal match while Dahiya will compete in his final match in the 57kg men's freestyle category. Golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar would also be in action in the women's individual stroke play Round 2. Vinesh Phogat will start her campaign against Sweden's Sofia Mattinson in the women's 53kg freestyle event. Sandeep Kumar, Rahul Rohilla and Irfan K Thodi would be in action in the men's 20km race walk final. Wrestler Deepak Punia will also square off in the bronze medal match. Here is India's schedule on Day 13 of the Tokyo Olympics. All timings are in IST: 4:00 AM IST: Aditi Ashok in golf women's round 2 5:44 AM IST: Diksha Dagar in golf women's round 2 7:00 AM IST: India vs Germany in men's hockey bronze medal match 7:37 AM IST: Anshu Malik vs Valeria Koblova (ROC) in repechage round of women's freestyle wrestling 57kg 8:00 AM IST: Vinesh Phogat vs Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (Sweden) in women's freestyle wrestling 53kg 8:56 AM IST: Vinesh Phogat women's freestyle 53kg quarter-final (Subject to qualification) 1:00 PM IST: KT Irfan, Rahul Rohilla and Sandeep Kumar in men's 20km race walk event 3:25 PM IST: Vinesh Phogat women's freestyle 53kg semi-final (Subject to qualification) 4:20 PM IST: Ravi Dahiya vs Zavur Uguev (Russian Olympic Committee) in men's freestyle 57kg final 4:40 PM IST: Deepak Punia in men's freestyle wrestling bronze medal match 5:35 PM IST: Anshu Malik in women's freestyle wrestling 57kg bronze medal match (Subject to qualification)
9 The Indian cricketing fraternity lauded the women's hockey for their historic win at the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals over favourites Australia on Monday. Sachin Tendulkar led the way as the likes of Harbhajan Singh, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif took to Twitter to congratulate the Rani Rampal-led side for earning the right of India's first-ever semi-final appearance in the Games. Gurjit Kaur scored from the penalty corner in the 22nd minute that turned out to be the only goal and the difference between the two sides at the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo. "Yesterday the men's hockey team, today the women's hockey team. Absolutely loving it. Well done to the women's team for making it to the #Olympics semi-finals for the first time ever! The whole nation is behind you!" tweeted Sachin Tendulkar. "Way to go Indian Women's Hockey Team defeats Australia to reach the semi finals of Olympics 2020," wrote Harbhajan Singh. "Grit. Determination. Belief. Our women's hockey team is weaving a golden chapter in our history. A performance for the ages that seals the semifinal berth. Well done, girls," tweeted Mohammad Kaif. "Our girls have created history. Beaten #AUS in the quarter-final match of women's #hockey by 1-0 to seal their spot in SEMI-FINAL for the first time ever! Best wishes for the semis," wrote VVS Laxman. "Itni khushi shayad kisi jeet par mehsoos huyi hogi! Absolute Wow moment. First ever Olympics hockey semi-finals for our girls. Filled with pride. Chak De India," wrote Virender Sehwag. The odds were totally against India as in world no.2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them. "We are so happy, it is the result of hard work that we put in for several, several days. In 1980, we qualified for the Games but this time, we made the semifinals. It is a proud moment for us," Gurjit said after the match. "This team is like a family, we have supported each other and found support from the country as well. We are very happy," she added. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the narrow win over the Hockeyroos. How much it meant for the team and Indian hockey in general could be gauged from the emotions that were on display after the final hooter went off. The players screamed, hugged each other, and got into a huddle with their Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne with tears of joy rolling down their faces. India's best performance in the Olympics came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games where they finished fourth out of six teams.
10 Neeraj Chopra won a historic gold medal in men's javelin throw to make the Tokyo 2020 Games India's best ever Olympics campaign. Chopra scripted history on Saturday by becoming independent India's first athlete to win a medal in the track and field discipline. English-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in the 1900 Games, while representing India, which was then a British colony. Day 15 of the Games started off with a disappointment for India as golfer Aditi Ashok missed a medal by a whisker, as she finished fourth after staying in contention for a silver for the longest time. India though matched its best medal haul at a single Olympic Games after wrestler Bajrang Punia gave India its 6th medal of the campaign, which put it on par with the showing at the 2012 London Olympics. The icing on the cake came from Neeraj Chopra as he threw a distance of 87.58 in his second attempt to win the gold medal in the men's javelin throw. Chopra led throughout the final and his chances were boosted after hot favourite Johannes Vetter of Germany suffered a meltdown in the final to exit with a best throw of 82.52 metres. Tokyo Olympics: Day 15 Live Updates India's medal rush at Tokyo started with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu winning a silver medal. Badminton ace PV Sindhu added a bronze while boxer Lovlina Borgohain too won a bronze medal. Indian men's hockey team returned to the Olympic podium after a gap of 41 years by winning the bronze medal, while wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya won a silver medal. He was joined by wrestler Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze. The women's hockey team finished a creditable fourth and came very close to winning a historic medal. Kamalpreet Kaur came a creditable 6th in women's discus throw. But the big disappointments of the Games for India were the shooters, who drew a blank for the second straight Games despite several strong contenders in the fray. The archery team also failed to get any medals despite the the experienced Deepika Kumari participating in her third Olympics. The manner of her quarter-final defeat, where she hit several scores of 7, was a matter of disappointment. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and boxer Amit Panghal were also big contenders, who failed to deliver a medal. Here is the full list of medal winners for India from the 2012 London Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics Tokyo 2020 medal winners for India Gold - Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin Throw) Silver - Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting: Women's 49kg ) Silver - Ravi Kumar Dahiya (Wrestling: Men's 57kg freestyle) Bronze - Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing: Women's Welterweight) Bronze - PV Sindhu (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Men's Hockey Team Bronze - Bajrang Punia (Wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle) London 2012 medal winners for India Silver - Vijay Kumar (Shooting: Men's 25 m rapid fire pistol) Silver - Sushil Kumar (Wrestling: Men's 66kg freestyle) Bronze - MC Mary Kom (Boxing: Women's Flyweight) Bronze - Saina Nehwal (Badminton: Women's singles) Bronze - Gagan Narang (Shooting: Men's 10 m air rifle) Bronze - Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestling: Men's 60kg freestyle)
11 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Canu wins the country's first medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. She won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weighlifting event. She became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in Olympics. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. Mirabai got off to a flying start after she completed her lift of 84 kg in the first attempt in snatch. Manipur-born weightlifter then proceeded to complete the 87kg weightlift with ease but failed to complete the 89kg lift in her last attempt. USA's Jourdan Elizabeth Delacruz posed the only challenge for the Indian weightlifter for 2nd place in the first half of the competition. Delacruz tragically missed equalling her personal best of 89kg -- which should have placed her in second spot -- when judges overruled her attempt.
12 Indian women's hockey team's first ever Olympic semi-final ended in a heart-break as they were edged out 2-1 by Argentina. India took an early lead through a penalty corner but Argentine captain Maria Noel Barrionuevo scored a brace to help the four-time Olympic medallists ensure at least a silver medal. Indian women will fight for the bronze medal, just like the men's team. Rani Rampal's team will take on 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal match, as the GBR team had lost the first semi-final to Netherlands. It was always going to be a tough task for the Indian women against the Argentinians, who have been medal winners at the Olympics on four occasions. The Argentinians won a silver at Sydney in 2000 and followed it up with bronze medals in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and then won the bronze medal again in London 2012. They are now assured of at least a silver medal, having missed out at Rio in 2016. It was a dream start for the Indian team as they won a penalty corner off their very first entry into the Argentine circle in the second minute of the first quarter. Gurjit Kaur converted in style as she took a clean strike, pushing the ball to the left of the Argentine goal-keeper low in the air, which beat the defence of the Latin Americans. Tokyo Olympics - India vs Argentina - Highlights Stunned by the early goal, the Argentine women pushed in attack but the Indian women defended bravely, just as they had done against Australia in the quarter-final. India stayed resolute to end the first quarter 1-0 up. Argentina knew they had to up the ante in the second quarter and they came out all guns blazing, pushing the Indians inside their half. The pressure yielded results as Argentina won back to back penalty corners and it was their captain, Maria Noel Barrionuevo, who scored a scintillating goal to equalise from the penalty corner. It was an inch-perfect strike that rifled past India goal-keeper Savita Punia's stretched left leg. India needed that jolt to get out of their slumber and the goal had its effect on Rani Rampal and company. The Indians made repeated circle entries and won two penalty corners towards the end of the second half but the Argentine defence stood strong. Tokyo Olympics - Day 13 - Live Updates The Indians had to contend with repeated Argentinian attacks from the left flank but managed to keep the score at 1-1 at the half-time hooter. But the balance had tilted and the Argentinians had clearly started to dominate the encounter. The Indians were left defending again in the early phases of the third quarter and Barrionuevo converted again from the penalty corner withing five minutes of the start of the third quarter. India needed to play freely in the fourth quarter and they started on the front foot. Captain Rani Rampal with a fabulous run in the opening minutes setting the momentum for the team. India won a penalty corner in the 6th minute but the 35-year-old Argentine goal-keeper saved Gurjit Kaur's attempt. India kept attacking and came close to equalising on a couple of occasions but it wasn't to be as Argentina held on to book a place in the final where they will take on the mighty Netherlands, the silver medallists from Rio Olympics.
13 Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu on Friday stormed into the semi-finals of women's singles badminton at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She defeated fourth-seeded Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash to keep her Olympic medal hopes alive. Sindhu, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, came into the match with an 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. She is the lone Indian in the fray in badminton after the Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were knocked out from the Tokyo Games. Reactions started to pour in on social soon after the Indian shuttler played the final shot and shouted out loud to announce her victory. People from the Indian cricket fraternity came forward to wish Sindhu on her terrific victory. Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer said, "She's a champion and she played like one. Superb Sindhu Storms into Semis! Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 ." Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also took to Twitter and congratulated Sindhu for qualifying for the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. Indian Premier League franchises wished the ace Indian shuttler on her success in Tokyo. Earlier on Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. After defeating Yamaguchi, she will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. (With Agency Inputs)
14 Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins the country's first medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. She won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weighlifting event. She became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in Olympics. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. Mirabai got off to a flying start after she completed her lift of 84 kg in the first attempt in snatch. Manipur-born weightlifter then proceeded to complete the 87kg weightlift with ease but failed to complete the 89kg lift in her last attempt. USA's Jourdan Elizabeth Delacruz posed the only challenge for the Indian weightlifter for 2nd place in the first half of the competition. Delacruz tragically missed equalling her personal best of 89kg -- which should have placed her in second spot -- when judges overruled her attempt.
15 Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 2 India Schedule: Several Indian athletes will be in action on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics. While shooters Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Abhishek Verma will eye medals on Saturday, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will also look to earn a Tokyo podium finish. India men's and women's hockey team will also open their campaigns: Here is a look at the full schedule of Indian athletes on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics: (Tokyo 2020 Full Coverage) 5:00 AM: 10m Air Rifle Women's Qualification - Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan 6:00 AM: Mixed team archery - India (Deepika Kumari/Pravin Jadav) vs Chinese Taipei (LIN Chia-En/TANG Chih-Chun) 6:20 AM: Women's 49kg Weightlifting - Mirabai Chanu 6:30 AM: Men's Hockey - India vs New Zealand 7:15 AM: 10m Air Rifle Women's Final (Possibly Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan) 8:50 AM: Badminton - LEE Yang/WANG Chi-Lin vs RANKIREDDY Satwiksairaj/SHETTY Chirag AFTER 7:30 AM: Judo - Shushila Devi vs CSERNOVICZKI Eva AFTER 7:30 AM: Tennis - Sumit Nagal vs Denis Istomin 9:30 AM: Badminton - B. Sai Praneeth vs ZILBERMAN Misha 9:30 AM: 10m Air Pistol Men's Qualification (Abhishek Verma, Saurabh Chaudhary) 9:30 AM: Table Tennis - LIN Yun Ju / CHENG I Ching vs Sharath Kamal / BATRA Manika 12:00 PM: 10m Air Pistol Men's Final (Possibly, Abhishek Verma, Saurabh Chaudhary) 12:15 PM: Table Tennis - BATRA Manika vs Ho Tin-Tin 13:00 PM: Table Tennis - BERGSTROEM Linda vs MUKHERJEE Sutirtha 15:54 PM: Boxing Vikas Krishan vs OKAZAWA Sewonrets Quincy Mensah 17:15 PM: Women's Hockey - Netherlands vs India
16 India's Women's hockey team has qualified for the semis after it defeated the Australian team 1-0 in the quarter-final match today and register a historic win in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. India scored the victory goal after Gurjit Kaur scored from a penalty corner. The victory came a day after the men's hockey team qualified for the semi-final match and India's women team finished their Pool A proceedings in the fourth place with six points, riding on back-to-back wins over Ireland and South Africa. The top four teams from each pool made it to the knockout stage. The Indian women hockey team's best finish at the Olympics came on debut in Moscow back in 1980 when it ended up at the fourth position among six teams. In that edition, only six teams participated out of which India finished fourth in a round-robin format competition with no classification or elimination matches. After losing their first three matches against Netherlands, Germany and defending champions Great Britain, the Indian women made a brilliant comeback, defeating higher-ranked Ireland 1-0 and overpowering South Africa 4-3 to keep themselves in the hunt. The Rani-led forward line has been impressive throughout the the pool stages but the likes of Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami and Rani herself have squandered many chances. The Indians have also been below-par with penalty corner conversions so far with star drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur looking a pale shadow of herself. The team secured 33 penalty corners so far from five pool matches out of which it managed to utilise just four chances with all the goals coming through variations.
17 Actor Shah Rukh Khan has congratulated the Indian men's hockey team as they won an Olympic medal after 41 years. The Indian team beat Germany 5-4 and claimed the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal-getters for India. It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came at the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. Earlier this week, Shah Rukh lauded the Indian women's hockey team's win against Australia at the Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne had tweeted a picture with the Indian team after they reached the semi-finals and had written, "Sorry family, I coming again later." Shah Rukh retweeted the post and wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." He was making a reference to his role in the movie Chak De! India. Sjoerd expressed his gratitude to the actor in another tweet. "Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach," he wrote. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh is currently busy with his upcoming project Pathan. It also features Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The film will mark Shah Rukh's comeback to acting. Fans saw him last in the 2018 film Zero, directed by Aanand L Rai.
18 As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are going on, fans have found a lookalike of singer Lady Gaga at the event. Recently, fans took to Twitter after they found similarities between Lady Gaga and Julyana Al-Sadeq, a Taekwondo athlete from Jordan. Sharing a picture of Lady Gaga's doppelganger Julyana Al-Sadeq, a fan wrote, "Why is Lady Gaga at the Olympics?" In the picture, Julyana was snapped mid-fight in her white dobok, chest pad and helmet. Another fan wrote, "Singer, actress, activist and now Olympian! Lady Gaga really does do it all!" "There can be a hundred people at the olympics and one of them is Lady Gaga competing for a taekwondo medal," tweeted a user. Another wrote, "Lady gaga said 'f*** grammys and oscars, i want a gold olympic medal now'." Lady Gaga will be seen next in House of Gucci along with actor Adam Driver. On Friday, MGM dropped the trailer of the upcoming film where the duo star as Mr and Mrs Gucci. The film, directed by Ridley Scott, details the assassination of Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver), the grandson of renowned fashion designer Guccio Gucci, and the downfall of the Gucci family fashion dynasty. House of Gucci is based on Sara Gay Forden's novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. The cast also includes Al Pacino, Jared Leto and Jeremy Irons. Filmed in Europe, the film marks Lady Gaga's first film since A Star Is Born, which earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. The film is slated to be released in the US on November 24. Lady Gaga will also join Tony Bennett for a pair of shows at Radio City Music Hall in August that are being billed as their final appearances together. According to Variety, the One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga shows will take place on August 3 and 5.
19 The country will watch with bated breath and pride when Rani Rampal-led team will take the turf for the Women's Hockey semi finals match against Argentina tomorrow at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Hopes for a medal soared higher than ever after the team beat three-time champions Australia in their quarter finals match and today as they inch closer to a historic moment, Bollywood celebrities are cheering them on and sending their best wishes for the match. Aparshakti Khurana Indian Women Hockey Team has made the whole country proud with their historic entry to the Semi Finals. My best wishes are with them for their match with Argentina tomorrow. Girls for the win! Indian Women Hockey Team for the win! Chakde Team India. Shruti Haasan So proud of these incredible women from India! I wish them all the best, and in my eyes, they are already winners. Dia Mirza We are so proud of our Women's Hockey Team for coming this far at the Olympics! My sincere wish for all the ladies is for them to play their best game and know that all of India is cheering for them and is so proud. Amyra Dastur The women this year have proven to be fearless and have inspired so many girls in India. I wish our Women's Hockey Team all the very best and can't wait to watch their performance. And of course, we want that gold brought back home! Sonu Nigam My love for Hockey is majorly because of my paternal grandfather who belonged to the Dhyanchand generation that revered Hockey in India. My blessings and best wishes to the Indian Hockey team for the match against Argentina. Shilpa Rao My best wishes and all great vibes to them. They are making us proud as Indians every single day. I'm going to be cheering from my house. Super proud that they are representing us at the Olympics. More power to them. Angad Bedi Fateh kar ke aana!!! We all as a nation are proud of each one of you. It's not about the gold, silver or bronze ..it's the respect which all of you have already earned. And representing your country is the biggest honour ever. Jai Hind! Jubin Nautiyal Our Women's Hockey team created history by qualifying into semi-finals at the Olympic games. I wish our team to play hard and enjoy their game. We are together in this and we as a nation love you. All the best wishes and love to them. Neha Dhupia This is a big shout out to the Indian Women's Hockey team. I'm a huge fan of sport. I have been following the Olympics very closely and seeing all the amazing women do so well. We still stand a chance in the Men's Hockey team as well. So all the best to them too. And as far as our women are concerned, yeah, go for gold, go for glory, and whatever it takes. I'm just telling you that I feel so positive about this and we're gonna bring back home a lot. Shaan So thrilled to learn that : India has become the only country to reach the final four in both the Men's and Women's Olympic Hockey Competitions. While our men still have a chance of bringing us a Bronze ... Let's keep our fingers crossed for Women'sTeam to go two steps further !!! #GirlPower #IndiaPower Nimrat Kaur Wishing our trailblazers tremendous luck and may the sky be the limit!!
20 Celebrations in and around the residence of Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a midfielder on Indian men's hockey team, were spontaneous in Kontha Ahallup area of Manipur's Imphal East district on Thursday as soon as the country got its bronze at the Tokyo Olympics by defeating Germany. People marched on the streets while some women performed Thabal Chongba, a popular traditional dance usually performed during the five-day Yaoshang festival in the state. Chief minister N Biren Singh also shared a video of the celebration on his social media accounts. On Twitter, he wrote, "Friends, family & neighbours of Nilakanta Sharma, midfielder Indian Men's Hockey team, came out & celebrated the historic win of bronze medal by Indian Hockey team at Tokyo Olympic today. Manipur is filled with so much joy today." Also Watch | PM Modi speaks to Manpreet, coach Reid after Olympic hockey bronze Congratulating India team and sharing a video chat with the 26-year-old Sharma on his Facebook page, Singh promised Nilakanta a job in the state along with a cash reward of Rs.75 lakh for making the country and state proud.Sharma is currently employed with in Indian Railways. Meanwhile, congratulating the team for the victory, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam said,"I congratulate the India men's team for ending 41 years medal drought. You made us proud. Now we're also praying for our women's team's victory in their bronze medal match (tomorrow)." Manipur Hockey also congratulated the India men's team. Since 1984, the state has produced seven Olympians from hockey alone. State's weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has made the country proud by clinching the nation's first silver medal in the 49 kg women's weightlifting category on the first day of the Tokyo Olympic 2020.
21 A disappointed Shah Rukh Khan tweeted minutes after the India women's hockey team lost the bronze medal match at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics to Great Britain. The nail-biter concluded with India losing 5-4. Shah Rukh Khan, who'd been invested in the team's progress throughout the tournament, wrote in a tweet, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory." Shah Rukh, of course, famously played coach Kabir Khan in the hit 2007 sports drama Chak De! India, in which the character led an underdog women's hockey team to success. Previously, after the squad entered the semi-finals, Shah Rukh had tweeted, reposting coach Sjoerd Marijne's comment about being further delayed because of the team's progress, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back..for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan," referring to his role in the Bollywood film Chak De! India." After the Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal win earlier this week, the actor wrote, "Wow!! Indian Men's Hockey Team Congratulations. Resilience and skill at its peak. What an exciting match." Chak De! India, directed by Shimit Amin, became a critical and commercial success. It was a rare diversion from the usual romantic roles that Shah Rukh was known for playing on screen. The title track, composed by Salim-Sulaiman and performed by Sukhwinder Singh, became an unofficial anthem for Indian sports. Shah Rukh was last seen on screen in 2018's Zero, directed by Anand L Rai. He will make his acting comeback with the as-yet-unannounced Pathan, and has a bunch of rumoured films in the pipeline.
22 Ace badminton player PV Sindhu clinches the bronze medal for India after defeating China's He Bing Jiao 21-13 21-15 in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday. The 26-year-old silver-medallist from the Rio Games' hopes of securing India's first-ever Olympic gold in badminton came crashing down as she slumped to a straight-game defeat against world no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's singles semifinals on Saturday. One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21 12-21 here. It was Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
23 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu on Saturday lost semifinals of women's singles after facing world number 1 Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei. PV Sindhu lost 18-21, 11-21 to Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semifinal. Sindhu will face China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze-medal match tomorrow. Tzu Ying is currently ranked first in the BWF women's singles world ranking. On the other hand, Sindhu is placed seventh on the BWF leaderboard The champion had stormed into the semis with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi on Friday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attack to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza here. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The sixth seeded Indian came into the match with a 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
24 After the high of Mirabai Chanu winning India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Day 2 wasn't as bright for India, with some strong medal contenders finishing with disappointing results. Shooters Manu Bhaker, Divyansh Panwar and Deepak Kumar could not produce the desire results, while the men's hockey team took a 1-7 drubbing at the hands of Australia. The women's doubles tennis pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina faced a first-round exit, whereas swimmers Maana Patel and Srihari Nataraj clocked below personal bests. India did have reasons to cheer as paddler Manika Batra registered his first win, beating World No. 32 Margaryta Pesotska. Mary Kom and PV Sindhu won their respective round of matches in a medal-less day for India. The action now shifts to day 3 where more stars are in line, with Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty up in men's doubles badminton competition, and the India women's hockey team takes on Germany and more. Here is India's schedule on Day 3 of the Tokyo Fencing CA Bhavani Devi in Women's Sabre Individual Table of 64: 5:30 AM IST Archery Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav in Men's Team 1/8 Eliminations: 6:00 AM IST Men's Team quarter final (Subject to Qualification): 10:15 AM IST Men's Team semi final (Subject to Qualification): 11:47 AM IST Men's Team medal rounds (Subject to qualification): 12:45 PM IST Shooting Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Vir Bajwa in Skeet Men's Qualification: 6:30 AM IST Skeet Men's final (Subject to qualification): 12:20 PM IST Tennis Sumit Nagal in Men's Singles Round 2: To be decided Table Tennis Sharath Kamal in Men's Singles Round 2: 6:30 AM IST Sutirtha Mukherjee in Women's Singles Round 2: 8:30 AM IST Manika Batra in Women's Singles Round 3: 12:00 PM IST Badminton Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in Men's doubles: 9:10 AM IST Sailing Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race 2 and 3: 8:35 AM IST Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radical Race 3 and 4: 11:05 AM IST Boxing Ashish Kumar in Men's 75KG round of 32: 3:06 PM IST Swimming Sajan Prakash in Men's 200m Butterfly Heat 2: 3:50 PM IST Hockey India Women vs Germany Women Pool A Match: 5:45 PM IST
25 Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian women's hockey team's Dutch coach had hoped to part ways with the team on a high after a four-year stint. The way his team fought at this Olympics, he got his wish. Even though Marijne went running on to the turf to comfort the crying team after the loss to Great Britain in the bronze medal playoff, he started crying himself after getting the team in a huddle. It was his last match with the Indian women's team. The 47-year-old, who took over the reins in 2017, briefly switched to the men's team and came back to the women's set up in 2018, does not wish to extend his contract. Right now, he wants nothing more except to be home with his family. In the last four years, he had seen little of them. During the lockdown last year, the Dutch coach chose to stay with the team in a bubble in Bengaluru instead of leaving for the Netherlands. In Tokyo, the Marijne touch could be seen in the never-say-die spirit of the team. "I told them I can't take away your tears girls; we didn't win a medal but there is something big which you have won," Marijne said. "You won't realise now that you have won the hearts and you inspired all the people in India. I think this is the main thing, and slowly they will realize this. Today we are top-four in the world and we must not forget that. Yes, only one team can win and today it was Great Britain." Marijne said that he plans to write a book about his experience with the Indian hockey team. "They have inspired the whole of India and may be many more people. People of India are so proud of their country and that is what I like about India," Marijne said. "I know when it is not going well they also give it to you. But they are proud of their country and people cry. I have emotional messages from people-'I am watching it with my father, my son and I will never forget this for the rest of my life'." As soon as he began coaching the team, Marijne realized that one of the things that the team badly needed was more exposure tours and more top notch matches, the kind that you get from participating in the Pro League. "The girls are not used to these kinds of things (the pressure of top level matches)," he said. "We don't play Pro League, we don't have the World Cup (women) in India, we don't play Hockey India League. These things will be important to bring a change for the girls. Then they can take the next step and maybe next time they will be on the podium." The changes that Marijne could make along with his support staff and the enthusiastic participation of the squad involved making them more skilful, fitter and mentally stronger, all things that were on full display in Tokyo. "Today they are more consistent, physically stronger and we can change a match," he said. "It is about the mindset of never giving up, and that has changed. It is about how you are as a woman-that if I talk to you, I can talk looking straight in the eyes. The whole attitude, it is a culture change what we have done. The new girls coming in the team know that this is required. That is what happens in countries like the Netherlands. Young girls come into the national team and they know exactly what is required." Analytical coach Janneke Schopman, a two-time Olympic medallist with the Netherlands, will be the new coach.. "She is the best. She knows the system, the structure, she knows exactly what needs to be done and she is good with the girls," Marijne said. "But for me, if this was a journey with ups and downs, right now I'm up. And it is beautiful right here."
26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian contingent for their stupendous performance at Tokyo Olympics, where they won 7 medals - country's best-ever haul so far. As #Tokyo2020 draws to a close, I would like to congratulate the Indian contingent for their stupendous performance at the games. They personified the best of skill, teamwork and dedication. Every athlete who represented India is a champion. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 As the mega event draws to a close, Prime Minister Modi said that every athlete who represented India is a champion. He said that the medals India has won has certainly made the nation proud and elated. "At the same time, this is the time to keep working to further popularise sports at the grassroots so that new talent emerges and gets the opportunity to represent India in the times to come," the Prime Minister added. The medals India has won has certainly made our nation proud and elated. At the same time, this is the time to keep working to further popularise sports at the grassroots so that new talent emerges and gets the opportunity to represent India in the times to come. #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Government of Japan for hosting a well organised games. "A special thank you to the Government and people of Japan, especially Tokyo for hosting the well-organised games. To host it so successfully, in such times, gave out a strong message of resilience. It also demonstrated how sports is a great unifier.," he said. A special thank you to the Government and people of Japan, especially Tokyo for hosting the well-organised games. To host it so successfully, in such times, gave out a strong message of resilience. It also demonstrated how sports is a great unifier. #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2021 In this season, India won 7 medals - one gold, two silver and four bronze. Among the athletes who have won medals for India are Neeraj Chopra ( gold in men's javelin throw), Mirabai Chanu ( silver in weightlifting: Women's 49kg ), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver in wrestling: men's 57kg freestyle), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in boxing: Women's welterweight), PV Sindhu (bronze in badminton: women's singles), Men's Hockey Team (bronze) and Bajrang Punia (bronze in wrestling: Men's 65kg freestyle). India won its first and only gold on Saturday, when Neeraj Chopra marched ahead of 11 other competitors in javelin throw. Mirabai Chanu was, in this season, the first athlete to win medal for the country. India had sent its biggest-ever contingent of 126 to Tokyo Olympics. Indian athletes participated in 69 cumulative events across, highest ever for the country.
27 A day after India won a historic bronze medal in men's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics, ace midfielder Lalit Kumar Upadhyay expressed the wish to play for Uttar Pradesh in future if he is given a lucrative job offer in any government department in the state. The 27-year-old hockey player from Varanasi has been serving an oil company as assistant manager at Mughalsarai for the last seven years. Keen to play for his home state at the next nationals, Upadhyay said serving "your own state" is very important for a player like him. Similarly, women's team forward Vandana Katariya, who scored four goals including a hat-trick at the Tokyo Olympics where the Indian women's team finished a historic fourth, too expressed the desire to shift to UP after leaving the Railways. "Yes, I would love to do a job in UP, given the right opportunity," she said from Tokyo on Friday. "Many state governments across the country are offering lucrative jobs, including the post of deputy superintendent of police (DSP). I would love to serve my own state if given similar a job opportunity in the days to come," said Lalit, adding, "When I get to meet CM Yogi Adityanath Sir the next time, I will surely make an official request to him." The chief minister recently announced the re-launch of recruitment of sportspersons in almost all the government departments under a 2% quota system. The effort is being viewed as "great" support to the Uttar Pradesh sportspersons, many of whom have been playing for other states after getting jobs there. "As the CM said, the process of filling the 2% sports quota in government offices has begun. Soon, the government will come out with some more plans for sportspersons, including a raise in their prize money," a top government official said on condition of anonymity. "The government is committed to the development of sports and sportspersons. That's the reason why the chief minister himself addressed all the 10-Tokyo Games bound athletes from Uttar Pradesh through a virtual meeting. Thereafter, an additional sum of Rs.2 lakh for their preparation/kits was assured, besides sanctioning the mandatory Rs.10 lakh as participation fee," he said. As promised by the chief minister before the start of the Tokyo Games, all the 10 athletes and their families are expected to have a face-to-face interaction with Yogi Adityanath later this month at a function here. "We are in the process of finalising the date for the felicitation of all the 10 athletes and their families at a function here in the last week of this month," said the official. Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association secretary Anandeshwar Pandey, too, supported the demand of Uttar Pradesh athletes for jobs in their own state. "The UPOA has been fighting for this cause since long and this would be a great gesture by the state government if it offers suitable jobs to deserving candidates." "Filling sports quota vacancies in the state government is a very good move and I hope that many more would get suitable jobs in various departments in the near future," he said. "This is the way to bring all the migrant sportspersons back into our fold. It will help raise the sports standard of Uttar Pradesh at the national and international levels," he added. As per the government's scheme, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay would get Rs.1 crore for his bronze-medal win and an additional Rs.2 lakh as preparation fee, whereas nine others would be richer by Rs.12 lakh each. A steep raise in the prize money is also likely in the near future, according to those privy to the issue. "We are trying to ensure parity with the prize money for athletes of states like Haryana. If everything goes well, Uttar Pradesh too would offer one of the biggest purses to Olympic medallists," said another official. HOW UP ATHLETES FARED AT TOKYO GAMES Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (hockey, Varanasi): Bronze medal. Vandana Katariya (hockey, Meerut): Fourth position. Saurabh Chaudhary (pistol shooting, Meerut): Seventh position. Mairaj Ahmed Khan (skeet shooting, Bulandshahr): 25th position. Shivpal Singh (javelin, Varanasi): Failed to qualify for the finals. Annu Rani (javelin, Meerut): Failed to qualify for the finals. Seema Punia (discus, Meerut): Failed to qualify for the finals. Priyanka Goswami (walk-race, Meerut): Finished 17th. Satish Kumar (boxing, Bulandshahr): Lost in quarterfinal. Arvind Singh (rowing, Bulandshahr): 11th position.
28 Even though the Indian women's hockey team lost to Great Britain 3-4 in the match for the Bronze Medal in Tokyo Olympics, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, one of the midfielders in the team, who hails from Manipur, will be given a suitable government job and cash award, the chief minister said. Manipur chief minister Biren Singh assured Chanu during a video call conversation shared on his social media account on Friday, and said, "Spoke to Sushila Chanu right after I landed in Imphal. We may have narrowly missed the bronze medal today but the team's, as well as Sushila's performance in Olympics Women's Hockey has been exemplary." In the video call chat, Biren Singh, a footballer turned politician also informed Sushila that a suitable post will be created in the Youth Affairs & Sports department for her besides a cash reward of Rs.25 lakh, as announced earlier. Responding to a suggestion by Sushila, former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, for further development of hockey in Manipur, Biren said, "We're also planning to set up astroturf pitches for hockey at all district headquarters of the state." Stating that the Indian men's team's victory in the bronze medal match and the women's team entering the semi finals of the Olympics were remarkable, he also asked Sushila Chanu, the Indian team's backbone in the midfield, to convey his congratulations to the rest of the team for their splendid performances, saying, "I appreciate the team, really proud of you, you've made the nation proud." When asked about her feelings, 29 years old Sushila, who had led the national team in the Rio Olympics in 2016, said, "We have lots of players in Manipur including Olympians. Since hockey has become a popular game, I wish to develop both men's and women's hockey in our state." Of the 19 Olympians the state has produced since the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, seven are from hockey alone.
29 The typhoon off Tokyo Bay that was gathering pace since Saturday morning, when Aditi Ashok got within a single shot of winning what would have been the most unpredictable medal for India at the Olympics, finally blew in a couple of hours after Neeraj Chopra pierced the night sky with his spear at the Olympic Stadium. Chopra's gold, India's first ever in track and field, brought to a close the country's most successful outing at the Games in history. Then, as if on cue, began a downpour, washing away the heat and humidity that marked the 16 days of an extraordinary edition of the Olympics that ended on Sunday. Extraordinary - for Mirabai Chanu, winning a silver on Day 1 of the Games, something India has never done before; for PV Sindhu, becoming only the second person from India to win two individual Olympic medals; for Ravi Dahiya, winning a silver in wrestling, the only sport in which India has won a medal in each edition since 2008; for the Indian men's hockey team, once invincible at the Olympics, winning their first medal in 41 years and the women's hockey team making a breathtaking run that almost ended in a medal; and for Chopra, making the penultimate evening of the Games truly memorable for Indian sport, triumphant and cathartic. With a world junior record in 2016 and now an Olympic champion at 23, Chopra is truly on his way to becoming India's first global athletics icon- ahead even of the triumvirate of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George. Journalists from around the world wanted to know more about Chopra. "What kind of impact can it have on Indian sport, a country of a billion people?" Pekka Holopainen, a journalist from Finland, a country that produces some of the world's top throwers, was curious to know. By the time Chopra reached the Games Village on Saturday, dawn was about to break. Chopra slept with the gold close to his pillow. A few hours later, still sleepy, Chopra joined the few Indian athletes and coaches still left in the Village. Women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh and bronze-medal winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain were among those present when Chopra cut a golden cake. Here, in one frame, was the story of India's Olympics. Manpreet leading the men's hockey team, through some of the most nail-biting hockey imaginable, lifting themselves after a 7-1 defeat to Australia to claw their way into the semis and then outclassing Germany in the bronze medal playoff. Rampal, whose team had been written off before they even began the campaign, and who lost their first three games to stay true to that assessment, before mounting a comeback for the ages that took them to the semi-finals before losing 4-3 in the bronze medal match against Rio champions Great Britain. Borgohain, who became only the third boxer to win a medal for India at the Olympics. Each of them is hoping that their medals will come to mean more than just a sporting victory. They wish it will bring change-renew a once-great culture of hockey, strengthen the fledgling interest in boxing, or build a new platform for athletics. "To win a hockey medal after 41 years and for both teams to do well will go a long way to revive the sport in the country," said Manpreet. "The young hockey players will believe that they can come to the Olympics and win medals." "I have a feeling," said Chopra, "that the coming years for Indian sport will be even better."
30 A day after Hindustan Times highlighted the dilapidated condition of Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU's) Prithipal Singh Hockey Stadium, the sports department swung into action and began maintenance work on Friday. Wild vegetation around the stadium was chopped and gunny bags filled with cement were removed. Besides, the washroom and changing area were cleaned. As the city was soaked in celebration of Indian's bronze medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics, the local hockey stadium with its slippery turf, overgrown vegetation and crumbling infrastructure highlighted the indifferent attitude of the sports department and PAU authorities. Veteran hockey players including former hockey coach HS Bhullar, former Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal and veteran player Jagbir Grewal said that the authorities have finally woken up from their slumber. Former players celebrate women's team's performance Veteran hockey players gathered at PAU hockey stadium to celebrate the stellar performance of the women's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics. They distributed sweets to celebrate the occasion. Former hockey player Anil Sharma said that while men's hockey had seen it highs and lows, the women's team was considered underdogs before the Olympics. "What the girls have done is phenomenal. They have inspired an entire generation and we hope that more girls take up the sport," he said. Many former PAU and GADVASU students and officials, including Dr Lajwinder Singh Brar, Dr Ramesh Kumar and Dr Navdeep Singh, who had played hockey for the agriculture university, said that Tokyo had been lucky for India. Charanjit Singh, who had led India to a gold in the 1964 Olympics, was a student of PAU and had later served at the varsity.
31 The typhoon off Tokyo Bay that was gathering pace since Saturday morning, when Aditi Ashok got within a single shot of winning what would have been the most unpredictable medal for India at the Olympics, finally blew in a couple of hours after Neeraj Chopra pierced the night sky with his spear at the Olympic stadium. Chopra's gold, India's first ever in track & field, brought to a close the country's most successful outing at the Games in history. Then, as if on cue, began a downpour, washing away the heat and humidity that marked the 16 days of an extraordinary edition of the Olympics that ended on Sunday. Extraordinary - for Mirabai Chanu, winning a silver on Day 1 of the competitions, something India has never done before; for PV Sindhu, becoming only the second person from India to win two individual Olympic medals; for Ravi Dahiya, winning a silver in wrestling, the only sport in which India has won a medal in each edition since 2008; for the Indian men's hockey team, once invincible at the Olympics, winning their first medal in 41 years and the women's hockey team making a breath taking run that almost ended in a medal; and for Chopra, making the penultimate evening of the Games truly memorable for Indian sport, triumphant and cathartic. With a world junior record in 2016 and now an Olympic champion at 23, Chopra is truly on his way to becoming India's first global athletics icon - ahead even of the triumvirate of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George. Journalists from around the world wanted to know more about Chopra. "What kind of impact can it have on Indian sport, a country of a billion people?" Pekka Holopainen, a journalist from Finland, a country that produces some of the world's top throwers, was curious to know. By the time Chopra reached the Games Village on Saturday, dawn was about to break. Chopra slept with the gold close to his pillow. A few hours later, still sleepy, Chopra joined the few Indian athletes and coaches still left in the Village. Women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh and bronze-medal winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain were among those present when Chopra cut a golden cake. Here, in one frame, was the story of India's Olympics. Manpreet leading the men's hockey team, through some of the most nail-biting hockey imaginable, lifting themselves after a 7-1 defeat to Australia to claw their way into the semis and then outclassing Germany in the bronze medal playoff. Rampal, whose team had been written off before they even began the campaign, and who lost their first three games to stay true to that assessment, before mounting a comeback for the ages that took them to the semi-finals before losing 4-3 in the bronze medal match against Rio champions Great Britain. Borgohain, who became only the third boxer to win a medal for India at the Olympics. Each of them is hoping that their medals will come to mean more than just a sporting victory. They wish it will bring change - renew a once-great culture of hockey, strengthen the fledgling interest in boxing, or build a new platform for athletics. "To win a hockey medal after 41 years and for both teams to do well will go a long way to revive the sport in the country," said Manpreet. "The young hockey players will believe that they can come to the Olympics and win medals." "I have a feeling," said Chopra, "that the coming years for Indian sport will be even better."
32 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the decision to rename the Khel Ratna award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. In a tweet, PM Modi wrote: "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views." "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind," he added. "Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he further wrote. The announcement came a day after men's hockey team won a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. It was India's first medal win in hockey at the Games since the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. India women's hockey team also won the hearts of the nation despite missing out on a medal. The team led by Rani Rampal gave a thrilling contest to Rio Olympics gold medalist Great Britain in the bronze medal match but lost the match 3-4. India finished fourth in women's hockey, their best-ever finish at the Games. (More details awaited)
33 PV Sindhu, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medallist, on Monday took to her to her social media handles to share her thoughts after the historic win. Sindhu, after beating China's He Bing Jiao 21-13,21-15 in the bronze medal on Sunday, won her second Olympic medal after bagging silver in Rio 2016. She scripted more history as she became the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympics medals. (Complete Tokyo 2020 Coverage) Taking to her socials, she wrote: TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 10 BLOG "I appreciate all the well wishes and words of support from the bottom of my heart. I carried it all the way through and it means the world to me, just as this medal means everything for me to represent our nation. "The Tokyo Olympics has been an experience that I will not forget, from preparing for 5 years to stepping in the medal podium- each moment is forever etched with me. It's been a day and I still have no words to describe the feeling of holding an Olympic medal, it's always a dream come true each time. "It's never just been a solo journey for me to get where I am, I am incredibly thankful to the people in my life who have continuously been with me through it all. I cannot thank everyone, but please know that I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for each and every person who has been there with me and the journey does not stop here!" said Sindhu. The fact that Sindhu became only the fourth player to win women's singles medal in consecutive games bears testament to her historic feat. Meanwhile, speaking during the press conference right after her match, Sindhu quipped: "...I was blank, my coach was literally in tears, it was a big moment. I hugged him and said 'Thank you'. I didn't know what to do for 5-6 seconds, I shouted, so all emotions came together at that moment," she said during a virtual press conference." Sindhu is also the reigning world champion.
34 The first went to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu who set a new Olympic record with a successful 115 kg lift in clean and jerk. The second went to Lovlina Borgohain who, in her first Olympics, is now the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish, after Vijender Singh in 2008 and Mary Kom in 2012. PV Sindhu hauled in the third to become the first Indian woman to win two individual medals at an Olympics. At the time of writing, golfer Aditi Ashok could well bring home a silver. And the Indian women's hockey team made it to the semi-finals for the first time ever. Despite their 1-2 loss to Argentina, they fought hard against Great Britain in the match for the bronze, but unfortunately, lost 3-4. Silver or bronze don't matter as much as the distance. Chanu's mother sold samosas on the street. Borgohain's father worked at a tea garden. Women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal's mother was a domestic worker, her father, a cart-puller. There's another distance to consider. It's the 21-year-long one from the 2000 Sydney Olympics when 25-year-old weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari first brought home a bronze. Of the five individual medals won so far this Olympics, women have won three. Women's hockey has come a long way from 2010, when charges of sexual harassment against then coach, MK Kaushik, led to the revelation that women players were expected to wash their coach's clothes. Now, states such as Odisha have set up the infrastructure to tap into India's sporting culture for men and women, providing opportunities to scores of athletes and also reaping dividends for India. Today's women athletes also have the luxury of an earlier generation of role models: Kunjarani Devi, MC Mary Kom, Anju Bobby George and PT Usha. Behind the glitter of the medals lies a story of personal grit. Poverty and marginalisation cut across gender, but women face special discrimination that ranges from fighting to be born to being allowed to play a sport. "Women face so many restrictions, from their mobility and the way that they dress to the social pressures that prevent girls from taking up sport, particularly contact sport," says former national-level volleyball player Kanta Singh, now, country programme manager at United Nations Women. There is change within families too, says Singh. Cash awards, government jobs and recognition have led more families to encourage their daughters to play. Perhaps the biggest change can be seen among the women themselves. Sport, says Sharda Ugra who has spent most of her career writing on men's sport, has given women freedom, power and confidence. It "makes us brave," Rani Rampal told Ugra. It also sends a message. "People in my village now think it's okay to want their daughters admitted into a good college in another place," goalkeeper Savita Punia told Ugra. "They tell my parents, Savita can go so far away, to other countries, other states, why can't we send our daughters to another district?" Now, that's a good distance to cover. Namita Bhandare writes on gender The views expressed are personal
35 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Rs.301cr spent on New Parliament building and Central Vista Avenue till date The minister added that the estimated expenditure on these two projects over financial year 2021-2022 was Rs.1,289 crore. Cloudbursts linked to climate change, say experts; Centre asks for proof A rise in temperature in the Himalayas and its relation to cloudburst is a subject of research, but warming of the Indian Ocean is a clear indication of climate change, experts said. Tokyo Olympics: India go down 1-2 in semis to Argentina; will fight for bronze in women's hockey Tokyo Olympics: Indian women will fight for the bronze medal, just like the men's team. Rani Rampal's team will take on 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal match, as the GBR team had lost the first semi-final to Netherlands. Allegations made by Honey Singh's wife in her 120-page plea: Beat her for leaking marriage pics, hid wedding ring Singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has been accused by his wife Shalini Singh of domestic abuse and adultery. She has filed a 120-page petition, detailing all her allegations against him. Suhana Khan channels Boho Chic vibes in Rs.3k outfit with Gauri Khan in Serbia While Gauri Khan went for shorts and sneakers, Suhana Khan opted for a more Bohemian and breezy look, wearing a floral and paisley printed, full sleeved tie up crop top along with a matching skirt that had a thigh-high slit. Check it out. 'I had objected in writing when PM Modi's interview was edited': Jawhar Sircar
36 Rani Rampal and her team waited with bated breath for several hours after edging past South Africa 4-3 on a hot and humid afternoon for their second win at Tokyo Olympics. The Ireland vs Great Britain contest - the last of Group A - would decide the fate of the Indian women's hockey team, whether it would continue to stay in the Japanese capital or return home on the next flight home. Anxiety gave way to elation when defending champions Britain beat Ireland 2-0 later in the evening, paving the way for India to enter the quarter-finals of the Olympics, something that has never happened before. Though India finished fourth in Moscow 1980 - when women's hockey was introduced at the Games - the knockout format didn't exist back then with the top-3 in the league phase winning medals. They had to wait another 36 years before qualifying for Olympics. But at Rio 2016 they had a dismal outing, finishing last and without a win. But just like the men's team regrouped after their 1-7 humiliation at the hands of world No.1 Australia, the women too fought their way back into contention in Tokyo after getting drubbed in their first three games against world champions Netherlands (1-5), Germany (0-2) and holders Britain (1-4). Sjoerd Marijne's team first edged past 2018 World Cup runners-up Ireland 1-0 on Friday and then beat South Africa on Saturday at the Oi Hockey Stadium to finish fourth - out of six teams - and qualify for the last eight behind Netherlands, Germany and Britain. Katariya's hat-trick If Rampal and Navneet Kaur were the heroes of the win against Ireland, it was Vandana Katariya on Saturday, who became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. Katariya scored in the 4th, 17th and 49th with Neha Goyal getting one in the 32nd. "The most important thing is that we won and got the three points," said India chief coach Marijne. "It's not easy to play in the current conditions - it's 35 degree Celsius so the girls made a good effort." India started aggressively, making circle penetrations early on, immediately earning a penalty corner, which they failed to convert. Moments later, Navneet made a brilliant run from the right and passed the ball to Katariya, who tapped in to give India the lead. South Africa put India under pressure in the last few minutes of the first quarter and found a way to equalise via Tarryn Glasby (15th). India again went ahead by putting continuous pressure on South Africa, earning another short corner where Katariya deflected Deep Grace Ekka's drag-flick to help India take a 2-1 lead. India made several circle penetrations in the second quarter, but it was South Africa who again levelled the score through captain Erin Hunter (30th) via a short corner. Minutes into the second half, India earned a penalty corner, converting it for a 3-2 lead with Goyal deflecting skipper Rampal's pass. But Marizen Marais (39th) soon got the ball in the Indian circle and found the back of the net to make it 3-3. Katariya once again came to India's rescue when she diverted Gurjit Kaur's drag-flick to record her hat-trick. "We started the match very well but gave the South Africans too much space while defending," said Marijne. "We were good in our offensive game, created opportunities, scored penalty corner goals so I am happy about that." India will now face Group B toppers Australia in the quarter-final on Monday.
37 South Korean archers clinched gold in the Olympics men's team event on Monday, again, extending their reign and winning the country's third archery gold at the Tokyo Games. This was the men's team's sixth Olympics gold since team events were introduced in 1988. Kim Je-deok, already a South Korean television talent show star as an archery genius at 17, was the heart and soul of this team, egging on his seniors Kim Woojin (29) and 39-year-old Oh Jin-hyek throughout their golden run. They beat India in the quarters, Japan in the semis and Chinese Taipei in the final. Every step of the way in every match, the Koreans found something special to pull ahead. In the quarters, India shot a 54 (out of a possible 60) in the first set in reply to Korea's opening of 59. In the second set, Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav and Atanu Das shot a 57 and it brought smiles to their faces. Korea replied hitting 59 again. During the semi-final tie-breaker against hosts Japan, chasing 28 out of a possible 30, Kim Je-deok needed to hit a 10 to keep South Korea in the match. He hit the bullseye. In the final, Chinese Taipei shot 58 in the second set. South Korea replied with a perfect 60. Over the years, South Korea have simply pulled out exactly the right shot at the right time, bettering opponents just when they felt they had a chance. On Sunday, the South Korean women bagged their ninth consecutive team gold in Olympics. In fact, the women's team is yet to lose a single match at the Games since Seoul 1988. This is a dominance to beat all stories of invincibility at the Olympics--no other team in any sport has a record as unblemished. South Korean coach Lim Chae Woon had a couple of stints with the Indian team between 2000-2010. Throughout his tenures, he said India did not have a big enough pool of archers to build a world beating team. According to Rathin Dutta, a former World Archery official, Koreans are introduced to archery at the primary school level. The screening begins there and continues through high school and university. After graduation, top corporate houses, which have their own archery teams, recruit these archers. According to Dutta, in 2012 before the London Games, there were 33 corporate archery teams in Korea. And Korea's elite pool of archers was around 150 strong. At that time, India's not so elite pool including men and women was 16. Another Korean coach, Moon Beck Woong, who was recruited by India's Mittal Champions' Trust before the London Games had said South Korea had built a replica of the Beijing Games venue for its archers to train more than a year before the competition's start. India had not sealed their Olympic qualification berths till a couple of months before the Games. In the lead up to this Games, the Korean archers again got to practice in range that was a replica of the Tokyo venue. The other aspect both Lim and Woong stressed on was mental conditioning. Kim Youngsook of the Korean Institute of Sports Science, who is the team's mental conditioning coach since 2012, told World Archery recently: "In other sports, sports psychology is typically only about 20 to 30% of performance. In archery, it's probably closer to 80%. The real deciding factor of performance in archery is an archer's mental strength and confidence." Koreans archers and coaches are generally very secretive about what they really do to improve mental strength. According to Lim, bungee-jumping and sessions held on the sidelines of packed baseball stadiums were often used to enhance an archer's concentration and overcome fear.
38 For India, the big takeaway from the Tokyo Olympics is the return of hockey to national consciousness. The men's team lost in the semi-finals on Tuesday, but remains in contention for a bronze. The women's team will compete in the semi-finals on Wednesday, after having entered the final four for the first time in history. But behind this success lies what can be called the Odisha model. With chief minister Naveen Patnaik taking the lead, Odisha has been the main sponsor of Indian hockey teams (both men and women, both senior and junior) in recent years. It has provided funds, infrastructure, facilities, and hosted global tournaments in a bid to recapture the special place Indian hockey had in world sport. And this is now paying dividends. This is a remarkable example of a state taking ownership of a loved sport and helping turn it around by focusing on excellence. And it is an example for other states to follow. Odisha isn't the richest or most developed of states - yet, with pure political will, it was able to find resources for hockey. If all - or even a set of ten - Indian states picked a sport each, made the state the hub for sport infrastructure, and provided the financial resources to be able to equip teams to compete on the world stage, India's rather dismal record - including in the current Olympics if one goes by the overall tally of medals - could well change. This will also strengthen national integration - all players from across the country will find a new home. It will add to the brand and image of the host state; Odisha's association with hockey now is an example. It will even help the federal discourse - states will feel empowered to take the initiative and lead the way. The Odisha model of State-supported sporting excellence is worth replicating.
39 Minutes after the Indian men's hockey team won an Olympic medal after 41 years, the Centre as well various state governments announced major monetary rewards for the players, and rightly so. In the Indian sporting system, a medal at the Olympics results in a windfall for the athlete, or in this case, a team. Most players in the bronze medal winning team had to struggle as young players to get access to the basic requirements of the game - gear, equipment, an artificial turf. And they deserve recognition and encouragement, both symbolic and material. This rationale should also be extended to the Indian women's hockey team, who did not win a medal and lost in the bronze medal playoff to Great Britain. But the players lifted a nation's spirit with their grit, talent, and determination. There is good reason to treat the women as winners too. The women's team only began getting attention and support - in terms of funding, coaching systems, facilities, tech support - in the last four years. Experts had predicted that the women won't make it out of the group stages. The team was beaten in the first three matches. But then, there was a nearly miraculous turnaround. India beat 2018 World Cup runners-up Ireland, South Africa, and three-time Olympic champions Australia to qualify for the semi-finals. Then they fought till the end against the defending Olympic champions, Great Britain, losing 3-4. For a team that didn't even qualify for the Olympics for 36 years until Rio 2016, this fourth place finish is nothing less than a victory. It should be celebrated just like we still revel in perhaps the most famous fourth place finish in India's sporting history - the late Milkha Singh in the Rome 1960 400m final. The fact that many women players in the team come from a history of socio-economic marginalisation - captain Rani Rampal's father was a cart-puller - and yet beat all odds to emerge as champions, even if they didn't win a medal, deserves recognition. Young girls picking up hockey sticks should know that they can make a career out of the sport. The Haryana government has made a start by announcing a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh for each of the nine players from the state who competed in Tokyo. But others should follow suit and celebrate India's hockey champions, men and women, who have given a new lease of life to a sport that's integral to India.
40 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Covid-19: Karnataka allows places of worship to reopen, processions still banned The Karnataka government on Saturday gave further relaxations in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) curbs, allowing places of worship to open from Sunday. However, these establishments will have to strictly adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour and Standard Operating Prcedures (SOPs) issued by the concerned departments, an order from the state government said. Covaxin for kids: Covid-19 vaccine trial results may be out by September, says AIIMS chief Bharat Biotech's Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine trials for children are currently underway and its results are likely to be out by September, said Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Thackeray to visit flood-affected Mahad, Taliye; over 100 killed, 90,000 rescued Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday will visit the flood-affected area Mahad by helicopter from Mumbai. He will also visit Taliye village where 40 houses were buried due to landslide. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in women's 49kg category Mirabai Chanu on Saturday won a silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting competition to open India's counter at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Manipur athlete lifted a total weight of 202 kgs to win the medal. Why Tokyo 2020 may be India's best Olympics ever Masaba Gupta reveals 'one thing' she came to know only after mom Neena Gupta's book was released Fashion designer-actor Masaba Gupta has revealed the 'one thing' she wasn't aware of until her mother actor Neena Gupta's autobiography Sach Kahun Toh was released. Taking to Instagram on Friday, Masaba conducted an Ask Me Anything session. Ola Electric scooter customers to get 'Hypercharger' support in 400 cities Ola Electric scooter customers will get charging support from its Hypercharger setup installed in 400 Indian cities with over 100,000 locations/touchpoints. Ranveer Singh experiments with retro fashion in Gucci's Rs.2.7 lakh tracksuit Gucci and Ranveer Singh have become synonyms in Tinsel town and the recent set of pictures of v's live wire are enough to back our claim. After triggering a meme fest with his snazziest look where he channelled actor Jared Leto and Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele, Ranveer left fans gushing over his dapper form in a block pattern sweatshirt and shades from the Italian fashion brand and is now back to raising the bar of men's fashion goals in tracksuit style. Neena Gupta posts video of herself eating at a restaurant, it's highly relatable A post shared by actor Neena Gupta about visiting a restaurant has now created a chatter online. If you are someone who misses eating out, then there is a high possibility you will relate to her reaction while visiting an eatery.
41 Moments after the Indian women's hockey team beat the much-fancied Australians in Tokyo Olympics' quarter-final on Monday morning, 74-year-old Naveen Patnaik stood on the verandah of his official residence Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar to record a congratulatory video message for the Indian eves. "What a terrific game by our women's hockey team against Australia," said Patnaik, wearing a black tee and pyjama. The previous evening, Patnaik was seen standing and clapping for the Indian men's team that beat Great Britain to enter an Olympics semifinal after a gap of 49 years. It was a game that Patnaik helped when not many others came forward. Like when Sahara backed out from sponsoring the Indian hockey teams in 2018, the Odisha government signed a Rs.100 crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's hockey teams over the next 5 years. Describing the 5-year sponsorship deal as Odisha's gift to the nation, Patnaik then described the game as a way of life in his state's tribal region "where children learn to walk with hockey sticks". There was recognition on and off social media for the critical support his government extended to the game that he once played as a member of the Doon school hockey team. He was then the goalie. India dominated the world hockey scene as hockey wizard Dhyan Chand led the national team to three successive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. But after the defeat in the 1980 Moscow Olympic finals, the game lost much of its popularity in India. Odisha helped give the game a much-needed push starting with the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in 2014. In 2017, his government also sponsored Kalinga Lancers club that won the Hockey India League in January and followed up by hosting Hockey World League in December 2018 when Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium hosted World Cup Men's Hockey tournament. The following year, Odisha hosted FIH Men's Series Finals and Olympic Hockey Qualifiers 2019 and even the FIH Pro League in 2020. India is set to host the 2023 edition of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, after successfully organising it in 2018. In 2023, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will again host the World Cup Hockey for Men for the second time. In Rourkela of Sundargarh district, Patnaik government is building the country's biggest hockey stadium with a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators that will be named after tribal leader Birsa Munda. To further strengthen the hockey ecosystem in Sundargarh, Odisha is also planning to lay a synthetic hockey turf in each of the 17 blocks of the district. "Odisha is the sports capital of India thanks to the vision of Naveen Patnaik," said Odisha sports minister Tusharkanti Behera. "It's not just hockey, but our government is patronising many other sports disciplines starting from rugby to football." Just before the pandemic hit India last year, the first-ever Khelo India University Games was held in Odisha in which 4,000 athletes from 176 universities participated in 211 events in 17 sports events over a period of 10 days. In 2019, the state government tied up with Olympian gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to start a Targeting Performance Centre at the Kalinga Stadium complex. The centre's services would include performance enhancement, injury prevention and management, biomechanics, physiology testing and training, recovery as well as strength and conditioning training. In his home district of Ganjam, Patnaik is setting up an integrated sports complex that would have a synthetic athletic track, multi-purpose indoor hall, aquatic complex, basketball and volleyball courts, yoga hall, medical room and a 150-bed sports hostel, with a proposed expenditure of Rs.43 crore. In November last year, his assembly constituency of Hinjili got a 500-seating capacity centrally air-conditioned stadium. Rishabh Jaiswal, who runs Sports Ethos, a sports science and medicine institute in New Delhi, said Odisha's government's sponsorship of games including hockey was a key element in creating a healthy sports ecosystem in the country. "Odisha government deserves a lot of credit for the rise of an Indian hockey team over last 5 years. The Naveen Patnaik government's public-private partnership for sports is a model for all states to follow," said Jaiswal. Some believe that Naveen Patnaik generous support may be an effort to create a legacy for the politician who has ruled Odisha for 21 years on the trot. To be sure, his father Biju Patnaik is credited as one of the makers of modern Odisha for delivering signpost projects such as Paradip port, Rourkela Steel plant, Hirakud dam and Bhubaneswar airport. "Naveen perhaps wants to leave a legacy through sports and erase the image of Odisha as a state that is known for its poverty or punching bags of natural disasters," said Gyana Ranjan swain, a political science professor. Incidentally, he was the first CM in Odisha to have made a hockey player a Rajya Sabha MP. Of course, Patnaik won't be the first to use sports to make a political statement. In 1995, Nelson Mandela used the Rugby world cup to get South Africa out of the isolation of world sports. The celebration of the Olympic Games in Greek city-states was an occasion for the rulers to discuss important political issues and form political and military alliances. While the Olympic games of 1964 sought to present a new, pacific Japan to the world, South Korea in 1988, China in 2008 and Brazil in 2016 have used the Olympics to mark their emergence on the world stage. Back home, Patnaik's critics agree that his decision to support hockey made a world of a difference. "He has given hockey a new lease of life through sponsorship and raised the profile of the state in the process. I only wish the money could be spent more on grassroots," said Prasad Harichandan, former Odisha Congress president.
42 Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday took a dig at prime minister Narendra Modi over the rechristening of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, tweeting that he expected PM Modi to rename the award after himself, "just like he did with Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad." "First, Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium was renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium. I was hoping that he (PM Modi) will rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Award after himself. I was shocked when he named it after Major Dhyan Chand," a rough translation of Singh's tweet, posted in Hindi, read. However, Singh was not the only Congress leader to make this analogy. Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, too, demanded that the Narendra Modi Stadium be restored to its original name after Sardar Patel, the country's first home minister. "Major Dhyan Chand has inspired many young Indians. Our current Olympic teams will continue to bring the necessary attention to Hockey. I hope the government will also award the Bharat Ratna to Major Dhyan Chand," Gogoi posted on Twitter. Earlier, PM Modi took to Twitter to announce that the country's highest sports award is being renamed after legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. "I have been getting requests from many citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. Respecting their sentiment, the award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," the prime minister had tweeted. The announcement was made just hours after the Indian Women's Hockey team finished fourth in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, going down 4-3 to 2016 gold medallists Great Britain in the bronze medal clash. If successful, this would have been the team's first-ever Olympic medal. On Thursday, the men's team had defeated Germany 5-4 to finish third, clinching its first Olympic medal in 41 years. The Khel Ratna Award was instituted in 1991-92, and named after former PM Rajiv Gandhi. The refurbished Narendra Modi Stadium, meanwhile, was inaugurated in February this year. With a seating capacity of more than 130,000, it is the world's largest cricket stadium, surpassing Australia's Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
43 India has an Olympic track and field gold. In itself, that is breathtaking. But Tokyo 2020 has been a landmark Games for India in more than one way. Even the medal tally - India's best ever with seven - doesn't do justice to the breakthroughs India's athletes have made, the number of medal contenders India had, and those who opened new routes. So, along with Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain, Ravi Dahiya, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and the men's hockey team - all champions - it is important to remember others. Bhavani Devi, the first fencer from India to compete at the Olympics; Nethra Kumanan, the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Games; Aditi Ashok, who, in a star-studded field of the world's best women golfers, missed out on a podium finish by one shot; or the Indian women's hockey squad who made a giant leap that almost took them to a medal. All these names suggest two heartening trends. One, it symbolises a welcome shift where women are overcoming social obstacles to shine. Two, it highlights the difference that proper training in the right kind of environment makes. India's sport governing bodies have done well to step back from seeking to control every aspect of an athlete's career and allowing them the freedom to choose their coaches and training bases. The federations must now build a wide base for their sport by creating infrastructure, but of the right kind, and giving access to the maximum number of young people possible. Devi almost gave up on fencing because in India, the sport has almost no presence. This is understandable- fencing's cultural roots lie in Europe and it is expensive. But what about running tracks? Astroturfs? Wrestling mats? Punching bags? Javelins? Neeraj Chopra, a truly gifted athlete who has made the nation proud, also got lucky in some ways. He was spotted early, at 16, by a great coach; he had time to build on the fundamentals, and was then carefully nurtured by a succession of great coaches. Most athletes in most sports in India don't get that care till they have already reached an elite level of performance. But as challenges persist, there is little doubt that India's success at Tokyo is both visible - in terms of the medals - and invisible - in terms of progress across disciplines. The stage is set for Paris and beyond.
44 Unshakeable self-belief dissipated the air of disbelief at the Oi Hockey stadium in Tokyo on Monday. When the final hooter sounded,the Indian women's hockey team were through to their first Olympics semi-final, beating three-time champions Australia, a team they had beaten just once in seven previous encounters in the last five years. Every player in blue ran wildly across the turf; they hugged and they collapsed on the turf. They screamed in joy at the sky. Their coach cried. This was a team that lost all its matches in Rio 2016, including a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Australia. A team that qualified for the Olympics only once before Rio and now Tokyo - in 1980, when women's hockey was first introduced. A team that started their Tokyo campaign with three losses, before mounting gritty comeback wins in the next two matches to make the quarterfinals. A team that was supposed to be brushed aside by the mighty Aussies. What made the victory sweeter was that it captured the story of Indian hockey's dramatic turnaround. Less than 24 hours earlier, the men's hockey team made it to their first semi-final in 49 years. They play world champions Belgium on Tuesday morning. The heroics from the women's team may be just the boost they needed. "For Indian hockey, this is a proud moment. Both men and women's teams are in the semi-final," women's team captain Rani Rampal said. "I believe when team sports do well it brings the country together." Monday's result shattered statistics, and a reputation. The Indian team played with calm, even when they were under siege from the Aussies, who had nine penalty corners in the match. Each of those was saved. Australia also had a shot, through Ambrosia Malone, that hit the post in the second minute of the match, but that was as close as they would get. India too hit the frame, four minutes later, when Vandana Katariya - who scored a hat-trick against South Africa in India's previous encounter - hoicked a pass across the face of goal that Rampal tried to tap in at the far post. India got just one penalty corner, and Gurjit Kaur shrugged off her indifferent form to score perhaps the most important goal in Indian women's hockey thus far, with a drag-flick in the 22nd minute. It was the breakthrough they needed, and India held on to the lead like their lives depended on it. Australia repeatedly made circle penetrations - 17 through the match, compared to India's nine - but found the path to the goal crowded by Indian players, who ran untiringly up and down the pitch. Deep Grace Ekka was rock solid, holding the defence together and making critical interceptions, stopping shots and winning one-on-one duels. Goalkeeper Savita Punia was always at the right place at the right time, making a number of superb saves. That the Indian team was unfazed by the attack showed in the poised way in which they made counter-attacks, passing their way out of their danger area with poise and confidence and sprinting up in attack. Australia, their every attack thwarted, grew more and more frustrated. There were nervous moments towards the end, but still no panic when Australia got a penalty corner via referral with six minutes left. "We were talking in the dugout that they will not get the PC, just stay calm and we were saying that we are almost there, just five more minutes, (we need) to keep the ball upfront," Rampal said. That penalty corner saved, Australia immediately got another one. This one resulted in a goalmouth scramble that must have been hair-raising for the Indian coaching staff. As the clock ticked down the final 10 seconds, you could already hear the shrieks of joy from the dugout. The Australian women covered their faces and dropped to the turf. The Indians raced across it, hugged each other, and celebrated with abandon. "I told the girls that the most important thing is to stay in the moment," said coach Sjoerd Marijne. "They were very good in defence and won those crucial one-on-one tackles that gave us a lot of confidence." India will play Argentina in the semi-final, a team they know well, having toured the country earlier this year. They played three matches against the senior Argentina team there, losing two and drawing one. The start to the Indian campaign in Tokyo could not have been worse. Three straight losses meant they had to win their final two group stage matches to have a chance of progressing to the quarters. This is when the turnaround started. Victories against Ireland and South Africa kept them afloat. Then they earned a bit of luck when England beat Ireland, allowing for India to finish fourth in the group and qualify for the knockouts. "We never lost belief in ourselves. Rio gave us very unhappy memories and we had put in so much work in the last five years, that we believed we could bounce back," said Rampal. "We wanted to go out there and give it our all." In contrast, Australia had enjoyed an irrepressible run to the quarterfinals by topping their Group, winning all five matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one. India, in contrast, had conceded 14 and scored seven before the quarterfinal. None of that mattered.
45 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Babul Supriyo edits resignation post, deletes 'won't join any party' part Hours after posting the news of his exit from politics on Facebook, Babul Supriyo on Saturday edited the post a little bit, triggering speculation of whether his road to any other party remains open or not. 'They can fast, not my business': Bommai says will implement Mekedatu project Karnataka's new chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that the state will get Centre's approval regarding the Mekedatu drinking water project over the Cauvery river. Tokyo Olympics 2020: PV Sindhu loses semi-final to Tai Tzu-Ying, to compete for bronze medal PV Sindhu lost to top-seed Tai Tzu-Ying 18-21, 12-21 in the semi-final of the women's singles badminton on Saturday but remains in contention of a podium finish. Richa Chadha backs Shilpa Shetty in Raj Kundra case, slams those 'blaming women for mistakes of men' Richa Chadha, commenting on the negativity directed at Shilpa Shetty amid Raj Kundra's arrest in a porn case, criticised the act of 'blaming women for the mistakes of the men in their lives'. WhatsApp launches Billie Eilish animated sticker pack; Here's how to download it Last month, WhatsApp rolled out an animated sticker pack to celebrate the Pride month. And now, the company has collaborated with US singing sensation Billie Eilish for a new animated sticker pack. Worse impact of Delta variant on pregnant women: Health experts Amid rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, several top UK health officials have urged expectant mothers to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as soon as possible. SBI's 'Monsoon Dhamaka' offer: Bank waives off processing fee on home loans State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday announced a special "Monsoon Dhamaka" offer for its customers under which homebuyers will be able to avail loans without any processing fee till August 31.
46 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Nitish Kumar reiterates demand for caste-based census Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday reiterated his demand for a caste-based census, saying it will help in better decisions for the people's development and welfare. 'Supreme leaders will decide': Pralhad Joshi on if he would replace Yediyurappa Union minister Pralhad Joshi, whose name is doing the rounds as a successor of Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, on Saturday said no one has spoken to him about this and he was not aware that BS Yediyurappa has been asked to resign or not. 'Afghanistan situation dangerous': Indian embassy in advisory for its nationals The embassy of India in Afghanistan has issued a security advisory for its nationals living in the war-torn country. Alia Bhatt slays the post pandemic fashion in a plus size black T-shirt T-shirts are subject to the whims of the fashion elite but Bollywood celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and other Tinsel Town divas, stylists and fashion lovers alike have taken a liking for oversized tees this summer. You can train like an Olympian with Snapchat's new AR lens The Tokyo Olympics have just kicked off and India won its first medal today. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won silver in weightlifting in the women's 49kg category. 'Twitter's magic has worked': Anand Mahindra reconnects with friend after 52 years If you follow Anand Mahindra on Twitter, chances are you've seen his recent post where he shared a throwback image from his school days. Ashutosh Kaushik says he lost out on marriage proposals due to his videos: 'Ladki wale dekh lete the' Reality television star Ashutosh Kaushik, who won MTV Roadies 5.0 and Bigg Boss 2, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking removal of certain pictures, videos and articles from the internet, citing his 'Right to be Forgotten'.
47 It was a do or die situation for the women's hockey team on Monday morning as they faced world number 2 Australia in the knock-out round but they registered an easy win and entered the semi-finals for the first time in the history of Olympics. A penalty corner goal by defender Gurjit Kaur in the second quarter of the match and extra-ordinary saves by Savita Punia, assured India's victory 1-0. The team will take on Argentina in the next match. Nine members of this historic team are from Haryana. Three of them are from Kurukshetra-- skipper Rani Rampal, forwards Navjot Kaur and Navneet Kaur, all belong to the small town of Shahbad, almost 200 kilometres from the national capital. Rani Rampal's family is elated over the victory and is celebrating by exchanging sweets with relatives and neighbours. Youngest of the three siblings, she started playing hockey in Class 5 when she showed interest in the sport after watching girls of her age going to play in a ground near her school. Her father, Rampal, 55, who drove a horse-cart almost all his life to feed the family, said that this is a result of the hard work of all the daughters in the team. While her mother Ram Murti, 53, said that her "zidd" took her to this level. "We've been through very tough times and we couldn't afford even a hockey stick for our daughter. It was her determination and the guidance of her coach Baldev that she earned this honour. She was earlier denied entry by the coach himself as she was weak. But she wanted to play and Baldev also helped her with equipment and diet," Rampal told Hindustan Times. He further added, "We were clueless about the sport. At that time, girls were not even allowed to step outside, but despite all this, I told her to do what she wanted. Today, I would urge all the fathers to treat their daughters as equals to sons. Sons might back out one day, but daughters will definitely make you proud." Another local girl, Navjot Kaur, was also inspired by other girls going to a hockey ground near their house on Devi Mandir Road. Eldest of the three siblings, Kaur, 25, started playing at the age of 10, when she was in Class 6, her father Satnam Singh, a shocker mechanic said. Haryana sports minister and ex-captain of the Indian men's hockey team, Sandeep Singh, also congratulated the team for the victory. "Hopefully this time, the Olympic medal will be ours," he wrote on Twitter. Home minister Anil Vij also spoke to Rani Rampal over the phone to congratulate the team.
48 The bronze-winning performance of Indian men's hockey team in Tokyo Olympics has revived hopes of India returning to its hockey super power status, but a 26-year-old former full-back from Odisha who once represented the state in senior national men's championship has been working as a migrant labourer to make ends meet. Playing for Gangpur-Odisha hockey team (one of the associate teams of Hockey India) in 2013 and 2014 senior men's hockey championship, Santosh Majhi, a tribal from Lulkidihi village of Sundargarh district, stood out for his resolute defence in several games. But 7 years later, Majhi's world is far removed from the world of hockey as he migrated to Goa last year to work in fishing vessels for Rs.6,000 a month. "I have no other way than to go out to work. I have no future left in hockey though I would have loved to play," Majhi said from his home in Lulkidihi village, which has produced at least two Olympians in Deepgrace Ekka of women's hockey team and Ignace Tirkey of the men's team. With at least 7 international players to its credit, Lulkidihi is considered a nursery of hockey in Odisha along with Saunamara village, from where former India captain Dilip Tirkey hails. Like most tribal kids in Sundargarh district, Majhi took to hockey at the age of 11 when he joined the sports hostel at Panposh. For his daily wager father, sports promised a getaway from the drudgeries of life. In the hostel he shone as a defender and played for the Hockey Gangpur team in 2013 and 2014. After leaving the sports hostel in 2015, he played for Paradip Port Trust in All India Major Ports Hockey Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but could not get a job there. Majhi said in 2016, he had tried for a job in Indian Army through sports quota, but was disqualified during a medical test over varicose veins issue. His problems have also been compounded as he could not complete his higher secondary exam in 2016 after suffering a fracture in his hand. Arun Kumar Sahu, a social activist of the area, said it is disturbing to see players like Majhi struggle for a living. "As the state government and centre are spending crores of rupees over hockey, it will be good to rehabilitate players like him," said Sahu. Odisha sports secretary Vineel Krishna said though Majhi represented Gangpur Odisha in senior nationals, he did not secure any position. "The state government has a policy of giving government jobs to all medallists but he is not eligible for a job as per the notification of home department," he said.
49 The bronze-winning performance of the Indian men's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics has certainly rekindled popular interest in hockey, but a 26-year-old former full-back from Odisha who once represented the state in senior national men's championship has been working as a migrant labourer to make ends meet. Playing for Gangpur-Odisha hockey team (one of the associate teams of Hockey India) in 2013 and 2014 senior men's hockey championship, Santosh Majhi, a tribal from Lulkidihi village of Sundargarh district stood like a rock defending his team's goals from the marauding forwards of the opponent teams. But 7 years later, Majhi's world is far removed from the world of hockey as he migrated to Goa last year to work in fishing vessels for Rs.6000 a month. "I have no other alternative than to go out to work. I have no future left in hockey though I would have loved to play," said Majhi from his home in Lulkidihi village that has produced at least two Olympians Deepgrace Ekka of the women's hockey team and former Olympian Ignace Tirkey. With at least 7 international players, Lulkidihi is considered as the nursery of hockey in Odisha along with Saunamara village from where former captain of the Indian hockey team, Dilip Tirkey hails. Like most tribal children in Sundargarh district, Majhi took to hockey at the age of 11 when he joined the sports hostel at Panposh. For his daily wage earner father, sports promised a getaway from the drudgeries of life. In the hostel he shone as a defender and played for the Hockey Gangpur team in 2013 and 2014. After leaving the sports hostel in 2015, he played for Paradip Port Trust in All India Major Ports Hockey Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but could not get a job there. Majhi said in 2016, he had tried for a job in the Indian Army through the sports quota, but was disqualified during the medical test over a varicose veins issue. His problems have also been compounded as he could not complete his higher secondary exam in 2016 after suffering a fracture in his hand. Arun Kumar Sahu, a social activist of the area, said it is disturbing to see players like Majhi struggle for a living. "While the state government and the Centre are spending crores for hockey, it would be good to rehabilitate players like him," said Sahu. Odisha sports secretary Vineel Krishna said though Majhi represented Gangpur Odisha in senior nationals, he did not secure any position. "Though the state government has a policy of giving government jobs to all medallists, He is not eligible for a job as per the notification of the home department," he said.
50 Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian women's hockey team's Dutch coach had hoped to part ways on a high after a four-year stint. The way his team fought at this Olympics, he got his wish. Even though Marijne went running on to the turf to comfort the crying team after the loss to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off, he started crying himself after getting the team in a huddle. It was his last match with the Indian women's team. The 47-year-old, who took over the reins in 2017, briefly switched to the men's team and came back to the women's set up in 2018, does not wish to extend his contract. Right now, he wants nothing more except to be home with his family. In the last four years, he had seen little of them. During the lockdown last year, the Dutch coach chose to stay with the team in a bubble in Bengaluru instead of leaving for the Netherlands. In Tokyo, the Marijne touch could be seen in the never-say-die spirit of the team. "I told them I can't take away your tears girls; we didn't win a medal but there is something big which you have won," Marijne said. "You won't realise now that you have won the hearts and you inspired all the people in India. I think this is the main thing, and slowly they will realize this. Today we are top-four in the world and we must not forget that. Yes, only one team can win and today it was Great Britain." Marijne said he plans to write a book about his experience with the Indian hockey team. "They have inspired the whole of India and may be many more people. People of India are so proud of their country and that is what I like about India," Marijne said. "I know when it is not going well they also give it to you. But they are proud of their country and people cry. I have emotional messages from people-'I am watching it with my father, my son and I will never forget this for the rest of my life'." As soon as he began coaching the team, Marijne realized that one of the things that the team badly needed was more exposure tours and more top notch matches, the kind that you get from participating in the Pro League. "The girls are not used to these kinds of things (the pressure of top level matches)," he said. "We don't play Pro League, we don't have the World Cup (women) in India, we don't play Hockey India League. These things will be important to bring a change for the girls. Then they can take the next step and maybe next time they will be on the podium." The changes Marijne could make along with his support staff and the enthusiastic participation of the squad involved making them more skilful, fitter and mentally stronger, all things that were on full display in Tokyo. "Today they are more consistent, physically stronger and we can change a match," he said. "It is about the mindset of never giving up. It is about how you are as a woman-that if I talk to you, I can talk looking straight in the eyes. The whole attitude, it is a culture change what we have done. The new girls coming in the team know that this is required. That is what happens in countries like the Netherlands. Young girls come into the national team and they know exactly what is required." Analytical coach Janneke Schopman, a two-time Olympic medallist with the Netherlands, will be the new coach.. "She is the best. She knows the system, the structure, she knows exactly what needs to be done and she is good with the girls," Marijne said. "But for me, if this was a journey with ups and downs, right now I'm up. And it is beautiful right here."
51 With around 10 minutes to go and India leading 1-0 against Australia in the women's hockey quarter-final, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne afforded a quick smile to the on-field camera panning towards him in Tokyo. Miles away in Coorg, Mir Ranjan Negi, too, watched India cling on to the lead with a grin on his face. Moments after the final hooter went off and the scoreline remained static, Marijne began sobbing. Negi, holidaying yet following every second of the action on TV, did the same. "I was crying after the game. I have never felt so elated in my life," Negi said. Negi is the former India goalkeeper whose career was thrown in turmoil after facing the wrath of the public after India's 1-7 defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games final. After years spent in oblivion, Negi returned to hockey in a coaching role with the men's team, followed by more successful stints with the women. He was the goalkeeping coach of 2002 Commonwealth Games gold-winning side and also the assistant coach of the team that won the 2004 Asia Cup. Negi's real-life tale was the reel-life inspiration for a popular film Chak De! India, which was released in 2007 and became synonymous with anything to do with women's hockey in the country. "This is the real Chak De! moment," Negi said of India's stunning win that earned the women their first-ever Olympic semi-final berth. "Movies can have all their charm but when something like this happens in real life, it's an entirely different feeling. It's incomparable. All my happy memories while coaching the women's team came rushing back after the win." Like with the men on Sunday, Negi believes this will be a watershed moment in the history of Indian hockey. Even more so for the women's game, which tends to be more distant from the limelight. "I feel this win will mark a new era in Indian women's hockey, and hockey in the country overall. The women needed a memorable victory like this. Women's hockey has often been sidelined, with nothing much to talk about. Today, everybody is talking about it, which was desperately needed. These women are winners after this show, even if they are to lose the other matches," he said. Negi was left happily surprised in the manner in which the Indians - who qualified as the fourth team from Pool A only by winning their final two matches after three losses - scripted the fighting victory over the unbeaten Aussies, who had conceded just one goal in their pool matches. "Nobody expected this team to beat Australia. But they all played like tigresses, pouncing on the ball and showing amazing commitment and character. They played like a team possessed. They didn't look like the same team that played the group matches. To keep a one-goal lead against Australia is not easy," Negi said. That's where, the former goalkeeper felt, this side has developed immensely. Apart from the work done on the speed and stamina of the women to match the top teams, Negi said the defensive game of the team has shown marked improvement. It was visible in the quarter-finals, where the players looked composed even as the Aussies kept making circle penetrations without success in the dying stages of the game. Australia also earned nine penalty corners (PC) in the entire match, converting none. "I have never seen any team defending these many PCs against a team like Australia. The work done on the defence has been a major change in this team," Negi said.
52 Reigning world champion P V Sindhu sailed into the women's singles quarterfinals after beating Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in straight games at the Tokyo Olympics badminton competition here on Thursday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, notched up a 21-15 21-13 win over 13th seed Blichfeldt in a 41-minute match. Sindhu will next face the winner of the match between Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and Korea's Kim Gaeun. On Wednesday, Sindhu had defeated world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 to top Group J. Sindhu is the lone Indian badminton hope left in fray after B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign ended in agony in the men's competition. He went down in straight games to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands for his second defeat in Group D. On Tuesday, the men's doubles team of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy suffered a heartbreak after failing to make the quarterfinals despite winning two matches in their group.
53 Indian women's hockey team today displayed a spirited fight before losing out to Great Britain 3-4 in the bronze medal playoff match in the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian women's team made a remarkable turnaround after going down 0-2 to make it 3-2 at halftime. However, Great Britain skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb scored the equaliser in the third quarter of the game. Grace Balsdon gave Great Britain the lead in the fourth quarter helping Great Britain to take the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Goalscorers for India: For India, Gurjit Kaur scored a brace and Vandana Kataria scored a goal The men's team rewrote history on Thursday as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match.
54 India men's hockey team won the hearts of the nation after they defeated Germany in a thrilling bronze medal match to add to India's tally at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Indian team led by captain Manpreet Singh came from behind twice to win the encounter 5-4 as India won their first Olympic medal in men's hockey since 1980. Wishes poured in as the President of India Ramnath Kovind, along with several big political leaders took to Twitter to applaud India's big achievement in Tokyo and praised the team for ending a 41-year-long wait for a medal at the Games in hockey. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Highlights: India vs Germany Here is a look at some of the reactions: Manpreet Singh dedicated the medal win to the frontline workers after the match. India could add another medal in hockey in Tokyo as the women's team will also compete in the bronze medal match on Friday.
55 Amritsar Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Friday said that along with the Kartarpur Corridor, governments of India and Pakistan should also discuss opening a corridor to Nankana Sahib, the birth place of first Sikh master Guru Nanak. "The removal of the Nishan Sahib from a gurdwara by the Taliban in Afghanistan is condemnable. The Centre must ensure the safety of Sikh shrines in Afghanistan and the Sikhs living there. The repeated harassment of Sikhs in Afghanistan is injustice to minorities," she added. The president also called up players of the victorious hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics. "Both men and women hockey teams have done well, with Punjab sending some good players. All of them deserve appreciation."
56 The ongoing budget session of the Assam Assembly was adjourned for thirty minutes on Wednesday during the semi-final match of boxer Lovlina Borgohain at the Tokyo Olympics. Special arrangements were made inside the Assam Assembly premises to watch the semi-final match of the Assamese pugilist. at the Tokyo Olympics after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli. On July 30, Lovlina Borgohain won her quarter-finals match in the welterweight category of women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics by beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei with a final score of 4-1. She is only the third Indian boxer after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh to win a boxing medal for India at the Olympics. ALSO READ: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Lovlina Borgohain for her outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics and said her name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Congratulations to Assam's daughter @LovlinaBorgohai for bringing home the bronze medal in #Olympics boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement." Congratulations to Assam's daughter for bringing home the bronze medal in boxing. Your name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Assam. The entire nation is proud of your phenomenal achievement. - Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) Assam minister Ashok Singhal said that it is a great moment for Assam and the entire country. "She played very well as a debutant. She has a bright future," said Ashok Singhal. ALSO READ: Graphic Assam Assembly adjourned for 30 minutes for Lovlina's semi-final match at Tokyo Olympics
57 The proceedings in the ongoing are likely to be adjourned for 30 minutes on Wednesday during the semi-final match of Lovlina Borgohain will be up against world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the on Wednesday. The Assam Assembly is likely to adjourn for half an hour on Wednesday from 11 to 11.30 am. Dr Numal Momin, deputy speaker in the Assam Assembly, told India Today over the phone that the proposal for adjournment has been given to the Speaker of the Assam Assembly. ALSO READ: "The decision is yet to be finalised. But I hope the Speaker will accept the proposal," Dr Numal Momin said. On July 30, match in the welterweight category of women's boxing at the Tokyo Olympics by beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei with a final score of 4-1. By virtue of a place in the semi-final, Lovlina Borgohain has already assured India of at least a bronze medal. She is only the third Indian boxer after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh to win a boxing medal for India at the Olympics. ALSO READ: Graphic Assam Assembly likely to be adjourned for 30 minutes during Lovlina's Olympics semifinal on Wednesday
58 Amitabh Bachchan is an avid social media user and is fond of sharing viral WhatsApp messages with his fans and followers on Twitter. Recently, the 78-year-old actor shared an analogy of men and women's Indian hockey performance at Tokyo Olympics. The tweet shows how the two teams beat the countries the other one lost to. The main message is, the Indian men's hockey team beat the teams that beat the Indian women's hockey team, and vice versa. BIG B'S TWEET SUMMARISES INDIAN HOCKEY TEAMS' PERFORMANCE AT TOKYO OLYMPICS In men's hockey at the Olympics 2020, the Indian team won a bronze medal against Germany, while Indian women's hockey team gave a tough fight to Britain in the bronze play-off. , among others. The Whatsapp message that's going viral and caught Amitabh Bachchan's attention, is the statistics of Indian hockey team's performance at the Olympics is showcased. The tweet reads, "T 3989 - Girls lost to Great Britain Boys beat them.... Boys lost to Australia, Girls beat them..... Girls lost to Argentina Boys beat them.... Girls lost to Germany, Boys beat them!!!! #Hockey #Olympics (sic)." T 3989 - Girls lost to Great Britain Boys beat them.... Boys lost to Australia, Girls beat them..... Girls lost to Argentina Boys beat them.... Girls lost to Germany, Boys beat them!!!! - Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) AMITABH BACHCHAN TO RETURN WITH KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 13 Kaun Banega Crorepati is all set to return with its 13th season with Amitabh Bachchan as its host. Ahead of the premiere, which is based on a village where the people are trying to raise funds for their school building. They register for KBC to get the funds and when one of them gets selected, everyone helps him to prepare for the quiz show. Sharing the promo, Amitabh Bachchan wrote of Instagram, "KBC13 Wapas aa rahe hain ... KBC pe .. #StayTunedForPart2 #ComingSoon #KBC13 @SonyTVOfficial (sic)." WHAT'S MORE ON THE WORK FRONT? . The film also stars Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. Amitabh will be seen next in Emraan Hashmi-starrer Chehre. He also has Goodbye with Rashmika Mandanna and Brahmastra with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt lined up. Apart from these, Big B will be seen in Mayday, The Intern and Jhund. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Amitabh Bachchan tweets viral WhatsApp message on Indian hockey at Tokyo Olympics. Seen yet?
59 Haryana chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, on Friday, announced that a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh would be given to each sportsperson from the state who finished in the fourth position in the Olympics. Till now there was no provision in the state's Sports Policy for such players. "According to the Sports Policy of the state, there is a provision to give incentive money to the players who cannot win medals in these games. As per this provision, each player participating in the Olympic Games is being given an incentive amount of Rs 15 lakh. An amount of Rs 5 lakh has already been given to these players prior to the Olympics. The remaining Rs10 lakh will be given to the players on their return after completion of the Olympics", Khattar said. Addressing a press conference in Rohtak, Khattar said, "In the sports policy, a provision has been made to give Rs 6 crore to a player who wins a gold medal in the Olympics, Rs 4 crore to a player who wins silver, and Rs 2.5 crore to a player who wins a bronze medal. Though till now, in this policy, there was no provision for giving a cash reward to players who finished fourth in the Olympics. But from now onwards, a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh will be given to each player of the state who finished fourth". "The state government would also be felictating the players who win any medal in the Olympics", Khattar announced. "Indian men's hockey team has brought laurels to the country after 41 years by winning the bronze medal. It is a matter of great pride that two players from Haryana were part of this winning team. The women's hockey team lost out on a bronze medal by a whisker. Nine players of Haryana played in this team and a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh each will be given by the government to all these nine players," Khattar added. "We have only 2 per cent of the country's population, but about 25 per cent of participants in the Tokyo Olympics are from Haryana, which is a matter of pride", Khattar said. Hooda demands Rs 50 lakh for every Olympic participant "The government should give at least Rs 50 lakh as prize money to every participant of Tokyo Olympics from Haryana. Wrestler Bajrang Punia and the women's hockey team put up tremendous performances throughout the tournament and one performance should not decide the support that is extended to them. Today, the whole world is acknowledging their talent. The loss of just one match cannot dampen their spirits. The women's hockey team may have missed out on a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, but this team has achieved something that the country was waiting for decades. Even getting the fourth position in a sporting event like the Olympics is not an ordinary success. The splendid performance of the women's hockey team is an indicator of the bright future of hockey. In such a situation, the state government should also leave no stone unturned in the honor and respect of the players of the team. Haryana government should honour all the participating sportspersons of the state in the Olympics by giving them prizes of at least Rs 50 lakh each and a suitable position. Also, the honour money of medal-winning players should be increased further," Hooda said in a statement issued on Friday.
60 Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the opening round of the men's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics, starting in Tokyo on Friday. Nagal, who qualified for the Games last week after large-scale withdrawals, was pitted against the lower-ranked Uzbek in the draw on Thursday. A first-round win for the 23-year-old Indian, ranked 160, could see him face second-seeded Russia's Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Alexander Bublik in his opening round match. In women's doubles, six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will lock horns with the Kichenok twins -- Nadiia and Lyudmyla -- of Ukraine in the opening round. Interestingly, Mirza had paired up with Nadiia after returning from her maternity leave to win the Hobart Open last year. How Nagal made the Olympics cut Nagal on Friday made the cut for the men's singles event of the Tokyo Olympics as large-scale withdrawals pushed him inside the qualification mark and the Indian tennis player is now hoping that competing at the biggest stage will settle a "few things" that are bothering him in his career. Nagal was ranked 144 on June 14, when ATP rankings were to be considered for direct entries but consistent withdrawals helped him. "I knew it (cut-off) was gonna drop. Things are different this year, compared to any other Olympics. Nonetheless, I feel very happy. I am getting a chance to represent the country. I can't complain much about it," Nagal said from Germany. The 23-year-old Nagal will enter the Olympics with some disappointing results this season as he has suffered seven first round defeat on the Circuit, including at the Australian Open. In six Challenger events, he made the quarterfinals only thrice. His best performance has been making the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires in March. His ranking has dropped to 154 after beginning the year at 137. "To be honest, I have been struggling with a few things, I am not going to name it. Getting into Olympics will hopefully change things in my career. It's going to be amazing experience. I will give my 100 per cent on the court," he said.
61 Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu on Thursday celebrated the Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, saying that they have made the country proud. The Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed the Olympic medal after 41 years, beating a plucky Germany 5-4 to claim the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match at the ongoing Games at Tokyo. However, amid the virtual celebrations on social media, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar mistakenly congratulated the Indian women's hockey team, who are yet to play for the bronze. He wrote, "Go girls!!! So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff." He later deleted the tweet and posted it without the "go girls" part. Needless to say, Farhan was brutally trolled for his gaffe, given that he essayed the role of late Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh, in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', who represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Farhan was last seen in the sports drama 'Toofaan'. Directed by Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, 'Toofaan' revolves around the journey of a local goon, Ajju Bhai (Farhan) becoming a professional boxer, Aziz Ali. Actors Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal are also a part of the movie, which released on Amazon Prime Video on July 16.
62 Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has congratulated ace badminton player PV Sindhu for winning bronze medal in women's badminton in Tokyo Olympics. Chief Minister also congratulated the hockey team for their achievement. Expressing happiness, the CM said that PV Sindhu has not only won medal but also honoured India by her wonderful performance. She has won brilliantly while playing against the Chinese player. Many junior players will be inspired by this victory. "What a remarkable performance! @Pvsindhu makes us proud once again! Heartiest congratulations on winning the Bronze medal in Badminton at Tokyo. My best wishes for all the future games. You have inspired a lot of budding badminton players today," Chouhan said in a tweet. He has also congratulated all sports lovers on winning this medal by tweeting in this regard. The CM has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Indian men's hockey team for defeating Britain in Tokyo Olympics. He said that hockey players of India have performed remarkably in the quarterfinal match. This victory is amazing. India has got such a victory after 41 years, when we have reached the semi final match. The CM has extended best wishes to the Indian Hockey team for the next match.
63 Tokyo Olympics 2020 opening ceremony: At the Parade of Nations, India will enter 21st of the 205 contingents. How is the order decided? At the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, India will be 21st out of 205 contingents in the Parade of Nations. The United Arab Emirates will be among the first 10 entrants, while Australia and Austria will enter after Ukraine and Uruguay. Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony: How is the order decided? The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language in the host city. The announcers first call out a country's name in French and English - the official languages for the Games according to Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter - and then the chosen language. For example, at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, nations entered according to the 'Hangul' alphabetical order, while at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the Cyrillic alphabet was used. Are there any exceptions to the rule? The Parade of Nations always begins with Greece, the host of the ancient Olympics and the first modern one. And the host nation always closes out the ceremony. This year, in order to promote future editions, the IOC wanted the next two Olympic hosts to precede Japan. So, the order at the end on Friday will be 2028 hosts United States, 2024 hosts France and Team Japan. In another change to the traditional marching order, the Refugee Olympic Team will follow Greece at number two. What would be the order at the Tokyo Olympics? The teams will enter according to their names in Gojuon - Japan's fifty-sound phonetic order, which is also used in dictionaries. India (Indo in Japanese transliteration) will march in at No. 21, with boxer Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh as flag-bearers. The Russian contingent, which has been disallowed to use the country's name, flag, and anthem due to doping-related sanctions, will compete under the acronym ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and will be third to enter after Greece and the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR). According to the Japanese alphabetical order, UAE (Arabu Shuchokoku Renpo) will come before Algeria (Arujeria). Australia (Osutoraria) and Austria (Osutoria) will be No. 37 and 38, respectively, coming after nations such as Uzbekistan (Uzubekisutan) and Uruguay (Uruguai). Has Japan always utilised the same alphabetical order? No. Athletes competing at Japan's past three Olympics - the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano - marched according to the English alphabet to promote international understanding. According to the Kyodo news agency, "the decision to thrust the Japanese language into the spotlight at the iconic parade of athletes was made in the hope of promoting Japan's culture on the world's biggest stage." Has the chosen language led to any notable incidents at past opening ceremonies? Both Spanish and Catalan were the official languages at the 1992 Barcelona Games. But due to the political sensitivity around the issue of language in the region, the French alphabetical order was used for the Parade of Nations. Not to offend either group, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and Barcelona mayor Pasqual Maragall spoke French at the press conference on the opening day instead of Spanish or Catalan. According to the Chinese stroke system used at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the five athletes from Guinea were the first ones to enter after openers Greece. Australia were 202nd, just ahead of Zambia, according to the number of strokes required to write the first character of the country's names. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Greek team - usually the first to enter - entered last as the hosts. According to the Greek alphabet, the two-athlete strong Saint Lucia ( ) were the first ones to enter before a crowd of 77,000 - almost half the size of the small island nation's population. "It will be an awesome feeling to be the first team into the stadium in front of the world," marathoner and Saint Lucia flag bearer Zepherinus Joseph told The Guardian on the eve of the ceremony. "Usually, we are at the end of the alphabet and the TV companies go to an ad break when St. Lucia appear, but this time the world will get a chance to see us and our flag."
64 After a sedate start by the Indians at the Tokyo Olympics on the 10th day, PV Sindhu and the men's hockey team lifted the spirits of the crores of people in the country with their wins in their respective encounters, on Sunday. The victories were historic in their own way. Shuttler Sindhu scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to collect two medals at the Olympics after defeating China's He Bingjiao (21-13, 21-15) for the bronze medal. Later, Manpreet-led hockey team made it to the Olympic semifinal after 49 years. They beat Great Britain 3-1 to cruise into the last four, on Sunday. The day started with Satish Kumar (+91kg) putting up a gutsy performance against reigning world champion Bakhodir Jalolov, but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek as the Indian boxer made a quarterfinal exit. Taking the ring with multiple stitches on his forehead and chin after sustaining cuts in the pre-quarters, Satish lost 0-5, but the scoreline was not reflective of his brave performance. Indian equestrian, Fouaad Mirza, picked up 11.20 penalty points and was placed 22nd after the cross-country round at the Olympics, on Sunday. A good round in the individual showjumping qualifier on Monday will ensure that Mirza, India's only equestrian at the Olympics in over two decades, and his horse Seigneur Medicott remain in the top 25 and make the eventing individual jumping final in the evening. With this win, Sindhu becomes the second Indian after Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals. She had won a silver in the last Olympics in Rio after losing in the final to Carolina Marin. Sindhu had earlier lost to world no. 1, Tai Tzu Ying, in the last four on Saturday. The immaculate Sindhu, who was off colour on Saturday, came back with renewed vigour on Sunday. She has not dropped a single game at this year's Olympics in the five matches that she won and her ten match wins at the Olympics. Incidentally, the most for an Indian badminton player. Saina Nehwal, who won bronze at the London Olympics in 2012, and the only other Indian badminton player to medal at the Olympics, is second with nine. Sindhu is also only the fourth women's singles player to get successive medals at Olympics after Susi Susanti (gold in 1992 and bronze in 1996), Bang Soo-Hyun (silver in 1992 and gold in 1996) and Zhang (gold in 2004 and 2008). Sindhu had looked in tremendous form throughout the tournament and she started off confidently to open up a 4-0 lead in the opening game. She set the tone of the match early and the Chinese player was playing catch up throughout as Sindhu almost led from start to finish. The eight-time former Olympic champions scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win. Great Britain's lone goal was scored by Sam Ward from a penalty corner in the 45th minute. India will take on world champions Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday. India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980 Moscow Games but there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams participated in the event. For a country that gave the world stalwarts like Major Dhyan Chand and Balbir Singh Senior among others, it has been especially painful to watch the hockey teams' Olympic debacles before this edition. The last time India featured in the semifinals of the Olympics was in 1972 Munich Games where they lost 0-2 to arch-rivals Pakistan. It was the edition in which American swimming legend Mark Spitz won seven gold medals, a feat which was overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists at the Olympic Village. Belgium defeated Spain 3-1 in another quarterfinal to seal their place in the last four round. The other semifinal of the men's hockey competition will be played between Australia and Germany. Medals Tally 1 China 24 14 13 51 2 US 20 23 16 59 3 Japan 17 5 9 31 4 Australia 14 3 14 31 5 ROC 12 19 13 44 6 GB 10 10 12 32 7 France 5 10 6 21 8 SKorea 5 4 8 17 9 Italy 4 8 15 27 10 Holland 4 7 6 17 59 India 0 1 1 2 Indians in action today @ the Games ATHLETICS 7.25: Dutee Chand in Women's 200m Heat 16.30L Kamalpreet Kaur in Women's Discus Final EQUESTRIAN 6.00: Eventing Second Hose Inspection 13.30: Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Jumping 17.15: Eventing Individual Jumping Final HOCKEY 8.30: India vs Australia in women's SHOOTING: 8.00: Sanjeev Rajput and Aishwary Pratap Singh ar in Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Qualification 13.20: Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Final
65 Russian wrestler defeated India's Ravi Kumar Dahiya 7-4 in the gold medal match in men's wrestling 57kg category in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya has won the silver medal in his first Olympic Games after losing to Russia's Zavur Uguev in the gold medal match by points. Russian wrestler's strong defence kept Ravi Kumar at bay as the latter tried his level best to break his defence and pin him down for the two-pointers. Uguev took an early lead, first with sliding Ravi out of the circle and then the two-pointer but Ravi stormed back and the match hanged in the balance and went into the second round. In the second round too, Uguev's defence remained decisively strong as he didn't let Ravi have any points from the same and despite another two-pointer for the Indian wrestler, the Russian had a three-point lead and he won the gold medal on points, thereby handing silver medal to India. Ravi Kumar Dahiya became the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal after Sushil Kumar's win in the 2012 London Olympics. By the virtue of this win, India won its 5th medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, PV Sindhu's bronze medal win in women's singles Badminton, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze medal in boxing and Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal.
66 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday congratulated the Indian women's hockey team for their performance at Tokyo Olympics and announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh each to nine players from the state. Taking to Twitter, Manohar Lal Khattar said: "Haryana Government will award Rs 50 lakhs each to the nine members of the Olympics women's hockey team who are from Haryana. I congratulate the Indian team for their praiseworthy performance at the Tokyo Olympics." The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match at the ongoing Games in Tokyo on Friday. With this loss, the Indian women's team finished fourth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, meanwhile, team Great Britain captured their third consecutive Olympic medal. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no. 4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men's team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching a bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany.
67 Readers write in from Calcutta, and Chennai Fall short Sir - It was heartening that P.V. Sindhu managed to bag a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. But it was sad to see her slip during the semi-final. She seemed a bit sluggish on the court after her win in the quarter-finals; it did not look like she had the determination to fight, to go for gold. Encouragingly, the hat-trick of goals by Vandana Kataria enabled the Indian women's hockey team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympics after four decades. Now that the men's hockey team has won the quarter-final against Great Britain, fans are hoping the women's team, too, will play with aggression and confidence while taking on Australia in the upcoming game. We wish them all the very best. Indians are desperate for more medals. N. Mahadevan,Chennai Sir - Every four years, forecasts are made on how many medals India will win at the Olympics, a practice that leads to widely polarized opinions. A leading data and technology company, Gracenote, had foretold that India would finish the Tokyo Olympics with 19 medals, four of them being gold. Such hopes seem to have little chance of being fulfilled. Be it because of a faulty rifle, poor judging or loss of focus, the majority of Indian athletes have not been able to gain a toehold as far as the Olympics are concerned. This is no different from any other year at the Olympics. But it is pointless to blame athletes for this. India does not encourage sports, and those who take it up have to brave insurmountable odds. One can hardly play well when one bears the burden of having to perform just to live a decent life. Players must be given the assurance that irrespective of how they perform, they will have livelihood options that enable them to take care of themselves and their families. More important, sports must be made integral to education. At the school level, 'physical training' classes that pass for sport education prepare students for next to nothing. In most schools there is one measly PT period a week, which is taken lightly since its grades do not have an impact on the student's promotion at the end of the year. If India wishes to win more medals, sports must be taken seriously early on in life and be taught on a par with the curriculum. Riya Ghosh,Calcutta Not fun and games Sir - Cricket may be India's most popular sport, but nothing matches the ability of football to tug at a Bengali's heartstrings. A huge part of the emotionally high-strung club games at the Maidan tents and the Salt Lake stadium were the snacks and sweets that were ferried around for the supporters. While football fans are now missing the snacks as much as the games, few are thinking of the fate of the vendors whose livelihoods have been disrupted drastically. Fans should come together to help them out. Kallol Pramanik,Calcutta
68 Bajrang Punia beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match as India earned their sixth medal in Tokyo Olympics. Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia beatKazakhstan'sDaulet Niyazbekov in his bronze medal match in the men's 65kg freestyle category in a one-sided game as he overcame his opponent's strong defence, again and again, to gain two-pointers one after another to give India their 6th medal of the Tokyo Olympics. Bajrang gained an early lead of one point because of the activity clock and one more point in the first three minutes after he took Niyazbekov outside the circle. However, a 2-0 lead doesn't mean anything as it is just one move away. Bajrang, however, was more threatening, more dominant in the second round. Overcoming his opponent's several attempts of defending his leg-hold, Bajrang didn't leave any chance and kept him at hbay and eventually won the match on points 8-0. Bajrang had lost his semi-final bout to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev 5-12 and then had to go through the medal match bout to win the bronze. With Bajrang's win, India have levelled their London 2012 medal tally following Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze in Boxing, PV Sindhu's bronze in Badminton women's singles, Indian men's hockey team's bronze and Ravi Kumar Dahiya's silver in wrestling.
69 Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58 metres throw in his second attempt. It has happened, it has finally happened. What India has rued for years - an Olympic medal in Track and Field has finally happened. India'sNeeraj Chopra won a Gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58-metre throw in his second attempt. Neeraj, who was in the second position in the chronology started the event with a stupendous throw of 87.02 metres at the Olympics Stadium in the final on Saturday. With these two throws, Neeraj had almost confirmed a medal for India as he bettered his 86.6-metre throw in the qualifying round and many believed that if he equals that mark in the final, he could win a medal. But it was just the start. However, it felt like it was Neeraj's day and not for anyone else as themedal favourite, Germany's Johannes Vetter as after a couple of throws of sub-82, he failed to throw it more than that and remained at No 9 and failed to qualify for top eight. Finland's Lassi Etelatalo started with two throws of around 79 metres and qualified for the next round with an 83.28-metre throw, but couldn't go beyond that. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, another top-scorer in the qualifying round,after a decent start with 82.40 even after it didn't come out of his hand as he would have liked to, bettered it with 84.62 in his third throw and qualified for the top 8 at fifth position, but couldn't go beyond that. However, it was the Czech Republic duo ofJakub Vadlejch and Vtezslav Vesel, who took silver and bronze medals with them respectively.Vesel qualified at second position for Top 8 with a throw of 85.44 but couldn't better it, however, Vadlejch did with a superbthrow of 86.67 metres in the final round to confirm a second place. But, in the end it was Neeraj Chopra, who in just his second attempt ensured a Gold medal for India, first in Track and field, second overall after Abhinav Bindra's medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in shooting. By the virtue of this win, this is also India's best-ever Olympics as far as the medal tally is concerned as this was the seventh medal in Tokyo Olympics.India have surpassed their London 2012 medal tally of six medals following Mirabai Chanu's silver in weightlifting, Lovlina Borgohain's bronze in Boxing, PV Sindhu's bronze in Badminton women's singles, Indian men's hockey team's bronze and Ravi Kumar Dahiya's silver in wrestling.
70 It will be an action-packed Saturday for the Indian team on Day 2 of Tokyo Olympics with hockey team, Mirabai Chanu, boxer Vikas Krishnan in action. The much-awaited 32nd Olympic Gamescommenced on Friday in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. However,it wasn't a dream start for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. ArcherDeepika Kumari who is ranked at the top position in the world rankingsfinished at the ninth spot in the qualifying round. Meanwhile, it will be an action-packed Saturday for the Indian Olympics team on Day 2 of theTokyo Olympics 2020, with the hockey team, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Vikas Krishnan, shuttler Sai Praneeth and Shooter Apurvi Chandela in action. Manika Batra, India's table tennis star will also play her first match on Saturday. Let's have a look at the schedule of Indian athletes on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Mixed Team Eliminations (Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari) -6:00 AM Men's Doubles Group Stage - Group A (Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin) -8:50 AM Men's Singles Group Stage - Group D (Sai Praneeth vs Zilberman Misha) -9:30 AM Women's Welterweight Round of 32 (Lovlina Borgohain) -8:00 AM Men's Welterweight Round of 32 (Vikas Krishan) -9:54 AM Men's Pool A - India vs New Zealand -6:30 AM Women's Pool A - India vs the Netherlands -5:15 PM Women's -48kg Elimination Round of 32 (Sushila Devi) - 7:30 AM Men's lightweight double sculls Heats (Arjun Lal, Arvind Singh) - 7:50 AM Women's 10m Air Rifle Qualification (Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela) - 5:00 AM Women's 10m Air Rifle Final (Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela - if qualify) - 7:15 AM Men's 10m Air Pistol Qualification (Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma) - 9:30 AM Men's 10m Air Pistol Final (Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma - if qualify) - 12:00 PM Men's and Women's Singles Round 1 (G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee) -5:30 AM Mixed Doubles Round of 16 (Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra) -7:45 AM Women's Doubles - Sania Mirza, Ankita RainaSumit Nagal - Men's Singles Women's 49kg Medal Round (Mirabai Chanu) -10:20 AM.
71 India will be the 21st on the list of the contingent during the March past, which has been decided according to the Japanese alphabetical order. Tokyo Olympics 2020: Today is the official opening of the much-awaited 32nd Olympic Games.India is fielding more than 120 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. Last known,28 athletes and six officials of the Indian contingent are to join at the opening ceremony. The Olympics Games will see the participation of around 11,000 athletes from 205 countries. They will be competing for 339 gold medals across 33 sports. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 will see India's largest contingent to feature at the mega sporting event ever. At the opening ceremony, India will be 21st out of 205 contingents in the Parade of Nations.The United Arab Emirates will be among the first 10 entrants, while Australia and Austria will enter after Ukraine and Uruguay. So how is the order decided as to who will enter at which spot during the opening ceremony? India will be the 21st on the list of the contingent during the March past, which has been decided according to the Japanese alphabetical order. The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language of the host city. The announcers first call out a country's name in French and English - the official languages for the Games according to Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter and then the chosen language. As an exception, the Parade of Nations always begins with Greece, the host of the ancient Olympics and the first modern one. The host nation also always closes out the marching ceremony. This year, in order to promote future editions, the IOC wanted the next two Olympic hosts to precede Japan. So, the order at the end of the ceremony will be 2028 hosts United States, 2024 hosts France and Team Japan. In another change to the traditional marching order, the Refugee Olympic Team will follow Greece at number two. The teams will enter according to their names in Gojuon - Japan's fifty-sound phonetic order, which is also used in dictionaries. India (Indo in Japanese transliteration) will march in at No 21, with boxer Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh as flag-bearers. The Russian contingent will compete under the acronym ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and will be third to enter after Greece and the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR). Russia hasbeen disallowed to use the country's name, flag, and anthem due to doping-related sanctions, According to the Japanese alphabetical order, UAE (Arabu Shuchokoku Renpo) will come before Algeria (Arujeria). Australia (Osutoraria) and Austria (Osutoria) will be No 37 and 38, respectively, coming after nations such as Uzbekistan (Uzubekisutan) and Uruguay (Uruguai). In the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano also athletes marched according to Japanese alphabetical order.
72 India's No. 6 seed PV Sindhu will take on China's No. 8 seed He Bing Jiao in the Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on Sunday evening. Sindhu lost her semi-final 21-18, 21-12 in 40 minutes to world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. He Bing Jiao went down to compatriot and top seed Chen Yu Fei of China 21-16, 13-21, 21-12 in 79 minutes in the other semi-final. PV Sindhu had reached the final of the Rio 2016 Olympics badminton women's singles, and went down to Carolina Marin of Spain to finish with the silver medal. Head-to-head As per the Olympics.com, World No. 7 PV Sindhu has a 6-9 win-loss record against the world No. 9 and 24-year old He Bing Jiao. The 26-year old Indian won their most recent meeting at the World Tour Finals in straight games in December 2019 to end a string of three successive losses to the Chinese player. He Bing Jiao, who plays left-handed, won the women's singles bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships in Nanjing. PV Sindhu has shown added dimensions to her game at the Tokyo Olympics. She has moved and defended better, appeared calmer and made fewer errors. She has also not been pinned to the deep backhand corner much, apart from in the match against Tai Tzu Ying. A powerful forehand crosscourt slice played from behind the shoulders has stood out among Sindhu's weapons. It remains to be seen if these will be enough to overcome the challenge posed by He Bing Jiao. Timings (IST) August 1, Sunday Women's singles bronze medal match PV Sindhu (India) vs He Bing Jiao (China) - 5:00 PM IST Where to watch The Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match will be telecast live on the Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India. Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 3 HD, Sony TEN 4 and Sony TEN 4 HD will broadcast Tokyo 2020 in regional languages. Live streaming of the Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles bronze medal match will be available on Sony Liv. Live broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.
73 Indore: On the second day of Tokyo Olympics, Free Press welcomed former international hockey player and coach Mir Ranjan Negi as guest editor on Saturday. A goal keeper, who went on to coach the Indian men and women hockey teams, Negi was quite optimistic about the hockey team representing the country in Olympics this time. "It is the best team in last many years to go to Olympics. I am quite confident of podium finish this time," he said confidently. He was all praise for weight-lifter Meerabai Chanu, who won silver medal in 49 kg category on Saturday. "This is a good start for the country and good omen too," he said. For the beginners, mega-hit movie Chak De India was inspired by Negi's exploits, with Shahrukh Khan essaying his role in reel life. He was quite happy with Team India's 3-2 victory over New Zealand in their opening match at Tokyo Olympics. "It is a positive sign. Team's exploits will kick start revival of Indian Hockey," he said. He was optimistic that not only men but even women team would surprise people. "The situation of women hockey is not good. It's same as was depicted in Chak De movie. No sponsors, no support. But still the girls have been performing well. They keep on boosting each other and play as a terrific unit," he said. Negi, who hails from Indore, was part of the coaching team that guided Dhanraj Pillay-led team to Asian Games title triumph in 1998. He was also the coach who guided the Indian Eves to the Commonwealth Games title in 2002. Turning to men's hockey team, he said that the current team was playing as a unit. Every player was performing, particularly the senior players. At global tournaments like Olympics, seniors hold the key for any team as they always perform at the big stage, he added Praising goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who executed a full-stretch dive to his right to deny New Zealand the equalizer and moments later, pulled off another remarkable save in open play to ensure Team India's winning campaign on Saturday, he said, "Goalkeeper is quite crucial and Sreejesh is currently playing his best hockey." The former coach also applauded Harmanpreet who was denied hat-trick in the opener by New Zealand goalkeeper's brilliance. "Currently, we are fourth best team in the world. The good thing is we have beaten the top three teams in major tournaments, so it's good sign for us," he said. He gave his semi-final list as "India, Holland, Germany and Australia with Argentina and Spain being the dark horses." Though he was quite hopeful of a good medal haul, he refused to give the numbers. "It is quite tough. All sports activities across the globe have remained in limbo for the last one year owing to corona. So we are unaware of how players have prepared for this tournament.
74 India's Sumit Nagal will begin his Tokyo Olympics men's singles tennis campaign against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin. The Indian women's doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will face the Ukrainian Kichenok twin sisters Liudmyla and Nadiia in the first round, as reported by Olympics.com. While Istomin is currently ranked 197 as compared to Nagal's ranking of 160, the 34-year old Uzbek has been ranked as high as world No. 33 at one point. He had also defeated the current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in five sets in the 2017 Australian Open. If he manages to get past Istomin, the 23-year-old Nagal will run into world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev. The 25-year old Russian has been a finalist at the Australian Open and the US Open. Leander Paes was the last Indian to reach the second round in men's singles at the Olympics, back in Atlanta 1996 when he went on to win the bronze medal. While it will be Ankita Raina's maiden Olympics, Sania Mirza will be playing her fourth Olympics and is quite familiar with her women's doubles first-round opponents. Sania Mirza had paired up with Nadiia Kichenok to win the women's doubles title at the Hobart Open last year, the tournament where the Indian veteran had made her comeback after childbirth. At the Qatar Open in March this year, Sania Mirza, partnering with Andreja Klepac, had defeated the 29-year old Kichenok sisters in the round-of-16 in the women's doubles. In the second round, Mirza and Raina could face the eighth-seeded American pair of Nicole Melichar and Alison Riske. In the quarter-finals, they could be up against the third seeds from the Netherlands, Kiki Bertens and Demi Schuurs. Tennis matches at Tokyo 2020 will be held from 24 July to 1 August at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo. While the men's singles category at the Tokyo Olympics has 64 players and will be played over six rounds, women's doubles has 32 players and will involve five rounds. Indian tennis draw for Tokyo Olympics Men's singles Round 1 Sumit Nagal vs Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) Women's doubles Round 1 Sania Mirza/Ankita Raina vs Liudmyla Kichenok/Nadiia Kichenok (Ukraine)
75 Actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Kapil Sharma, Preity Zinta, Sagarika Ghatge, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher and others left heartfelt messages for Indian men and women's hockey teams, lauding their performances at Tokyo Olympics. Several Bollywood stars joined in to wish the Indian men and women hockey teams for reaching the semi-finals in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. While the women's team defeated Australia on Monday to seal the spot for the first time in the history of Olympics, the men's squad beat Great Britain at the Olympics for the first time in 49 years. Shah Rukh Khan, who played the popular role of Kabir Khan in Bollywood hit film Chak De India, wished Team India in all his wit on Twitter. He wrote, "Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan." Haan haan no problem. Just bring some Gold on your way back....for a billion family members. This time Dhanteras is also on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021 Others who took to their social media handles and wrote messages for the real-life champions included actors Preity Zinta, Kapil Sharma, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher and others left heartfelt messages for Team India on social media. Chak De India actor Sagarika Ghatge also wished the team. Congrats to the women & men of #HockeyIndia for reaching the Olympic semifinals. So excited & extremely proud of both our Women & Men's teams Here's wishing them all the very best & hope to see history being written in Blue #Olympics2020 #JaiHind #GoForGold #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/BN9iOEFZJv - Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) August 2, 2021 What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020 - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 2, 2021 Randeep Hooda tweeted, "What a match .. Super defending .. Real imitates Reel #ChakDeIndia History created by the Indian Women's #hockeyindia first semi final like ever #INDvsAUS #Olympics2020 #TokyoOlympics2020." Preity Zinta wrote, "Congrats to the women & men of #HockeyIndia for reaching the Olympic semifinals. So excited & extremely proud of both our Women & Men's teams. Here's wishing them all the very best & hope to see history being written in Blue #Olympics2020 #JaiHind. #GoForGold #Tokyo2020." Here's how the B-town stars celebrated India's big win at the Olympics. Goosebumps and tears. What a moment #hockeyindia #Olympics2020 - Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) August 2, 2021 - Vineet Kumar Singh (@vineetkumar_s) August 2, 2021 Proud of you girls n boys #hockeyindia #OlympicGames #TokyoOlympics #IndiaAtTokyo2020 - Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) August 2, 2021 Yahoo!!! This is awesome.... congratulations #TeamIndia #hockeyindia #OlympicGames # - Karenvir Bohra (@KVBohra) August 2, 2021 Indian men hockey team will play world champions Belgium on Tuesday for a place in the final, hoping to win the first medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. On the other hand, the women's team will face Argentina on Wednesday.
76 PV Sindhu is taking on the second seed and World No1 Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying in Badminton Women's singles semi-final in the Tokyo Olympics. One of the biggest matches of the Tokyo Olympics as far as India's medal hopes are concerned, Badminton star PV Sindhu is up against the World No 1 and the second seedChinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's singles semi-final in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. Sindhu had defeatedJapan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals in straight sets 21-13, 22-20 in a game that lasted 56 minutes. The reigning World champion won the first game easily by Yamaguchi stormed back in a spectacular game of long rallies, which was just classic mouthwatering badminton for 15 minutes. However, Sindhu came back from 18-20 and won four points in a row to finish 22-20 and advance to the semi-final. PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying Live streaming The match is currently being telecasted on Sony Ten1, Sony Ten 2 and is being live-streamed on SonyLiv on Olympics Spotlight 2. Live Scores and Updates Sindhu took an early lead against Tai and won a flurry of points after which the Taipei star came back to take a 13-12 lead in the first game. Sindhu came back to level; the scoreline and took two points in a row but Tai smashed back and brought the scoreline to 14-14. The encounter went back and forth, however, Tai came back with some outstanding smashed and gameplays to win the set 21-18 and led 1-0 in the semi-final. Sindhu started the second set on a strong note with a 2-1 lead but Tai came back strongly as she overcame every Sindhu smash to respond it with much more aggression and took a 10-6 lead before her one shot got entangle in the net. But, Tai was relentless in her pursuit as she didn't give Sindhu any chance and kept playing with her and her stamina. In the end, Tai Tzu Ying proved too good for Sindhu, defeating her 21-18, 21-12 in two straight sets.
77 Indian athletes are making everyone proud with their performance at the Tokyo Olympics. After PV Sindhu scripted history in the women's singles bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday (August 1), the women's and men's hockey teams qualified for the semis. Bollywood celebs are lauding and praising this milestone on social media. BOLLYWOOD CELEBS LAUD INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Bollywood celebs including Anushka Sharma, Preity Zinta, Taapsee Pannu and more have lauded and appreciated the Indian women's hockey team for reaching the semis in the Tokyo Olympics. This is India's biggest win in women's hockey as the team is playing in the Olympics only for the third time. While Anushka wrote, "India creates history again!! Congratulations to the Indian women's hockey team on qualifying for the semi-finals (sic)," Taapsee Pannu wrote, "Chakk de!!!Into the semis with Rani Rampal and her queens!!! (sic)." Disha Patani tweeted and wrote, "What an inspirational performance by the Indian women's hockey team! #Tokyo2020 #GirlPower (sic)." What an inspirational performance by the Indian women's hockey team! - Disha Patani (@DishPatani) See more wishes here Earlier on Sunday (August 1), the Indian men's team also reached their first-ever semi-final at the Olympics. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Taapsee Pannu, Disha Patani hail Indian women's hockey team for reaching Olympic semis
78 Men's singles player Sumit Nagal was blown away by world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. While India's hopes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ended as far as tennis is concerned, new possibilities have emerged as Sumit Nagal and Sania Mirza have found their names in the entry list of the mixed doubles events. However, this does not mean that they will be playing in the event. The draw is set to be announced on Tuesday. India tennis so far: On Monday, men's singles player Sumit Nagal was blown away by world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. Nagal had entered the second round after having won his first-round match against Uzbekistan Denis Istomin. This was India's first men's singles win at Olympics in 25 years. Nagal's exit came after the doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina were knocked out in the first round of women's doubles. They were defeated by Ukrainian twins Nadiia and Liudmyla Kichenok on Sunday. Sania and Ankita had won the first set and were leading 5-2 in the second set and yet went on to lose the match 6-0, 6-7, (8-10). Tennis at Olympics: Elsewhere, World No.1 and Wimbledon champion Ash Barty lost against Sara Sorribes-Tormo of Spain, 4-6, 3-6, while home favourites in Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori progressed. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Alexander Zverev, and Petra Kvitova all made winning starts to their singles campaigns.
79 The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has said brands that are piggybacking on athletes winning medals in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in their advertising without permission are in violation of its code. “When ads refer to or showcase celebrities without their explicit permission, such ads are in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor. She said such ads could be misleading to consumers, who may think that these celebrities genuinely endorse these products. ASCI guidelines are not legally enforceable, but violations of the council's guidelines are treated as a violation of government rules. Indian athletes, including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, won medals, while the men's and women's hockey teams created history at Tokyo, leading to a surge of brands putting out ads and messages on social media, some directly leveraging the athletes' names with neither permissions nor contracts. On Thursday, the men's hockey team defeated Germany to claim the bronze medal, which many brands and corporate CEOs said “felt like a gold”. Team captain Manpreet Singh dedicating the medal to Covid-19 warriors too became a trend. The athletes' names are being leveraged and linked to brands across corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, Apollo Hospitals and Perfetti Van Melle, to agencies like Brandonwheelz to out-of-home media agency The Brand Sigma. “Advertisers shall not, without permission from the person, firm or institution under reference, contain any reference to such person, firm or institution which confers an unjustified advantage on the product advertised,” states the ASCI code.
80 Novak Djokovic squares off with Hugo Dellien; Indian men's hockey team take on New Zealand in opener with an eye on the first podium finish in 41 years. The day of the Opening Ceremony started with Deepika Kumari and the Indian men's archery contingent grabbing the limelight. Kumari grabbed the ninth spot in the women's ranking event, while Pravin Jadhav outlasted Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai. Jadhav finished ahead of the experienced Das and Rai as India managed ninth-place finishes in both the men's team and mixed team rankings of the Games archery competition at the Yumenoshima Park. Now it's time to look at the next day's featured events of the Tokyo Olympics: Shooting (Women's 10m air rifle) (5:00 am IST) - Apurvi Chandela and Elevanil Valarivan Both Chandela and Elavenil will enter the competition with plenty to look forward to, despite the occasional blips here and there. Three-time ISSF World Cup gold medallist Chandela has endured a bit of rough time in the run up to the Games, having contracted Covid-19 and then testing negative just in time to board the flight for the Indian team's training-cum-competition tour of Croatia. The 21-year-old Elavenil, world number 1 and considered one of the country's finest rifle shooters after some fine performances since breaking into the senior team, will certainly fancy her chances too. Hockey -- Pool A (Men's) (6:30 am IST) - India vs New Zealand Ranked fourth in the world, India would be looking to break their over four-decade-long Olympics medal drought. Their last of the eight gold medals came way back in the 1980 Moscow Games. India will play New Zealand in their opener on Saturday and Mandeep said they are geared up for the job ahead. "We are now allowed to interact with other teams. Today was the first day we also got to play on the main competition pitch and no doubt, it is a fantastic stadium. We are eager to play our first match against New Zealand," he said. Tennis (Men's Singles) (7:30 am) -- Novak Djokovic vs Hugo Dellien Novak Djokovic will take on Bolivia's Hugo Dellien in the first round on Saturday. The Serb will be aiming for his first ever Olympic gold medal, with an eye on the historic Golden Slam, provided he wins the US Open down this year. Djoker, after winning a bronze in 2008, failed to secure a podium finish in 2012 and 2016. Djokovic is in prime form this year after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Taking Djoker down won't be easy. Tennis (First round) -- (7:30 am IST) Sumit Nagal vs David Istomin Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the opening round of the men's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics. Nagal, who qualified for the Games last week after large-scale withdrawals, was pitted against the lower-ranked Uzbek in the draw on Thursday. A first-round win for the 23-year-old Indian, ranked 160, could see him face second-seeded Russia's Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Alexander Bublik in his opening round match. Table Tennis (Round of 16) ( 8:30 am IST)-- YJ Lin/IC Cheng vs S Achanta/Manika Batra The world number one duo from Chinese Taipei are a tough challenge for A Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra. The Asian Games bronze-medallists were brilliant in the Olympic qualifiers and ended up winning the competition. However, in the run up to the Olympics, Sharath and Manika got only three sessions to train together before they boarded the flight to Tokyo. Men's 10m air pistol (Qualification) (9:30 AM) -- Sourabh Chaudhuary & Abhishek Verma The highly-skilled Saurabh Chaudhary will have a few Olympic and world champions standing in his way to glory at sport's biggest showpiece. Alongside Abhishek Verma, Chaudhary will be part of the first competition day action in the men's 10m air pistol event. Table Tennis (Women's Singles) (12:15 pm) -- Manika Batra vs Tin-Tin Ho The unseeded Manika is expected to beat Britain's Tin-Tin Ho in the first round and is drawn to meet 20th seed Margaryta Pestoska in the second. If she manages to win her second match, the 62nd-ranked Indian meets 10th seed Sofia Polcanova from Austria for a place in the pre-quarterfinals. Weightlifting (49kg) -- Mirabai Chanu (10:20 am) Former world champion Mirabai Chanu will be in focus for her high medal-winning chances at the Tokyo Olympics as the Indian hopes to exorcise the ghosts of a disappointing Rio Games and write a new chapter in the country's weightlifting history. Competing in the 49kg category, Chanu is being considered a sure shot medal prospect for India as her personal best of 205kg is only second to China's Hou Zhihui's effort of 213kg in the eight-woman field. The hype is similar to the one five years ago in Rio, where Chanu could manage only one lift from her six attempts and thus could not get an overall total in the women's 48kg event. The diminutive Manipuri will desperately hope for a different script this time round, one that involves a podium. Here are the other events India will be part of: Equestrian - Individual dressage grand prix day 1 Table tennis - Men's singles preliminary round - 5:30 Table tennis - Women's singles preliminary round - 5:30 Archery - Mixed team round of 16 - 6:00 (Pravin Jadav and Deepika Kumari vs Chinese Taipei) Judo - Women's 48kg all rounds - 7:30 Rowing - Men's lightweight double sculls heats - 7:50 Boxing - Women's welterweight - 8:00 Shooting - Men's 10m air pistol qualification - 9:30 Archery - Mixed team medal rounds - 10:45 Shooting - Men's 10m air pistol final - 12:00 Badminton - Men's doubles -- Chirag Shetty & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy vs Lee Yang & Chi-Lin Wang (Taipei) - 12:20 Badminton - Men's singles - B. Sai Praneeth vs Misha Zilberman (Israel) - 13:00 Boxing - Men's welterweight round of 32 - Vikas Krishan vs Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa - 15:54 Hockey - India Women vs Netherlands - 17.15
81 After Sahara's exit in 2018, the Odisha government took over the reins of sponsorship of the national hockey teams both at junior and senior levels. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has a special significance in the Indian sporting arena for not just sending the largest contingent of players representing the country, in the biggest sporting event, but also the remarkable performance of the players in a variety of sporting events. But what has particularly been overwhelming is theentry of the men's and women's hockey teams in the Olympics semifinals. Today we look at the success story behind India's performance in the field of hockey after a lull of more than four decades. But before we delve into the details, you all must have noticed Odisha written in bold letters right in the front of the jersey of both men and women hockey players. So what is the connection of Indian hockey with the state of Odisha? Moments after the Indian women hockey team created history by beating three times hockey world champion Australia in thequarter-finals of theTokyo 2020 Olympics, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sent out a congratulatory video message for the players. The success of both hockey teams holds a special significance for Odisha. To begin with,the current vice-captains of both the men's and women's hockey teams are from Odisha. With the likes ofIndian professional sprinterDutee Chand, Odisha has also over the years produced several national-level hockey players. The state has simultaneously stepped up to develop the sports infrastructure and sponsor national teams. After Sahara's exit in 2018, the Odisha government took over the reins of sponsorship of the Indian national hockey teams both in the junior and senior levels. The Odisha government signed round Rs 150 crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's hockey teams over the next 5 years. This was the first time that a state government had decided to sponsor a national team. In collaboration with the Tata group, in 2018 the state government set up theOdisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (HPC) at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. It was opened with a vision to groom the upcoming sporting talent in hockey and produce world-class sportspersons. This Centre has commenced its boys' resident programme at the Kalinga Hockey Complex for which 31 cadets have been selected for the programme. It also has 12 grassroots centres, at which over 2,500 young trainees are being trained. The state has hosted major hockey tournaments in the last five years. It hosted the World Cup in 2018, the 2014 Champions Trophy, and the Hockey World League final in 2017. Odisha forthe second time is the host ofthe Men's Hockey World Cup, which is to be played in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in 2023. In Rourkela, the Patnaik government is building the country's biggest hockey stadium with a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators that will be named after tribal leader Birsa Munda. Odisha is also planning to lay a synthetic hockey turf in each of the 17 blocks of the Sundargarh district. Of the 20 sports hostels in the state, two in Sundargarh are dedicated to hockey. The first-ever Khelo India University Games was held in Odisha in which 4,000 athletes from 176 universities participated in 211 events in 17 sports events over a period of 10 days.
82 Reigning world champion P.V. Sindhu advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of women's singles badminton event at the Tokyo Olympics after beating Hong Kong's NY Cheung in a group J match in Japan on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Indian, who had claimed a silver medal in the last edition in Rio, prevailed over world No. 34 Cheung 21-9 21-16 in a 35-minute match to top the group. This was Sindhu's sixth win over Cheung in as many meetings. World No. 7 Sindhu will meet Denmark's world number 12 Mia Blichfeldt, who topped Group I. Sindhu has a 4-1 head-to-head record against Blichfeldt, whose only win against the Indian was at the Yonex Thailand Open earlier this year. The shuttler from Hyderabad, seeded sixth, had defeated Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel in her opening match. Sindhu used her repertoire of strokes, and her ability to vary the pace troubled the Hong Kong player, making her run around the court. The Indian will then come up with a perfect placement. Cheung got a few points with her deceptive cross court returns but she committed many unforced errors to have any chance of putting pressure on the Indian. Sindhu led 6-2 early on before galloping to 10-3. She committed a rare error before entering the interval at 11-5. The Indian didn't have any trouble after resumption as she zoomed to 20-9 and pocketed the opening game when Cheung netted a return. Cheung was looking to script an incredible turnaround in the second game as she extended the rallies and with Sindhu too struggling to control the shuttle, the duo moved 6-6 and 8-8. Sindhu also made judgement errors before sending the shuttle wide again to hand over a slender one point advantage to her opponent. Cheung tried to put pressure on Sindhu but the Indian wriggled out with her better strokeplay which included a few straight down the line smashes. Sindhu moved to 19-14 before grabbing six match points but she missed the lines again and netted a shot to squander two match points before sealing it with a smash. Later in the day, B. Sai Praneeth will take on M Caljouw of Netherlands in his second and final men's singles Group D match. On Tuesday, Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy suffered a heartbreak after they failed to qualify for the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics despite winning two matches in their group. The Indian duo had emerged victorious against the England pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in their final Group A match but still missed out on qualifying for the quarterfinals after the three pairs ended with same points and games won was considered to identify the qualifiers.
83 Golfer Aditi Ashok also in medal contention; Gold continues to escape the grip of Indian wrestlers For the Indian contingent, the ongoing Tokyo Olympics has been about more than just medals. And today was one such day where the spirit of sport silencedthe demanding clamour for a podium finish. The women's hockey team might have lost to Great Britain, but their performance had a rare pedigree which will be forever bookmarked in Games history. Popular names from all walks of life took to social media to praise Rani Rampal and company. Looking beyond hockey, Bajrang Punia might have lost in the semi-final, but there's still hope for another podium finish. But the gold medal continues to escape Indian wrestlers at the Olympics. As far as golfer Aditi Ashok is concerned, keep your eyes peeled on her performance on Saturday. Here's a round-up of all that went down in Tokyo today: India women in history books The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as they lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off but the stout-hearted side managed to record their best ever finish at the Games. The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time. But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no.4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter. India's best performance in the Olympics before this was a fourth-place finish in the 1980 Moscow Games but there were no semifinals in that edition as only six teams competed in a round-robin format and the top two featured in the final. The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men's team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany. The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at half time. But a desperate Great Britain gave their everything in the second half and scored two goals to snatch the match from India's hands. Shot at bronze for Bajrang, Seema Bisla out Bajrang Punia's perennial leg-defence weakness came to haunt him at the big stage as he lost the men's freestyle 65kg semifinal to three-time world champion Haji Aliev here on Friday and he will now fight for bronze medal. Rio Olympics bronze-winner Aliev of Azerbaijan consistently attacked Bajrang's legs and twice got himself into position from where he could roll the Indian comfortably for easy two-point throws. Trailing 1-4 after the first period, Bajrang looked for a big attack but Aliev very smartly effected a counter take down, placing his shoulder close to the thighs of Bajrang and threw the Indian for a huge 8-1 lead. The Azerbaijani was losing steam and Bajrang got two take-downs to reduce the deficit but the required big move never came. Under 30 seconds left in the bout, Bajrang desperately looked for an attack but Aliev did not let him do that by gripping him in strong body-lock. Debutant Indian wrestler Seema Bisla could not find a way to get out of the defensive trap of Tunisia's Sarra Hamdi and lost her 50kg opening round 1-3. The 27-year-old could not make her moves as Hamdi applied the body lock to great effect, never allowing Seema to initiate a strong attack. There were hardly any moves in the bout with Hamdi getting two of her three points on push out and one on Seema's passivity. Hope from Aditi Ashok Indian golfer Aditi Ashok carded a three-under 67 in the third round to hold on to the second position and remain in strong contention for the country's maiden Olympic medal in the sport on Friday. The Bengalurean, who has her mother, Maheshwari, on the bag, shot five birdies against two bogeys and moved to 12-under, three strokes adrift of leader Nelly Korda of USA who carded a two-under 69 in the penultimate round. Four players -- New Zealand's Lydia Ko (66), Australia's Hannah Green (67), Demark's Kristine Pederson (70) and Japan's Mone Inami (68) -- shared the third spot with totals of 10-under 203. Aditi fired five birdies and two bogeys on the day. She was three-under after picking up shots on fourth, sixth and seventh holes before bogeys on ninth and 11th pulled her back. However, she made amends with birdies on the 15th and 17th to keep herself in the hunt for a historic medal. The other Indian golfer in fray, Diksha Dagar, remained in the lower half of the leaderboard after an erratic one-over 72, her third successive over-par card of the week. Athletics: High and dry National record holder Priyanka Goswami was among the leading pack around the halfway mark but eventually finished 17th while compatriot Bhawna Jat ended at 32nd in the women's 20km race walk event. In the men's 50km event, Gurpreet Singh pulled out after the 35km mark due to cramps under hot and humid conditions as the Indian race walkers ended their disappointing campaign. The 25-year-old Priyanka clocked 1 hr 32 minute 36 seconds, well outside her personal best of 1:28:45 which she had come up with during the National Open Race Walk Championships in February. The event was held under hot and humid conditions. Priyanka was in the leading pack from the beginning and was the front runner when she crossed the 8km mark but slowly she dropped down later on. Bhawna, on the other hand, failed to keep pace with the leading pack and was behind from the beginning to eventually end at 32nd with a time of 1:37:38. The 25-year-old Indian has a personal best of 1:29:54.
84 New Delhi, July 22: Ten Indian hockey enthusiasts including two from Mumbai who were to land in Tokyo on the opening day of the Olympics, will now have to watch hockey on television. All of them were going to watch and support the Indian hockey teams at any Olympics for the first time. These ten persons in the 30 to 65 age group from different Indian cities are members of the core group of the One Team One Dream (OTOD) and were looking forward to watching and cheering for the Indian men and women hockey team. Following an announcement by the Japanese government that no spectators would be allowed at the Olympic Games, they abandoned their travel plans. They were to be joined by 11 other OTOD members and Persons of Indian Origin from Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. One Team One Dream is a group of passionate hockey lovers who follow the Indian national hockey team around the world. The OTOD was formed in 2010 after some hockey lovers met during the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in India. Their dream is to see India win at the Olympics and win the World Cup again,The group is easily recognised at the hockey events with their white turbans and white head scarves. Mr Leo Anthony Devadoss, a banker turned Coordinator of the group who once represented Karnataka State at the junior level, said that while 18 OTOD members had booked in a private apartment in Shinagawa and made an advance payment of Rs 2 lakh, their friends from Canada, Finland and Malaysia had made their own arrangements. Mr Anthony has also volunteered as a coach at the Dhanraj-Ballal hockey academy. " Mr Raja Namdhari , a sports goods dealer in Delhi is actually the driving forcing behind One Team One Dream. Our OTOD members were excited about meeting after a year and a half. We last met at FIH Pro League in Bhuvaneshwar in January 2020. It is not just about the money we lost. We are worried about the opportunity we lost. We are confident that the hockey men's team will make it the victory stand and we hope that the Indian women's hockey team will make it to the quarter finals. They have it in them to beat any team in the world. We are lucky that the Mumbai based sole ticketing agent of the Tokyo Olympics has promised to reimburse a certain per centage of the ticket money which will be refunded by the Tokyo Olympic Committee. The apartment owner has been very understanding and he has agreed to refund us the amount. It is however a very huge disappointment but it has been softened by the knowledge that the no spectators policy at the Games is in the interest of public health. We were also looking forward to buying tickets for boxing, wrestling and badminton.'' Mr Devadoss acknowleded help from Mr Siegfred Aikman, the national coach of the Japanese men hockey team. " Mr Iakman has been a good friend of OTOD. We met Mr Aikman, designated as the FIH (International Hockey Federation) High Performance coach, at the 2018 World Cup in Bhubaneshwar. He was guiding us regarding our tour to Tokyo. So was my friend's mother, Dr Yashoda, a second generation Japanese paediatrician who runs a private clinic in Bengaluru. She was also to go to Tokyo to watch the games as many of her archer son, Rakshak's friends were going but even she is not going now as there are no spectators.'' Mr Devadoss said that the OTOD group is now planning to meet in Bengaluru from August 1 to 6. " We will miss the live action at the Oi hockey stadium would have been only three miles from Shinagawa city where we were to stay. We will now be watching the quarter finals, semi finals and finals of the men and women's hockey team. We have arranged for a big screen to be put up just for our group. On August 4, we have arranged for a lunch and reached out to 17 Bengaluru based hockey Olympians. Of them, eight hockey Olympians including Arjun Halappa, Sabu Virkey, Poonacha, Bharat Chetri, Ashish Ballal, Nikin Thimaiyya V.R. Raghnunath and S.K. Uthappa have promised to join us. Hopefully, we will be able to persuade them to join us in cheering for the Indian women hockey team at the semi final match the same day.''
85 Athletes are taking a stand against it by wearing unitards instead of leotards, and in one case, tight shorts have replaced bikini bottoms. While medal tallies, new world records and spectacular upsets generally dominate the conversation around Olympics, this time, another important topic has repeatedly come into the limelight - the 'sexualisation of sport'. The phrase first hit headlines when the German women's gymnastics team wore unitards as their uniform at the sporting event, instead of the traditionally favoured leotards. Flipping a new page The German women's gymnastics team made headlines with their chosen wardrobe. The four-member team, comprising Sarah Voss, Pauline Schaefer-Betz, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui, wore red and white full-body unitards to the qualifying rounds of the Olympics. The team had a discussion before the event and decided to wear the unitards as a "move that was designed to promote freedom of choice and encourage women to wear what makes them feel comfortable." The team had worn unitards to their practices as well. It had also worn the unitard at the European championships in April. The unitard and leotard are both skin-tight garments usually made of lycra and spandex, their stretchability making them the perfect choice for gymnastics and dance. The unitard worn by the German team is essentially a skintight suit, which covers the athletes' body right from the ankles to their wrists - a departure from tradition. Women gymnasts for the longest time have worn the bikini-cut leotard, a skin-tight one-piece attire that covers the torso and leaves the thighs bare. French acrobat Jules Leotard is often credited with the creation of the eponymous attire, worn by women athletes and dancers for more than a century. Male gymnasts, on the other hand, wear body-covering outfits. The Olympic rule book allows athletes to wear full-body suits, but the rare times that an athlete has chosen to opt for it has been because of religious reasons. The case of the German women's gymnastic team is not the only costume controversy that made headlines in the sporting world in recent times. The Norwegian women's beach handball team, which was competing at the European Beach Handball Championship, decided to shed the usual bikini-bottoms worn for a match for a pair of tight shorts. The Norwegian team decided to go with shorts as the bikini-bottom was not suitable for a sport that involves diving in the sand, and additionally, was seen as degrading to women by some. The team was fined 1,500 euros by the European Handball Federation for their decision. The Norwegian Handball Federation is fully supporting their team and has accepted the fine. Pop star Pink has also offered to pay the fine on behalf of the team. The decision of the German women's team has received widespread global support. Celebrated US gymnast and four-times Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles has applauded it, but said she will keep wearing the bikini-cut leotard as it 'makes her appear taller while competing'. As a direct outcome of the German team's stand, the Olympic Broadcasting Services has called for a clampdown on the showcase of "overtly sexualised images of female athletes". The International Olympic Committee have refreshed and updated their 'portrayal guidelines', and have asked for 'gender-equal and fair' broadcasts of their events. The new guide points include suggestions like: "Do not focus unnecessarily on looks, clothing or intimate body parts"; and 'reframing or deleting a 'wardrobe malfunction' ... to respect the integrity of the athlete."
86 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had to suffer disappointment when she finished outside the medal bracket after 72 holes of the women's individual event by just one shot. Who is she, and how did she miss out on an Tokyo Olympic medal? After being in second position for almost the whole duration of the tournament and raising hopes of an unexpected podium place, Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had to suffer disappointment when she finished outside the medal bracket after 72 holes of the women's individual event by just one shot. Nevertheless, it was a hugely creditable performance by the 23-year-old, who matched some of the best players in the world on such a big stage under intense pressure. In fact, there was some speculation that the tournament could be decided after 54 holes due to inclement weather. In that case, Aditi would be coming home with a silver medal. Who is Aditi Ashok? The Bengaluru native is currently the 200th-ranked woman golfer in the world. She plays on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LPGA Tour in the United States. She featured at the 2016 Rio Olympics as well, finishing 41st. Aditi has three LET titles to her name and two on the Indian circuit, both of which she won as an amateur. She is the first Indian to play and win on the LET and finished second on the European circuit in 2016, also clinching the Rookie of the Year honour. She has been recording high finishes on the tough LPGA Tour as well, but a maiden win has eluded her so far. How did Aditi Ashok make it to the Tokyo Olympics? Though the Tokyo Olympics field was limited to 60 players, it was not totally based on world rankings. The aim was to get players from as many countries as possible to show the broad-based and global popularity of golf. The top nations - such as the United States and Korea - could only send a limited number of their top players so many of the big names missed out, with some even choosing to give the Olympics a miss. Aditi was placed 45th in the list of players eligible for the Games. The only other Indian in the field was Diksha Dagar, who finished tied 50th after four rounds. The men's tournament, which was held earlier during the Olympics, had two Indian participants in Anirban Lahiri (tied 42nd) and Udayan Mane (56th). How did Aditi miss out on a medal? Golf is a game of fine margins. Very often, inches are the difference between a putt dropping into a hole or just lipping out. Aditi was fighting for a podium place against some of the best players in the world. Eventual gold medallist, Nelly Korda of the United States, who led almost from start to finish, is the world no. 1 and a Major winner. Silver medallist Inami Mone is ranked 28th while New Zealand's bronze medallist Lydia Ko is ranked 11th. It must be emphasised that in such an elite company, Aditi didn't choke or falter. It's the top players who raised their games to claim their medals. Aditi dropped just five shots over the four days but if one has to be super-critical, four of them came in the final two rounds. With rounds of 67, 66, 68 and 68, the Indian was consistent throughout. What may have worked against her was her inability to make any birdies over the final four holes on Saturday. In comparison, Mone and Ko each had two birdies and a bogey over that stretch. The one shot gained proved decisive in Aditi being edged out of the playoff to decide second and third places. Did Aditi's game betray her on the final stretch? By her own admission, driving off the tee is not Aditi's biggest strength. She is an excellent putter and displayed this prowess throughout the competition. She was frequently missing fairways on Saturday, which made it difficult for her to get her approach shots close to the hole. She scrambled well for the most part, but with Mone and Ko shooting 65s in the final round, Aditi's 68 fell short of what was required. In the final analysis, if something will give her sleepless nights, it's the missed putt on the 17th hole. In her estimation, she hit a perfect putt and was expecting it to drop, but maybe the golfing gods were not on her side on that one. She had an outside chance of a birdie from 25 feet on the last hole, and gave it a go, but it wasn't meant to be. How will Aditi's performance impact the bigger picture in Indian golf? The Olympics is the biggest stage in the sporting world and many people, who may not be interested in or understand the intricacies of golf, would have been following Aditi's progress as there was a chance of a medal. Though she missed out, it could increase interest in India and show the wider world that India can also produce quality woman golfers. Indian male golfers have made their presence felt on the international tours off and on, and Aditi's achievement will show that the sport has a wide base in the country across both genders.
87 The women's team, led by Rani Rampal, have improved by leaps and bounds in the last five years India's men's and women's hockey teams will begin their campaigns on Saturday. While Manpreet Singh and Co. take on New Zealand in a Group A match early in the morning, the women's team face tough opponents in the Netherlands in the evening. Going by form and current ranking, the men start as favourites against New Zealand as after 2016 Rio Olympics, the Manpreet Singh-led side has beaten the Black Sticks eight times out of the 11 encounters between the two sides. But India's chief coach Graham Reid has asked his men to stay on guard and take one match a time in pursuit of the podium finish here. "New Zealand never give up. This attitude of theirs makes them dangerous opponents," said Reid. Former India player Viren Rasquinha, the other day, sounded bullish on the team's chances of winning a medal after 41 years. "This is the best chance for a medal. Our last chance was in Sydney Olympic Games when we missed out on a place in the semi-finals. This team has improved consistently and beaten all the top teams over the last Olympic cycle," he said during an interaction facilitated by Sony. The women's team, led by Rani Rampal, have improved by leaps and bounds in the last five years. "Rani is a great leader and a lot relies on her shoulder. She has to inspire the entire forward line. She cannot do it alone," Rasquinha said. Badminton battles All eyes will be on the highly skilled Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma in the men's 10m air pistol event. But before that, the fate of Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan - in the women's 10m air rifle event - will be decided. A good outing for either of them means India will win its first medal in the Tokyo Games. In badminton, men's singles player B. Sai Praneeth and the pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will be in action. The 13th-seeded Praneeth will hope to make a dream Olympic debut when he begins his campaign against Isreal's Misha Zilberman, ranked 47th. In men's doubles, Chirag and Satwik will go up against Chinese Taipei's world No. 3 Lee Yang and Wang Chi Lin. PV Sindhu begins her quest to bring the elusive gold medal on Sunday. In weightlifting, a lot of hope will be on Mirabai Chanu, a favourite to win a medal in the 49-kg category.
88 Here's a round-up of all that went down at the Games on day five Going by all that's happened at the Tokyo Olympics today, there's hope for more medals for the Indian contingent. And the forerunners are PV Sindhu, Deepika Kumari and pugilist Pooja Rani. But there's a dissapointing twist to the tale as well. The Indian hockey women's team slumped to their third straight defeat, going down 1-4 to Great Britain, and B Sai Praneeth collapsed 14-21 14-21 to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands in 40 minutes for his second defeat in Group D. Here's a round-up of Indian athletes participating in the Olympics on day five of competitions: Archery: Deepika Kumari beats Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (USA) 6-4 in second round The world number one archer survived some anxious moments before getting past the US teenager and keep Indian medal hopes alive. Deepika lost the first set by one point but she bounced back strongly with three 10s in a row to take a 4-2 lead. She, however, failed to wrap up the match in the fourth set as she misfired a six in her second arrow. The 18-year-old American made it 4-4, winning the set by one-point (25-24). In the winner-takes-all fifth set, Deepika had two 9s to start with before finishing with a poor 8. Needing a 10 in her last arrow to force a shoot-off, Jennifer signed off with a nine in what was a promising campaign for the American teenager. Tarundeep Rai beat Oleksii Hunbin (Ukraine) 6-4 in men's individual first round match, and then lost to Itay Shanny (Israel) in the shoot-off in second round. Pravin Jadhav beat Galsan Bazarzhapov (Russian Olympic Committee) 6-0 in men's individual first round, but lost to Brady Ellison (USA) 0-6 in the second round. Badminton: PV Sindhu qualifies for the pre-quarterfinals, Praneeth bows out Reigning world champion PV Sindhu stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of women's singles badminton event but B Sai Praneeth's maiden Olympic campaign ended in agony in the men's competition. Sindhu, who had claimed a silver medal in the last edition in Rio, beat world No. 34 Hong Kong's NY Cheung 21-9 21-16 in a 35-minute match to top Group J. However, 13th seed Praneeth failed to bring his 'A' game to the table once again, going down 14-21 14-21 to Mark Caljouw of Netherlands in 40 minutes for his second defeat in Group D. The world no 15 Indian had earlier lost his opening round to Israel's Misha Zilberman. World no 29 Caljow, with this win, topped the group to qualify for the knockout stage. Only the group toppers advance to the knockout stage. Boxing: Pooja Rani storms into the quarters Two-time Asian champion Indian boxer Pooja Rani (75kg) out-punched Algeria's Ichrak Chaib in her opening bout to enter the quarterfinals of her maiden Olympic Games. The 30-year-old Indian clinched it 5-0, thoroughly dominating a rival 10 years her junior. The Haryana-boxer was in command with her right straights and also benefitted immensely from Chaib's lack of balance in the ring. All three rounds were a story of Rani's domination as Chaib, also appearing in her maiden Olympics, just could not figure a way to connect cleanly. All Rani had to do throughout the bout was counter-attack as Chaib failed spectacularly in trying to hit powerfully, her wild swings mostly missing the target area. Hockey: Third straight loss for India eves The Indian women's hockey team wasted chances galore to lose 1-4 against defending champions Great Britain, their third consecutive preliminary stage defeat which reduces the side's chances of qualifying for the Olympic quarterfinals. The Indians were guilty of wasting opportunities in their first two games and the trend continued on Wednesday at the Oi Hockey Stadium as Great Britain punished them through strikes from Hannah Martin (2nd and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute) and Grace Balsdon (57th minute). This Great Britain's second consecutive win in Pool A. For India, Sharmila Devi scored the lone goal in the 23rd minute. The Indians needed at least a point from this game to be safe but they now will have to win their remaining two matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. Rowing: Arjun, Arvind fail to qualify for medal round Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh failed to qualify for the men's lightweight double sculls final after finishing sixth and last in the second semifinal. Arjun and Arvind clocked 6:24.41 to finish last in the six-team semifinal 2 at the Sea Forest Waterway. The top three pairs in each of the two semifinals qualify for the final. Arjun and Arvind have, however, produced the best-ever Olympic performance by Indian rowers by reaching the semifinals. They will finish at least at the 12th spot. While Arjun assumes the role of the bower, Arvind is the team's stroker. The two had finished fifth in their heats on Saturday. The event includes two rowers in a scull boat using two oars each. The long, narrow and broadly semi-circular in cross-section boats help to reduce the drag. Sailing: KC Ganapathy, Varun Thakkar languish The Indian pair of K Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar languished at 18th after four races in the men's skiff 49er sailing event. The Indian duo finished 18th, 17th and 19th in the three races on Wednesday. They finished 18th in the first race on Tuesday in 19-team race at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. Eight more races and a medal round remain in the competition. On Tuesday, Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan finished way behind the leaders, ending at 22nd and 33rd spot in the respective events after six races. Saravanan finished 23rd and 22nd in the fifth and sixth race in the men's laser event while Kumanan was 32nd and 38th in the two races of the women's laser radial event.
89 Indian shuttler PV Sindhu will face China's He Bingjiao in the Bronze medal match of women's singles after losing her semi-final against Tai Tzu-Ying. Indian Badminton star player PV Sindhu is still alive in the Tokyo Olympics and is under medal contention as she plays in the Bronze medal match against China's He Bingjiao on Sunday. Sindhu was outplayed by the second seed, World No 1, Chinese Tapei'sTai Tzu-Ying, in the semi-final of the women's singles event. Sindhu's flawless campaign came to a stuttering halt as Tzu-Ying was just too good on the day for the Indian shuttler, who won a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Sindhu was exceptional in the first set and responded to Tzu-Ying shot for shot and the set was heading towards a close finish as it was tied at 16-16 at one stage but the Tzu-Ying just finished the game on a high and took the set 21-18. The second set was more of one-way traffic as Tzu-Ying didn't give Sindhu any chance and attacked her every strength and won the game 21-18, 21-12 and qualified for the final. While Sindhu was out of the Gold medal contention, the medal hopes are still alive as she plays in the bronze medal match. The match will start in the evening on Sunday, here are all the details of the match. When will PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match start? ThePV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match will begin at 5 PM IST on Sunday, August 1. Where will PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match be played? ThePV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match will be played at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1. Which TV channels will broadcast PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match? The PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal match? Fans can catch the live streaming of the PV Sindhu vs He Bingjiao bronze medal matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
90 'You've got to learn to survive a defeat. That's when you develop character.' This was Mantra of the Indian women hockey team, who silenced all the critics by upstaging the mighty Australians 1-0 to make history and book their place in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics hockey. After three defeats in the league, the three wins thereafter - against Ireland, South Africa and Australia, made the difference for Rani Rampal and her girls. Playing cool and completely composed, these girls made Australians look mere spectators as they took to the field on Monday. "They were amazing and the comeback after three defeats with three wins, shows the grit, determination and the positive thinking by the entire team," said former Indian skipper and coach Joaquim Carvalho while talking to FPJ soon after the match. "I would say that the defeats were wake up calls for these girls, who have changed the face of Indian women's hockey with this achievement. I am sure they have more to prove," added Carvalho, who feels this is the stepping stone for hockey to get a facelift in India. Both men and women are just one match away from a medal, and going by the approach, hockey pundits are sure medals in hockey are not far way for India. While women scripted history, the men's team defeated Great Britain on Sunday to enter the last four following a 41-year gap. Coming into the match, the odds were totally against India, as world No 2 Australia, a mighty unbeaten opponent, awaited them in the last eight round. But the Indians, determined to prove a point, produced a strong and brave performance to eke out the win, against a side which had everything in their favour. The North Pitch of Oi Hockey stadium, had all Indians, including the think tank consumed in the moment. While Australian women was on the knees well aware of what had struck them. It was scene of Agony and Extacy, as the Indians team walked out from the pitch, every individual whether Indian or not, in whatever role he or she was at the venue, gave them huge round of applause. Calling it perfect team work which did it for Indians, the Moscow gold medal winning team member MM Somaya, "It is the entire team, from the goal keeper all the players. They all contributed to the victory. But I would faulter if I fail to mention Savita Punia under the Indian bar who was exceptionally good," said Somaya who feels from here any team can. "It's the biggest moment for Indian hockey. Men's and women's team in semis. I'm super proud of the team," said skipper Rani Rampal after the match. "This team is like a family, including the coaching staff. Our entire country supports us and everybody's prayers are with us," an elated Gurjit Kaur the goal scorer. Their route to semis Men: 25 Jul 2021: India lost to Australia 1-7 1 Aug 2021: India beat Great Britain 3-1 (QF) Women: 28 Jul 2021: India lost to Great Britain 1-4 2 Aug 2021: India beat Australia 1-0 (QF) India at a glance Athletics Dutee Chand 7th and last in women's 200m Heat 4; fails to qualify for semifinals. Kamalpreet Kaur sixth in women's discus final with a best throw of 63.70m. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza 25th in eventing jumping individual qualifier; 23rd in final. Shooting Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar 21st and Sanjeev Rajput 32nd in men's 50m rifle 3 positions qualification; fail to qualify for final. Medals tally 1 China 29 17 16 62 2 US 22 25 17 64 3 Japan 17 6 10 33 4 Australia 14 4 15 33 5 ROC 12 21 17 50 6 GB 11 12 12 35 7 France 6 10 7 23 8 Germany 6 6 11 23 9 South Korea 6 4 9 19 10 Holland 5 7 6 18 62 India 0 1 1 2 Indians in action today @ the Games ATHLETICS 5,50: Annu Rani in women's javelin throw Qualification 3.45: Tajinderpal Singh Toor in men's shot put Qualification HOCKEY 7.00: India vs Belgium in men's semifinal WRESTLING 8.30: Sonam Malik vs Bolortuya Khurelkhuu (Mongolia) in women's 62kg. Live on Sony Ten 1 HD/SD, Sony Ten 2 HD/SD. Doordarshan Network will also broadcast the same in India.
91 Gold was the colour of Alexander Zverev's Olympic debut. It was the shade of his mettle too. The German dominated with his serve, dropping just 11 points on his delivery, to power to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who knelt on the court, his face buried in his palms at the end of the 81-minute contest, was in stirring form as he became the first German man to win a singles gold. Zverev said, “I couldn't feel anything. I wasn't playing for myself. I was playing for my whole country. This is so much bigger than anything in the tennis world — in the sports world.” Zverev, who secured a rare win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, rallying from a set down, became the second German to win an Olympic singles gold, matching Steffi Graff's achievement at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Boris Becker and Michael Stich finished on top of the podium in the men's doubles in 1992. Zverev has struggled with a string of personal and professional issues in the last couple of years. He was accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, Russian Olya Sharypova, a former junior tennis player. He also had a messy change of management besides earning the tag of being difficult to coach. In the US Open final last year, the German led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love, he was even serving for the Championships at 5-3 in the fifth set, but the Austrian rallied to the title. The Tokyo victory then, the biggest of the world No. 5's career, should lift him as much for the prize as for the emphatic manner in which it was achieved. Meanwhile, Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova won a 'very special' first gold medal for the Czech Republic in tennis, ending Belinda Bencic's dreams of a double triumph for Switzerland with victory in the women's doubles final. Siniakova and Krejcikova, the top seeds at Tokyo 2020, and three-time Grand Slam champions, beat Bencic and Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-1 on a sweltering afternoon. The mixed doubles gold went to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev, who beat Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev in an all-Russian final 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 13-11.
92 As India celebrates the entry of the men's and women's hockey teams in the Olympics semifinals, the success holds a special significance for Odisha, which has been at the forefront of supporting the sport. Not only are the current vice-captains of the men's and women's teams from Odisha, but the state has over the years produced several national-level hockey players and stepped up to develop infrastructure and sponsor national teams. When in 2018, the state government decided to sponsor the Indian national hockey teams (men/women, junior/senior) for a tenure of five years, replacing Sahara, it was the first time that a state government had decided to sponsor a national team. The government had pledged Rs 150 crore for the purpose. "The state government would like to continue to partner and provide the best facilities to the teams. The main objective is to bring back the glory of Indian hockey. Indians have an emotional connection with hockey, which is believed to be the national game of the country. Therefore, Odisha will extend all possible support in the coming years," Secretary, Sports and Youth Department, Government of Odisha, Vineel Krishnan said. The state has hosted major tournaments in the last five years. It hosted the World Cup in 2018, the 2014 Champions Trophy, and Hockey World League final in 2017. It is also the host for the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup, to be played in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. "Not just in India, but even on the world forum, for a state to step up and support a sport, the contribution of Odisha is immense. The fact that national teams have camped in Bhubaneswar ahead of major tournaments is a manifestation of how we have progressed in terms of infrastructure and logistical support," former Indian hockey captain and chairman of Hockey Promotion Council Dilip Tirkey said. With the World cup in mind, the state cabinet in March this year approved the 'State-level Sports Infrastructure Development Project' for development of infrastructure at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, and construction of International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, at an estimated cost of Rs 356.38 crore. The Rourkela stadium will be the largest in India, with 20,000 seating capacity. In 2018, collaborating with Tata group, the state government established a Hockey High Performance Centre at Kalinga Stadium. It also has 12 grassroot centres, at which over 2,500 young trainees are being trained. Of the 20 sports hostels in the state, two in Sundargarh are dedicated to hockey. The state government is now working to set up 17 astro turfs in all 17 blocks of the district. "Indians used to dominate hockey till the arrival of synthetic turfs. It is important for our kids to start playing on synthetic turfs. Therefore, we are investing Rs 200 crore for 20 hockey training centres. The state will provide professional coaching based on sports science from a young age," Krishnan said. The state has over the years produced greats like Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Lazarus Barla and Sunita Lakra. The current Indian team has Birendra Lakra, vice-captain of men's team, and Deep Grace Ekka, vice-captain of women's team. The common link between them all is their home district of Sundargarh. In Sundargarh, a mineral district in northern Odisha, hockey is more than just a sport. With the recent performances at the Olympics, the district has erupted in joy. "We get queries about hockey even from remote villages. Due to the pandemic, we could not conduct the talent search, but enquiries have not ceased. We are confident that with the infrastructure development and overall boost to the sport, we will produce more and more national players from here," said Sundargarh District Sports Coordinator and senior hockey coach Milton Bilung. "Deep was 11 when she started training under me. Over a decade a lot has changed. With the current boost to the sport, many children are more interested in hockey," Tejkumar Xess, senior coach of the state hockey team and Deep's uncle, said. Veteran players are also rooting for talent from other districts. "Of late, players have emerged from Deogarh and Sambalpur as well, but we wish to focus on districts like Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri as well, and set up nursery training centres," Tirkey said. "As a coach, the only gap we feel is the lack of coaches for all districts of the state. We are just four coaches. If every district has a coach, healthy competition within districts will help develop our young players better," Xess said.
93 A group of about 50 morning walkers and hockey enthusiasts were elated the moment men's and women's hockey teams made into semi-finals and decided to cheer for the teams irrespective of the results. On Thursday morning, while India defeated Germany in a nail-biting match to claim bronze in the Olympics, the team of morning walkers celebrated the victory in a 'special dress' designed for the occasion. Likewise, former hockey players who represented the state in national events, opined that this will certainly boost the national games and will urge the government agencies to develop the infrastructure. The day men's and women's hockey teams entered into semi-finals, these hockey enthusiasts, who have been meeting each other every day on morning walk at Central park, decided to wear a 'special dress' and wave the tricolour. “It is a proud moment for our countrymen. Of course, this will urge the government to develop more infrastructure and the corporates to shell out money from their CSR funds for hockey. It was a thrilling match and we enjoyed every bit of it,” said Pawan Sharma, one of the members of the group. Mahendra Singh, another member from the group, said, “The way our women's team is playing, they are surely going to get a bronze. It is high time that government agencies and corporates come together to boost the infrastructure in hockey.” Meanwhile, former players also advocated the need to improve facilities for hockey and athletics. “It is a pity that in many of the grounds in India, they don't even have separate washrooms for girls. Men's team played well but what has surprised me the most is the commitment of the girls to hockey. With this performance, I am sure hockey will get its glory back,” said Ashok Mehta, a former hockey player who had represented Rajasthan in various national events and played at various positions, including centre forward and right full back. Former players were glued to their TVs since morning and kept discussing the match. “It was a thrilling contest. I literally forgot everything this morning to witness this historic moment. I am sure the girls will also make us proud on Friday,” said DK Sharma, a former hockey player from Rajasthan who had played as right back.
94 Farhan Akhtar congratulated the Indian women's hockey team instead of the men's hockey team for winning a bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. He tweeted 'go girls' but later deleted it. However, the screenshot of his tweet has gone viral on social media now. FARHAN AKHTAR MISTAKENLY CONGRATULATES INDIA WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Soon after the Indian men's hockey team won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Farhan Akhtar too posted a message. But, instead of the men's team, he praised the Indian women's team. Farhan Akhtar's deleted post read, "Go girls. So proud of teamindia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal.. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 Hockey (sic)." The actor then posted another tweet that read, "So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey (sic)." So proud of for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) On Farhan Akhtar's recent congratulatory post, netizens have started a meme fest. Take a look at some of them: - Gunasekhar (@Gunned21) Honest mistake - Aman Goel (@Merci_Arsene) Don 3 Chahiye Mereko !! - Tausif (@TausifSRKian01) - sailor (@sailorsmoon) - Keshav (@keshavcric) Jawed bhai inko bronze nahi mila hai. - Nilesh (@coolneel99) The Indian men's hockey team won the bronze medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. It's after 41 years that the Indian hockey team has won a medal at the Olympics. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Farhan Akhtar congratulates India women's hockey team, deletes tweet, screenshot goes viral
95 The Indian men's hockey team on Thursday rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after the gap of 41 years, match of the ongoing Games in Tokyo. Right now, the heart of every Indian is brimming with pride. This is the team's third bronze medal. After their stupendous win at the Olympics, congratulatory messages started pouring in from Bollywood celebrities and political leaders. #ChakDeIndia started trending on Twitter after Indian Men's Hockey team's historic win. Netizens have taken to social media to laud their marvelous effort. Chak De India became a slogan of sorts for millions of people, especially hockey fans. Chak De India was a 2007 sports drama that starred Shah Rukh Khan as the coach of the Indian women's national field hockey team. Directed by Shimit Amin, the film released in 2007. The film also starred Vidya Malavade, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge, Chitrashi Rawat and Anaitha Nair. Fans started flooding social media with words of praise for the Indian national men's hockey team. Take a look at some of the best tweets below: history created by it's really proud moments as a Indian - sachin yadav (@sachinyadav_00) CHAK DE INDIA song stealing limelight in background!!! - SRK Fan (@SRKxSK) Congratulations india - (@JyotiTh53324034) This is what called patience, hardwork and belief. We are proud of team India yeah its bronze for us at - We Move (@Addicted_To_Leo) History created what a comeback Breath Taking Moment Well Done India - CA Durgesh Kumar (@DK_IndiaHope) Emotions of 130 Crore Indians is Represented in this moment - ABDUL (@AbdulSRKian01) India defeated Germany to win bronze in an edge-of-the-seat match in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic #ChakDeIndia trends online after Indian Men's Hockey team's historic win. Best reactions
96 Men's sport in India may be in need of urgent bucking up - an Olympic medal has not been won since London 2012. In this period, spanning the Games in London, Rio and Tokyo, Indian sportswomen have added seven medals across four sports. PV Sindhu has now become the first Indian woman to win a medal at successive Games. The success of women at the Olympics has meant a broadening of the pyramid base from the traditional hubs. It isn't just the wrestlers from Haryana, gymnasts from the east, shuttlers from Hyderabad and lifters from Manipur. Tokyo 2020 has also turned the glittering spotlight on a fencer from Chennai and a boxer from Assam. With the best of sport now available on smartphones, ease of communication because of social media and hyper-efficient search engines, there's no telling when and where a dream gets kindled, watching women sports stars perform and win consistently. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar didn't just dream up a high difficulty vault for the Rio Olympics, she took her effort to the logical conclusion, came within striking distance of a medal. Sindhu ensured that Saina Nehwal's bronze was upgraded to silver and elevated badminton to a mainline television sport, before she returned to the Olympics for a bounce-back bronze. Perhaps the greatest first day at the Olympics for India was when Mirabai Chanu demolished her demons of failure from four years ago to chase down a weightlifting silver, a score of years after Karnam Malleswari's feat barely registered. Mary Kom refuses to go gently into the fading dusk of her career at 38. Another pugilist from the Northeast, Lovlina Borgohain from Assam, has picked up the baton. At the start of Week 2, all eyes are on wrestler Vinesh Phogat, five years after Sakshi Malik salvaged India's twelve-day-long zero count at Rio. Most hearteningly, India's women's hockey team has come to the party, beating mighty Australia. It seems women go to the Olympics focussing on the podium, and work backwards on the effort needed to get as close to the target as possible. Keenly aware of the deficiencies of opportunities and facilities, and of the slim chances they might be afforded given societal traditions, they don't waste time to get going. Like Nehwal and Mirabai, they take disappointment to heart, and return to work harder. Like Lovlina and Sakshi, they go out there, fearless but without hubris, not giving themselves the cushioning of a "next time" - the sort of second-chances, for instance, that this time's medalless Olympic debutant Saurabh Chaudhary or Amit Panghal might be glibly given. PT Usha, Sania Mirza, Anju Bobby George - they are not just bright stars streaking across TV screens, but role models for countless young women. PV Sindhu went to eight majors and brought home medals from seven. India's sportswomen deliver on their promises, time and again. They get the job done.
97 India fought back brilliantly from a two-goal deficit to beat Germany 5-4 in a high-intensity goal-fest to win bronze at the Olympics on August 5. Thursday (August 5) proved to be one of the most memorable days in the history of Indian hockey. The men's team, led by Manpreet Singh, defeated Germany 5-4 to win bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. This is India's first-ever medal at the Olympics since 1980 Moscow and 12th overall in the showpiece event. Twitter was swarmed with congratulatory wishes for the team. From the Prime Minister, sporting legends and Bollywood stars, everyone termed the win as historic. However, one person who got it all wrong was actor Farhan Akhtar, who mistakenly congratulated the women's hockey team for the win, instead of the men. Though he instantly releaised his mistake and deleted his tweet, it was too late by then. A few netizens had immediately taken a screenshot of Farhan's 'wrong tweet' and used it to troll the 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' actor on the micro-blogging site. "Super stuff by Farhan Akhtar. As per him today Indian women showed exemplary Fighting Spirit and they have won us 4th medal. Ab log keh rahe honge to sahi he hoga Well, he has deleted the tweet now," wrote a Twitter user. "These tweets are enough to prove that he is on high weed. Male version of @aliaa08 @FarOutAkhtar," tweeted another. "Match bhi dekh liya Karo toofan," tweeted yet another user. "@FarOutAkhtar was following the hockey match just like the way he knew about what CAA is while attending a protest. #Hockey #hockeyindia #farhanakhtar #TokyoOlympics," wrote another Twitter user. India fought back brilliantly from a two-goal deficit to beat Germany 5-4 in a high-intensity goal-fest to win bronze, the country's first medal in men's hockey at the Olympics after a gap of 41 years. It was a dream come true for billions of hockey fans as India came back from 1-3 down to score an impressive 5-4 win that reminded its fans of the glory days when the Indians were a force to reckon with in world hockey.
98 The following are the reactions from some of the players and coach Reid Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh summed it up best, terming India's come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Germany in the bronze-medal play-off match at the Tokyo Olympics as a "rebirth" of Indian hockey. Others, including captain Manpreet Singh and head coach Graham Reid, too were ecstatic, not holding back celebrations after the stunning win on Thursday morning. The following are the reactions from some of the players and coach Reid: Manpreet Singh (captain): I don't know what to say right now... A fantastic feeling... The effort, the game, we were 1-3 down. I think we deserve this medal. We have worked so hard, the last 15 months were difficult for us also. We were in Bangalore and some of us were down with Covid-19. We would like to dedicate this medal to the doctors and frontline health workers who have saved so many lives in India. It's a great feeling, the best feeling. We came here for the gold, we won bronze... it is still a great thing. It's a great moment for all hockey fans. It's just a start here, it hasn't finished (with this bronze). PR Sreejesh (goalkeeper): This is a beautiful game. We have given the people of India a reason to pick up hockey, to play the game. I was prepared for everything today, these 60 minutes... I'm playing hockey for the last 21 years and I just said to myself one thing: 'Take the experience of 21 years and just play those 60 minutes'. Even for the last penalty corner, I said the same thing to myself: 'Sree, you worked hard for the last 21 years and this is what you want to do now, that one save'. I did it, and we are on the podium now. Harmanpreet Singh (vice-captain): A special moment for every Indian... A big achievement. We have made a lot of sacrifices but our focus was on being mentally stronger. In the last 15 months, we lived as a family in Bangalore. We were completely shut from the outside world. We were just focussed on our job. The women's team has achieved a phenomenal feat. They have already made the country proud. We will definitely go there (to the ground) to support them tomorrow (Friday). Graham Reid (head coach): I know that not just India, this group too has been waiting for a medal for a fairly long time. I know how much hockey means to India and I am privileged to help play a part in that. Before the game, I asked the guys to make sure they bring the next level if something happens... For example, if you are down, you need to bring the next level of play and they did that very well.
99 While India's men hockey team has made it to the seminfinals of Tokyo Olympics 2020 by beating Great Britain on Sunday, the British High Commissioner to India congratulated Indian Team for entering semi-finals. Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India praising India's hockey team wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations to Flag of India for their victory against Flag of United Kingdom in the Field hockey stick and ball - next stop Flag of Belgium for a Sports medal #Tokyo2020." By beating Great Britain on Sunday, India entered semifinals for first time in 49 years in Tokyo Olympics. Dilpreet Singh scored in the first few minutes of the first quarter while Gurjant scored at the start of the second quarter. The Indians maintained their lead at half-time but Samuel Ian Ward got one goal against Great Britain's account in the dying moments of the third quarter, courtesy a penalty corner. But Hardik Singh scored in the fourth quarter to put India 3-1 ahead and the Indians maintained their lead till the end. India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win for the eight-time Olympic champions. It was Super Sunday for India as the team coached by Australia's Graham Reid rode on a scintillating performance by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to outwit Great Britain in the fourth and final quarterfinal, setting up a last-four clash with reigning World Cup winners Belgium. Australia take on Germany in the other semifinal. Victory over Belgium will put India in the final for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Olympics when they beat Spain to win their eighth and last gold medal in Olympics hockey. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu became only the second Indian and the country's first woman to win two Olympic medals, securing a bronze after a straight-game win over world no.9 He Bing Jiao of China in the badminton women's singles third-place play-off here. Sindhu, who has returned with medals from each of the big-ticket events such as the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the BWF World Tour Finals in the last five years, outwitted eighth seed Bing Jiao 21-13 21-15 to add a bronze to the silver that she had secured at the 2016 Rio Games.
100 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has appointed Team India's hockey player Vandana Katariya as the brand ambassador of the state's Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development. The announcement was made at a programme organized to felicitate the recipients of the Tilu Rauteli Award and the Anganwadi Workers Award on Sunday. This programme was held at the IRDT Auditorium at Survey Chowk. CM Dhami further stated that the prize money for the aforementioned accolades will be doubled from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 beginning next year. Uttarakhand Education Minister visits Vandana's family Uttarakhand Sports Minister Arvind Pandey paid a visit to hockey player Vandana Katariya and her family in Haridwar district's Roshanabad village and wished her a bright future. He also honoured Vandana's family by presenting them with bouquets and shawls in recognition of their daughter's accomplishment. "Vandana is a role model for today's youth, and everyone should learn from her. Players will soon come from all around Uttarakhand, inspired by her," he said. Arvind Pandey added, "The Uttarakhand government has enacted a sports policy under which government jobs are earmarked for athletes who win medals at the international and national levels. Separate funds are also being arranged for training the players." Uttarakhand govt announces Rs 25 lakh for Vandana Katariya Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh to Vandana Kataria for her stellar performance at the Tokyo Olympics. "We are proud that Uttarakhand's daughter Vandana Katariya made an unforgettable contribution to India's great performance in women's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. In recognition of this, she would be given a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh," Pushkar Singh Dhami had said. Read | Graphic Uttarakhand appoints hockey player Vandana Kataria Women, Child Development ambassador
101 The Trinamool Congress (TMC) opposed the renaming of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, saying it was a "dirty trick" by the central government on Friday. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award would be called from now onwards. Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, "This is a dirty trick. Rajiv Gandhi was a martyr. He laid down his life for the country." Continuing the attack on the Prime Minister, the Rajya Sabha MP then suggested that instead of renaming the Khel Ratna, PM Modi should have changed the name of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera after Major Dhyan Chand. WATCH: "It would've been better if they had renamed the Narendra Modi Stadium. That would've been a better tribute to Dhyan Chand," said Sukhendu Sekhar Ray. Major Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. India had dominated hockey for decades on the world stage and they were invincible at the Olympics. Dhyan Chand had played key roles in winning gold medals for India in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Meanwhile, PM Modi's decision to rename the Khel Ratna Award came a day after the in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and hours after the . ALSO READ: WATCH: Graphic 'Dirty trick': TMC opposes renaming of Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand
102 The Indian women's hockey team missed out on the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 despite a tough fight. The team lost 3-4 to Great Britain in the bronze play-off. While the entire nation is sad as the team couldn't make history, they definitely inspired an entire generation. Shah Rukh Khan, who is also heartbroken, shared an inspiring message for the team. SHAH RUKH KHAN SAYS WELL PLAYED INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM While the Indian women's hockey team lost to Britain in the Olympic bronze play-off, they inspired millions with their efforts. Shah Rukh Khan is heartbroken by the defeat, but at the same time impressed with the team's performance. He took to Twitter to share an inspiring message for the team. He wrote, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory (sic)." Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory. - Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) BOLLYWOOD CELEBS ARE PROUD OF THE INDIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM Many Bollywood celebrities took to social media to express how proud they feel about the Indian women's hockey team. Boman Irani wrote, "You did us proud #WomensHockeyTeam. You have inspired young and old. Takes much more than a medal to do that. #indvsgbr #TokyoOlympics2020 (sic)." You did us proud . You have inspired young and old. Takes much more than a medal to do that. - Boman Irani (@bomanirani) The Indian women's hockey team has done themselves and India proud with a valiant effort at the Tokyo Olympics. Rani Rampal's team lost the Hockey Bronze Medal match 3-4 to the Rio Olympic champions at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Friday. ALSO READ | ALSO WATCH | Graphic Heartbroken Shah Rukh Khan says Indian women's hockey team inspired everyone
103 Criticism follows soon on BJP's policy of renaming everything in sight Hockey wizard's son says sports awards should always be named after sportspersons The Central Government's move to rename the highest sports honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand has won both praise and criticism from the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision through micro blogging site Twitter on Friday, a day after Indian men claimed bronze in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics. Ashok Dhyanchand, son of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, has welcomed the move to rechristen the award after his late father. The title, launched in 1991-92, is the highest sports honour one can get in India. Ashok Kumar said it was the right time to take a decision as the nation was celebrating the achievements of men's and that of the women's hockey teams in Olympics. Ashok said, "Sportspersons sacrifice a lot to carry forward the legacy of a game and to make a mark. Rajiv Gandhi was an excellent Prime Minister. It is always suitable to name the sports awards after players." "The decision should have been taken long before. Perhaps, the increasing popularity of hockey because of historic performance of men's team and that of women brought this to PM's notice," he added. "I have always said that my father should have been honoured with Bharat Ratna. I believe now is the time," added Ashok. A Twitter user, AD Dixit (@ADixit0806), said, "Sports award should be named after sportsman of course... what's there to crib about it?" Another user, Aatmasaat (@SarvGunaSampann) wrote, "Yes, yes! Major Dhyan Chand supremacy. #ILoveMyHockey" Dhyan Chand is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of India. Dhyan Chand played an important role in getting the gold for India at Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Criticism Galore Many have urged Prime Minister to apply the same theory of naming sporting institutions after sportspersons and not politicians to other institutions as well. Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh shared an article about rechristening on Twitter and captioned it, "Earlier the name of Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad was changed to Narendra Modi Stadium. I was surprised when he did it (rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) in the name of Major Dhyanchand ji." A Twitterati @MRRai57714468 said, "Praiseworthy! Now it's time for Narendra Modi Motera stadium, Arun Jaitley stadium and Atal Bihari Vajpayee mountaineering institute, for starters!" Another social media user Rutvik Subhedar (@rutviksubhedar) said, "This is an attempt to divert attention from issues. The renaming of the award will benefit players as much as the renaming of Planning Commission did to people. Same old policy: Rename everything in sight"
104 On the day before a big game, Gurgaon student Abhishek Yadav and his friends would invariably be making plans for a screening of the game in their neighbourhood. All those plans are on track this time too. The difference this time is that it is not for a cricket match, but hockey! In fact, many across the country plan to watch the Indian men's and women's teams battle it out in the Olympic semi-finals today and tomorrow, respectively. Ritika Agarwal, who has never watched hockey before the Olympics, tells us, “Because of COVID, we aren't doing a grand screening but a group of friends will get together, wear India jerseys and watch the games together. It's about cheering for the Indian team at the Olympics. What can be bigger than this?” Most of those making such plans are firsttime fans or people who have very little knowledge of hockey. They are relying upon more knowledgeable friends to help them make sense of the game. “My only knowledge of hockey is from Chak De! India,which I watched years ago. When I watched the women's quarter final, I was surprised to see the game duration is no longer the famous 70 minute. It has quarters. I had to constantly text an office colleague to understand what was happening,” says Pranshu Singh, a Delhi resident. Aatish Malhotra, a cricket fanatic-turned hockey fan, says, “When I learnt the men's team is playing against Belgium, I thought it would be an easy game. It was only after my friend told me that they are the current World Champions, I realised how good they are. The semi final is an early morning game on a working day but I will still go over to my friend's house to watch it.” The hype around these two historic games seems to have taken the sheen off Indian cricket team's upcoming game against England, which begins on Wednesday. Anshu Kumar, a student, tells us, “I am a cricket fan but even I know that Test matches happen very frequently. An Olympic semi final is a once-ina-lifetime event." There are plans for divine petitioning too. Residents of several sectors in Gurgaon organised a havan at a temple in Sector 5 before the men's quarter final and plan to organise prayer meets for both the teams over the next two days. Amid this craze, the loyal hockey fans are ecstatic about this spotlight on 'their' game. Udit Shah, who has been a hockey fan for over two decades, says, “I have been explaining hockey and its basic rules to so many of my friends who have never followed the game. They all want to watch the semi finals now. I couldn't be prouder of the teams. I just hope this newfound fandom for hockey persists even after the Olympics.”
105 On the day before a big game, Abhishek Yadav, a student, and his friends would invariably be making plans for a screening of the game in their neighbourhood. All those plans are on track this time, too. The difference this time is that it is not for a cricket match, but hockey! In fact, many across the country plan to watch the Indian men's and women's teams battle it out in the Olympic semifinals today and tomorrow, respectively. Ritika Agarwal, who has never watched hockey before the Olympics, tells us, “Because of COVID, we aren't doing a grand screening, but a group of friends will get together, wear India jerseys and watch the games together. It's about cheering for the Indian team at the Olympics. What can be bigger than this?” Most of those making such plans are first-time fans or people who have very little knowledge of hockey. They are relying upon more knowledgeable friends to help them make sense of the game. “My only knowledge of hockey is from Chak De! India, which I watched years ago. When I watched the women's quarter final, I was surprised to see the game duration is no longer the famous 70 minute. It has quarters. I had to constantly text an office colleague to understand what was happening,” says Pranshu Singh, a Delhi resident. Aatish Malhotra, a cricket fanatic-turned-hockey fan, says, “When I learnt the men's team is playing against Belgium, I thought it would be an easy game. It was only after my friend told me that they are the current World Champions, I realised how good they are. The semi final is an early morning game on a working day, but I will still go over to my friend's house to watch it.” The hype around these two historic games seems to have taken the sheen off Indian cricket team's upcoming game against England, which begins on Wednesday. Anshu Kumar, a student, tells us, “I am a cricket fan but even I know that Test matches happen very frequently. An Olympic semi final is a once-in-a-lifetime event.” There are plans for divine petitioning, too. Residents of several sectors in Gurgaon organised a havan at a temple before the men's quarter final and plan to organise prayer meets for both the teams over the next two days. Amid this craze, the loyal hockey fans are ecstatic about this spotlight on 'their' game. Udit Shah, who has been a hockey fan for over two decades, says, “I have been explaining hockey and its basic rules to so many of my friends who have never followed the game. They all want to watch the semi finals now. I couldn't be prouder of the teams. I just hope this newfound fandom for hockey persists even after the Olympics.”
106 OLYMPIC WIN When Kannan Bose enrolled into the physical education course at YMCA College, Nandanam, in 2005-06 under Kannan Pugazhendi it was more of a necessity than a career choice. His father, unable to support his son's dreams of pursuing cricket, wanted him to learn physiotherapy. Initially disinterested, Kannan saw how Pugazhendi used to treat injured players and realised it could be a way for him to stay connected to sports. The Little Mount youngster soon learned the ropes of becoming a physiotherapist and his journey culminated on Thursday in a bronze medal when India men's hockey team defeated Germany in a third-place playoff match. Part of the Indian team's support staff, Kannan's presence in Tokyo also ensured Tamil Nadu, which had the record of sending players each time the Indian hockey team won a medal at the Olympics, didn't go unrepresented this time around as well. Kannan though wasn't the only one from TN. Hailing from Coonoor district, video analyst Ashok Kumar C has been an important member of the back room staff for the past two years and preparing the team with vital data about opponents. While Kumar has been a former district-level hockey player, Kannan's initiation into the sport has been accidental. When the India hockey team's physiotherapist David Macdonald quit last September, the team was desperately looking for a replacement. In stepped Kannan on dragflicker Rupinderpal Singh's recommendation and the Chennai-based physiotherapist played a key role in helping the India players stay fit. It was a tricky assignment for Kannan as he didn't have prior experience of working with hockey players, having worked mostly with cricketers till then. Aware of the pitfalls he knew he had to make a difference. “I took it as a challenge. But the players and the coach (Graham Reid) made it a smooth ride as they trusted my methods over these 10 months. I am happy that I didn't let them down as the players hardly suffered any big injuries in the lead up to the Olympics,” Kannan, who will turn 40 on Friday, told TOI from Tokyo. Kumar, who has worked with the India junior boys' and girls' teams earlier, said the dearth of video analysts in hockey incited him to take it up as a profession. “Every year a handful of coaches would emerge in our sport. But video analyst in Indian hockey was unique. So I took it up after completing my mechanical engineering degree from Coimbatore,” the 30-year-old said. With their Olympics assignment done for now, both want to return to their families. While Kumar hasn't seen his family in one-and-a-half years, Kannan was with his four-year old son last February when Hockey India gave the team a two-week break. “I couldn't travel because I contracted Covid. So I can't wait to go back to my family in the Nilgiris and show them the medal,” said Kumar. Email your feedback with name and address to
107 OLYMPIC WIN When Kannan Bose enrolled into the physical education course at YMCA College, Nandanam, in 2005-06 under Kannan Pugazhendi it was more of a necessity than a career choice. His father, unable to support his son's dreams of pursuing cricket, wanted him to learn physiotherapy. Initially disinterested, Kannan saw how Pugazhendi used to treat injured players and realised it could be a way for him to stay connected to sports. The Little Mount youngster soon learned the ropes of becoming a physiotherapist and his journey culminated on Thursday in a bronze medal when India men's hockey team defeated Germany in a third-place playoff match. Part of the Indian team's support staff, Kannan's presence in Tokyo also ensured Tamil Nadu, which had the record of sending players each time the Indian hockey team won a medal at the Olympics, didn't go unrepresented this time around as well. Kannan though wasn't the only one from TN. Hailing from Coonoor district, video analyst Ashok Kumar C has been an important member of the back room staff for the past two years and preparing the team with vital data about opponents. While Kumar has been a former district-level hockey player, Kannan's initiation into the sport has been accidental. When the India hockey team's physiotherapist David Macdonald quit last September, the team was desperately looking for a replacement. In stepped Kannan on dragflicker Rupinderpal Singh's recommendation and the Chennai-based physiotherapist played a key role in helping the India players stay fit. It was a tricky assignment for Kannan as he didn't have prior experience of working with hockey players, having worked mostly with cricketers till then. Aware of the pitfalls he knew he had to make a difference. “I took it as a challenge. But the players and the coach (Graham Reid) made it a smooth ride as they trusted my methods over these 10 months. I am happy that I didn't let them down as the players hardly suffered any big injuries in the lead up to the Olympics,” Kannan, who will turn 40 on Friday, told TOI from Tokyo. Kumar, who has worked with the India junior boys' and girls' teams earlier, said the dearth of video analysts in hockey incited him to take it up as a profession. “Every year a handful of coaches would emerge in our sport. But video analyst in Indian hockey was unique. So I took it up after completing my mechanical engineering degree from Coimbatore,” the 30-year-old said. With their Olympics assignment done for now, both want to return to their families. While Kumar hasn't seen his family in one-and-a-half years, Kannan was with his four-year old son last February when Hockey India gave the team a two-week break. “I couldn't travel because I contracted Covid. So I can't wait to go back to my family in the Nilgiris and show them the medal,” said Kumar. Email your feedback with name and address to
108 Ahead of Wednesday's semi-finals with Argentina, Team India defender calls home to seek her parents blessings Team India defender Nikki Pradhan is going through a mix of emotions ahead of the women's hockey semi-finals against Argentina in Tokyo on Wednesday. Around 5.30pm (IST) on Tuesday when it was 9pm in Tokyo, Nikki rang up her elder sister Shashi Pradhan to share her feelings and seek the blessings of her parents. "Tomorrow is a high-pressure match. She sounded confident for sure. But, I also sensed a bit of nervousness in her tone ahead of the big day. It was 9pm and she was off to bed after dinner and just wanted to speak to us and seek blessings," Shashi told The TelegraphOnline. On Monday, Indian women's team scripted history by entering into semi-final for the first time since 1980 when female hockey began in Olympics. The Indian side thrashed Australia 1-0 in a nail-biting match that went down the wire. On the Indian men's team lost to Belgium by 5-0 in their semi-final match on Tuesday and all eyes are now glued on the women's squad. Shashi, who has played hockey herself, and is currently working for Indian Railway in Ranchi, added that Nikki told her the team morale was high after the quarter-final win against Australia. "But she was upset the team couldn't do well in the earlier matches. Extreme heat conditions could be a reason, she said. She said Monday's match brought back confidence and coordination among team members also improved. In the end, it all depends how they play as a unit on a particular day." Earlier on Tuesday, Shashi and her parents Soma Pradhan and Jitan Devi were at Project Building where the state sports department organsied a function to hand over job letters to 12 sports persons and also provide special cash awards to those taking part in the Olympics. This year, three players-Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete (both hockey) and archer Deepika Kumari _ are representing the country from Jharkhand in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Chief minister Hemant Soren provided their parents with Rs 5 lakh as a token of appreciation. He also promised to sanction more funds after the players returned from Tokyo. "Our beti (girls) who have made it to Olympics are our pride. I have planned many more things for them upon their return," he said, adding that his government was committed to promotion of sports and games in Jharkhand. State sports secretary Pooja Singhal said that out of 40 players who were selected for direct jobs under the new sports policy, 12 couldn't get appointment letters in the past due to technical reasons. "Today, all 12 received their letters. Players were from disciplines like archery, cycling, wushu, athletics and karate. They were inducted as sub- inspectors and inspectors of police," she said.
109 Is this the first time the US and Russia have been involved in an Olympic spat? How have the Americans been with athletes from other nations with tense diplomatic ties? The big story from the first week of Tokyo 2020, is the return of the bitter US vs Russia rivalry. In a throwback to the Cold War era, the two sporting superpowers have crossed swords on field and have also indulged in wars of words off it. Rio Olympics gold-medalist US swimmer Ryan Murphy, after getting dethroned by Russian star Evgeny Rylov, hinted that the race wasn't fair. "I've got 15 thoughts, 13 of them would get me into a lot of trouble. It is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year, that I am swimming in a race that's probably not clean," he said. His comments alluded to Russia's infamous doping scandal in 2014, which prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to ban the country from competing in international sports using the Russian flag or the country's name. In Tokyo the entire Russian contingent competes for the 'Russian Olympic Committee (ROC),' and their national anthem is not played after a gold medal win. There have been other episodes at Tokyo that have brought out the acrimony between the long-time political and sporting rivals. Was this a solitary incident of a player questioning a Russian achievement? No. When Simone Biles, the popular American gymnast pulled out of the Olympics citing mental health problems, the women's ROC team won the country's first gold medal in the team all-around event since 1992 - when Russia competed as the 'Unified Team' of former Soviet states. This technically made it Russia's first-ever gold in this event. Later in a press conference, an American journalist asked the ROC team if they would have won if Biles competed, to which Russia's 16-year-old Viktoria Listunova replied: "That is not a very good question, I would say. Simone Biles is human." On Wednesday, World No 2 men's tennis player Daniil Medvedev was left furious at his press conference when he was asked if Russian players carry the 'stigma of cheaters.' "This is the first time I haven't answered a question. You should be ashamed," he replied. Has the ROC responded? On Friday the ROC responded to Ryan Murphy's comments on Twitter through a series of posts. "Oh how our victories rile certain peers. Yes, we're here, at the Olympic Games. Absolutely justifiably, whether you like it or not ... You need to learn how to lose. Not everyone is able to. The old organ grinder again started playing the song about Russian doping." On the Russia Today website, reporter and presenter Danny Armstrong wrote a scathing piece on the issue under the headline - "Whiny American athletes & bitter US media should learn to lose gracefully without blaming Russia." His column panned not just the US athletes but also the media. "If Olympic medals were given out for histrionic temper tantrums at losing, the USA's athletes and media would be runaway winners. Maybe then they would stop blaming Russia for their defeats. Sure, if you can't attain attention by finishing atop the podium, achieve it by attempting to knock the winner off their perch with a bolo punch of passive-aggression in one fell swoop of disparagement, discrediting and degrading comments, especially if they are a country whose name no one is legally allowed to utter, to make sure everyone talks about only you." Is this the first time the US and Russia have been involved in an Olympic spat? Infamously, both countries boycotted the Olympics held in the rival nation during the Cold War. The Americans did not turn up at the Moscow Games in 1980, and the Russians skipped the next edition in Los Angeles in 1984. How have the Americans been with athletes from other nations with tense diplomatic ties? On July 28, the US men's basketball team came up against Iran - at a time when the two nations have been embroiled in a diplomatic standoff. Yet the reception before and after the match was cordial and warm. American coach Gregg Popovich later commented during a media session: "In general, people in different countries get along a whole lot better with each other than their governments do. If people in all of these countries were running the show, things would be a whole lot better. When you involve politicians, it becomes much more complicated with self-interests, ideologies and personal agendas. "The Olympics here are a venue and a time where sport transcends all that petty c*** that you get from governments. There's no surprise that the coaches would enjoy meeting each other, talking to each other, and players showed sportsmanship. We just wished that that was real life, which we all have to live through."
110 "Sattar minute, sattar minute hai tumhare paas...". Shah Rukh Khan's iconic lines from Chak De! India is remembered to date. The expressions, the patriotic feeling and of course, Shah Rukh Khan makes the monologue the heart of Chak De! India. The film is more of an emotion than a movie. Written by Jaideep Sahni, the Shimit Amin directorial venture, that will turn 15 on August 10, has become especially relevant now thanks to the exemplary performances by the women's and men's hockey teams at Tokyo Olympics 2020. The may have lost the semis against Argentina at Tokyo Olympics 2020, but the sounds of Chak De! India kept resonating in our ears as the team made it to their maiden Olympic semis. No mean feat. On the other hand, the men's hockey team won the bronze at the Games, 41 years after Moscow Olympics 1980. So, since hockey is the mood of the nation now, we dedicate our Throwback Thursday to the brilliance that was Chak De! India and what makes it a cult classic. HOW CHAK DE INDIA TACKLES SEXISM, RACISM, STEREOTYPING AND ENCOURAGED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT The story creates a bridge between the women athletes in the country and the audience. Chak De! India narrates a fictional story about the Indian women's national field hockey team, that was loosely inspired by the Indian team's win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. SRK impresses us with his performance as the captain of the Indian team, Kabir Khan, who misses a do-or-die penalty shootout against arch-rival Pakistan in the final of a world championship. The loss created national outrage and triggered charges of match-fixing, leading to his ouster. Years later, he returns as the coach of the women's hockey team, and as he pushes them towards their goal, he redeems his lost honour too. Chak De! India managed to arouse many emotions, including that of patriotism, anger against sexism and, of course, an insight into the prevalent racism in the country. SRK's determination to make 11 women work together and play together, erasing the idea of state and inculcating the idea of one nation, touches your heart. This was the first film in many years that concentrated on a sport other than cricket. Moreover, it concentrated on a women's game, something so rare in the country. At the same time, the film broke many stereotypes. It was a film way ahead of its time. PERFORMANCES THAT STAYED WITH YOU FOR YEARS Minus the occasional hamming, Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan goes out of the way to touch your heart with his performance. Right from the hurt he felt when he was ousted from the men's hockey team to the pride in his eyes when the women's hockey team wins, SRK beautifully portrays all the emotions with extreme ease. But, Chak De! India is not a one-man show. The star cast included Vidya Malavade, Anaitha Nair, Tanya Abrol, Shilpa Shukla, Arya Menon, Shubhi Mehta, Chitrashi Rawat, Kimi Laldawla, Masochon Zimik, Sandia Furtado, Nichola Sequeira, Sagarika Ghatge, Kimberly Miranda, Raynia Mascerhanas, Nisha Nair. Although all the girls were newcomers, their performance managed to impress. Many have become actors in the Hindi film industry, all thanks to the film. Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan in Chak De India! THE DIALOGUES One of the things that definitely come to mind when we talk about Chak De! India are the dialogues. The first dialogue that to date has stayed with many Indians who watched the film is Sattar Minute. SRK's monologue where he addressed all the members of the Indian women's hockey team in the dressing room was one of the most inspiring cinematic moments we've ever seen. Another dialogue that remains etched in our minds is when SRK made the girls realise that they represent the country and not for their states. The dialogue goes, "Mujhe states ki naam na sunayi dete hai, na dhikai dete hai. Sirf ek mulk ka naam sunayi deta hai, I-N-D-I-A." Power-packed performances, strong dialogues and a plot that has stayed with us since 2007, Chak De! India is a masterpiece. Here's celebrating Chak De! India and more importantly, our Indian women's and men's hockey teams for their exemplary performances. ALSO WATCH | ALSO READ | Graphic How Shah Rukh Khan inspired billions with Chak De India. On Throwback Thursday
111 Lovlina Borgohain ducked a punch, swayed away from another, and smiled at her Taiwanese opponent. Just another 23-year-old having fun at the Games. That's what she set out to do. In her welterweight quarter-final against former world champion Nien-Chin Chen, which the Indian boxer won via a split-decision, her only plan was to have no plan. "This time, I went in with a free mind, without any strategy," she said. It worked. The girl who followed her elder twin sisters, Licha and Lima, to a kickboxing club in Guwahati, where she was spotted by coaches who steered her towards boxing, is now an Olympic medallist. Lovlina shuffle-stepped and punched her way into the welterweight semi-finals and assured India of its second medal in the Tokyo Olympics. It is India's first boxing medal since Mary Kom's bronze at the London Olympics and the third in history. India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. Rio Olympics silver medallist P V Sindhu swept aside home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a 21-13, 22-20 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying, considered the queen of deception, on Saturday. The men's hockey team, meanwhile, finished their group stage commitments with a 5-3 win over Japan to finish second in their group, a creditable finish after slumping to a 7-1 defeat to top-placed Australia earlier in the week. The women's hockey team, too, kept their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-final alive with a 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up Ireland. They will have to beat South Africa on Saturday to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. But the highlight of the day for India was Lovlina's stunning win over Chen. The boxer from Baramukhia in Assam was the lesser favourite of the two heading into the bout; partly because of the Taiwanese boxer's quality and partly because of her own history of lacking confidence on big stages. But on Friday, she came bouncing out of the tunnel, shadow-boxed her way into the ring, and when Chen, looking to become her country's first boxing medallist at the Olympics, rushed out the moment the bell sounded, Lovlina didn't hold back as well. "I just wanted to hit her," she said. She was street-smart as well. Tall for her weight category, the 5'10" Indian kept her distance from her opponent, not getting into brawls that Chen prefers. She made use of her range to rip through punches with her spiteful right hand and snuck in body shots in a cagey opening round. In the second period, she moved smoothly around the ring to avoid being a stationary target while connecting her fists to Chen's skull with remarkable force and precision. It was an uncharacteristically nerveless and confident performance and by the end of the second round, it was clear that Lovlina was on course for an upset win. When the final bell sounded after the third round, where Lovlina had fun more than she fought, she punched the air and embraced her coaches. "I knew mid-way through the bout that I had won so I was enjoying myself," she said. "I have been working hard for eight years, making a lot of sacrifices. This was one day to make all of it count." This time last year, however, an Olympic podium seemed far away. When the pandemic hit and the country went into a lockdown last year, Lovlina went home to be by the bedside of her ailing mother, who was in hospital with a kidney problem. When she returned to the national camp in Patiala, she tested positive for Covid. It didn't affect her a lot and she resumed training without any fuss. But her mother's condition continued to trouble her and it was only when the family found a donor that Lovlina was able to focus on training without any psychological burden. She chose not to get drawn into the hype or make a sappy thanksgiving speech after merely securing a medal. "I have a gold medal to win, so this can wait," she said. A gold medal is in sight now - just two more wins - but before that, the Indian boxer will have to overcome a mighty tough opponent in the semi-final. Lovlina will face the reigning world champion from Turkey, Busenaz Surmeneli, in the last-four bout on August 4. "The fact that I am assured of a medal takes some pressure off," she said. "So I will just try to be fluid once more and see where that takes me." It could take her where no Indian has reached so far.
112 India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. PV Sindhu progressed to the semi-finals while both men's and women's hockey teams enjoyed group outing wins. Lovlina Borgohain ducked a punch, swayed away from another, and smiled at her Taiwanese opponent. Just another 23-year-old having fun at the Games. That's what she set out to do. In her welterweight quarter-final against former world champion Nien-Chin Chen, which the Indian boxer won via a split-decision, her only plan was to have no plan. "This time, I went in with a free mind, without any strategy," she said. It worked. The girl who followed her elder twin sisters, Licha and Lima, to a kickboxing club in Guwahati, where she was spotted by coaches who steered her towards boxing, is now an Olympic medallist. Lovlina shuffle-stepped and punched her way into the welterweight semi-finals and assured India of its second medal in the Tokyo Olympics. It is India's first boxing medal since Mary Kom's bronze at the London Olympics and the third in history. India continued its forward momentum in badminton and hockey as well. Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu swept aside home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a 21-13, 22-20 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying, considered the queen of deception, on Saturday. The men's hockey team, meanwhile, finished their group stage commitments with a 5-3 win over Japan to finish second in their group, a creditable finish after slumping to a 7-1 defeat to top-placed Australia earlier in the week. The women's hockey team, too, kept their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-final alive with a 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up Ireland. They will have to beat South Africa on Saturday to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. But the highlight of the day for India was Lovlina's stunning win over Chen. The boxer from Baramukhia in Assam was the lesser favourite of the two heading into the bout; partly because of the Taiwanese boxer's quality and partly because of her own history of lacking confidence on big stages. But on Friday, she came bouncing out of the tunnel, shadow-boxed her way into the ring, and when Chen, looking to become her country's first boxing medallist at the Olympics, rushed out the moment the bell sounded, Lovlina didn't hold back as well. "I just wanted to hit her," she said. She was street-smart as well. Tall for her weight category, the 5'10" Indian kept her distance from her opponent, not getting into brawls that Chen prefers. She made use of her range to rip through punches with her spiteful right hand and snuck in body shots in a cagey opening round. In the second period, she moved smoothly around the ring to avoid being a stationary target while connecting her fists to Chen's skull with remarkable force and precision. It was an uncharacteristically nerveless and confident performance and by the end of the second round, it was clear that Lovlina was on course for an upset win. When the final bell sounded after the third round, where Lovlina had fun more than she fought, she punched the air and embraced her coaches. "I knew mid-way through the bout that I had won so I was enjoying myself," she said. "I have been working hard for eight years, making a lot of sacrifices. This was one day to make all of it count." This time last year, however, an Olympic podium seemed far away. When the pandemic hit and the country went into a lockdown last year, Lovlina went home to be by the bedside of her ailing mother, who was in hospital with a kidney problem. When she returned to the national camp in Patiala, she tested positive for Covid. It didn't affect her a lot and she resumed training without any fuss. But her mother's condition continued to trouble her and it was only when the family found a donor that Lovlina was able to focus on training without any psychological burden. She chose not to get drawn into the hype or make a sappy thanksgiving speech after merely securing a medal. "I have a gold medal to win, so this can wait," she said. A gold medal is in sight now - just two more wins - but before that, the Indian boxer will have to overcome a mighty tough opponent in the semi-final. Lovlina will face the reigning world champion from Turkey, Busenaz Surmeneli, in the last-four bout on August 4. "The fact that I am assured of a medal takes some pressure off," she said. "So I will just try to be fluid once more and see where that takes me." It could take her where no Indian has reached so far.
113 On December 18, 2016, a collective roar had reverberated Lucknow's Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium etching the moment in the history of Indian hockey. India had decimated Belgium 2-1 to lift the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup, making Harjeet Singh's team only the second after the 2001 squad, led by Gagan Ajit Singh, to clinch the coveted title. Five years on, as many as eight players of the 2016 squad are once again set to take on Belgium, this time in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, on Tuesday. These eight players – Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Sumit Walmiki, Nilakanta Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Krishan Pathak – are all pumped up to repeat the decimation of Belgium to enter the finals. Of these, Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh had struck one goal each in the 2016 encounter to lead India to historic win. Besides these eight players, hockey enthusiasts from Uttar Pradesh are also pinning their hopes on Varanasi lad Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, an experienced player who is expected to sharpen Indian attack. India has reached the last four stages for the first time in 49 years since 1972. The 1980 event, where India won gold, was played in a round robin format, with the top two teams playing the final. The men's semi-final match comes a day after Indian women's hockey team scripted history on Monday by storming into the Olympic Games semi-finals for the first time, stunning three-time champions Australia. Lauding both the men's and women's teams for reaching the semi-finals, former international hockey player and UP sports director RP Singh said: “Playing semi-finals in Olympics is no mean achievement and our teams have been playing exceptionally well. Our players' spirits are high and they will surely win accolades for India and set new milestones.” “Hockey is close to every Indian's heart and our victory will inspire young players. I wish success to our players,” Singh said.
114 However, a new study says that a team or player winning a bronze medal in sports is happier than a team or a player winning a silver medal. Winning is nice, and so is not losing but the biggest medal is happiness. On Wednesday, the Indian women's hockey team lost to World No 2 Argentina in their maiden Olympic semi-final. This came just a day after the men's hockey team lost to Belgium in the semi-final. Millions of Indians must have seen this match on TV and it was like heartbreak for them to see the team lose despite the spirited performance by the teams. Now the question here is, will you curse the players on this defeat or encourage them for further games? What should a country of 135 crores, which is waiting for the Gold medal in hockey for 40 years, do? When a situation like this arises, people look at it in two ways. The first approach is where they suddenly start asking questioning why the team did not win? Even though these people wouldn't talk about the hockey team for years, they will be quick to raise questions after the defeat because some people of India have become champions in questioning the sportspersons and soldiers. The second approach is, in such times, you talk to your players and encouraged them. They should be told that we are with them in victory and in defeat. A human brain either flies with hope or forgets to spread its wings and clings to the ground reality. Somewhere between these two, happiness is lost, but if reality and expectations are balanced with each other, the scales of happiness become heavy. It's true that anyone would prefer the gold medal or silver medal over a bronze. However, a new study says that a team or player winning a bronze medal in sports is happier than a team or a player winning a silver medal, and if it is in Olympics, then the happiness increases even more. This study was conducted by the University of Iowa in the US and using photographs of previous Olympic Games. The researchers analysed the facial expressions and reactions of players when they go to the podium to collect their medals. After studying the medal ceremonies of five Olympic Games, it was found that Bronze medal winners are happier than those who won silver medals. The Silver medal is given to the player who loses in the final. This means that while taking the medal on the podium, somewhere, there is a regret in the player's mind that had he/she tried more, it could have been a gold medal. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the regret of losing in the final reduces the happiness of the silver medal. Whereas, the team or player winning the Bronze medal wins their match to reach the podium. The players feel that something is better than nothing and they have still won a medal for their country. Here, the colour of the medal does not disturb the colour of happiness. On Sunday, when Indian shuttler PV When Sindhu won her bronze medal, she was happier than the Taiwanese player, who lost in the final. It was the Taiwanese player who defeated Sindhu in the semifinals, but she lost to the Chinese player in the final and the regret of this defeat affected her happiness, while Sindhu, who lost to her, looked happier. Photo via Twitter Similar pictures were seen at the 2014 Winter Olympics during a Figure Skating event. The South Korean player had lost in the final and had to settle for the silver medal, while the Italian player who won the Bronze Medal had happiness on her face. In a study conducted on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, it was also found that even though Silver is ranked second in the medal list, in the case of happiness, Bronze Medal is at number two. So don't let your happiness go down because if the hockey teams win their bronze medal match, they will be happier than the silver medal-winning teams.
115 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey — those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956.” Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-yearold Ashutosh Sharma. “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
116 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted “This team reflects the spirit of New In dia – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rani Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
117 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Delhi resident Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey – those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956.” Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Delhi-based former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-year-old Ashutosh Sharma from Noida, “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
118 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted, “This team reflects the spirit of New India – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rani Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
119 WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! It was a see-saw game. The British team took an early 2-0 lead, only for India to bounce back and make it 3-2. But in the end, Great Britain's big-game experience prevailed as they beat India in the women's hockey bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. And though the Indian team lost, hardly any fan complained. Most had hoped the girls would repeat the men's team triumph in the bronze medal match a day earlier. But the fight the team showed was enough for most. As the dejected Indian players sank to their knees and wept, many of the British players stopped their celebrations to console their opponents. “You've done something special at #Tokyo2020 – the next few years look very bright,” Great Britain Hockey acknowledged in its tweet appreciating the “amazing opponents”. The phrase “lost the game but won the hearts” seems a bit cliched given how prolifically it is used nowadays. But if there is one team it fits for, then that's the Indian women's hockey team. Ranked 9th in the world before the tournament, nobody expected this team to advance beyond the group stage. Three defeats in the first three games solidified this opinion. In the end, they made it to the top four and made the world fall in love with their resilience. This was only the third appearance for the women's hockey team at the Olympics. This is a marked improvement from their 12th place finish at Rio 2016. Even Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this when he tweeted, “This team reflects the spirit of New India – where we give our best and scale new frontiers”. Most messages on social media and from the players' families echoed this sentiment. “This is not a defeat but a win for their effort,” captain Rami Rampal's father told the media. Sprint queen PT Usha thanked the team for “igniting the hope in all of us” and Shah Rukh Khan simply said the team inspiring everyone in India “itself is a victory”. The message was simple: 'Chin up, girls! We'll get this medal the next time'. As the team's head coach Sjoerd Marijne put it, “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger... I hope the country will keep the girls in their hearts.”
120 Shah Rukh Khan wrote that the players in the women's hockey team have inspired many Indians and that, in itself, is a victory. The Indian women's hockey team might have lost the match for the Olympics bronze medal against Great Britain but they have certainly inspired many Indians, believes Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The Pathan actor took to Twitter after the match and shared that he was heartbroken but applauded their effort anyway. He shared on Twitter, "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory.." Shah Rukh Khan famously played the coach of the Indian women's hockey team in the 2007 hit Chak De India where he leads the team to victory in an international championship. SRK's character Kabir Khan in the film was loosely inspired by senior hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. The hockey team's coach Sjoerd Marjine also took to Twitter soon after the match and thanked the followers for their support. He shared, "We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger. We have made Indians proud again and we inspired millions of girls that dreams CAN come true as long as you work hard for it and believe it! Thanks for all the support! Flag of India." He also responded to SRK's tweet and wrote, "Thank you @srk for all the love ! It's great to have support from the best in Bollywood. It's time for Chak De part 2, what say?" Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar had a minor misstep on Twitter Thursday when he congratulated the Indian women's hockey team instead of the men's hockey team for their bronze medal win at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor among many others were joyously wishing them and amid these wishes came in Farhan's tweet, which he deleted soon after. His now deleted tweet read, "Go girls. So proud of teamindia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal.. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 Hockey." The tweet went missing shortly after and then the Toofan actor shared, "So proud of #teamIndia for showing exemplary fighting spirit and bringing in our 4th medal .. super stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Hockey."
121 When Vandana Katariya was a child, she was told her love for sports was unbecoming of a girl. So, she would sneak away, forage for tree branches and practise away from the prying eyes of elders in Uttarakhand's Roshnabad village. But Vandana found one defender when everyone else around her wanted her to drop her passion, her father. When he died three months ago, she couldn't make it home. She had to keep training. On Saturday, she became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics and part of India's first women's hockey team to make it to the quarterfinals. “We are nine siblings. Grandmother would ask her to pay attention to household chores and learn how to cook, not waste time playing,” her elder brother Shekhar, 36, told TOI. Those in her village didn't like the idea of a girl joining boys in sports either. “But father supported her. He was the only one to do so.” Their father, Nahar Singh Kataria, had been a wrestler himself. At the foothills of the Shivalik hills, Roshnabad was practically off the map when Vandana was growing up. In 2000, Roshnabad got its own stadium. “It changed the life of local girls, including Vandana,” said Manish Pal, a local sports enthusiast. But it was kho-kho that got Vandana into her first organised sports event. “She played division-level khokho with her elder sister Reena,” Haridwar district sports officer SK Dobhal told TOI. “Around 2001, local hockey coach Krishna Kumar recruited many girls to form a women's hockey team. Vandana was one of them.” Vandana was playing at a school tournament in Roshnabad when Meerut-based coach Pradeep Chinyoti spotted her. “I encouraged her to move to Meerut and train. In the three years she spent here (2003 to 2006) before moving to Lucknow, I saw she had great speed. And she never missed practice,” he told TOI. “Her family wasn't too happy she had moved away. Only her father backed her. Her hard work got her into the national juniors' team.” She was at the Lucknow Sports College then. She worked her way up and made it to the national women's team. Since then, she has played more than 200 international matches. When news of her feat broke, her village burst into celebrations. Crackers went off, songs were sung and the village that once wanted her to stop playing was proud of her. “Father always said she would make Roshnabad famous,” Shekhar said. “When he died, she wanted to drop everything (she was training for the Olympics in Bengaluru then) and come home. But we told her what father would have — stay, focus and bring us a medal.” (With inputs from Mohammad Anab in Dehradun)
122 When Vandana Katariya was a child, she was told her love for sports was unbecoming of a girl. So, she would sneak away, forage for tree branches and practise her moves, away from the prying eyes of disapproving elders in Uttarakhand's Roshnabad village. But Vandana found one defender when everyone else around her wanted her to drop her passion -- her father. When he died three months ago, she couldn't make it home. She had to keep training. On Saturday, she became India's first woman to score a hattrick at the Olympics and part of India's first women's hockey team to make it to the quarter-finals. Her elder brother Shekhar, 36, told TOI, “We are nine siblings. Grandmother would ask her to pay attention to household chores and learn how to cook, not waste time playing.” Those in her village didn't like the idea of a girl joining boys in sports either. “But father supported her. He was the only one to do so.” Their father, Nahar Singh Kataria, had been a wrestler himself. At the foothills of the Shivalik hills, Roshnabad was practically off the map when Vandana was growing up. In 2000, Roshnabad got its own stadium. “It changed the life of local girls, including Vandana,” said Manish Pal, a local sports enthusiast. But it was kho-kho that got Vandana into her first organised sports event. “She played division-level kho-kho with her elder sister Reena,” Haridwar district sports officer SK Dobhal told TOI. “Around 2001, local hockey coach Krishna Kumar recruited many girls to form a women's hockey team. Vandana was one of them.” Kumar's son Ravi said, “We'd train together every evening. She was in Class III or IV then. She'd keep playing kho-kho whenever she could. Dad told her one day that if she wanted to make a name, she had to focus on hockey… In fact, her sister Reena, who won a medal at the 2010 National Games, was also trained by dad.” Vandana was playing at a school tournament in Roshnabad when Meerut-based coach Pradeep Chinyoti spotted her. “I encouraged her to move to Meerut and train. In the three years she spent here (2003 to 2006) before moving to Lucknow, I saw she had great speed. And she never missed practice,” he told TOI. “Her family wasn't too happy she had moved away. Only her father backed her. Her hard work got her into the national juniors' team.” She was at the Lucknow Sports College then. She worked her way up and made it to the national women's team. Since then, she has played more than 200 international matches. When news of her feat broke on Saturday, her village burst into celebrations. Crackers went off, songs were sung and the village that once wanted her to stop playing was proud of her. “Father always said she would make Roshnabad famous,” Shekhar said. “When he died, she wanted to drop everything (she was training for the Olympics in Bengaluru then) and come home. But we told her what father would have — stay, focus and bring us a medal.” (With inputs from Mohammad Anab in Dehradun)
123 Body and mind remain sites of contestation in women's sports The wisdom of the adage, "Mens sana in corpore sano", can be understood as the need for the mind and the body to be conjoined, figuratively speaking, as a healthy unit. It may be the twenty-first year of the twenty-first century but the unhealthy practice of the policing of the bodies and minds of women, including athletes, continues to thrive. The Norwegian women's beach handball team has been locked in a battle with the sport's governing bodies to wear less-revealing uniforms for some time now. After repeated complaints about the mandatory bikini bottoms were reportedly ignored by the administration, the team wore shorts - the standard outfit when it comes to the men's team - during a recent game in protest. They were fined 150 euros per player for this 'transgression'. Ironically, puritanism can also lead to reverse shaming. For instance, the ace tennis player, Serena Williams, has often faced criticism for her 'revealing' outfits. These contradictory pulls and pressures of a dated morality reveal the strange intersections of - a tussle between? - the male gaze and morality. The manifestation, inevitably, is the institutional regulation of women's sartorial choices. In 2012, the Badminton World Federation tried to force female players to wear skirts in order for them to "look feminine and have a nice presentation". This camouflaging of the male gaze - it is perhaps most discernible in fields like cinema and sports that put the spotlight on women's bodies - in an aesthetic argument reeks of hypocrisy. Cutting the cloth either way makes little sense when it comes to women: whether they are asked to reveal or cover skin, the visibility of their bodies renders their skills - the ideal criterion of sporting performance - invisible. Female athletes, hearteningly, are pushing back in a bid to sensitize sporting federations into acknowledging the agency and autonomy of women players. In the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, German gymnasts decided to take a stand against the sexualization of their bodies by donning full-body suits. More such 'transgressions' would be welcome, but are they enough to set right the distorted priorities? Ensuring a gender representative turf would require an assault on entrenched sexism at multiple levels. This should include addressing a whole range of anomalies, from discriminatory pay scales between men and women players - the top two female tennis players together earned around $30 million less than the highest-paid male tennis player - to enforced dress codes and the unapologetic objectification of the body by mass culture. That still leaves the scars of the mind. The pressure - coercion - to adhere to the codes of sexism puts women performers under unprecedented psychological stress. There is not only expectation to excel but also excel while ticking the boxes of allurement, consumption and vicarious gratification - each element being integral to the fate of women's sport being a profitable enterprise. Is it any wonder then that Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics and Naomi Osaka from the Roland-Garros and the Wimbledon? These courageous decisions - putting body and mind over all else - only go to show that both these spheres remain sites of larger contestations.
124 Shahabad, about 170km from Delhi, is a town like any other in Haryana. Parents prefer girls who keep their dupattas firmly in place, come home before dark and marry before they get too opinionated. Yet some girls have managed to trade their modest salwar kameezes for shorts and the rolling-pin for a hockey stick. All courtesy a patch of 91.4m x 55m astro turf at the Shahabad Markanda hockey stadium that has become a nursery for Indian hockey in the last three decades. Now famous as the stomping ground of current hockey captain Rani Rampal, Shahabad has produced several other national and international-level players, including Rani's teammates in the Olympic team Navjot Kaur and Navneet Kaur and former India men's team captain Sandeep Singh. Rani and her team's performance this week may just have made the path less arduous for girls like 19-year-old Parashdeep Kaur from Sulakhni village who exudes confidence as she darts from one end of the stadium to the other. “It is my dream to represent India in the Olympics as a drag flicker,” she says. (Drag flick is a scoring technique.) And she's putting in the hard work. Parashdeep is among the 300 girls and boys who train at the stadium every day come rain, shine or pandemic. Girls' team coach Neha says there is a growing interest among parents to send their daughters to train at Shahabad. “I have received 15-20 calls just this week, some from other states, seeking a place for their daughter at our stadium but I had to refuse,” she says. There's simply no more room. On most days the stadium is packed to the rafters as children practise in two shifts —from 5:30am to 7:30am and then in the afternoon from 4pm to 7pm. There's nothing fancy about the facilities. The stadium has a couple of rooms for an office and some rudimentary gym equipment. It has neither provision for a hostel accommodation for children living away from Shahabad, nor does it provide food like it used to earlier. Yet the enthusiasm among children and their parents remains unwavering. Government coach Sukhwinder Singh, who is training another 300 girls and boys at a ground near a local school, says demand has outstripped facilities and the area needs better infrastructure. “Our ground does not have an astro turf but yet parents want us to take in their children. If we refuse to take a child, they start crying and pleading,” he says. Hockey was not always this popular, especially in a cricket-crazy country like India. Veteran coach Baldev Singh, credited for training Rani and nearly 60 other international players during his 20-year stint at Shahabad, recalls spending hours convincing parents to send girls for practice. “I had to become a part of their family. If they fell ill, I visited them, if they didn't have enough money, I provided milk or fruits, and if their parents were reluctant, I would try and talk sense to them,” he says. The 69-year-old says that initially his attempts at establishing a girls' team was akin to a scandal. “But when the girls started performing at the national and international level, people shut up,” he says. Even now Parashdeep is the only girl from her village who plays the sport and has been training for five years. “People keep telling my father that he should get me married. They comment on my clothes and the fact that I leave at 4am for practice but my family is very supportive.” Loveleen, 14, who has been playing since she was in class 6, says she is addicted to the game. She plays as a 'deader' who has to stop the penalty shot strategically so that the striker can hit a goal. Pressures of “settling down” might be on the mind of nosy relatives and neighbours but not her. “I want to play for India like Rani (Rampal) didi,” she says. Coach Neha says that the mindset is slowly changing. “Even if the parents do not have enough food for themselves, they make sure the children get a good diet,” she says. Coach Baldev feels Indian hockey has come out of “ventilator support.” He adds, “We must use the momentum that the Olympics have brought to invest in better infrastructure and coaches for the future.” The Indian women's hockey team which narrowly missed out on a medal in Tokyo, need not despair. The fiery 16 have already ignited a passion in a million minds and hearts.
125 After landing at Delhi Airport from Japan, the Indian Women's Hockey Team were escorted with other athletes to Hotel Ashoka in the national capital. The women's team at the hotel cut a cake and sing the National Anthem as Hockey India felicitated them upon their return to the country. While the men's hockey team won bronze, the women's hockey team lost to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off. The Indian women's hockey team began badly but raised its level towards the end of the group stages and made it to the last four after defeating world No. 2 Australia in quarter-finals. However, it lost to Argentina in the semis and then Great Britain in the third place play-off. However, India did not let down the women team for not bagging medal at the Olympics. Praises were poured on the team from across the country. Assistant coach Ankitha B.S, earlier in the day said that the Indian women hockey team's sterling performance at the Olympic Games has shown that the sport is still alive and kicking in the country. "Now everyone is talking about hockey. In India, the talk surrounds only cricket. But after this event, each household is talking about hockey. Being a hockey player, coach I can say the marvellous performance by the women's team has shown the world that hockey is still alive," Ankitha told IANS on Sunday night. "We might not have won a medal, but surely we have won hearts." "After the defeat in the final stages, it was emotional for all coaches, supporting staff as well as players. We knew that what we had to achieve, we achieved. Opposition team players from Argentina and the United Kingdom, came back to our players after seeing them crying their hearts out after the loss," added Ankitha. "Being on the winning side, they told our girls that we have done well. The British team had initially thought the match against India would be a cakewalk. After the game, they described the performance of Indian women's hockey team as 'really amazing' and they complimented by saying 'great job'," Ankitha recalled.
126 As the women's hockey team was still on the pitch celebrating their monumental effort in the quarterfinal, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne made a quick dash to the dugout and made a video call to his family in Den Bosch, The Netherlands. The moment was captured on camera and revealed the emotions behind the Dutchman's grim game-face. There was no holding back of emotions. The tears flowed freely as he spoke in halting Dutch. Marijne's journey from The Netherlands to India has been dotted with tragedy, sacrifices, dreams and goals. A little over a year before the 47-year-old made the India move, he lost his parents Jos Marijne and Elly van der Steen. He was very close to his father Jos, who dreamt of his son making an impact in some capacity at the Olympics. Alas, Jos didn't live to see the day. Life has been a rollercoaster ride for Marijne since February 2017, when he first joined the India women's team. The following year, in September, he was moved to the men's team after Roelant Oltmans was removed. The musical chairs continued. In less than nine months, Marijne was back with the women's side, swapping places with Harendra Singh in the middle of an Olympic cycle. Marijne was home on holiday when the switch was announced. Many believed he wouldn't return given the uncertainties of the job. But he had unfinished business. In Wayne Lombard he had a scientific advisor who put the players through the grind. In 2019, he ensured his former ward and Dutch defender Janneke Schopman came on board as analytical coach. Marijne, the coach and person, is a strict disciplinarian. Ten days before the nationwide lockdown last year, he was heading home for a break but returned from the airport because he wasn't sure if he would be allowed back, which in turn could disrupt the team's training schedule. Since then, this team has been driven by the 'we can' spirit instilled by Marijne.
127 When the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday morning, Delhi resident Prakash Singh got up from his chair and did a little jig. “This takes a little effort at this age but itna toh banta tha,” says the septuagenarian. Singh is one of the veteran fans of Indian hockey – those who saw the glory days of the team and stuck by during the side's darkest days. “For us, who remember Melbourne and the times when India could never lose, this is very emotional. I feel like a kid again, watching Randhir Singh Gentle win us the gold in 1956,” he adds. Courtesy the performances of both the men and women hockey teams in Tokyo, hockey won millions of new fans in India. But for the loyal fans of the sport, this win was the redemption they were seeking, a gift for decades of unwavering support even as the team's form dipped. 67-year-old die-hard hockey fan Prabhakaran says, “When I was growing up, we were no longer invincible but still one of the top teams. An Olympic medal was almost given for India. But then, we had such a low phase that even a random win felt good. Having supported the team through those times, I feel like my team has repaid that support through this medal.” Fans agree it has been a rather long wait but it has surely been worth it. “We have been waiting for this for almost half a century. This is bigger than the Moscow (1980) gold because of the opposition we faced and beat here,” says Narendra Singh, a former hockey player, “We used to complain that the astro turf ruined Indian hockey or that the European style of play was our undoing. But the truth is we didn't adapt. This team has. They have shown it is possible for India to not just be competitive but even victorious again.” Delhi-based former hockey player and fan DS Rana says, “It felt so bad to see the team being beaten in tournament after tournament through the last few decades. I used to wonder if I would ever see the team on the Olympic podium ever again. That was a burden on my soul. That has been lifted now.” For a legion of young fans who had only heard of Indian hockey's glory days from their parents and grandparents, it's exhilarating. “I wanted to see an Olympic medal in hockey in my lifetime,” says 24-yearold Ashutosh Sharma, “My grandfather would talk about Leslie Claudius and how he won four Olympic medals for India. For me, they were just stories but not anymore. I can share the joy of the older fans now.”
128 Dear Reader, It has not been an easy phase for the Hindi film industry. You'd say it hasn't been an easy phase for anyone out there and you'd be correct, but let's talk about movies for a bit because Akshay Kumar has promised something big this week. So Khiladi Kumar or Bharat Kumar, whatever you love to call him, . The film will be screened exclusively in theatres. In 3D. Talk about being back with a bang. Now in the Far East, Indian hockey teams have won medals and hearts, with the Prime Minister calling up the teams to congratulate them. You can get all updates from the Tokyo Olympics Moving on to the kitchen, our pick is an easy Rasmalai recipe because we spotted . Whip up a plate of goodness this weekend but don't forget to work out. . From the bookshelf, we have Pantheon by Sam Bourne - British journalist Jonathan Freedland, that is. From the world of OTT, you have a range of options, from the anthology Navarasa, to Bigg Boss OTT, which is being hosted by Karan Johar for now. More when you get . For now, stay safe and keep the mask on. Here's your Weekend Planner. WHAT'S TRENDING? India is in Chak De! mode after India ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian men's team beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match on Thursday to win their . Soon after their win, as the nation rejoiced. The women's hockey team, however, failed to clinch the bronze and lost the match to Great Britain. , but then, let's acknowledge that it was a tremendous performance by the girls. Chak De, indeed! For India, overall, it has been a glorious week as boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a medal for India after she clinched the bronze in the women's boxing welterweight category (64-69kg). . Badminton world champion , following up on her silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals at the Games. Sports aside, there was enough pandemonium on social media after a video showing surfaced on social media. As the incident sparked outrage on Twitter, an FIR was registered against the woman. As for Covid, . Also, the World Health Organisation has said that the . The cumulative number of coronavirus cases reported globally could exceed 200 million by next week, it added. So, remember the drill wear a mask, wash your hands and get the vaccine. SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE "Japanio, Sushi ko Vikaspuri aane se rok lo," comedian Gaurav Kapoor ranted in a video that he posted on Instagram on Delhi food. The clip, needless to mention, went viral on social media and we suggest you ! Also, here's a super cute video of a . We loved it. What about you? WHAT'S ON MY PLATE? Recently, . Guess what they gorged on? Well, they had some pooris, aloo-sabzi, mutton, pulao and rasgullas. Did that make your mouth water? Then this weekend, why not try making some delectable Indian dessert? How about some Rasmalai? We have the perfect recipe which is hassle-free and we bet you are going to love every bite of it. For making Rasmalai you will be needing 12 store-bought rasgullas, 1 tin condensed milk, 2 cups of milk, 1/8th tablespoon cardamom powder, few strands of saffron and chopped pistachio and almonds for garnishing. You can use store-bought rasgullas for your Rasmalai. First, squeeze out the syrup from the balls otherwise it will not soak up the milk properly. Pour milk and condensed milk into a pan and bring it to a boil. Add saffron and cardamom powder and simmer it for 5 to 6 minutes until the milk blends well. Reduce the flame and add in your rasgullas. Cover it and simmer it for a few minutes. Don't overcook or else the rasgullas can break. Garnish with chopped nuts, after it's done. You can serve it hot or cold. DON'T STOP WORKING OUT Looking for some fitness inspiration this weekend? Well, you must turn to Vicky Kaushal who is sweating it out at the gym for that envy-inducing fit body. He shared a picture of himself from his workout session and oh boy, we must agree he is working really hard for that toned and chiselled body. . and she is making the most of her time at home. However, Ankita, who is a fitness enthusiast just like her husband Milind Soman, is not missing out on her daily workout or running sessions. She is continually sharing pictures and videos from her early morning run and she sure is having a wonderful time in Guwahati. Ankita is giving no excuses to escape from her daily workout sessions, and so shouldn't you. FROM THE BOOKSHELF If you are a history fanatic, Sam Bourne's Pantheon might be the perfect pick for you. Written by journalist Jonathan Freedland under the pseudonym Sam Bourne, the book is set in the 1940s. The story revolves around James Zennor, a young Oxford don, who has been kept out of the war due to his injury. One morning, he returns home to find that his wife, Florence, along with his young son, Harry, have disappeared leaving only a note declaring her continuing love for James. Pantheon, a thriller, is a page-turner and will keep you curious till the very end. On a gloomy evening with your cuppa coffee, the book is the perfect end to the day. FASHIONABLY YOURS Fashion has always been a major part of Hindi movies. However, not many actresses wore international designers like Chanel or Dior in films, until Sonam Kapoor shook things up a bit with Aisha. As the film completes 11 years today, August 6, let's revisit . MOVIES AND MAGIC Theatres are finally opening up (again) after what looks like a check in the second wave of the novel coronavirus. And what better way to do that than by announcing a big film? So, . Well, we've waited long enough for this, so 3D toh banta hai. How does the trailer look? We tell you . But what's the one thing that's grabbing headlines more than Akki? It is Lara Dutta as Indira Gandhi. The transformation is just surreal. See . This weekend you also get to witness , with Karan Johar as the host. We doubt there will be any coffee here, but we do know that the audience will play a crucial role in deciding the contestant's punishments. More on that in our OTT section. Speaking of OTT, Mani Ratnam's Navarasa dropped on Netflix today. . The buzz in B-town is that . Neither party have confirmed it yet, but going by their fruitful relationship, we're low-key excited. Meanwhile, Mona Singh wrapped up Laal Singh Chaddha, and we got to see some cool BTS pics and clips, featuring Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. Check it out . As we get closer to Independence Day, bigger movies are set to arrive - Shershaah and Bhuj: The Pride Of India will be hogging the limelight. So until that big-binge moment comes, breath a little. There's enough content to browse through in the meantime. INTO THE WORLD OF OTT ON VOOT What to watch: Bigg Boss OTT You'll like if you've liked: Bigg Boss Bigg Boss OTT is set to premiere on Voot on August 8. The show will be hosted by Karan Johar. Some of the contestants participating in the show are Neha Bhasin, Ridhima Pandit, Karan Nath and Zeeshan Khan. The first six weeks of the six-month run of Bigg Boss 15 is being called Bigg Boss OTT. ON NETFLIX What to watch: Navarasa You will like it if you liked: Putham Pudhu Kaalai Netflix's Navarasa is a nine-film anthology jointly produced by Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan. Each story revolves around the nine emotions (nava rasas), which include fear, anger, compassion, romance, valour, laughter, wonder, peace and disgust. Navarasa is directed by popular directors like Rathindran Prasad, Arvind Swami, Bejoy Nambiar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Sarjun KM, Priyadarshan, Karthick Naren, Karthik Subbaraj and Vasanth, and features Vijay Sethupathi, Prakash Raj, Revathi, Ashok Selvan, Priyadarshan, Yogi Babu, Nedumudi Venu, Remya Nambeesan, Arvind Swami, Prasanna, Sai Siddharth, Poorna, Siddharth, Parvathy, Pavel Navageethan, Suriya and Pragya Martin, among others in pivotal roles. What to watch: Cooking With Paris You will like it if you liked: The Simple Life Can Paris Hilton cook? We will get the answer to this question in Netflix's Cooking With Paris. In this show, we see Paris trying her hands at cooking and failing at it. But that won't stop the star from hosting her own series. She collaborated with some of her celebrity friends including Kim Kardashian and Demi Lovato, among others. Not just cooking, we also see Paris go grocery shopping and compile a proper meal. The popstar also learns about things like fresh ingredients, unique recipes and intriguing appliances. The show has been inspired by Paris's viral YouTube video by the same name. ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO What to watch: S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies You will like it if you liked: The Dead Don't Die S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies is Amazon Prime Video's new science-fiction action series. The story follows drug lord Alonso Marroqu í n. He escapes from a prison in Mexico and hides in the middle of the desert. When a team of soldiers attempt to capture him, they come across the horrendous result of a failed United States Army genetic experiment. They turn into a new breed of zombies, leading to a battle. What to watch: Cruel Summers Season 1 You will like it if you liked: The Society The 10-episode teen drama series is told over three summers in the 90s. There are two girls in the middle of the story. When one goes missing mysteriously, the other seemingly takes her place. This has repercussions for everyone around them. ON ZEE5 What to watch: Dial 100 (August 1) You will like it if you liked: The Family Man 2 Starring Manoj Bajpayee and Neena Gupta, Dial 100 showcases how one phone call can turn people's lives upside down. While Manoj Bajpayee makes continuous attempts to save his family, Neena Gupta is adamant to avenge her son's death. ON DISNEY+HOTSTAR What to watch: Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union You will like it if you liked: House Of Cards Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union is a biopic, which is being released as a three-part documentary series. It will showcase the personal and political journey of former President Barack Obama. TUNE IN TO TV What to watch: Super Dancer - Chapter 4 Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday) Super Dancer - Chapter 4 is judged by Geeta Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty and Anurag Basu. However, Shilpa will be missing from the dance reality show this weekend as well after her husband Raj Kundra's arrest in a porn racket. Meanwhile, Sonali Bendre will be seen as a special guest on the show. The contestants will be impressing the actress with their dance performances on her songs. What to watch: Dance Deewane 3 Where to watch: Colors TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday) Dance Deewane 3 is judged by Tushar Kalia, Madhuri Dixit and Dharmesh Yelande. This weekend, Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh and Nora Fatehi will be seen as special guests on the show. They will be getting especially impressed by contestants Papai and Antara's performance. The show is hosted by comedian couple Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa. What to watch: Indian Idol 12 Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday) This weekend, Indian Idol 12 will welcome filmmaker Karan Johar as a special guest in its semi-finale episode. It will also host Bachpan Ka Pyaar star Sahdev Dirdo on the show. What to watch: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 Where to watch: Colors TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday) This week 12 KKK 11 contestants will fight it out by performing daredevil stunts on the show. Last week Sourabh Raaj Jain was eliminated and Nikki Tamboli was welcomed back on the show. It will be interesting to see who gets out of the stunt-based reality show this week. (Compiled by , , , , , , , . ) Graphic Your Weekend Planner August 6: Akshay Kumar brings Bell Bottom joy to theatres
129 The fortunes of the men's and women's hockey teams have been shaped well by their goalkeepers — PR Sreejesh and Savita Punia. Both seasoned players have steered the teams to the semifinals, thwarting oppositions, soaking up the pressure and motivating their teammates. While they go about protecting their respective citadels, they are bound by the common fibre of Olympic glory. As individuals, Sreejesh and Savita are as different as chalk and cheese. Off the field, Sreejesh, 35, is a born prankster and a man who enjoys the company of books the most. Savita, on the other hand, is soft-spoken and shy. The 29-year-old's stressbuster is Hindi music. On the field, they display a similar kind of controlled aggression. The similarity does not end there. They have both trained without specialised goalkeeping coaches for a couple of years now. While former Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chetri helped out Savita until his sudden exit in late 2019, Dutchman Dennis van de Pol has been the stopgap consultant for the men's team, but his training went virtual in September last year due to Covid-19. The duo, while mentoring younger goalkeepers in the team, have also been there for each other. As both teams spent 15 months at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru, Sreejesh and Savita discussed their skill sets, training and fears as custodians, who have no place to hide when they make a mistake. In fact, Sreejesh is Savita's favourite goalkeeper. In an interview with TOI, Savita, who hails from Jodhkan village in Sirsa, Haryana, had said, “Sreejesh has always been one of my favourite players. Even when he was injured he showed so much positivity.” The helping hand Sreejesh offered has held Savita in good stead. “We used come to the ground to watch Sree bhai, just before our training session. He gave us a lot of valuable tips, watched videos of our matches and highlighted my mistakes,” Savita had pointed out. Sreejesh, on the other hand, has worked on his skills all by himself. Speaking about chiselling his game in the build-up to the Olympics, he had said, “Since 2012, we have had only consultant coaches. They fine-tuned my basics. I started watching my own videos, rectifying mistakes and talking to our coaches. But there is a limit to self-learning but the past 8-9 years have helped me become self-reliant.” Two goalkeepers, two goals and one direction. That's the story of India's custodians, Sreejesh and Savita.
130 India's hockey players have managed to make a lot of disparate and some sparring entities happy at the same time India's hockey players have achieved the impossible off-field with their performance in the Tokyo Olympics. They have managed to make a lot of disparate and some sparring entities happy at the same time. The feminists are happy and the chauvinists are happy. The real coaches --- Graham Reid and Sjoerd Marijne --- are happy and reel coach, Kabir Khan, is also happy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is happy; after all he motivated them. Aditya Chak De Chopra must be happy for the Olympian replug of a nearly 15-year-old film. Akshay Kumar is also happy; he tweeted his congratulations to the men's team for "rewriting history". And it is perhaps safe to assume that after he is done filming Prithviraj Chauhan, Rakhsha Bandhan and Ram Setu, Akki will start rewriting Love in Tokyo into Bronze in Tokyo. Say cheese Let's see who else is happy? The cribbers are happy. It would all have been too hearty and saccharine and bhaichara but then Farhan Akhtar congratulated the women's team for the medal haul and gave them (cribbers) something to beat someone up about. Jharkhand is happy. First, chief minister Hemant Soren had a smart TV installed at defender Salima Tete's parents' home in Simdega district so they could watch their daughter play. And after the win, they have one more reason to cheer - Soren has promised every team member Rs 50 lakh. As you reap... Haryana is happy, in Punjab Captain has reason to smile, MP is happy, Manipur is happy, and even the presently troubled Mizoram is happy. Cash awards after the Games, backslapping after the Games, photo sessions and attention after the Games --- if one can straightaway reap an Olympian harvest without dwelling on the sowing, who will not be happy. Odisha and Naveen Patnaik, of course, have good reason to be euphoric - the state sponsored the women's and men's teams after Sahara backed out in 2018. What about the spirit of Dhyan Chand did you ask? Is The Wizard smiling down from the heavens at one of the most prestigious sporting awards of the country being renamed after him? Maybe, maybe not. Major Chand, who won gold in three Olympic Games wrote in his autobiography, "You are doubtless aware that I am a common man, and then a soldier. It has been my training from my very childhood to avoid limelight and publicity. I have chosen a profession where I have been taught to be a soldier, and nothing beyond that."
131 DELHI DIARIES: UP Congress yearns for an alliance, Bihar underplays floods Hockey seems to have regained at least some of its lost glory in India with the spectacular performances of the men's and women's teams at the Tokyo Olympics. Hockey lovers across the country are singing paeans to the Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, for having given India's national game a new lease of life by sponsoring both teams at a critical juncture in 2018 when Sahara decided to withdraw its sponsorship. Patnaik, who used to be the goalkeeper of his school hockey team, came to the rescue of the game immediately by signing a five-year deal said to be worth over Rs 100 crore. For a cash-strapped state like Odisha, this was a big sacrifice to make but Patnaik had no hesitation making the decision as the future of hockey was in jeopardy. Odisha, thus, became the first state of the country to officially sponsor the two teams. As the men's team clinched bronze at Tokyo, ending a 41-year medal drought at the Olympics, the team was as much in focus as the CM of Odisha with social media being flooded with praises for Patnaik. Even the Opposition leaders have been forced to admit Patnaik's contribution to the game. The CM, thus, seems to have killed two birds with one stone. While he has successfully restored hockey's lost glory in India, he has also made himself politically unassailable with his popularity at an all-time high. Stronger together The euphoria about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra transforming the Congress in Uttar Pradesh has finally disappeared and there is a strong yearning for an alliance for the upcoming assembly elections. While Congress leaders had dreamt of a dramatic revival, even talking of forming the government with Priyanka being projected as the CM candidate, their dreams have now been punctured. Many leaders privately concede that the situation is not good even though an organizational machinery has been put in place across the state. While critics and dissenters predict doom, even those supposed to be playing an important role in the Priyanka regime admit that Covid-19 derailed revival efforts and the party is not in a position to win in most constituencies in spite of having gained in strength. The Congress hopes an alliance with the Samajwadi Party will be beneficial for both and the Bharatiya Janata Party can then easily be kicked out of power. Even Priyanka does not rule out the possibility of an alliance. The SP leader, Akhilesh Yadav, has expressed willingness to tie up with smaller parties, particularly the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Jayant Chaudhary, but avoided mentioning the Congress. He has even talked of winning 400 out of the 403 seats, demonstrating confidence of a comeback. The Congress can hope the collective pressure of all Opposition parties will compel Yadav to go for an alliance. The show of unity during the ongoing parliamentary session is bound to bring all the parties under pressure to form a coalition. Out of sight Floods are ravaging large swathes of Bihar this year too, but there is a difference. The state government is not sharing data related to flood-affected areas, population, and relief works. Once or twice a month some half-baked figures are released, which do not give a clear picture of the devastation brought by the deluge. Asked about this change, a senior official shared that "some vested interests don't want to put the data in the public domain because it may lead to questions on relief works. There is another possibility that the state coffers are empty and the government has decided to downplay everything." Incidentally, the CM, Nitish Kumar, is yet to announce elaborate relief measures and compensation for flood victims this year. But Kumar is busy handling the pandemic. He wanted to see firsthand how well the people in Patna, Vaishali and a few other districts were following Covid-19 protocols. He set out with his entourage and saw no crowds, clean streets, and a thin presence of people, many of whom were masked. He returned satisfied and lifted most of the restrictions imposed. Unnerved by this development, the intelligentsia probed into what had happened and found out that whenever Kumar wants to inspect anything, all the officers concerned are duly informed about his impending visit. They smoothen and refurbish everything to the satisfaction of the CM. It happens with all welfare and development schemes too. Ignorance is bliss? Internal battles A recent function to mark the change of guard in the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee left party members with mixed emotions. While they were happy that a new team under Bhupen Kumar Borah was finally taking charge, the former state unit president and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Ripun Bora, left most people zapped when he spoke about the intense power struggle to oust him. He wished his successor would be able to concentrate on checking the BJP effectively instead of protecting his chair like he did for most of his tenure. Most felt this was unwarranted; leaving many hurt and embarrassed. Bora's remark was lapped up by the media, leaving most wondering whether the rise of the BJP is responsible for the Congress's fall or if it is the latter's self-destructive streak. Footnote The socialist moorings of the Karnataka CM, Basavaraj Bommai, has not gone down well with his hard-coreHindutvavadiparty colleagues. Son of the former CM, SR Bommai, of Janata Party, Bommai Jr was part of the Janata 'parivar' before joining the BJP in 2008. But the "socialist" label has stuck. If the "socialist" foundation of Bommai Jr is already an issue, the BJP government is in for some turbulence in the coming months.
132 The women lost 1-2 but there is no shame in that India women put up a valiant fight against Argentina in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games on Wednesday. They lost 1-2 but there is no shame in that. Winning and losing are part of the game. What the likes of Rani Rampal, Savita Punia, Sushila Chanu and Gurjit Kaur have achieved is unbelievable. Because of them, women's hockey in India has got a new dimension. There will now be a lot of interest in the game. Women's hockey has its own appeal. I am told that in Argentina, when the men play, around 10,000 fans turn up. But to see the women's team in action, 25,000 would be at the stands on any given day. Indian women's hockey needs backing and this fairy-tale performance will give them just that. Frankly, after watching both the semi-finals - the men's on Tuesday and women's a day later - I can proudly say that chief coach Sjoerd Marijne's girls have performed better. There is nothing to get disappointed about as we still have a chance to win the bronze medal. On Friday, India play Rio Olympics champions Great Britain who had helped us qualify for the knockouts by beating Ireland on July 31. India played outstanding hockey in both the knockout games against Australia and Argentina. They were not scared of their more industrious rivals and refused to yield an inch. If they play the same way against Great Britain, we have a very good chance of bagging a medal. In knockout matches, India had taken the lead first. How the team reacts if it concedes would be interesting to see. On Wednesday, I think India got the goal a bit early. Gurjit once again found her name on the scoresheet - she scored the all-important goal against Australia too - and after that India somehow went into a shell. Argentina won more midfield skirmishes that pegged our defence back. Also, Argentina did not allow India to play short passes, their strength, which forced the latter to play long balls. The second goal India conceded was unlucky. Maria Barrionuevo's flick crashed into the board after getting a deflection off Sushila Chanu's leg. Barrionuevo had also equalised by converting a penalty corner. Barrionuevo and goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi were the two players who were brilliant for Argentina. The men's team chase their first medal in 41 years when they take on Germany in the bronze medal play-off match on Thursday. I hope they find a place on the podium. A former India captain, Gurbux Singh was a member of the 1964 gold medal-winning hockey team.
133 With the Indian women hockey team creating history in Tokyo by beating Australia to book berth in the last four, the Sangam city broke into celebration. Afterall, the Prayagraj divisional office of North Central Railways (NCR) is the 'karmabhoomi' of two players from the Indian squad, including Monday's sole goal scorer Gurjit Kaur. Gurjit is posted in the personnel section of Prayagraj division of NCR. Apart from her, Nisha Wasi also works here. Since early morning, fellow hockey players of Gurjit and Nisha, office colleagues, their coach Pushpa Tiwari, Ravi Patel, sports officer and several other staff members of NCR along with hockey fans of the city were glued to their TV sets to watch the live telecast of the match. The game fever reached its peak when their familiar face, Gurjit scored in the second quarter off the only penalty corner that India got to push the three-time Olympic champions onto the backfoot. “Both Gurjit and Nisha were promising players since their induction way back in 2016. As the years passed, their game showed notable improvement and they made it to Indian team. Since their selection, we all were confident of a splendid performance from them," said Pushpa Tiwari, the hockey coach at NCR since 2010. The Indian win was also special for the newly appointed GM of the NCR, Pramod Kumar, as he had arrived in the city for the first time on Monday after taking the charge. “This is a proud moment for all of us. We wish Indian team to perform to its best and bring laurels to the nation”, he said. Likewise, divisional railway manager (DRM), Prayagraj, Mohit Chandra said, “It's a proud moment for Prayagraj Division. Gurjit has made the nation proud and we wish best of luck to her and the rest of the team for the games ahead”. After the Indian win, TOI also spoke to another local lad and former India captain and member of Indian Olympic Games, Danish Mujtaba. “Both, the men and women hockey team of the country are so very special that I am short of words. One thing is for sure that the achievement of our women hockey team would be remembered in the entire history of Indian women hockey and I am sure that they are not going to get satisfied with just a place in semis and will bring us the first gold of this tournament. Now is the payback time for the men's team as we lost to Belgium in the previous Olympics and have a chance to take the revenge on August 3,” said Mujtaba. Mujtaba had played in both the London and Rio Olympic games. Commenting on the achievement of the Indian team, president, NCR sports association, Sharad Mehta said, “We are trying to give the best possible environment to our sportspersons so that NCR could give its best to the nation in the field of sports.”
134 Indian women's hockey has always flown under the radar, living in the shadow of men's hockey in the country. When Rani Rampal and Co entered the fray at the Tokyo Olympics, a place in the quarterfinals was predicted by a few optimists. Even that came under the scanner after three straight losses in the pool matches. But the brand of hockey they have played over the past 15 days has been all heart and soul. Reaching the semifinal was a feat achieved with a win against the Australians. Up against world no. 2 Argentina in the last-4 match, they put up a good fight and shed a few drops of blood (Navneet Kaur) as well before going down 1-2. In a match where they gave their all, at least in the first and final quarters, the Indian team was eliminated from gold medal contention by a team which was leagues ahead in experience and more importantly bigstage exposure. India had their moments but floundered especially in injection, trapping and penalty corners. India stay in the hunt for a momentous podium finish and take on Great Britain in the bronze-medal playoff on Friday. India had lost to Britain 1-4 in the league stage. Meanwhile, in the final, Argentina will match up against Netherlands, who outclassed Britain 5-1 in the other semifinal clash. India were off to a blazing start with Gurjit Kaur getting her dragflick past an Argentine defender and goalkeeper Maria Succi in the second minute. The defence did well to soak up pressure until the end of the quarter. Argentina stormed the Indian defence early in the second quarter with Julieta Jankunas and Maria Trinchinetti fetching them two penalty corners in as many minutes. They got the equaliser soon, skipper Noel Barrionuevo, a veteran of 337 caps, on target in the 18th minute. The Las Leonas had the better of exchanges and possession as they used the left flank, giving little room for India to play their game. Although India managed to avert further damage, Argentina had started to chip away at their rivals' game plan. India found it hard to dribble or make short passes and employed long hits which were checked by the opposition's experienced backline. Also, there were gaping holes between the Indian midfield and forwardline, which allowed Argentina a greater share of ball possession. Argentina's raids wore the Indian defence down and each time they took their eyes off the ball or stumbled with their footwork inside the circle, they gave away penalty corners. This led to the matchwinner in the 36th minute. Barrionuevo, the 37-year-old defender with a lethal dragflick as her main weapon, slotted home off a penalty corner. There were a few anxious moments with the umpire seeking a referral, which went in Argentina's favour. India stepped on the pedal, fought tooth and nail for another goal, another chance to stay alive in the match. With 17.4 seconds for the final hooter, they went for a referral, seeking a penalty corner which was turned down.,
135 Higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine loses to the world no. 62 in the women's singles third round India's table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women's singles third round but G Sathiyan succumbed to the pressure on his Olympic debut to exit the men's singles competition in Tokyo on Sunday. While the 26th seed Sathian was expected to beat world number 94 Hong Kong's Siu Hang Lam in his second round match after getting a first round bye, the same cannot be said about Manika, whose gritty approach under pressure proved decisive against her higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine. Manika, ranked 62, made a remarkable comeback after losing the first two games to prevail 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 in a second round match that lasted 57 minutes. She meets Austria's Sofia Polcanova on Monday for a place in the round of 16. If Manika manages another upset, it will be a significant achievement for the Indian in her second Olympics. Like her first round match, she did not want the national coach in her corner on Sunday but her personal coach Sanmay Paranjape was seen in the gallery. However, the way she fought throughout the game, it showed she was supremely confident about her abilities and did not any need any court side support. Down and out after the first two games and trailing even in the third, Manika somehow clawed her way back into the match. She used the pimple rubber to good effect thereafter and combined it with a more offensive approach. The match saw long rallies, slow as well as fast ones, as Manika twiddled with her bat amazingly to find forehand and backhand winners. The sixth game which she won after trailing 2-5 turned the tide in her favour decisively. The timeout worked as she reeled off nine points in a row to give herself five game points before levelling the match at 3-3. With momentum in her side, Manika controlled the deciding game and sealed the match with a forehand cross court winner. Earlier, world number 38 Sathiyan had a commanding 3-1 lead but lost four games in a row to lose 3-4 to lower-ranked Lam from Hong Kong. "It is heartbreaking but I will come back stronger. I was playing really well initially. I was aggressive and serving well but after the fourth game he started to slow down the pace and started receiving better," Sathian told PTI. "The rallies got longer and I started to feel the pressure. I was a little bit passive from the fifth game onwards. I should have continued being aggressive despite his variation in pace. I just made the error of playing it safe. "Credit to him also. He did not make much mistakes in the last two games," Sathiyan added. The first game was tight but the Hong Kong player pulled away from 6-6 with his forehand at work. Sathiyan switched gears after the opening game with ease. He not only put up a stout defence but levelled the match when Lam hit a return out on a ferocious forehand. Sathiyan raced to a 5-1 lead in the third game in a dominating fashion and kept going strong as Lam's game fell apart and in no time and Sathiyan had a 2-1 lead in his pocket. But there was a twist in the tale with Lam drawing parity by taking the next two games. Sathiyan saved two game points in the sixth game to keep Lam under pressure but made an error on third game point. In the deciding game, Lam opened up a 5-2 lead with crushing forehand winner after a time out. Lam completed the upset win when Sathiyan made a backhand error. For someone who thrives on fast and long rallies, Sathiyan felt he was not aggressive enough after taking a 3-1 lead in the match while his opponent raising his game.
136 Basketball legend Kobe Bryant once said, “turn every setback into a comeback.” This will be the Indian women's hockey team's mantra when they face a resurgent Great Britain in the battle for bronze. Rani Rampal and her gritty girls' journey to the bronze-medal playoff is nothing short of a fairy tale. From participants, they graduated to medal contenders with sheer grit and determination backed by fitness. On Friday morning, they face the toughest test of their careers when they take on Great Britain for a place on the podium. Great Britain had handed India a 4-1 loss in Pool A, their third on the trot in the group stages. It was after that defeat that India had regrouped and advanced in the competition, a run which was halted by a narrow 1-2 defeat against Argentina in the semifinals. Defending champions Britain, on the other hand, went out of the gold-medal contention, losing 1-5 to Netherlands. Both teams come into the contest battered but not broken. To cover the distance to the podium, India will have to bridge the holes in their game, especially in the midfield and backline. They have to be alert, play upfront and ensure they don't concede penalty corners. The role of drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur will be crucial and Deep Grace Ekka will have to lead the pack of defenders. The new-look Indian team has shown energy and capability of beating higher ranked teams and will look to use the opportunity well on Friday. “An Olympic medal is a medal. If you win gold that is nice but still bronze is a medal, so we will fight for that medal and we will focus on the next match,” said skipper Rani. To start with they can draw inspiration from the men's team.
137 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medal-winning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Full report on
138 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medalwinning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it's a way of life, especially in the tribal areas where it is said that children learn to walk holding hockey sticks.
139 If P R Sreejesh shielded the goal with his life during India's bronze medal-winning match against Germany, there's another man who has played a silent role in guarding hockey's interests in the country. Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha chief minister, patronised hockey at a time the game needed it the most. Naveen was once a goalkeeper for his Doon School hockey team. It is that early love that led to his support for the game, which saw Odisha sponsor the men's as well as the women's teams right from the junior to the senior levels. In 2018, when Sahara withdrew, Odisha signed a Rs 140-crore deal with Hockey India to sponsor the men's and women's teams for five years. That was also the year Odisha hosted the men's hockey World Cup, which it will again host in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state is building India's largest hockey stadium for an estimated Rs 120 crore. Moments after India's historic win, Naveen spoke to some of the players in Tokyo over a video link. “Many congratulations to our team. The whole of India is so excited, as is Odisha, of course. We are all behind you and wish you the very best,” Naveen told them. While Naveen earned plaudits for supporting hockey, nothing would have been more special than the appreciation he got from skipper Manpreet Singh. “We have finally achieved our dream of winning an Olympic medal. On this special occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik ji, who has supported us in this journey,” he said. “His vision for hockey has helped us achieve this remarkable feat. While everyone was supporting cricket, the honourable CM chose hockey, and today you can see the result. I would like to say thank you so much, sir,” the captain said. “More than his own love for the game, the CM is moved by the love the people of Odisha have for hockey. This is what inspired him to promote the game,” Odisha sports secretary R Vineel Krishna said. Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it's a way of life, especially in the tribal areas where it is said that children learn to walk holding hockey sticks. Odisha was the only state that had its own professional hockey team, Kalinga Lancers, which participated in the Hockey India League and emerged as champion in the last edition in 2017. The state has a system of sports hostels that has been providing hockey coaching to thousands, with some of them going on to represent India. Odisha has also hosted all the major international hockey tournaments held in India in the last few years. The roadmap is ambitious. “To enable budding talent to practice on astroturf, the state is constructing 20 hockey training centres at a cost of Rs 200 crore. A professional coaching programme at the grassroots level will ensure that a large number of children get attracted to hockey and take it up as a career,” Krishna said.
140 The reigning world Champion Sindhu reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Yamaguchi. PV Sindhu has defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals of women's badminton singles on Friday, in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The reigning world Champion Sindhu reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Yamaguchi. Sindhu defended brilliantly to defeat Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza. The match sawYamaguchi stage a turnaround and level it in Game 2 after being down in the first set, and even starting down in the second. However, Sindhu made a stronger comeback and got the score to 20-20 only to win it later on. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The Indian ace shuttler had defeated Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark on Thursday. She is the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage. More to follow...
141 Manika Batra was beaten by Austria's Sofia Polcanova in straight sets in the third round of Women's singles in Table Tennis. India's table tennis star Manika Batra bowed out of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in the third round of Women's singles after losing to Austria's Sofia Polcanova. Polcanova defeated Manika in the game that lasted just 27 minutes in straight sets by 4-0 at the Metropolitan Gym. The contest was a contest till the first set only where Manika took some great points and made her opponent struggle but the Austrian took the set eventually 11-8. After which it was all Polcanova as she won the second set by 11-2 and Manika's struggle continued. Austrian continued her splendid form in the following sets as well and won them comfortably 11-5, 11-7 and qualified for the next round. Earlier, Sharath Kamal progressed to Round 3 of Men's singles but Manika's campaign has been cut short as she and Sharath were eliminated from Round of 16 in the mixed doubles. Sutirtha Mukherjee too lost her singles game in the second round on Monday to Portugal's Fu Yu.
142 Reigning world Champion PV Sindhu kept India's hopes of winning a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton alive as she reached the semifinals of women's singles with a fighting straight-game win over world no 5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi here on Friday. The 26-year-old Indian, who won a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attack to outclass the fourth seeded Yamaguchi 21-13 22-20 in a 56-minute quarterfinal clash at the Musashino Forest Plaza here. She will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon and Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. The sixth seeded Indian came into the match with a 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. On Thursday, Sindhu had notched up a straight-game triumph over Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt, 13th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. She was the lone Indian in fray in badminton after men's singles player B Sai Praneeth and men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
143 India's dream of a gold medal on their maiden entry into the knockout stages of the women's hockey competition came to a premature end when the team lost 1-2 to Argentina in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics here on Wednesday. However, Indians still celebrated as we are very proud of our hockey team. People across the country took to social media to send greetings and wishes to the girls. However, two upper caste men began circling Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya's home at Roshnabad village, Haridwar. A report by the Times of India informs that the men burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled casteist slurs at her family. Katariya's family alleged that the men said that the team lost because it had "too many Dalit players". An FIR is yet to be registered but an inquiry has been set up. One of the accused has been detained by police. The news of the casteist attack has left the nation shocked and enraged. many have come out in support of the Katariya family and have condemned the actions of the upper caste men. Here's what people are saying.
144 CITY SPORTS The Karnataka government will honour the seven Tokyo Olympics medallists soon, sports minister KC Narayana Gowda said in a statement. They include gold medal winner Neeraj Chopra (athletics), silver medallists Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Ravi Dahiya (wrestling) and bronze winners Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), PV Sindhu (badminton) and Bajrang Punia (wrestling) and the men's hockey team. The state will also felicitate the three Olympians from Karnataka — Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in women's golf, Fouaad Mirza (equestrian) and Srihari Nataraj (swimming). With the second wave of Covid-19 receding, competitive tennis will resume in Karnataka with the AITA TS 3 U-12 tennis tournament that kicks off at the KSLTA courts in Bengaluru from Monday. Three other tournaments in as many weeks are lined up for August. The tournaments will be conducted under strict Covid protocols to safeguard the interests of players, parents, coaches and officials and will be played over three days only with a maximum of 32 players. The tournaments to be held from September will see the participation of players from across the country.
145 All timings in Indian Standard time * Equestrian - Eventing dressage day 1, session 1 (5am) * Golf - Men's Round 2 (5.22am) * Shooting - Women's 25m pistol qualification rapid (5.30am) * Archery - Women's individual 1/8 eliminations (6.00am) * Athletics - Men's 3000m steeplechase, round 1, heat 2 (6.17am) * Golf - Men's Round 2 (7.39am) * Athletics - Women's 100m round 1, heat (8.10am) * Hockey - Women's Pool A, vs Ireland (8.15am) * Boxing - Women's 60kg Round of 16 (8.18am) * Athletics - Men's 400m hurdles round 1, heat 5 (8.27am) * Sailing - Men's 49er, race 7, 8 &9 (8.35am) Women's one person dinghy laser radial, race 9 & 10 (8.35am) * Boxing - Women's 69kg, quarter final 2 (8.48am) * Shooting - Women's 25m pistol final (subject to qualification) (10.30am) * Sailing - Men's one person dinghy laser, race 9&10 (11.05am) * Archery - Women's individual quarter finals onwards, subject to qualification (TBD) * Badminton - Women's singles quarter finals (1.15pm) * Equestrian - Eventing dressage day 1, session 2 (2pm) * Hockey - Men's Pool A, vs Japan (3pm) * Athletics - 4X400m mixed relay, round 1, heat 2 (4.42pm)
146 The Indian side created history and entered their maiden Olympic hockey semifinals as they stunned the three-time champions. UPSET - that's what world No. 2 Australia must be feeling after they were defeated 1-0 by the Indian women's hockey team in the quater-finals at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. The Indian side created history and entered their maiden Olympic hockey semifinals as they stunned the three-time champions in an intense last-eight tie. Soon after, netizens poured in praises for the girls as they recalled Shah Ruk Khan's Chak de India movie. A day before this, the Indian men's team entered the Olympic semifinals following a 49-year gap.
147 All timings mentioned are in Indian Standard time * Fencing - Women's sabre individual table of 64 (5.30am) * Archery - Men's team 1/8 elimination (6am) * Shooting - Skeet men's qualification (6.30am) * Table Tennis - Men's singles round 2 (6.30am) * Tennis - Men's singles round 2 (Matches from 7.30am) * Table Tennis - Women's singles round 2 (8.30am) * Sailing - Men's one person dinghy, laser radial (8.35 am) * Badminton - Men's doubles group play stage (9.10 am) * Archery - Men's team quarter final, if India qualify (10.15am) * Sailing - Women's one person dinghy, laser radial, race 3 & 4 (11.05am) * Archery - Men's team semi final, if India qualify (11.47am) * Shooting - Skeet men's final (12.20pm, if shooters qualify) * Table Tennis - Women's singles round 3 (1.00pm) * Boxing - Men's 75kg round of 32 (3.06pm) * Swimming - Men's 200m butterfly, heats (3.50pm) * Hockey - Women's Pool A Germany vs India (5.45pm) All timings in IST
148 India's poster girl for badminton, PV Sindhu, seeded sixth, lost Badminton Women's Singles Semifinal 18-21,12-21 in 40 minutes to second seed Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei. Sindhu will now face He Bingjiao in the Bronze Medal match on Sunday. With sharp drop shots, Tzu-Ying, the World No. 1, used Sindhu' height to her advantage to boss the game and eventually put an end to PV Sindhu's impressive campaign at Tokyo Olympics. More to follow...
149 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India's highest sporting honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been rechristened as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award was earlier named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi but has now be renamed in honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. The change comes following the commendable performance of both men's and women's hockey teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. PM Modi took to social media to make the announcement and said he had been getting many requests from citizens about the same. "Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," he tweeted. India made a lot of progress in hockey at the Olympics as the men's team won the bronze medal and the women came in at the fourth spot. The prime minister added that there is a renewed interest towards the sport across India and this is a very positive sign. The prestigious award carries a prize money of Rs 25 lakh.
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1 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BOAT RACING (89%); ROWING (89%); ARCHERY (78%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); BOATING & RAFTING (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
2 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); ROWING (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); BOAT RACING (73%); BOATING & RAFTING (73%) Company: RADIAL INC (63%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (63%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (63%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (63%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (63%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (63%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (63%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
3 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GOLF (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (68%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
4 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTINGS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%); JAPAN (58%); NEW ZEALAND (52%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
5 Subject: 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); BADMINTON (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (97%); BELGIUM (71%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
6 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
7 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%) Industry: EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); STREAMING MEDIA (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); INDIA (93%); CHINA (75%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
8 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); RACEWALKING (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (78%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
9 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); CRICKET (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); EMOTIONS (69%) Company: BEST INC (54%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (54%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (54%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (54%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
10 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); BOXING (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); ARCHERY (72%); GOLF (70%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (88%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
11 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
12 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (56%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); ARGENTINA (99%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (78%); LATIN AMERICA (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
13 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); CRICKET (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (67%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (58%); THAILAND (52%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
14 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
15 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); ARCHERY (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%) Company: ABHISHEK CORP LTD (85%) Industry: NAICS313110 FIBER, YARN & THREAD MILLS (85%); SIC2281 YARN SPINNING MILLS (85%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (56%); INDIA (94%); NETHERLANDS (79%); NEW ZEALAND (55%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
16 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (71%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
17 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); FILM (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (64%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); FILM (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (64%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); MEXICO (56%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
18 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GRAMMY AWARDS (78%); MUSIC (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); ACADEMY AWARDS (75%); GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (75%); NOVELS & SHORT STORIES (70%); FILM DIRECTORS (67%); GRANDCHILDREN (66%) Company: GUCCI GROUP NV (95%) Industry: NAICS316992 NARI HANDBAG & PURSE MANUFACTURING (95%); SIC3171 WOMEN'S HANDBAGS & PURSES (95%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS (90%); FASHION DESIGNERS (90%); SINGERS & MUSICIANS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); GRAMMY AWARDS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); MOVIE FILMING (76%); MOVIE RELEASE DATES (76%); ACADEMY AWARDS (75%); GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (75%); FASHION & APPAREL (72%); FILM DIRECTORS (67%); FASHION DESIGN (66%) Person: ADAM DRIVER (92%); AL PACINO (79%); JARED LETO (79%); JEREMY IRONS (79%) Geographic: INDIA (74%); EUROPE (73%); UNITED STATES (67%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
19 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
20 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); FESTIVALS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (75%); VIRTUAL EVENTS (75%); TRENDS & EVENTS (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); WEIGHTLIFTING (63%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (54%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (54%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (54%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FESTIVALS (76%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (75%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
21 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); FILM DIRECTORS (87%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); FILM (71%) Industry: FILM DIRECTORS (87%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (74%); FILM (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
22 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); INDIA (92%); CHINA (73%); TAIWAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
23 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); RANKINGS (76%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
24 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (89%); BOXING (78%); FENCING (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); SWIMMING (75%); ARCHERY (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
25 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
26 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (92%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (94%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JAPAN (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
27 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); EMPLOYMENT SEARCH (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); MIDDLE MANAGEMENT (72%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (94%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
28 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%); EMOTIONS (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
29 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRITERS (86%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: WRITERS (86%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
30 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%) Organization: MINNESOTA WILD (57%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
31 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); WRITERS (85%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%) Industry: WRITERS (85%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
32 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (75%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
33 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); BADMINTON (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); EMOTIONS (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
34 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); ATHLETES (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); WOMEN (90%); DISCRIMINATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); FAMILY (88%); NEGATIVE NEWS (86%); FEMINISM & WOMEN'S RIGHTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT (75%); VOLLEYBALL (73%); GOLF (70%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (69%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (69%); SEXUAL HARASSMENT (64%); UNITED NATIONS (60%); UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS (60%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
35 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CLIMATE CHANGE (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); INTERVIEWS (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (73%); DOMESTIC OFFENSES (72%); MARRIAGE (71%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (71%); NARI SPORTS (69%); HIP HOP CULTURE (66%); RAP MUSIC (66%); DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (65%); PETITIONS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); HIP HOP CULTURE (66%) Geographic: HIMALAYAS (59%); INDIAN OCEAN (59%); INDIA (93%); ARGENTINA (79%); SERBIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (73%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
36 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%); NETHERLANDS (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
37 Subject: ARCHERY (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); HIGH SCHOOLS (75%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (60%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOLS (75%); PRIMARY SCHOOLS (60%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (87%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (91%); JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
38 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPONSORSHIP (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
39 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (51%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
40 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (93%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (92%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); WEIGHTLIFTING (87%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); VACCINES (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (71%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (71%); VIRUSES (71%); NARI SPORTS (71%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (66%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (64%); BIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE (62%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (50%) Company: GUCCI GROUP NV (84%) Industry: NAICS316992 WOMEN'S HANDBAG & PURSE MANUFACTURING (84%); SIC3171 WOMEN'S HANDBAGS & PURSES (84%); FASHION & APPAREL (88%); FASHION DESIGNERS (85%); VACCINES (78%); PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY (77%); FASHION INDUSTRY (70%); CLOTHING LABELS (67%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (66%); MOTORCYCLES (65%); RESTAURANTS (64%); FASHION DESIGN (62%); MEN'S CLOTHING (62%) Person: ALESSANDRO MICHELE (77%); JARED LETO (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (56%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (93%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
41 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); CHILDREN (66%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (60%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (90%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (96%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
42 Subject: HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); NARI SPORTS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); ATHLETES (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (94%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (88%); MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (79%); VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
43 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RUNNING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (76%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (73%); TRENDS (72%); GOLF (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (97%); EUROPE (78%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
44 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); WOMEN (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
45 Subject: COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (87%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); PUBLIC OFFICIALS (77%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (75%); OLYMPICS (74%); NARI HEALTH (74%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); CORONAVIRUSES (71%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); BADMINTON (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); WATER RESOURCES (69%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (67%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (67%); SARS (67%); VACCINES (65%); PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (64%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (62%); VIRUSES (61%) Company: STATE BANK OF INDIA (85%); FACEBOOK INC (57%) Ticker: SBIN (NSE) (85%); SBID (LSE) (85%); FB (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (85%); SIC6021 NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS (85%); NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (75%); BANKING & FINANCE (65%); VACCINES (65%) Person: BILLIE EILISH (90%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
46 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); RESIGNATIONS (77%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); EMBASSIES & CONSULATES (68%); MEN'S SPORTS (65%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%); NARI SPORTS (65%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN (78%); STYLISTS & IMAGE CONSULTANTS (76%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); REALITY TELEVISION (66%) Geographic: BIHAR, INDIA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); AFGHANISTAN (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
47 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FAMILY (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (76%); OLYMPICS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
48 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DAY LABORERS (76%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (75%); ARMIES (71%); MIGRANT WORKERS (71%); BONE FRACTURES (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); ARMIES (71%); MARINE VESSELS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); ODISHA, INDIA (95%); GOA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
49 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (75%); CHILDREN (72%); MIGRANT WORKERS (71%); WAGES & SALARIES (63%); BONE FRACTURES (60%); ARMIES (51%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%); MARINE VESSELS (68%); ARMIES (51%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (95%); GOA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
50 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
51 Subject: NARI SPORTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); WOMEN (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); POOL & BILLIARDS (77%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: CAMERAS (72%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (92%); ASIA (73%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
52 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JAPAN (58%); HONG KONG (55%); NETHERLANDS (53%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
53 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
54 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); WOMEN (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
55 Subject: SIKHS & SIKHISM (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); NARI SPORTS (74%); TALIBAN (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); AFGHANISTAN (88%); PAKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
56 Subject: BOXING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (67%) Industry: BUDGETS (73%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (53%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (76%); ASSAM, INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
57 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%) Industry: BUDGETS (73%); HIGHWAYS & STREETS (54%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (53%); ASSAM, INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
58 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); FILM (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); FUNDRAISING (74%); FILM DIRECTORS (62%); SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FILMS (62%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (62%); SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FILMS (62%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (94%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (93%) Geographic: GERMANY (93%); ARGENTINA (92%); AUSTRALIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
59 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); TOURNAMENTS (71%); POPULATION SIZE (68%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (94%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
60 Subject: TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MATERNITY LEAVE (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (77%); EMOTIONS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HOBART, AUSTRALIA (71%); UZBEKISTAN (88%); AUSTRALIA (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (78%); UKRAINE (57%); GERMANY (53%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
61 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); FILM (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (79%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); BOXING (72%); TRACK & FIELD (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (79%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%); VISUAL ARTISTS (70%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (54%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
62 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
63 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); 2014 SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WINTER SPORTS (89%); 2018 PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); DICTIONARIES & THESAURI (70%) Industry: PRESS AGENCY RELEASES (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); HOKKAIDO, JAPAN (79%); JAPAN (94%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (92%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (92%); INDIA (90%); GREECE (88%); TAIWAN (79%); UZBEKISTAN (79%); FRANCE (71%); UKRAINE (57%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
64 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); EQUESTRIAN SPORTS (90%); HORSES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (75%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (78%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
65 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BOXING (77%); BADMINTON (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (53%); INDIA (92%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (91%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
66 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
67 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (77%); CURRICULA (76%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (66%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (56%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
68 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); AZERBAIJAN (58%); KAZAKHSTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
69 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BOXING (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); BADMINTON (73%); FIELD HOCKEY (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (50%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (70%); PAKISTAN (58%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
70 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ROWING (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (72%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (72%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); NETHERLANDS (78%); NEW ZEALAND (54%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
71 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); DICTIONARIES & THESAURI (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (92%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (92%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (92%); GREECE (88%); TAIWAN (79%); UZBEKISTAN (79%); AUSTRIA (72%); UKRAINE (72%); FRANCE (69%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
72 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (71%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (71%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (71%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (65%); HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION (60%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); EAST CHINA (78%); INDIA (95%); CHINA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
73 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MOVIE REVIEWS (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Company: BEST INC (58%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (58%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (58%); MOVIE REVIEWS (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); NEW ZEALAND (92%); ARGENTINA (79%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
74 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RANKINGS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (71%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (58%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); HOBART, AUSTRALIA (57%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (92%); UKRAINE (88%); UZBEKISTAN (88%); NETHERLANDS (53%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
75 Subject: NARI SPORTS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DIWALI (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); WOMEN (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (74%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (74%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
76 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); NARI SPORTS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (90%); INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
77 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
78 Subject: TENNIS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (77%) Person: ASHLEIGH BARTY (79%); GARBINE MUGURUZA (79%); KEI NISHIKORI (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (79%) Geographic: INDIA (88%); UZBEKISTAN (55%); SPAIN (52%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
79 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); CONSUMERS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (66%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (52%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING (90%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING REGULATION (90%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
80 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (51%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (89%) Geographic: NEW ZEALAND (91%); AUSTRALIA (79%); BOLIVIA (79%); CROATIA (54%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
81 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (70%) Company: TATA GROUP (74%) Industry: NAICS541330 ENGINEERING SERVICES (74%); NAICS311920 COFFEE & TEA MANUFACTURING (74%); SIC4911 ELECTRIC SERVICES (74%); SIC3312 STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES (INCLUDING COKE OVENS) & ROLLING MILLS (74%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (74%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); ODISHA, INDIA (97%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
82 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); HONG KONG (73%); JAPAN (59%); THAILAND (56%); NETHERLANDS (51%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); GERMANY (79%); AZERBAIJAN (50%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
84 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); BOXING (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SPORTING GOODS (73%); DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS (71%); TICKET SALES (65%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (73%); TICKET SALES (65%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); SOUTH INDIA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (97%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); JAPAN (78%); UNITED KINGDOM (77%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
85 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); HANDBALL (89%); WOMEN (89%); CELEBRITIES (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); FINES & PENALTIES (67%); DANCERS (65%); BEACHES (64%) Industry: ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (90%); SWIMWEAR (89%); CELEBRITIES (79%); DANCERS (65%) Person: PINK (50%) Geographic: GERMANY (94%); NORWAY (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
86 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (72%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); UNITED STATES (87%); EUROPE (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
87 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOMEN (90%); BADMINTON (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (51%); INDIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NETHERLANDS (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
88 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Geographic: NETHERLANDS (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (77%); UNITED KINGDOM (57%); UKRAINE (53%); HONG KONG (51%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
89 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (61%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
90 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
91 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DOMESTIC OFFENSES (76%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (74%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (71%) Person: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%); UNITED STATES (72%); CZECH REPUBLIC (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
92 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%); ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (76%); CABINET OFFICES (75%); EMOTIONS (73%) Company: TATA GROUP (58%) Industry: NAICS541330 ENGINEERING SERVICES (58%); NAICS311920 COFFEE & TEA MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC4911 ELECTRIC SERVICES (58%); SIC3312 STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES (INCLUDING COKE OVENS) & ROLLING MILLS (58%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (58%); SPONSORSHIP (89%); SPORTS SPONSORSHIP (78%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
93 Subject: SPORTS FANS (91%); NARI SPORTS (91%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: RAJASTHAN, INDIA (90%); INDIA (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
94 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%); AKSHAY KUMAR (72%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
95 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (93%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%); EMOTIONS (71%) Company: BEST INC (58%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (58%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (58%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); FILM DIRECTORS (75%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (92%); AKSHAY KUMAR (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
96 Subject: ATHLETES (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (69%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (69%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (54%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (88%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); ASSAM, INDIA (89%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
97 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); SPORTS FANS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Company: TWITTER INC (84%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (84%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); INTERNET TROLLING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (75%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (71%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
98 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS FANS (73%); WOMEN (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (68%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (68%); HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (67%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (53%) Industry: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (67%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (88%); INDIA (97%); GERMANY (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
99 Subject: MEN'S SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (99%); UNITED KINGDOM (94%); AUSTRALIA (92%); BELGIUM (88%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
100 Subject: APPOINTMENTS (92%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (91%); CHILDREN (90%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (73%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (73%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (72%) Geographic: UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (96%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
101 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (87%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); WOMEN (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
102 Subject: NARI SPORTS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
103 Subject: GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); MOUNTAIN CLIMBING (73%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); BLOGS & MESSAGE BOARDS (78%); SHORT FORM CONTENT (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
104 Subject: SPORTS FANS (90%); CRICKET (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); ENGLAND (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
105 Subject: SPORTS FANS (90%); CRICKET (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); ENGLAND (79%); BELGIUM (54%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
106 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (90%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (78%); CRICKET (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS INJURIES (77%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
107 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (90%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); NARI SPORTS (79%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (78%); CRICKET (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS INJURIES (77%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
108 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (92%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (92%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
109 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & NATIONAL SECURITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COLD WAR (78%); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); DIPLOMATIC SERVICES (77%); SCANDALS (74%); TENNIS (73%); WRITERS (72%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (69%); MENTAL HEALTH (69%); MENTAL ILLNESS (69%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (68%); PRESS CONFERENCES (66%) Industry: WRITERS (72%) Person: SIMONE BILES (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (94%); UNITED STATES (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
110 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); RACE & ETHNICITY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WOMEN (89%); FEMINISM & WOMEN'S RIGHTS (78%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (78%); ATHLETES (75%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (75%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); SPORTS TAMPERING (75%); NEGATIVE NEWS (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); PAKISTAN (59%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
111 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); KICKBOXING (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); BADMINTON (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (55%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); LONDON, ENGLAND (70%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (90%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
112 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); KICKBOXING (77%); MARTIAL ARTS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (68%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (54%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (70%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%); TAIWAN (90%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
113 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); BELGIUM (88%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
114 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); RESEARCH REPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%) Geographic: IOWA, USA (79%); INDIA (90%); BELGIUM (57%); UNITED STATES (52%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
116 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
117 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS FANS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
118 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
119 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%); SOCIAL MEDIA (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (63%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (68%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
120 Subject: NARI SPORTS (94%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); WOMEN (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (84%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (84%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (94%); AKSHAY KUMAR (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
121 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (69%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (92%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (89%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
122 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SCHOOL ATHLETIC STAFF (68%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (78%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (91%); UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
123 Subject: EDITORIALS & OPINIONS (99%); NARI SPORTS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); WOMEN (90%); ATHLETES (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SEX & GENDER ISSUES (89%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); TENNIS (89%); GENDER & SEX DISCRIMINATION (84%); SHAMING (79%); EQUAL PAY (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); FINES & PENALTIES (73%); HANDBALL (73%); BADMINTON (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (70%); WAGE DISCRIMINATION (64%); WAGES & SALARIES (60%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (50%) Industry: SWIMWEAR (75%) Person: SERENA WILLIAMS (51%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
124 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTING GOODS (73%); OLYMPICS (69%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
125 Subject: NARI SPORTS (96%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); WOMEN (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (63%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (91%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%); ARGENTINA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 10, 2021
126 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); NETHERLANDS (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
127 Subject: SPORTS FANS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (78%); GRANDPARENTS (77%); EMOTIONS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
128 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NARI SPORTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); ATHLETES (74%); MEN'S SPORTS (74%); BOXING (73%); BADMINTON (69%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (69%); PRIME MINISTERS (54%) Industry: ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (78%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (92%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (76%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
129 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); INTERVIEWS (79%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (52%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (52%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
130 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FEMINISM & NARI RIGHTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOMEN'S SPORTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%); PHOTOGRAPHY (69%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: PHOTOGRAPHY (69%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); AKSHAY KUMAR (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (79%); MIZORAM, INDIA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); ODISHA, INDIA (74%); PUNJAB, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
131 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (78%); ELECTIONS (78%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); SCHOOL SPORTS (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); POLITICS (70%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: ODISHA, INDIA (91%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); BIHAR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
132 Subject: NARI SPORTS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Company: SA DAY MANUFACTURING CO (69%) Industry: SIC2899 CHEMICALS & CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS, NEC (69%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (94%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (87%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
133 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (74%); SPORTS FANS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (69%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); BELGIUM (51%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
134 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (95%); UNITED KINGDOM (88%); NETHERLANDS (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
135 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); RANKINGS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (92%); UKRAINE (73%); HONG KONG (72%); AUSTRIA (55%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
136 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BASKETBALL (79%); MEN'S SPORTS (79%); OLYMPICS (73%) Person: KOBE BRYANT (79%) Geographic: ARGENTINA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (74%); NETHERLANDS (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
137 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
138 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (71%); OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
139 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (89%); ATHLETES (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (71%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); ODISHA, INDIA (94%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
140 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); JAPAN (73%); THAILAND (54%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
141 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (89%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%) Company: METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP (56%) Ticker: MCB (NYSE) (56%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (56%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (56%); CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: AUSTRIA (90%); INDIA (58%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
142 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (55%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (57%); THAILAND (56%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
143 Subject: ABUSE & NEGLECT (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); MEN (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUBSTANCE ABUSE (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (74%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%); ARGENTINA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
144 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); TENNIS (78%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (72%); GOLF (70%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); WEIGHTLIFTING (57%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
145 Subject: BOXING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); EQUESTRIAN SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Company: RADIAL INC (66%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (66%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (66%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (66%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (66%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (66%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
146 Subject: WINTER OLYMPICS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
147 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); FENCING (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); TENNIS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); BOXING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SWIMMING (70%) Company: RADIAL INC (91%) Industry: NAICS561499 ALL OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (91%); NAICS561422 TELEMARKETING BUREAUS & OTHER CONTACT CENTERS (91%); NAICS541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES (91%); NAICS518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING & RELATED SERVICES (91%); NAICS454110 ELECTRONIC SHOPPING AND MAIL-ORDER HOUSES (91%); SIC7389 BUSINESS SERVICES (91%) Geographic: GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
148 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); NARI SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
149 Subject: PRIME MINISTERS (91%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MEN'S SPORTS (78%); NARI SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
Classification
1 MenAndWomen
2 MenAndWomen
3 MenAndWomen
4 MenAndWomen
5 MenAndWomen
6 MenAndWomen
7 MenAndWomen
8 MenAndWomen
9 MenAndWomen
10 MenAndWomen
11 MenAndWomen
12 MenAndWomen
13 MenAndWomen
14 MenAndWomen
15 MenAndWomen
16 MenAndWomen
17 MenAndWomen
18 MenAndWomen
19 MenAndWomen
20 MenAndWomen
21 MenAndWomen
22 MenAndWomen
23 MenAndWomen
24 MenAndWomen
25 MenAndWomen
26 MenAndWomen
27 MenAndWomen
28 MenAndWomen
29 MenAndWomen
30 MenAndWomen
31 MenAndWomen
32 MenAndWomen
33 MenAndWomen
34 MenAndWomen
35 MenAndWomen
36 MenAndWomen
37 MenAndWomen
38 MenAndWomen
39 MenAndWomen
40 MenAndWomen
41 MenAndWomen
42 MenAndWomen
43 MenAndWomen
44 MenAndWomen
45 MenAndWomen
46 MenAndWomen
47 MenAndWomen
48 MenAndWomen
49 MenAndWomen
50 MenAndWomen
51 MenAndWomen
52 MenAndWomen
53 MenAndWomen
54 MenAndWomen
55 MenAndWomen
56 MenAndWomen
57 MenAndWomen
58 MenAndWomen
59 MenAndWomen
60 MenAndWomen
61 MenAndWomen
62 MenAndWomen
63 MenAndWomen
64 MenAndWomen
65 MenAndWomen
66 MenAndWomen
67 MenAndWomen
68 MenAndWomen
69 MenAndWomen
70 MenAndWomen
71 MenAndWomen
72 MenAndWomen
73 MenAndWomen
74 MenAndWomen
75 MenAndWomen
76 MenAndWomen
77 MenAndWomen
78 MenAndWomen
79 MenAndWomen
80 MenAndWomen
81 MenAndWomen
82 MenAndWomen
83 MenAndWomen
84 MenAndWomen
85 MenAndWomen
86 MenAndWomen
87 MenAndWomen
88 MenAndWomen
89 MenAndWomen
90 MenAndWomen
91 MenAndWomen
92 MenAndWomen
93 MenAndWomen
94 MenAndWomen
95 MenAndWomen
96 MenAndWomen
97 MenAndWomen
98 MenAndWomen
99 MenAndWomen
100 MenAndWomen
101 MenAndWomen
102 MenAndWomen
103 MenAndWomen
104 MenAndWomen
105 MenAndWomen
106 MenAndWomen
107 MenAndWomen
108 MenAndWomen
109 MenAndWomen
110 MenAndWomen
111 MenAndWomen
112 MenAndWomen
113 MenAndWomen
114 MenAndWomen
115 MenAndWomen
116 MenAndWomen
117 MenAndWomen
118 MenAndWomen
119 MenAndWomen
120 MenAndWomen
121 MenAndWomen
122 MenAndWomen
123 MenAndWomen
124 MenAndWomen
125 MenAndWomen
126 MenAndWomen
127 MenAndWomen
128 MenAndWomen
129 MenAndWomen
130 MenAndWomen
131 MenAndWomen
132 MenAndWomen
133 MenAndWomen
134 MenAndWomen
135 MenAndWomen
136 MenAndWomen
137 MenAndWomen
138 MenAndWomen
139 MenAndWomen
140 MenAndWomen
141 MenAndWomen
142 MenAndWomen
143 MenAndWomen
144 MenAndWomen
145 MenAndWomen
146 MenAndWomen
147 MenAndWomen
148 MenAndWomen
149 MenAndWomen#sanity check
remaining<-dfnews_edit %>%
filter(!grepl("NARI|MEN'S|MEN'S.*NARI|NARI.*MEN'S", Tags))
remaining newspaper date
1 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
2 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
3 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
4 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
5 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
6 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
7 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
8 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
9 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
10 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
11 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
12 MINT August 7, 2021
13 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
14 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
15 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
16 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
17 MINT August 5, 2021
18 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
19 Hindustan Times July 22, 2021
20 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
21 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
22 Hindustan Times July 22, 2021
23 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
24 MINT August 1, 2021
25 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
26 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
27 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
28 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021
29 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
30 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
31 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
32 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
33 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
34 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
35 MINT August 8, 2021
36 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
37 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
38 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
39 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
40 MINT August 7, 2021
41 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
42 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
43 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
44 MINT July 25, 2021
45 MINT August 9, 2021
46 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021
47 MINT August 7, 2021
48 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
49 MINT August 8, 2021
50 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
51 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
52 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
53 Hindustan Times July 26, 2021
54 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021
55 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
56 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021
57 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021
58 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021
59 MINT August 4, 2021
60 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
61 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021
62 MINT August 8, 2021
63 MINT August 8, 2021
64 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
65 MINT August 8, 2021
66 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
67 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
68 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
69 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021
70 MINT July 24, 2021
71 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
72 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
73 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
74 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
75 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
76 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
77 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
78 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
79 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021
80 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021
81 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
82 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
83 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
84 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021
85 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
86 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
87 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021
88 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021
89 MINT August 8, 2021
90 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
91 MINT August 8, 2021
92 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021
93 MINT July 27, 2021
94 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021
95 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021
96 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021
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1 After Neeraj Chopra became the second Indian ever to win an individual gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting that Indian Army personnel must be trained for such events is being widely shared on social media. PM Modi's video has gone viral after 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra, who is a subedar with the army, won the first gold medal in track and field in the Olympics on Saturday. He threw a distance of 87.58m in the javelin throw event to win the gold medal. In the video, PM Modi who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, is heard lamenting the fact that despite India's vast population, the country has struggled to win medals in the Olympics. The Prime Minister, while addressing the students of Fergusson College in Pune, pitched that newly recruited army personnel interested in sports can be trained for the Olympics. "Can a nation of 1.2 billion people not win gold in the Olympics? People often heard lamenting and asking this question every four years when the Games are played. I understand there are issues but have we taken any initiative to link (sports) to our education system? Have we given enough opportunities to our youth?" PM Modi asked the audience. "If only people in the army were given this duty, the newly recruited ones who are interested in sports if trained well can bring 5-10 medals easily," he added. The video can also be found on PM Modi's official YouTube channel. Social media users also referred to this video citing the Indian Army's Mission Olympics Wing behind the success of the Indian contingent at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Chopra enrolled with the 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct entry naib subedar, the army has said. Neeraj Chopra was selected for training at Pune's Mission Olympics Wing and Army Sports Institute soon after he joined the army. The Mission Olympics Wing initiative by the Indian Army to identify and train elite sportsmen in 11 selected disciplines at five Mission Olympics Nodes to excel in various national and international competitions.
2 Tokyo Olympics 2020 closing ceremony Live Streaming: India registered their best-ever campaign at the Tokyo Games, with seven medals in total. Neeraj Chopra emerged as the star athlete for India, winning the gold medal in men's javelin throw on Saturday. Now, on Sunday, as the Tokyo Olympics come to a close, the larger focus will be on the closing ceremony. Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze medal in men's freestyle 65kg wrestling event will be the flag-bearer for India at the closing ceremony. Here is all you need to know about Tokyo 2020 Olympics closing ceremony: Where will the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics take place? The closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will take place at the National Stadium in Tokyo. At what time does the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics begin? The closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will begin at 4:30 pm Indian Standard Time on Sunday, August 8th. Where and how to watch live coverage of the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics? The closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will be aired live on Sony Sports Network. How to watch the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics online and on mobile? The closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will be available on SonyLiv. You can also catch the live commentary and latest updates of the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on .
3 India's Lovlina Borgohain on Wednesday went down in the semi-final of the women's welterweight (64-69kg) category to Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli to settle for a bronze medal. This is India's third medal of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Looking to script history by becoming the first-ever boxer from the country to enter an Olympic final, the pugilist from Assam was no match in front of the reigning world champion of the division, as she lost all three rounds with unanimous decision from the five judges going in favour of the Turkish boxer. Tokyo Olympics - Day 12 - Live Updates Borgohain might have gone down but she has become only the third Indian boxer to win a medal at the Olympics. Six-time world champion Mary Kom clinched bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, while Vijender Singh bagged bronze in Beijing in 2008. Competing in the Welter (64-69kg) event, the bronze medalist at the 2017 and the 2021 Asian Championships defeated, Nadine Apetz 3-2 in the round of 16 bout. Three days later in the quarterfinal, she outpunched Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-Chin 4-1 to storm into the semifinals and ensure India of another medal at Tokyo 2020. Lovlina, the first-ever woman from Assam to take part at the Olympics, battled against the wretched Covid-19 in October 2020, just hours before she was about to board a flight to Italy along with the Indian contingent for a training-cum-competition trip. She was forced into isolation and despite facing all the hardships, the boxer will bring home an Olympic medal. Interestingly, The 23-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, had originally started her career as a Muay Thai practitioner. It was only when she met her first coach Padum Boro, her life took a definite turn. Boro who worked at Sports Authority of India's Shillong and Dimapur centers introduced her to boxing and since then there has been no looking back for Lovlina.
4 Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Saturday scripted history by clinching a gold medal with an 87.58m throw at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. He became only the second Indian athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Neeraj took the first position in the first attempt with a throw of 87.03m. However, he bettered his performance in the following round with an 87.58m throw that kept him in the lead. His third attempt was 76.79m. Neeraj's gold in the men's javelin throw event took India's medal tally to seven at the Tokyo Olympics, bettering the count of six medals at the 2012 London Olympics. Meanwhile, social media got flooded with reactions. Be it cricketers, actors, politicians or former Olympians, people came forward to congratulate the Indian hero who made his country proud by outclassing all other participants in style. Here are the reactions: The 23-year-old farmer's son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals to stun the athletics world and end India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics. Chopra won the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics and joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) as India's individual gold winners in the showpiece.
5 PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Neeraj Chopra after he became the second Indian to bag an individual gold medal at the Olympics on Saturday. Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58m throw. "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold," tweeted PM Modi. The 23-year-old farmer's son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals to stun the athletics world and end India's more than 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics. Chopra won the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics and joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) as India's individual gold winners in the showpiece event. With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medal achieved in the 2012 London Games.
6 Neeraj Chopra created history on Saturday as he won the gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in the men's javelin throw event. Several Bollywood stars, from Akshay Kumar to Taapsee Pannu, shared congratulatory messages for him. With his win, Neeraj Chopra became the first athlete from India to win a track-and-field medal in the Olympics, with a throw of 87.58 m in the second round. The 23-year-old is also the second Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual sport after shooter Abhinav Bindra. Ajay Devgn wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on your win at the Tokyo Olympics. More power to you! You've made your parents & India proud. Can't tell you how happy I am. This is awesome. #NeerajChopra #TokyoOlympics." Emraan Hashmi and John Abraham called Neeraj's achievement 'historic'. Akshay Kumar wrote, "It's a GOLD. Heartiest Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on creating history. You're responsible for a billion tears of joy! Well done #NeerajChopra! #Tokyo2020." Taapsee Pannu tweeted, "It's a gold!!!!!!! I am jumping with Joy!!!! This young man Neeraj Chopra has created history!!!!!!!" Diana Penty wrote, "The man with a GOLDen arm!! Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1. Superrrr proud and happy!" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind also lauded Neeraj Chopra. "Unprecedented win by Neeraj Chopra! Your javelin gold breaks barriers and creates history. You bring home first ever track and field medal to India in your first Olympics. Your feat will inspire our youth. India is elated! Heartiest congratulations!," President Kovind wrote on Twitter. "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1 has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold. #Tokyo2020," PM Modi tweeted.
7 India's Ravi Kumar Dahiya defeated Kazakhistan's Nurislam Sanayev in 57kg semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics match on Wednesday in a thrilling fashion. It was a big comeback win for the Indian wrestler, who was trailing 2-9 at one point, but then went on to win five points on the trot to close the gap. Ravi Kumar Dahiya put Sanayev in a lock hold as he pinned the Kazakh wrestler on the mat for a three-count, thus winning the bout. Tokyo Olympics Day 13 - LIVE! But there have been reports that Ravi Kumar Dahiya was apparently bitten by Sanayev during the bout, for which he complained after the match. Later, several videos were posted on social media in which it looked that as Dahiya was attempting the pin over Sanayev, the Kazakh wrestler did in fact, dug his teeth in his opponent's right arm. With the win, Ravi Kumar Dahiya booked a spot in the gold medal match. He will face off against ROC's Zavur Uguev in the 57kg final on Thursday. India's Deepak Punia will also be in action in a bronze medal bout against San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine. Vinesh Phogat loses Vinesh Phogat suffered a massive upset defeat at the Olympic Games after being pinned by Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the 53kg quarterfinals to not only go out of the gold medal race but also face the risk of getting eliminated, here on Thursday. Young Anshu Malik bowed out of the 57kg competition after losing her repechage round 1-5 to Russia's Valeria Koblova, the Rio Olympics silver medallist. Anshu never looked intimidated by a stronger opponent and was leading the bout at one stage on criteria but towards the end, the Russian pulled off a two-pointer to nose ahead. (With agency inputs)
8 PV Sindhu on Sunday scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win two individual medals by clinching bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Her father PV Ramana expressed happiness with the win, saying he was impressed with his daughter's offensive games. Sindhu defeat China's He Bingjiao 21-13,21-15 in 53 minutes to clinch her second medal, her first after the silver medal at the Rio Olympics. (FULL TOKYO 2020 COVERAGE) Sindhu on Sunday became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. Sindhu defeated China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics here at the Musashino Forest Plaza Court 1. HIGHLIGHTS: SINDHU CLINCHES BRONZE, BEATS HE BINGJIAO "I want to thank the Government of India, Sports Authority of India and I am grateful to them for giving her the encouragement. I am happy that she has won a medal for the country. Playing the bronze medal match can be painful, yesterday I motivated her a lot, thank God, with the blessings of everyone, she has brought a medal. I am happy that she is the first Indian woman to win two consecutive medals at the Olympics. She has brought name and fame to the country," Sindhu's father Ramana told reporters here at a press conference. "Yesterday, I told her that you have given your best, just think you are giving me a gift and play on the court. She had tears in her eyes, good that she has recovered and come back. Overall, she was very aggressive on the court, I just told her to keep attacking," he added. Sindhu's father PV Ramana also disclosed that her daughter would be arriving on August 3. "I told her that I'll come to Delhi, I think she is coming to Delhi on August 3. Olympics is not a small event where you get a medal, a medal is a medal. I am happy with the way she has worked. I am confident she will play next Olympics also. We have to get as many medals to the country. Sindhu is focused and she has that hunger. She enjoys the game. Sindhu is 26, with age you get more experience. I have seen that in the entire Tokyo Olympics," said Ramana. The 26-year-old Sindhu is now just the second Indian athlete to win two individual Olympic medals. Wrestler Sushil Kumar also has two medals as he returned with a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics 2008 and a silver at the London Olympics 2012.
9 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged all Indians to support athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics through the Victory Punch campaign on social media. "The incredible images and moments of two days before is still in front of my eyes. That's why I will start Mann Ki Baat with those moments. Seeing athletes carrying the Tiranga, not only I but the whole nation got excited. It was like the entire nation got together and said 'Vijayi Bhava' to all the players," said PM Modi during his monthly radio programme. The Prime Minister said he talked to the athletes before they left for the Tokyo Olympics and got the opportunity to know them. "These players have overcome several adversities in their life to reach this place. Today they have the power of your support and love, so come forward in wishing them and in encouraging them," he said. "To support our Olympics team on social media, the 'Victory Punch Campaign' has already begun. You can also share your victory punch along with your team and cheer for India," he added. On Saturday, PM Modi led the country in congratulating weightlifter Mirabai Chanu who clinched a silver in the 49kg category at the Tokyo Olympics and ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Games. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg -- 87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk -- to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. PM Modi wished Mirabai Chanu on her success, saying her feat will inspire the future generations of the country. "Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020," PM Modi tweeted.
10 Neeraj Chopra had his arms up in the air. He knew something special had just come out of his hands. It indeed was. The javelin soared high and landed at a distance of 87.58m, which gave independent India their first Olympics medal in track and field events. Neeraj Chopra had scripted history. His monster throw in the men's javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday ended India's 121-year-old wait for an Olympic medal in athletics. Neeraj's gold medal in Tokyo 2020 also provided company to shooter Abhinav Bindra as the javelin thrower became the second Indian to win an individual gold at the Games. Bindra had won India's maiden individual gold in 2008 Beijing Olympics. VIDEO: Neeraj Chopra's throw that earned India a historic gold in javelin throw Neeraj, who had started with an 87.03m throw in his first attempt, bettered his mark in the second one with a throw of 87.58m that ensured his gold medal. Czech Republic throwers Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vitezslav Vesely (85.44m) took the silver and bronze respectively. Chopra came into the final as a medal contender after topping the qualification round on Wednesday with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m. But few would have thought he would bludgeon his way to gold in such a dominant fashion at the grandest of the stage. Season leader and pre-tournament gold favourite Johannes Vetter of Germany, who had thrown the javelin to 90m plus distances seven times between April and June, was eliminated after the first three throws as he was placed ninth with a best effort of 82.52m. Top eight after the first three throws get three more attempts while the remaining four in the 12-man final are eliminated.
11 Cricket might be the most popular sport in India, but even cricketers known themselves, what it means to be an Olympian. The Olympics are the pinnacle of sports as pits the best athletes in the world against each other across several disciplies. While cricket is not an Olympic sport yet, Indian cricketers, both past and present, have been cheering for the Indian athletes who are participating in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is one of them and he lauded the Olympians for putting India on the world map of sports by participating in the Olympics "India needs more sportspeople to put us on the world map with mega wins and participate in international sporting events such as Olympics, which is considered the pinnacle for sports. "Just your participation means that you are among the best, and such people deserve every acclaim, honour and endowment." Keeping with the spirit of providing the best assistance to athletes, the 2011 ICC World Cup - 'Man of the series' - announced that all 120 athletes participating in the Tokyo Games will receive free healthcare checkups and winners will receive 10 years of free health test service. The initiative is backed by health test at home service provider Healthians. "With an objective to inspire and help prepare athletes for world sports, we need to support sportsmen and move towards a glorious future in sports, and initiative like this should be encouraged" Yuvraj added. The announcement comes on a day when boxer Lovlina Borgohain assured India a medal in the women's welterweight category, as she roared into the semi-finals. The boxer is assured of at least a bronze medal even if she loses her next bout. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu had won a silver for India on the very first day of the Games.
12 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday dedicated his Olympic gold to legendry sprinter Milkha Singh, who died of Covid in June this year. "Milkha Singh wanted to hear the national anthem in a stadium. He is no longer with us but his dream has been fulfilled," Chopra said while dedicating his gold to the iconic sprinter who had finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Today, Chopra won the first gold for India at Tokyo Olympics. He threw his longest throw of 87.58m in the finals to claim the country's first track-and-field medal. With this, he became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. "Dad waited so many years for this to happen. His dream has finally come true with India's first athletic gold. I am crying as I tweet this. And I am sure dad is crying up above. Thank you for making this happen," Jeev posted. "Not only did you win us a first-ever athletics gold medal in the #OlympicGames, you even dedicated it to my father. The Milkha family is eternally grateful for this honour," he added. The iconic sprinter, who was fondly known as the 'Flying Sikh', had often talked about his deep desire to see an Indian win a track and field Olympic medal. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, PT Usha came close to winning a medal in women's 400m hurdles but, like Milkha, finished fourth.
13 Actor Anushka Sharma is in love with Olympian Mirabai Chanu's Olympics special earrings and the beautiful meaning behind them. Mirabai opened the country's account at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday with her silver medal win at the 49kg weightlifting category. Anushka took to Instagram Stories on Wednesday to call Mirabai a 'beauty' and even made a special mention of her earrings. "This is (purple heart emoji)," she captioned her post. Mirabai's earrings were a gift from her mother who sold her own jewellery for them five years ago. The hope was that the earrings would bring her "good luck". It didn't happen in the Rio 2016 Games but Mirabai made the little sacrifice count in Tokyo. "I saw the earrings on TV, I gave them to her in 2016 before the (Rio) Olympics. I have made it for her from the gold pieces and savings I have so that it brings luck and success," Leima told PTI from her home in Manipur. "I was in tears seeing it and also during the moment she won the medal. Her father (Saikhom Kriti Meitei) was also in tears. Tears of joy. All her hard work has led to the success." The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg 115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Anushka wasn't the only Bollywood star to praise Mirabai after her big win. Anil Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu !! This is incredible!! #TeamIndia #Cheer4India." Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu on bringing India a silver medal in weightlifting and giving us a strong start!" Swara Bhasker said, "SO many congratulations #MirabaiChanu !!!!!! May you go looooong and strong!!!!" Randeep Hooda said, "Congratulations #MirabaiChanu for opening our account in the #OlympicGames with your #silver thank you for all your hard work and that competitive spirit."
14 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday created history by becoming the second Indian to win an individual gold medal in Olympics after shooter Abhinav Bindra. Neeraj is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from independent India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Neeraj won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.58m in his second attempt. The only medal that India had won in track-and-field events was back in 1900 when British-Indian Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in Paris. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's medals to India though various research, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain. Neeraj Chopra's gold took India's medal count to seven at the Tokyo Olympics - the best ever, bettering the tally of six medals at the London Olympics in 2012. Chopra also became the sixth Indian athlete to win an individual medal at Tokyo 2020 joining weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, shuttler PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang Punia. Neeraj was at the No.1 position after all athletes completed their first attempts with an 87.03m throw. The Indian bettered his performance in the second attempt with an 87.58m throw which kept him in the lead. Neeraj's third attempt was 76.79m. A farmer's son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana who took up athletics to shed flab, Neeraj maintained his top spot when 12 athletes were trimmed to 8. The top athletes advanced to get three more attempts. Neeraj's fourth and fifth attempts were not up to the mark and the athlete chose to deliberately cross over the line so that the distances don't count on both occasions. The Indian continued to be the best thrower at the end of round 5 by virtue of his monster throw in the second attempt. A pre-tournament medal contender, the 23-year-old Chopra fuelled country's expectations by topping the qualification round with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m. (More details awaited)
15 Satish Chopra was struggling to find the right words. He and Bhim Chopra also took a trip down memory lane to when Neeraj Chopra had started the journey that would fetch an Olympic javelin gold in Tokyo on Saturday. All this while, the village of Khandra in Haryana's Panipat district was dancing and distributing sweets to the 19-members of the Chopra family whose phones never stopped ringing. India's only Olympic gold from Tokyo - and its only medal from athletics in the Games ever - had come moments ago and the village was celebrating an 87.58m effort of its most famous son. "I am not getting words to explain this happiness, it's the fruit of his hard work and dedication", said Satish reacting to his son's feat after he was presented with a turban by the villagers. "I remember the day when he started practice in Panipat's Shivaji stadium and travelled 20km everyday as there was no practice ground in our village." The year was 2011, said Bhim, Neeraj's uncle. It was Neeraj's friend Jaiveer who helped him focus on javelin convinced that his winning several local competitions was the start of something special, said Bhim. "In 2016, he was very disappointed when he could not make it to the Rio Olympics. But we did not lose hope and worked hard and the family supported him a lot", he said. Neeraj had set a junior world record of 86.48 in the 2016 IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Poland but it was after the cut-off date to qualify for the Olympics. Neeraj's mother Saroj said: "Not only me but the entire country is happy over the performance of my son. I am proud of my son." The Chopras are farmers. Satish and his two brothers and their families stay together. Everyone was glued to the television on Saturday afternoon when Neeraj's event began. And after he won gold, celebrations began with the whole village joining in. And it didn't take long to spread to Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and the rest of the state. Neeraj won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games with a throw of 82.23 m and again in the Asian Athletic championships 2017 with a throw of 85.23m. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold medal with his best effort of 86.47m. Again in 2018, he broke the national record at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 87.43 meters. He also won the Asian Games gold that year. So Khandra is used to Neeraj bringing home medals. But this felt different.
16 Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Saturday won the bronze medal after defeating Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan in the men's freestyle 65kg category. The second seed, who faced a crushing 5-12 defeat to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev in the semifinals, redeemed his campaign as he earned India's sixth medal of Tokyo 2020 with a clear 8-0 victory in the bronze medal bout. The men's freestyle 65kg bronze medal showdown bout began with Punia taking a point when Niyazbekov couldn't score in the 30 seconds attacking zone. The Indian then got another point to take a 2-0 lead at the break. (Full Tokyo 2020 Coverage) Punia started off on an attacking note in the last three minutes and got two more points with a take down to take a 4-0 lead. The India then gave no chance to the wrester from Kazakhstan by scoring four more points with two more take downs. Punia became the sixth Indian wrestler to finish on the Olympic podium after KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Kumar Dahiya. This became the second instance after the 2012 London Olympics when two Indian wrestlers won medals in the same Games. Ravi Dahiya had earlier won silver in the men's 57 kg category in this Olympic. Twenty-seven-year-old Punia began his challenge against Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev, defeating him 3-3 after scoring a later point with a smart take-down towards the end of the bout. In the 1/4 final, he enjoyed a successful second period against Morteza Cheka Ghiasi of Iran to win by fall. TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS DAY 15 BLOG Bajrang is a three-time world championships medallist. He won a bronze in the 2019 World Championships and had won a silver in 2018, both in the 65kg category. He had won a bronze at the world championships in 2013 in the 60 kg category. He is also the reigning Commonwealth and Asian games champion of the 65kg category, having won the gold medal in 2018 in both the Games. He had won a silver medal in the 61kg category in the CWG and Asiad in 2014 respectively. (more details awaited)
17 Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya on Thursday clinched an Olympic silver medal after losing his 57 kg final to Russian two-time defending world champion Zavur Uguev. The ROC wrestler registered a 7-4 win against Dahiya. There were expectations that the 23-year-old Dahiya would become India's youngest Olympic champion but the Russian defended well to win comfortably. This is India's second silver medal and fifth medal overall at the Tokyo Olympics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Ravi Kumar Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler! His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding. Congratulations to him for winning the Silver Medal at Tokyo 2020. India takes great pride in his accomplishments." Dahiya had lost to Uguev at the 2019 World Championship also. The wrestler from Nahri village in Haryana had outclassed Colombia's Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he erased a massive 2-9 deficit to pin Nurislam Sanayev. Sushil Kumar, who is now in jail on charges of murder, is the only other Indian wrestler to have made the final at Olympics. He had won a silver at the 2012 London Games, where Yogeshwar Dutt also won a bronze. Sushil had won a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. KD Jadhav had won a bronze in the 1952 Helsinki Games. Sakshi Malik had become the first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she clinched a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
18 Raninder Singh, the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), spoke on the performances of the Indian Shooting squad so far at the Tokyo Olympics. Raninder said there is a need for an overhaul in the coaching and support staff after most of the Indian shooters failed to qualify for the medal rounds. "Yes definitely the performances have not been on expected lines and I have spoken of an overhaul of coaching and support staff as I feel something is lacking in getting our shooters prepared for these big occasions because clearly the talent is there and we have seen it here as well," Raninder said. India went to the Tokyo Olympics with their strongest ever contingent with 15 shooters but has so far has not managed to win a medal. In fact, apart from Saurabh Chaudhary - who finished seventh in the Men's 10m Air Pistol event - none of the shooters managed to qualify for the medal rounds. India's Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary finished seventh in the qualification stage 2 of 10M Air Pistol Mixed Team competitions on Tuesday, day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Shooting competition at the Asaka Shooting range in Tokyo. After topping the first qualification round with a score of 586 out of 600, and showing glimpses of the form that made them win four world cup gold medals, Manu and Saurabh fell short of the medals rounds by four points in the second, finishing with a score of 380 out of 400. The second Indian pair of Abhishek Verma and Yashaswini Deswal could not make it beyond the first qualification round, finishing 17thwith a score of 564. The two Indian pairs in the 10M Air Rifle Mixed Team event also could not progress beyond the first round of qualification. Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar shot a combined 626.5 for a 12thplace finish while Deepak Kumar and Anjum Moudgil shot 623.8 to also finish outside the top eight at 18thspot. Raninder, however, urged everyone to back the shooters, who still have a shot at getting a medal. "Having said that we still have starts left and the team is fighting so let's continue to back the team and I am sure we'll get results. Post-mortems can wait till after the Games." Day five has the Trap competitions on schedule where India has no entry, but day six will see Rahi Sarnobat and Manu Bhaker pick up the fight again in the Women's 25M Pistol qualifications.
19 There has been a sense of intrigue surrounding the preparation of Chinese athletes for the Tokyo Olympics. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic a year and a half back, Chinese Olympic hopefuls have mostly stayed in China, either choosing not to participate in international events, or because there were travel bans on them. Apart from those disciplines where qualification was at stake, Chinese athletes have quietly prepared at home. So, if the opportunity comes for World No 7 PV Sindhu to face World No.2 Chen Yu Fei or World No. 8 He Bing Jiao, or Amit Panghal to fight Hu Jianguan in the ring, for the Indians, it may feel like facing an unknown opponent. The last time Sindhu faced Yu Fei was at the 2019 World Championships, where Sindhu beat her in straight sets in the semi-final. Since March 2020, Yu Fei has not played an international tournament. It is the same for Bing Jiao, who beat Sindhu at the 2019 India Open, before retreating from the pandemic-scarred 2020 and 2021 calendar. China has been looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics with hopes of improving their medal count after a precipitous fall at Rio 2016. After topping the medal tally at home in 2008 with 48 gold medals and finished behind USA in 2012, China's gold count dropped to 26 in Riom making it their worst Olympics in two decades (they still finished at third). Tokyo was an opportunity to strike back, but after the Pandemic began with Wuhan as ground zero, the preparations of their Olympic-bound athletes took a different turn. China has come with 431 athletes, their largest Olympics contingent after Beijing and expects to hold sway in table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, weightlifting, shooting and diving. For training, the Chinese stars had quality sparring partners at home and an enhanced and intense domestic calendar. They were also one of the first countries to open training centres and restart sporting leagues after pandemic-enforced lockdowns. "China's preparation has been very different. With the Covid restrictions they have not played any tournaments at all," said India table tennis star G Sathiyan. "But they are a force by themselves. There were plenty of tournaments inside China (simulating) the Olympic atmosphere and with the same formats, so they are well prepared. China has called on experts from the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the world's top MMA tournament to work on the strength and conditioning of many of their Olympians. In shooting, there are a lot of new young faces in the Chinese team, picked after a long series of trials. The qualification system was made more difficult with each step. The team includes 16-year-old Sheng Lihao in men's 10m air rifle individual and mixed team events (where he will come up against India's 18-year-old Divyansh Panwar, the current world No 2) but excludes big names like Rio 2016 gold medalist Zhang Mengxue (women's 10m air pistol) and the reigning world champion in air rifle, Im Hana. "They have plenty of talent to choose from, but the point is Indian shooters have been dominant in the last two seasons and we have beaten China at World Cups," said rifle coach Deepali Deshpande. "So, it is no worry for us." In boxing, besides Panghal's rival Hu Jianguan, the Chinese women's team has a formidable reputation. "China is strong in women's boxing and few good boxers in men as well, but they have not competed, and if you ask me, I would not have gone into an Olympics without facing competition for so long," said Santiago Nieva, India's high performance boxing coach. "They have a strong domestic structure and good sparring partners, but you cannot do quality training without competition. It is difficult to get that intensity of competition. And not to forget post COVID, the sporting world has also changed. You have the added anxiety of travelling, getting tested and taking other precautions. Those teams who have competed are prepared to take that mental stress." The two Chinese badminton stars last played at the All England in March 2020, when the world was a different place. With China's domination in badminton waning - they won only two of the five gold medals in Rio - they have their task cut out for them. "China will be at a disadvantage. You don't go to the biggest sporting event in the world without facing any competition. The anti-Chinese feelings at the start of the pandemic perhaps made them train at home. No doubt they have a great structure but the sporting world has changed. Everyone has access to modern training regimes and sports science," said former international and India national selector Vimal Kumar.
20 This could turn out to be India's "Super Saturday" at the Olympic Games. At no other time in India's history at the Olympics has there been a day when seven athletes in four different events will be going in with a real chance at winning medals. Not just win medals, though that would be historic enough, but do it with an air of redemption. TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020: FULL COVERAGE Redemption for a top lifter who, in a moment of weakness could not clear even a single attempt in one category of her event in Rio 2016, where she was one of the favourites. Redemption for India's vaunted shooters, who returned without a medal from Rio, the first time in four editions of the Games where an Indian shooter did not stand on the podium. Redemption for Deepika Kumari, for long one of the best archers in the world, exiting in the second round at her second Olympics. Each of these events has medals on offer for India on Day 1, and in each discipline the Indians competing are ranked in the top three in the world. That includes Kumari, the world No 1 women's archer, at her third Olympics. And Mirabai Chanu, the world No 2 in women's 49kg category in weightlifting, who failed so spectacularly in Rio and has improved in leaps and bounds. The range The Asaka Shooting Range is a temporary shooting venue which has been reorganized to comply with the standards of the 2020 Olympics. Yet, it's rich in history, because tucked away in a corner of Tokyo, the range for the 1964 Olympics shooting events also stood here. The small venue with 60 lanes is a convertible range for both 50m and 10m range. With 10m competitions starting first, training for 50m was stopped for the last couple of days to allow air conditioning to cool the range down. That has come as a reprieve for the air rifle shooters, who perform wearing stiff, heavy attire. They went through their pre-event training comfortably on Friday. It is at this range that the Indian shooters will be eager to bury the ghosts of Rio. Since then, a burst of young talent, nurtured by former India players, have taken the shooting world by storm. In 2019, India swept the shooting world cup cycle for the first time, leaving behind powerhouses like China, Russia and the US. So terrific has been the run of Indian shooters in the last four years, that they enter this edition of the Games as contenders in several categories. On Saturday, the best of them will be on show-Abhishek Verma and Saurabh Chaudhary, seeded 1 and 2 in Tokyo in 10m air pistol and Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan, seeded 1 in 10m Air Rifle. They go into their event not just as contenders, but the ones to beat. Barbells and bows Far off in another part of the city, Mirabai Chanu too would look to finally get over the heart-break of Rio. This time she takes the stage as the world record holder in clean & jerk, the category in which she failed to lift all three of her attempts in Rio. Talk about turning things around. And in yet another part of the city, Kumari will pair up with Pravin Jadhav for the archery mixed team event. All of these athletes have come to Tokyo with a solid preparatory phase behind them. The shooting team isolated itself for two and a half months in Croatia in a training camp when the brutal second wave of the pandemic swept through India. Chanu trained for large parts of this year and the last in a famous lifting gym in St Louis, USA. A lot will ride on how the young shooters perform on the world's biggest stage. Eleven of the 15-member team are making their Games debuts, including Valarivan, who rose to the top of the most competitive event in Indian shooting. She booked her berth for the Olympics with two world cup golds, and even the world championship silver medallist, Anjum Moudgil, could not make the cut for the event (Moudgil is in the team for a different event though, 50m rifle three-positions). Both Valarivan and Chandela, who were at the top of their form in 2019 have struggled in 2021 when global shooting competitions restarted after a pandemic-enforced break in 2020. Valarivan did not qualify for the finals in her last two world cups, and Chandela had to contend with regaining her posture and form after losing weight and not fitting into her original shooting gear. No Indian woman shooter has ever won a medal for India. A qualification score of 630 will be good enough to qualify for the eight-shooter final and after that it will be anybody's game. "It will all come down to who handles the pressure better," said rifle coach Deepali Deshpande. In air pistol, Chaudhary and Verma are in the best possible space. The 19-year-old Chaudhary, an Asian Games gold medallist at 16, has so far, shown no signs of being nervous on the big stage. Whether at small competitions or big, he shoots with the same inscrutable look on his face, in a zone of his own, with metronymic accuracy. The two top competitors in the category are China's Pang Wei, an Olympic and world championships gold medallist, and South Korean great and four-time Olympic champion and world record holder Jin Jong-oh. Chaudhary has beaten Jon-oh to second place at the Asian Games. Iran's Javad Foroughi, who won back-to-back world cup golds before coming in to Tokyo, is also in great form. Verma, the 31-year-old lawyer turned shooter, whose steep rise in the sport-he only picked up a gun for the first time when he was 25 years old-is a story of inspiration and obsession has also been in medal-winning form in recent world cups. In archery, Deepika Kumari will not get to pair up with husband Atanu Das, who finished a lowly 35th in the individual ranking round on Friday. The top male archer for India was Pravin Jadhav at 31st and the archery team made a last minute change based on form to pair Jadhav with Kumari in mixed team, an event making its debut in Tokyo. Kumari was 9th in the individual ranking round. The road to a medal is extremely tough for the pair. They will face Chinese Taipei, one of the world's preeminent archery teams, in their first elimination round.
21 On a typically hot summer day, Deepika Kumari stood next to a placard that pronounced her world No. 1, going absolutely still as she took aim inside the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on Friday. For some reason, Kumari has never been comfortable with the top status. The OIympics, the biggest stage of them all, has weighed her down in the past, and her wealth of experience has not really helped. Tokyo though has felt different. The absence of exuberant fans in the stands, Kumari feels, will be an advantage. At the 2012 London Olympics, which the teenager entered as the world's best recurve archer, Kumari lost in the first round. Four years on in Rio, she made it to the round of 16. The reticent archer from Ranchi is the face of the sport in India though she faces criticism for not delivering at the Olympics. In Tokyo, she began a fresh quest for Olympic medal in the individual round by being placed ninth with a score of 663 in the ranking round of 72 arrows. The heat and high humidity made life difficult for many archers. Russia's Svetlana Gombeova fainted and had to be attended to by doctors on the field. The day temperature in Tokyo is expected to remain above 30 degrees Celsius throughout the Games. The sun didn't affect Kumari, though she was candid about a different kind of heat at previous Games. "It is different from any other championships. The pressure is much more. There are so many expectations," she said. Coming from the tribal belt in Ranchi, Kumari is not comfortable being in spotlight. In the run up to the Tokyo Games, the world No. 1 tag has again come to her. Perhaps, the subdued Tokyo atmosphere may prove perfect for her temperament. Asked about it, Kumari hesitates before acknowledging that the empty seats may be what she needs. "There are different challenges to this Olympics. We have so many protocols to follow. But the crowd not being here could turn out to be an advantage," she says. Her recent form and performances should add to her confidence. The 27-year-old warmed up nicely for the Games by winning gold in the Guatemala City World Cup. She is careful though not to get ahead of herself. "I am just thinking of taking one step at a time. The focus was on individual rounds. I have done better, but I am shooting with confidence." Kumari has been working with a psychologist to get a grip on the nerves. "You have to know how to handle tough situations during a match and remain calm. That is the key." This time, she is in a better head space with husband and teammate Atanu Das in her corner. The couple was hoping to be paired for the mixed team event but Das ended second, behind Pravin Jadhav, among Indians in the ranking round. Kumari will thus pair up with Jadhav in mixed team competition on Saturday. They meet Chinese Taipei in the first round of elimination. South Korean women, a cut above the rest in world archery, cruised through setting world records. All their three archers-An San, Jang Minhee and Kang Chaeyoung-who had come into a competition for the first time since the pandemic, bettered the Olympic record (673). An San set the new mark of 680 points. South Korea's combined team total (2032) was also a record.
22 Wrestling has been a strong suit for India at the Olympics. The grapplers have brought home medals in the past three editions but nobody has managed to win a gold medal. That, however, could change during the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, according to Sakshi Malik, who believes that India will win at least four medals in the event. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Malik clinched bronze and became the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. While assessing the star-studded, seven-member wrestling contingent for the Tokyo Games, she sounded confident of her compatriots putting in medal-winning performances. In particular, she pinned massive hopes on world No.1 Vinesh Phogat and second-seeds Bajrang Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya. "This is our strongest contingent yet. I expect them to win at least four medals," Malik said during a press conference attended by select media. She added: "Names that will definitely get us a medal are Vinesh, Bajrang and Ravi, and Anshu [Malik]. The other three are juniors and if they do well, they can win us medals too. " Phogat will be appearing in her second Olympics. During her debut appearance in Rio, she suffered a potentially career-ending injury and crashed out during her quarterfinals bout. But the grappler has fought hard to earn her way back to the top and Malik remarked that she will be able to deal with the pressure and go all the way. "She (Vinesh Phogat) is very strong and is the world no.1. She will win a medal this year and if she continues to do well, she will be a contender next time around as well. She has a lot of experience. I can only tell her all the best. Last time when she didn't win the medal, she came to me and even cried because she had worked so hard. Her time as arrived now. She will win a medal for this country for sure," revealed Malik, who will be part of the Sony Sports live studio show, Sports Extraaa, during the Olympics. Malik failed to make the cut this time around but is determined to work on her shortcomings and make a strong comeback. She also added that ups and downs and a part and parcel in an athlete's life and that it is important to bounce back. "There are ups and downs in every athlete's life. They cannot work like machines. Talking about shortcomings, whatever matches I have lost, I have lost them in the last 5-10 seconds. So, I will work on that and overcome this issue in the future," she commented. While concluding, the 28-year-old advised the wrestlers not to worry, come under pressure, and urged them to overcome there and give their best. (Watch the Olympic Games on Sony TEN 2 and Sony SIX channels in English and SONY TEN 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu)
23 Bajrang Punia lost to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev in men's freestyle 65kg wrestling semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian grappler was no match to the technical finesse and power of Aliyev, who concentrated on the ankle hold to win several points in the bout. Bajrang will now compete in the bronze medal bout on Saturday. If he manages to win, it would be India's second medal in wrestling in Tokyo, with Ravi Kumar Dahiya winning a silver medal in the 57kg category on Thursday. Bajrang won the first point of the bout after the Azerbaijani failed to collect a point in the 30 seconds time period. But reigning Asian Games and CWG champion was no match to Aliyev's strength thereafter as the Azerbaijani pulled off two great technical moves to hold Bajrang from the back to go up 4-1 at the end of the first period. Tokyo Olympics - Day 14 - Live Updates The nimble-footed Azerbaijani held Bajrang by his leg at the start of the second period and pulled off a great move to all but seal a place in the final by going up 8-1. Bajrang came back by taking 2 very tough points to make it 3-8. Aliyev picked up another point to make it 9-3, but Bajrang kept his hopes alive by making it 5-9 with around 45 seconds to go. Aliyev defended strongly and eventually won the bout 12-5 on points to progress to the final. A tired and devastated Bajrang challenged for some points but it was lost and he eventually threw in the towel. Earlier, Bajrang Punia put his tactical acumen and strength to good use in the second period to pin Iran's Morteza Cheka Ghiasi for a semifinal berth. A timely take-down move helped him beat Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev in his opening bout. Bajrang is a three-time world championships medallist. He won a bronze in the 2019 World Championships and had won a silver in 2018, both in the 65kg category. He had won a bronze at the world championships in 2013 in the 60 kg category. He is also the reigning Commonwealth and Asian games champion of the 65kg category, having won the gold medal in 2018 in both the Games. He had won a silver medal in the 61kg category in the CWG and Asiad in 2014 respectively. Bajrang, a disciple of former Indian wrestling great and 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, Yogeshwar Dutt.
24 A film on the life of Olympic silver medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will be produced by Seuti Films Productions. The film will also be dubbed into English and various Indian languages. An agreement has been signed between Chanu's side and Imphal-based Seuti Films Production at her residence in Nongpok Kakching village in Imphal East district. The production house chairman Manaobi MM said, "We'll be making a feature film based on Mirabai Chanu's life and various other incidents of her life." The chairman said the film on Chanu's life will be a realistic film and a new face will be trained to act as Mirabai. The proposed film will showcase the entire life of Mirabai Chanu beginning her early days in the village and the journey to the Olympics. Mirabai said she is fortunate that a film on her life will be produced to inspire youths especially the budding sportspersons. Manaobi MM will be writing the screenplay and dialogue of the film. And, the film will be directed by OC Meira and produced by RK Nalini Devi. Chanu won the silver medal in the 49 kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics last week. She ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. Chanu became the second Indian woman to win a weightlifting medal at the Olympics after Karnam Malleswari, who was the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
25 After a quick shadow practice, PV Sindhu was ready. Across the net was N Y Cheung from Hong Kong, a player with one career title to Sindhu's 15. Barring a stutter midway into the second game, Sindhu, the reigning world champion, showed she was in no mood to linger. She won 21-9, 21-16 and moved to the round of 16. Not too long ago in another court, Japan's Nozomi Okuhara was stretched by Evgeniya Kosetskaya of the Russian Olympic Committee. Okuhara, the All England Champion and one who has caused Sindhu enough heartburn, has a lot of pressure to deal with. An Olympics at home -- crowd or now crowd - can be intimidating. Sindhu's burden is not light either. From Rio to Tokyo, through an Olympic silver and world title, she has been under scrutiny on and off the court. On the court because of indifferent form going to the Olympics, off it because her face is on billboards and in television advertisements; she has nearly 3 million followers on Twitter and 1.8m on Instagram. She accepts the pressure that comes with her stature. "There will be pressure and you should know how to deal with it. When you go on to the court, you want to keep the pressure away, you have to be focused. Whatever the situation during the match, you have to just let it go and stay in the present," she said on Wednesday. Unlike many young stars, Sindhu wears stardom lightly. She learned to navigate through it early having been touted as one for the future, the heir to Saina Nehwal. Successive silver medals at the world championships before gold in 2019 means the statuesque shuttler has been in the final of every world or Olympic event since 2016. En route she too has changed. From a shy teenager, speaking to the media in one-liners, Sindhu is a battle-hardened athlete forged by the challenges of an unforgiving, at times brutal, badminton circuit. "A lot has changed in these last four years. In Rio I was 21, now I am 26!," Sindhu said with a laugh. "Personally, experience-wise, responsibility-wise, it is different. My confidence level has gone up. "I am feeling good. Coming out of the group stage was important, I am happy about it. From now on, every match is going to be a knockout and I can say I am ready," she said. What has also changed is her coach. Pullela Gopichand, under whom she won the Rio silver, is no longer court-side. Sindhu has been training under Korean coach Park Tae-sang for some time. In Hyderabad, she practised at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium and not at Gopichand's academy where she had learnt the ropes. That was because training in a bigger stadium would provide the right setting for matches in Tokyo, Sindhu said. "At Gachibowli, because it is big you get to know the shuttle control and wind. It has always been the same here when we play in the Japan Open at this venue. So, from the point of view of preparation it was an important step." The break due to the pandemic too has helped. "It has always been about coming from one tournament and preparing for the next. This long gap gave me the time to work on my technique and skills," she said. The absence of defending champion and friend Carolina Marin has made Sindhu the biggest draw here. But the women's singles badminton field is intensely competitive. The endurance and tenacity of Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi, the deceptive skills of Tai Tzu Ying and a Sindhu intent on attack does make for a riveting contest. But to get deeper in the draw, Sindhu will first need to see off Denmark's World No. 12 Mia Blichfledt of Denmark on Thursday. On Wednesday, Sindhu had a near-perfect game. Her court-coverage was good, she worked the angles well and dictated the tempo. And when she did struggle, Sindhu swiftly seized control. "In the second game today, it was getting difficult to control the shuttle. There were so many enforced errors, four five clears went out. I told myself to just be there and focus on one point at a time," said Sindhu. Sindhu predicted a tough contest against Blichfledt. "Mia is an aggressive player and I need to be aggressive too. It is going to be a tough match, and I am prepared for that. There will be no easy points," she said. With India's medal hopes badly hit in shooting, Sindhu acknowledged there was greater expectation from her. "The hype for the Olympics is going to be there. This time it came every five years. They(fans) might think it is easy, I am sure they are showing their love and want us to win but sometimes it just may not be our day. If you have given your best on the day, there will be no regret. People might say things, you see that happening in social media and all but at the end of the day it is the Olympics and everybody would want to give their 100 per cent," she said. The venue is not new to her but Sindhu was missing the crowd. "The vibe is missing. It's the Olympics. I have played here in the Japan Open. The stadium is never full but there are enough people in the stand to make an atmosphere. It feels a bit different." It was hard not to ask her about Gopichand, the super coach who has mentored both Sindhu and Nehwal. During the 2019 world championships, Sindhu trained under Kim-ju Hyun and after she left, Park has been her coach. Does she miss Gopichand's presence here? "Park has been my coach for one-and-half years now. We have worked together and learnt new things," said Sindhu.
26 It will be a Saturday to remember for the rest of her life. Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wrote her name in the annals of Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a silver medal for the country in weightlifting. She is the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, since Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the Sydney Games in 2000. Chanu's smiles on the podium were hidden due to the mask that she was wearing on her face as part of the Covid-19 protocols at the Games, but those who know her and of her journey to this medal, would know how big it would have been. The Manipuri athlete, now 26, made her Olympics debut in Rio de Janerio in 2016, as a young 21-year-old. But the first big global Games of her life turned into a disaster as she failed failed to finish in the 48kg category. After failing a lift of 104 kg in her first attempt in clean and jerk, she failed twice in her attempts to pick up 106 kg. In both her second and third attempt, the Indian simply couldn't lift the weight and as a result was one of only two lifters in the pool of 12, who had the term 'Did Not Finish' (DNF) written in front of her name. A young Chanu had tears in her eyes that day but she didn't let that disappointment bog her down. A year later Chanu became a world champion as she won the gold medal in the 48 kg category by lifting 194 kg in total (85 kg snatch and 109 kg clean & jerk) in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held at Anaheim in USA. This effort of her's was also a competition record. She didn't stop there, her constant desire to achieve success led her to win the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. A total lift of 196 kg giving her the yellow metal. Born in a village, that was 200 kilometres away from the state capital of Imphal, a young Mirabai fell in love with the sport of weightlifting when she saw the legendary Kunjarani Devi represent India at the 2004 Athens Olympics. When she first started practicing in 2007, after finally convincing her parents to let her make the sport her career, she didn't even have proper weights to train with. That journey led her to breaking her idol's, Kujarani Devi's, national record on 2016 and has now culminated in giving India its very first medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
27 Bollywood stars are proud of Mirabai Chanu after her big win at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. Anil Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, and multiple other actors took to Twitter to share their wishes for Mirabai, bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum. Anil Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu !! This is incredible!! #TeamIndia #Cheer4India." Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu on bringing India a silver medal in weightlifting and giving us a strong start!" Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "Congratulations #mirabai & thank you for making India proud. #Olympics #silver - Jai Hind #MirabaiChanu." Dia Mirza wrote, "This is precious #MirabaiChanu @mirabai_chanu Creates history by winning Olympic silver for #Weightlifting #Cheer4India #TeamIndia." Swara Bhasker said, "SO many congratulations #MirabaiChanu !!!!!! May you go looooong and strong!!!!" Randeep Hooda said, "Congratulations #MirabaiChanu for opening our account in the #OlympicGames with your #silver thank you for all your hard work and that competitive spirit." Speaking about her win, Mirabai said, "I am very happy that I have won the medal. The entire country was watching me and they had their expectations, I was a little nervous but I was determined to give my best. In 2016, I did not have a good show but it proved as a learning curve for me and I got to know where I need to improve. I worked really hard for this." Mirabai lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg.
28 For India's young shooting contingent at the Tokyo 2020, the pressure of competing at the Olympics Games is probably next to no other. On one hand, India would feel comfortable with a strong 15-member contingent at the Games this time around - the highest ever fielded by the nation. But on the other hand, for the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker, Elavenil Valarivan - who all are competing at the Games for the first time, the weight of expectations may be a lot to take. With India's shooting campaign set to begin from Saturday, pistol shooter Heena Sidhu, who competed at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Rio Olympics, spoke to with Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview to give a glimpse of what it is like for athletes a day before competing at the Games. "It is obviously very challenging a day before the competition. Athletes feel stressed. You are unable to sleep, you are unable to eat. You keep thinking about the things that could go wrong, despite all the preparation. Even a small noise can cause irritation. And at that point you don't realise you are creating this environment for yourself," Sidhu said. The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning shooter further explained that every athlete has a process of how they keep themselves calm a day before big matches. "Obviously, these athletes have competed in World tournaments and several other big competitions, so they already have a process for themselves. Some like to go to the gym, some try to listen to music. But in the end, you still feel the nerves before the matchday, and it does become hard to sleep sometimes," she said. It has sort of been a source of discussion over the past few Olympics, that India's shooting contingent enters the Games on the back of a dominant run, but ends up struggling in the multi-sporting event. With 15 shooters contesting this time, fans are hoping for multiple medals. But could it be the same story this time around? "No one can answer this," Sidhu said. "We have to see and wait how the tournament goes. There are multiple factors that affect performances at the games. Most of these are young athletes, who have never faced this kind of pressure, and it may affect them on the match day," she said. "There is training, your competitors, your nerves, your luck... everything plays a role on match day. So the focus should be on how the performance was on the matchday and not on the end result," Sidhu added. With the mental health of athletes becoming a major source of discussion in the current day and age, Sidhu also stressed that there is a need to begin a discussion around the same, especially with the younger athletes, once the Games come to an end. "It is important to listen to athletes and create this space where athletes can talk about it freely. If an athlete is feeling depressed, he/she should be allowed to discuss it as it will help them in not letting this affect their sport. Once your bad mental health starts affecting your life -- you are unable to eat, you are unable to sleep, you are unable to enjoy -- then it starts to affect your sport as well. And creating an environment to speak about it will really help the athletes," Sidhu said. Tokyo 2020 Olympics are not like the others. There are no crowds, the players are being tested for Covid-19 every day, they have to roam around wearing masks and limit contact with other athletes. Moreover, there have been protests over the Games in Tokyo with the rising number of Covid cases in the city. But while Sidhu agrees these factors can cause a distraction to shooters, she believes the athletes are capable of not letting these distractions affect their performances. "While I agree that all these Covid protocols could affect concentration, the athletes are more than capable of handling them and not let them affect their performances. They have been trained for this, and these factors exist for their competitors as well. So, I don't see them as a big issue for shooters," Sidhu said, Lastly, speaking on the Indian shooters' recent performances at the ISSF World Cups in New Delhi and Croatia, Sidhu said that they are not enough to determine the "current form" of the shooters. Indian shooters were out of action for the entire 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of major events. With little to no training, India won 30 medals in the Delhi World Cup - though most of the medals came in the non-Olympics events. Moreover, several top-level athletes from other countries were not able to participate in the event due to travel restrictions. India's recent performance at the ISSF World Cup in Croatia was also not their best - with India winning only four medals in the tournament. "These competitions are not enough to determine the form of the shooters," Sidhu said. "They had an unexpected break in 2020, they only trained a bit at the start of the year, and most of their training happened in Croatia before and after the ISSF World Cup. So, I feel these competitions were just to sharpen the shooters, get them in the competitive mind. But the real test will be at the Games," she signed off.
29 They waited with bated breaths, some with folded hands, some ready to capture the moment on their phones with a common hope, desire and dream. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's friends, relatives and neighbours watching her live on TV at Imphal in Manipur, screamed and celebrated in unison as soon as it was confirmed that she bagged the silver medal in Tokyo Olympics - India's first of the Games. In a video tweeted by news agency ANI, Mirabai's relatives and friends were seen celebrating her silver medal-winning performance in the women's 49kg category like never before. "We are very happy today. This is a result of her hard work. India and Manipur are proud of her," a relative told news agency ANI. VIDEO: Mirabai Chanu's family and neighbours celebrate her silver medal in Tokyo Olympics Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic record in snatch while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. "I am very happy that I have won the medal. The entire country was watching me and they had their expectations, I was a little nervous but I was determined to give my best. In 2016, I did not have a good show but it proved as a learning curve for me and I got to know where I need to improve. I worked really hard for this," Chanu told reporters at the Mixed Zone after winning the silver medal. "When I reach India, I will go straight to my home, it has been a long time that I have not been home. It has been 1-2 years that I have not gone home and spent some time with my family. There is no plan as such, but I'll party today (laughs)," she added.
30 Saurabh Chaudhary, 19, has never left an international competition without a medal since he started shooting at the senior level in 2019. But on Tuesday, Chaudhary, left the Asaka shooting range in Tokyo having ended his Olympic campaign without a podium finish. It was a day when tension gripped the Indian shooting contingent, turned to disappointment and then morphed into anger as coaches, administrators and shooters revealed the cracks in the team. The shooters went into the Games as some of India's strongest medal contenders. Not just because a shooting medal has come from every Olympics, barring Rio 2016, since Rajyavardhan Rathore's double trap silver in 2004, or because it is the only sport where India has won a gold medal, but also because this was a team with young talent who have won international medals by the handfuls. The disappointments began from the first day of the Olympics, where Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela, who have both held world No 1 ranks in the last two years, failing to move out of qualification in 10m air rifle. On the same day, in 10m air pistol, Chaudhary made the 8-shooter final but finished 7th. The next day, the shooters in the 10m air rifle men's and 10m air rifle women's also stumbled in the qualification rounds. Yet, there was promise. Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker, who is also 19, have been the most dominant pistol mixed team pair in the world since the event was introduced in global competitions in 2019 and on Tuesday hopes were high that they would leave their disappointments in individual events behind them with a medal in their strongest event. The morning began well for them. Bhaker and Chaudhary topped the first stage of qualification (30 shots by each person in 30 minutes) with a score of 582; Saurabh fired 296, Manu 286. They were eighth among 20 teams who advanced to the second stage (40 shots in 20 mins). Chaudhary had a good run, but Bhaker shot four 8s, two of those coming in her last five shots, and the duo settled for 380 points and were out of the final. A few hours later, Divyansh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan made early exits in the rifle mixed team events, as did Anjum Moudgil and Deepak Kumar. It brought back memories of 2016, when India's seasoned shooting team failed to bag a single medal. "This has been a disappointment. Barring Saurabh (Chaudhary), no one put up a fight," said Joydeep Karmakar, who had missed a medal by the thinnest of margins, finishing fourth in 50m rifle prone in 2012. "Saying that it was one bad day in office doesn't cut it when that day happens in the Olympics. Because there is no guarantee you will be back. Also, why are we highlighting that they are kids? Yes, they are young but they earned the quota place on merit fighting with older players. When you stand in the lane there are no kids, no elders, only competitors." Coaches with the team in Tokyo said that one of the problems is that between the personal coaches of the shooters and the national coaches, there are too many conflicting inputs for the shooters. "You can't start working with a shooter on the day of the Olympics," said one coach who did not wish to be named. "They have been working with their personal coaches." There is also the issue of no psychologist travelling with the team. "There was a psychologist, physio and all the coaching staff in Osijek (in Croatia, where the team prepared for two months for the Games)," said Raninder Singh, the president of the National Rifle Association. "It is not possible to get everyone here because of Covid restrictions." Karmakar said that the lack of medals pointed to the preparations not being right. "The problem is not technical. We have good coaches for that and the players too are very aware now. But were the players trained to peak at the right time? Coaches need to know and work on that," he said. "Create hunger, get into the flow state phase where you come closest to cutting out all the noise. Even the best will fail if that is not done. Most shooters, including Manu (Bhaker) today, found the pressure of an Olympics final suffocating. I think a high-performance coach has a big role to play. For Paris, that coach can be appointed maybe one year prior to the Games but the coach has to help steel the athlete, get the athlete to work with robotic efficiency, control his or her emotions." Bhaker, after the mixed team event, admitted that she was not in the right zone, even as she and Chaudhary answered questions with great poise. "Sometimes you don't have control over things when you try way too hard or expect things," Bhaker said. When asked how the Olympic experience was different for them, Chaudhary said "I've participated at the Youth Olympics before this. There's nothing different here. Games Village hai, wohi range hai, target hai, pistol hai, hum hai, goli hai. (there is a Games Village, a range, a target, pistols, bullets, and us."
31 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated PV Sindhu, after the Indian shuttler won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. PM Modi took to twitter to heap praise on the ace shuttler, who beat China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 to add a second Olympic medal to the silver she had won in the 2016 Rio Games. "We are all elated by the stellar performance by @Pvsindhu1. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze at @Tokyo2020. She is India's pride and one of our most outstanding Olympians. #Tokyo2020," PM Modi tweeted. Sindhu was among the athletes who had spoken to the prime minister during a virtual interaction with the Olympic-bound athletes, that was held just before the Indian contingent had left for the Games. PM Modi had spoken to Sindhu about her preparations and also lauded her parents for the sacrifices they had put in to help Sindhu become a champion shuttler. President of India Ram Nath Kovind also took to Twitter to congratulate Sindhu. "P V Sindhu becomes the first Indian woman to win medals in two Olympic games. She has set a new yardstick of consistency, dedication and excellence. My heartiest congratulations to her for bringing glory to India," was tweeted by the President of India twitter handle. Sindhu became the second Indian athlete after Sushil Kumar and first Indian woman to win two individual Olympic medals
32 Bhiwani boxer Pooja Rani Bohra, 30, entered quarterfinals in the 75kg weight category of the Tokyo Olympics after defeating Algeria's Ichrak Chaib 5-0 in her opening bout on Wednesday. She is one win away from securing at least a bronze medal in the ongoing Olympics. She will take on China's former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Li Qian on August 31. Before reaching the international podium, Pooja's initial days of boxing were full of struggle. Her coach Sanjay Singh Sheoran, who runs Captain Hawa Singh Boxing Academy in Bhiwani, said she was first spotted by his wife Mukesh Rani, a lecturer at Adarsh Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Bhiwani when she got admission in bachelor's degree in 2009. "Pooja's father Rajbir Singh Bohra, who is a retired Haryana Police SI, did not want her to pursue boxing as he thought she might get injured. She used to stay at our home with my wife when she got some punches on her face. Later, we told her father about her potential and then he agreed. She used to train for six hours a day," Sheoran said. "Her competitors are good and well-prepared boxers. A single mistake can take the game away from her. I have asked her to focus on her strengths. We are hoping that she will bring laurels to the nation," he added. Her father said he was pushing her to get married for nearly five years but it was deferred after she requested the family to give her some time. "We were looking for a groom for Pooja, but she requested for a couple more years so that she can perform better at international levels. Now, we are hoping that she will clinch gold," her father added. Sharing challenges faced by Pooja, he said she battled a career-threatening shoulder injury, a burnt hand and lack of financial support before making it this far. Hailing from Nimriwali, 9km from Bhiwani, Pooja used to cycle to Captain Hawa Singh Academy in the initial days. She is presently posted as an income tax officer in Delhi. In 2012, she had joined the Indian Railways as a clerk. "Before pursuing boxing, she used to play basketball and football. I asked her to quit the team game and start single-event game. When she defeated a Haryana Police boxer in 2010 in an event in Bhiwani, hundreds of people from our village had gone in tractor-trolleys to cheer for her," he added.
33 India's first medal winner of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is currently riding the high of being home after being away from family for a long time. Chanu, who returned to her hometown, Imphal on Tuesday after winning silver in women's 49kg category, tweeted a picture of herself enjoying home-cooked meal after two long years. "That smile when you finally eat ghar ka khana after 2 years," she tweeted. Earlier, Chanu had tweeted delight at being reunited with her family. "This feeling of meeting my family after a long span of 2 years is beyond words. I'm grateful to each one of you for showing faith in me and supporting me. Thank you Ema and baba for all the sacrifices you made for me to reach at this level," she had tweeted, with a couple of photos. Chanu had received a grand welcome on her return to her hometown. During a felicitation ceremony, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh handed over a cheque of Rs.1 crore as cash reward and also handed over the appointment order of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Chanu. "This silver medal is even more special because of the love people of India and my state Manipur have shown me. I'm grateful to each and every person who came today to congratulate me and gave me their blessings," she had tweeted.
34 Standing on the podium step with his fellow bronze winner, Bajrang Punia picked up the medal from the tray, put it around his neck, and immediately lifted it with both hands. He examined one side of the medal, then flipped it, and stared at it for a couple of seconds before letting it rest on his stomach. It was not the medal - and indeed the position in which he was standing on the podium - that the star wrestler had envisioned before landing for the Tokyo Games. It was a medal nonetheless; a bronze in what was the 27-year-old's first taste of the Olympics stage. An uncharacteristically subdued Punia fought all his three bouts on Friday with a strapping on the right knee for an injury he picked up around a month ago. On Saturday evening, he walked into the mat without one. The knee was unshackled; the wrestler unfettered. Punia showed his class and stamped his authority, beating Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0 to win the 65kg freestyle bronze medal bout. It was a different Punia to the one that showed up in the semi-final barely 24 hours ago, outclassed by Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev 12-5 in a largely one-sided battle. This was a lot like the Punia we've known in recent years; a lot like the Punia who entered the Olympics as the world No. 1 and looked every bit like one in the months leading up to it while winning gold in the Rome Ranking Series and silver at the Asian championships; this was a lot like the Punia that was primed for glory at the Games as the only Indian wrestler to have delivered three medals at world championships. "I am not happy. This is not the result I had set out to achieve. Winning an Olympic medal is no mean achievement but I can't jump with joy with bronze," Punia was quoted as saying by PTI. The bronze bout was a potentially tricky one for the Indian. Niyazbekov is a two-time worlds medal winner. The second was a silver in the 2019 edition in Nur-Sultan, where he defeated Punia in a high-tempered, high-scoring, close and controversial semi-final contest. On Saturday, however, there was no controversy on who the dominant wrestler was. If Punia erred on the side of caution in the semi-final against Aliev, he switched to attack mode against Niyazbekov. After a couple of minutes of sussing each other out, with Punia looking to find openings, he got his first point on account of the Kazakh's passivity. Niyazbekov then had Punia in a headlock, but he got out of it neatly. With 20 seconds on the clock for the first three minutes, Punia went for Niyazbekov's legs, and moments later pushed, him out of the yellow zone with a clever change of direction to earn another point. After the break, Punia continued to target the right leg of the Kazakh, who was defending well. But Punia was orchestrating all the attacks; Niyazbekov was busy thwarting them. At some point, the floodgates had to open. And they did. Going for his susceptible right leg again, Punia finally executed a take down for a 4-0 lead. Niyazbekov then tried to target Punia's legs, but the Indian turned the move into a brilliant counter-attack, this time grabbing his rival's left leg and collecting two points with under a minute left in the bout. By then it was clear the tide had turned, and with two more points - again, by grabbing Niyazbekov's right leg - Punia brought the medal to the shore. It gave India its second medal from wrestling in Tokyo after Ravi Dahiya's gutsy silver, matching the sport's most productive showing at the 2012 London Games. Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt had won silver and bronze, respectively, nine years ago. All four of these men are products of the famed Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi, where Punia spent several years after being enrolled over a decade ago, and found a mentor in Dutt. In his Khudan village in Haryana, his father Balwan Singh had, boldly and confidently, predicted Punia's victory before the bout. The son ensured he stayed true to his father's words. "We told him to not feel disheartened (after the semi-final loss) and keep his focus," Singh told reporters. "He assured us that he will bring a medal."
35 Neeraj Chopra and his historic victory at the Tokyo Olympics have won everyone's heart in the country. 23-year-old javelin thrower has become the first Indian in over 120 years, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Chopra, the junior officer in the Indian army with the Rajputana Rifles, produced a second-round throw of 87.58m in men's javelin throw and brought the first gold medal for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With yesterday's victory, Neeraj Chopra has become the youngest Indian to win the Olympic gold at the age of 23. As Chopra has scripted history in Tokyo on August 7, a lot of things about his sports career, his childhood, his village, and his personal life have become headlines. One more interesting secret about Neeraj Chopra's life is that he is an avid motorcyclist. Chopra's liking for motorcycles is evident from his Instagram account. In this picture, Chopra can be seen posing with Bajaj Pulsar 220F. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj____chopra) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj____chopra) However, the Olympian gold medalist's prized possession is his Harley-Davidson 1200 Roadster. Chopra bought the American motorcycle in 2019 as a gift for himself after winning the Asian Games that same year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj____chopra) And now, Chopra will add the upcoming Mahindra XUV700 to his garage. Mahindra and Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra yesterday announced to gift Chopra XUV700 for his mind-blowing performance at the Olympics.
36 On Friday, soon after Lovlina Borgohain outclassed Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen to seal a bronze medal in the women's welterweight category in boxing at Tokyo Olympics and entered the semi-finals, a heavy downpour turned the road leading to her home in Assam completely muddy. Now, in an attempt to cheer the 23-year-old boxer, Assam's first Olympic medal winner, her family and residents of Baromukhia village and the public works department (PWD) are busy repairing the 'kuccha' (unmetalled) road to her home located at Sarupathar in Golaghat district of Assam before she returns. "Our area has been declared drought-hit this season. But on the day of Lovlina's quarter final match, it rained heavily and turned the road to her home muddy and unmotorable," said Biswajit Phukan, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Sarupathar. "I spoke to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about it and decided to make the road motorable. We are now busy ensuring that it is repaired before she returns from Tokyo. It will be metalled once the monsoon season is over," he added. Lovlina's home is located around 3 kms from Barpathar, the nearest town. While some portions of the road are gravelled, nearly 2 kms of it is completely muddy. Around 600 metres of the last stretch that leads to the boxer's home is being repaired by workers now. Sarupathar assembly constituency in which Baromukhia village falls is the biggest in Assam and it also has some of the worst roads. According to Phukan, the constituency has nearly 2000 kms of mud roads at present. "Till few years back, the road to our village was very bad. Last year, after Lovlina qualified for the Olympics, the Golaghat deputy commissioner visited our home and assured us to do something. He did get some sand and gravel laid on the road, but not more than that," said Lovlina's father Tiken Borgohain. "On Friday, after Lovlina's match, local MLA Phukan called and assured that work on the road will be completed soon. Starting from our home, workers are busy filling the 600 metre stretch with sand and gravel at present. We are happy," he added. Speaking about Lovlina's semi-final match on August 4, Borgohain said that the boxer is in a very confident state of mind and expects to win it and enter the finals for a shot at gold. Both Lovlina's father and her mother Mamoni aren't watching any of their daughter's matches live on television. Though they have a TV at home, they wait for the match to be over to get news of its result. "There's a lot of emotion involved watching a match live. We are happy that Lovlina has won her bouts and is assured of a medal. But her mother and I won't be watching the next two matches as well," said Borgohain.
37 Olympic bronze-medallist shooter, Gagan Narang is disappointed that India hasn't been able to score a win in shooting in the ongoing Olympics, but he's also thinking about what the athletes must be going through with so much attention and flak coming their way. "Why we're not winning any medals is something that I'm trying to wrap my head around. There could be multiple factors. A lot has been talked about the athletes, but we must understand that they're very young, and did whatever needed to be done," Narang tells us, adding, "The coaches were sent with them to Croatia. The whole system was behind. From the administrative part, we were right on track." Asked about the ongoing tussle around coach and player relationship, he says, "I'm not aware of the nitty-gritty of what's exactly going on. But I know these athletes have been training with a certain set of coaches. And when they went to the Olympics, these set of coaches didn't go with them. I'm not sure if they (players) were comfortable with that situation." When it comes to performance, Narang, 48, agrees it was quite disappointing. "I don't know the reason behind it, but probably they were away from home for very long. They kind of went with their cup half empty to the Olympic Games. And pressure. When I speak to them, some of them, they all thought that they gave their best." However, the ace marksman, whose last Olympic appearance was in Rio five years ago, doesn't appreciate the criticism coming their way. "People who don't even read sports are reading and commenting on them, which I feel isn't right because nobody contributed (to their journey). Where were these people when the athletes wanted support? Where was everyone when the athletes were winning world cup medals? People didn't even congratulate them. But there's so much hue and cry when they've lost today. It's either winning or complete death," rues Narang. India's leading pistol shooters, Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary as well as rifle stars, Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar, failed to make a mark in any of the events of the Tokyo games, aired on Sony Sports. Even the athletes are grappling with a turmoil of emotions, shares the 2012 London Olympics medal-winning shooter. "When I spoke to Valarivan, she told me 'Sir, I did my best. It just wasn't happening'. So, each one of them will tell you the same thing," he continues, "They all are numb in their head right now. They're completely drained out, and probably reading what people are talking about them. They've never faced this kind of criticism. When they won the world cup medals, the media shower was also not there. Nobody bothered when they won a world cup. This is something very new for them." While Narang thinks the way forward is introspection, he hopes the athletes don't face severe punishment. "There'll be a post mortem. I hope that the athletes don't get too punished for their performance because their job is to perform and they are the best that we have. We have to trust them to deliver. Without putting them into mental stress, we have to introspect and figure out what went wrong, and then improve upon for the next for the years to come," says Narang. Still, he isn't giving up all the hopes. "I'm not writing anybody off. We still have a lot of shooting events, and anyone can be a dark horse. We hope we get more medals than Rio," he signs off. Interact with the author on Twitter/@sugandharawal
38 Putter drawn, Aditi Ashok drew her breath. Four days of being on the leaderboard had come down to this - a birdie on the par-4 18th hole at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. The putter cut through the tense silence and connected softly but a birdie it wasn't. Grimacing, Ashok made par. She knew an Olympic medal, a first for India in golf, had slipped out of her grasp. The golfing gods were not with me, said Ashok, after finishing with three-under 68 on the final day. But Ashok said she had given it her all. "I got a really good lie off the tee, I hit the fairway finally and then I had a good club in. So it was a good number too. Only then I thought that, okay, I had a chance to make a birdie," said Ashok, 23. "There was bunker and water (hazard) on right but still I gave myself a birdie putt and that putt I think, I mean I wanted to hole it. I gave my best attempt; it just it's hard to force the issue when you're like 30 feet away." Ranked 200th in the world, Ashok had stunned the competition that included multiple winners of LPGA titles, a seven-time winner on the Japan Tour and Olympic medallists to finish with 15-under 269. That was a stroke behind New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Japanese Mone Inami. Ko is a former world No. 1 with 16 titles and had won silver in Rio 2016. Inami is a seven-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour. Inami won the play-off to take silver with gold medallist and world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the USA ending a stroke ahead, on 17-under 267. Nelly's sister Jessica, winner of six titles on the LPGA Tour, finished tied 15th. Not many had expected her to be in this group and that is why Ashok, sole second after three rounds, generated more interest among the leading pack than the others. Many in India were awake at 3am on a weekend to follow the final day. Another day, another tournament Ashok, 23, would have taken the fourth place finish, even be happy. But though the list of Indian fourth finishers increased by one on Saturday, it wasn't a club Ashok said she wanted to join. "But I guess I've joined it. But no, I think it's good, just even top 5 or top 10 at an Olympics is really good," Ashok told PTI. Inami, who zoomed into contention for gold with a brilliant final round of 65, had nine birdies but she dropped shots on the second, sixth and 18th holes. Ashok had walked toe-to-toe with Korda and Ko. She had birdies on the fifth, sixth, eighth, 13th and 14th holes but had bogeyed on the ninth and 11th. On a day when play was stopped for 45 minutes because of rain - the tee-off times were brought forward to get the round done before a tropical storm hit - Ashok and Lydia were in a close race for the bronze. The New Zealander dropped a shot on 16th but recovered with a birdie on the 17th. Ashok couldn't. "Even the 17th was perfect. I hit it exactly with the speed I wanted, the line I wanted. Maybe I made too many (birdies) through the four rounds. The golfing gods were like, okay, we're not going to give her this one. But no, I just tried my best," she said. Ashok's mother, Maheshwari carried her bags in Tokyo. In Rio, where she had two great rounds but finished 41st, it was her father Ashok Gudlamani. "It was an incredible experience," she said, of her parents walking the course at successive Olympics.
39 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian contingent of the Tokyo Olympics for a successful stint. India finished the Tokyo Games with their highest-ever medal tally of seven medals - one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals. As the Tokyo Games come to a close on Sunday, Modi said that India's medal wins at the Games made the nation proud. "As #Tokyo2020 draws to a close, I would like to congratulate the Indian contingent for their stupendous performance at the games. They personified the best of skill, teamwork, and dedication. Every athlete who represented India is a champion," PM Modi wrote on Twitter. "The medals India has won has certainly made our nation proud and elated. At the same time, this is the time to keep working to further popularise sports at the grassroots so that new talent emerges and gets the opportunity to represent India in the times to come. #Tokyo2020," he added. "A special thank you to the Government and people of Japan, especially Tokyo for hosting the well-organised games. To host it so successfully, in such times, gave out a strong message of resilience. It also demonstrated how sports is a great unifier," Modi further said. India created history in Tokyo with Neeraj Chopra becoming the first person from independent India to win a medal in a track-and-field event. The javelin thrower won the gold medal, becoming only the second Indian athlete after shooer Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal.
40 Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who got India's first gold in Tokyo Olympics and broke India's 100-year wait for a gold in athletics, will be given Rs.6 crore and a class I category job, announced Haryana chief minister ML Khattar on Saturday. "We will be building a Centre of Excellence for athletes in Panchkula, where he will be the head if he wants. He will be given a plot with 50% concession, like other players," he also added. Earlier today, Khattar had also announced that Haryana Govt will give Rs.2.5 crore, a govt job, and a plot of land at 50% concession to wrestler Bajrang Punia for winning bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. An indoor stadium will be constructed in his native village Khudan in Jhajjar, he added. Bajrang Punia will return from Tokyo with a bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men's freestyle 65kg play-off here on Saturday. Chopra on Saturday became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, out-performing the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track-and-field Games medal-winner for the country. The 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals to stun the athletics world and end India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics. Brimming with confidence with hardly any nerves on display, Chopra walked in like a rockstar to make the Tokyo Games India's best ever Olympic outing in what was the country's final competitive outing at the ongoing edition. His was the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics and he joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) in an elite and very hard-to-reach club of India's individual gold winners in the showpiece. With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. Apart from Chopra's gold, India have won to silver and four bronze medals. No Indian has won a medal in athletics since the country started taking part in the Games in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. Three track and field athletes were part of the five-member team -- the other two being wrestlers -- in that Games. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's 200m and 200m hurdles silver medals in the 1900 Paris Olympics to India though various researches, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain. Pritchard was not an Indian and the country's first Olympic participation under a national Olympic body was in 1920. Since then, track and field athletes have been an integral part of Indian contingents in almost all the editions of the Games.
41 British diver Tom Daley won the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics about a week ago. Now, the Olympian has grabbed the attention for a completely different reason and that may just make you smile. Daley was spotted knitting while watching an event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Sunday. Clips and pictures of Daley went viral on social media and has garnered much love from people. "Oh this? Just Olympic champ @TomDaley1994 knitting in the stands while watching the diving," reads the caption shared by the official Instagram handle of Olympics. Take a look The post garnered over 1.6 lakh likes and thousands of comments. A netizen also shared a clip of the gold medalist knitting while sitting in the audience. Daley's love for knitting and crocheting is however not unknown to his followers on social media. After winning the gold medal, he shared a sweet clip on his Instagram, showing a little knitted bag that he made to store his medal. "THANK YOU TO ALL MY FELLOW STITCHERS! Learning to knit and crochet has helped me so much through these Olympics and we won GOLD yesterday. I made a little medal case too!" Daley wrote in the caption. Take a look at the video: People shared all kinds of supportive comments under the posts capturing Daley's knitting. What are your thoughts on these shares?
42 The ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020 began on a celebratory note for India after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won an Olympic medal in the Women's 49kg category. Following her win, she told reporters about her future plans. Chanu said that the first thing she would love to do is visit her family. Among other things, she also mentioned that she would love to eat pizza after being on a strict diet for months. "I would like to have a party but the Village rules are very strict," she said. "Maybe I can have a pizza." A Twitter user, probably after knowing about Mirabai Chanu's love for pizza, replied on a post by Domino's, that they shared to congratulate the athlete, and urged the pizza chain to deliver the dish to Mirabai Chanu after she returns home. The Twitter user also added that they will pay for the dish. In reply, the pizza chain shared that they would be offering the athlete free pizza for life. Take a look at the post: Pratik Pota, chief executive officer and whole-time director of Jubilant Foodworks, the company that operates the pizza chain in India, also shared a tweet related to the matter. "Even as we prepare to give #MirabaiChanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family with what else but Domino's Pizza @dominos_india. Congratulations @mirabai_chanu you have done India proud!" he tweeted. The post is complete with a few images. What are your thoughts on the incident?
43 Thirteen years ago, a palatial house in Zirakpur on Chandigarh's periphery was thronged by media persons and fans when shooter Abhinav Bindra bagged a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics. On Saturday evening, a few kilometers away from Bindra's house, fans and media persons swarmed the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula to watch Neeraj Chopra claim India's second individual gold medal, this time in javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj, a native of Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat district, had come to this Panchkula stadium a decade ago to learn the nuances of javelin throw from his first coach Naseem Ahmad. Ecstatic scenes were witnessed at the stadium where the men's javelin throw event was being live streamed on a big screen, and coach Naseem was hooked to it along with around 1,000 fans. As soon as Neeraj's claim to the gold medal was confirmed, an emotional Naseem said: "My boy did India proud, finally winning the first medal for track and field events for India in the Olympics. I knew Neeraj would do it. He was confident ahead of the final." Naseem, who had trained Neeraj from 2011 to 2015 before he got into the Indian camp and also joined the Indian Army, said: "I remember him as a sharp kid. Coming from rural Haryana, he had the hunger to do well and become a top-notch athlete. Three-four young javelin throwers had come from Panipat with him to excel in the sport as there was no javelin equipment in Panipat academies. He had previously won two to three tournaments at the district and state level." The 58-year-old coach, who is posted at the stadium that is run by the Haryana sports department, also praised Neeraj for dedicating his gold medal to the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh, who died recently, and other Indian athletes like PT Usha. Neeraj has another connect with Chandigarh. In 2015, he had enrolled at DAV College, Sector 10, an institution that has produced Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh (cricket), Anjum Moudgil (shooting), Sukhbir Singh Gill (hockey) and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (football) among other Indian sportspersons Neeraj had taken admission in BA and in just one year broke the meet record in the all-India inter-varsity competition. "It was so inspiring to have Neeraj at our college. Other athletes learned so much from him. I spoke to him the day before the final and told him to not be nervous and just be fearless. And he was focused and not at all nervous," said Ravinder Choudhary, associate professor, physical education department, DAV College, and also secretary of the Athletics Federation of India. College students and the staff celebrated Neeraj's feat, with Anjum Moudgil joining them too. Neeraj made his international debut in 2016, when he won the World U20 Championship in Poland, with a world junior record throw of 86.48 metres. He won gold in the 2016 South Asian Games with a throw of 82.23 metres. At Tokyo, his 87.58-metre throw got India the gold. "This gold will change the Indian athletics for good," said Naseem.
44 Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages to celebrate athlete Mirabai Chanu who opened India's medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu won a silver medal in weightlifting in the 49-kg category for women on 24 July, the first day of the ongoing global sporting event. Brands across categories have also joined the bandwagon to wish the young athlete through digital campaigns across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Dair brand Amul, for instance, released a topical campaign featuring Chanu lifting the weight with a caption that said: "Worth her wait in silver! Amul, Mira, tera , humara favourite snack." Amul, which is known for its quirky advertising, is also an official partner of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Britannia Industries, on the other hand, used its product as a tool to send out the congratulatory message. Its social media campaign featured a weightlifting equipment made from digestive biscuits with the accompanying caption: "Mirabai Chanu, worth her weight in 'Gold." Studds Helmet post showed a fist holding a silver medal with a caption that said, "Congratulations Mirabai Chanu. We are proud of you." Meanwhile, beauty and wellness chain VLCC, in its post featuring a picture of Chanu, congratulated the young athlete saying, "Silver is beautiful. Congratulations on the historic win." Giving the historic win a quirky twist, delivery platform Dunzo in its social media post took inspiration from a popular Punjabi song and came up with a caption that read, "Chanu ve ghar aaja ve. Your home is proud, it was worth the weight. #JoyComesHome." Other brands that wished the athlete include Costa Coffee India, Federal Bank Limited, Bikano, Kochi Metro Rail among others. Ritesh Nath, an independent sports consultant said that the Olympics is an extremely well-regarded sporting event and brands can gain by associating with it in any form. "These brands might also consider forging a formal partnership with athletes who win at the Olympics and leverage their popularity in form of a possible brand ambassador partnership," he added.
45 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok is "disheartened" at missing out on a medal after finishing fourth in the women's individual stroke play at the Tokyo Olympics. The golfer gave a hundred per cent in her memorable fourth-place finish at Tokyo 2020. She said that is leaving Tokyo with "bittersweet memories" as she tried her best till the very end in the event but still ended up missing out on a medal. "Leaving Tokyo with bittersweet memories. This is probably the most disheartened I have ever been after finishing 4th in a golf tournament I tried my best till the very end but golf is like that sometimes. You don't always get what you deserve, but you do get what you work for," Aditi Ashok tweeted. Leaving Tokyo with bittersweet memories. This is probably the most disheartened I have ever been after finishing 4th in a golf tournament �� I tried my best till the very end but golf is like that sometimes. You don't always get what you deserve, but you do get what you work for. pic.twitter.com/EFUrHmKO60 - Aditi Ashok (@aditigolf) August 8, 2021 The 23-year-old rolled in five birdies to be placed a famous fourth on fifteen-under 201 ahead of Australia's Hannah Green and Denmark's Pedersen who tied for fifth. The Indian finished the final day with 68 (-3) at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. This year the Games were held with COVID-19 induced restrictions and all sports were played behind closed doors. About 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries competed in Tokyo Olympics. India recorded its best-ever haul at the Olympics with seven medals (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). The Olympic Games came to end after a stunning closing ceremony at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
46 India were assured of at least a silver medal in the men's freestyle wrestling 57kg category as Ravi Kumar Dahiya staged a great comeback against Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev to make his way to the final. The bout started in a cagey fashion with both wrestlers registering points in the initial minutes of the first round. But Sanayev almost won the match as he registered 8 points in a row by pulling off the dreaded 'fitele' move. Sanayez grabbed Ravi by the ankles and rolled the Indian wrestler four times, which gave him the 8 points to take the advantage to 9-2. Tokyo Olympics - Day 12 Live Updates But Ravi Kumar staged a grand comeback as he first reduced the deficit to 5-9, as he pushed the Kazakh out of the mat. This move of Ravi's left Sanayez bamboozled as he also hurt his leg. The Indian wrestler then made his psychological advantage count as he pinned the Kazakh wrestler down with a great move to eventually win the bout 'by fall'. He will the fourth wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal after KD Jadhav (bronze in 1952), Sushil Kumar (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012) and Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze in 2008). Ravi is a two-time Asian Championships gold medallist and a bronze medal winner at the World Championships in 2019. (More to follow...)
47 Indian airliner IndiGo, today announced that it will offer unlimited free travel to 'Gold Medallist' Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year. This comes in recognition of Neeraj Chopra winning the Gold Medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the finals of Men's javelin throw. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021 till August 7, 2022. Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, andI know all IndiGo employees would be truly honored to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year. You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torch bearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj". Chopra on Saturday became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, outperforming the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track-and-field Games medal-winner for the country. Chopra, the 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana, produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals to stun the athletics world and end India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics.
48 Model-actor Milind Soman made a gaffe as he congratulated wrestler Priya Malik on her gold medal at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships. He mistakenly wrote that she won a gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. He later corrected himself and said that he was 'too overcome with joy' to check earlier. "Thank you Priya Malik! #gold #TokoyoOlympics #wrestling welcome to Mt Olympus," Milind wrote on Twitter. In a follow-up post, he wrote, "Sorry, should have checked before my earlier tweet, but was too overcome with joy. Priya Malik won Gold at the World wrestling Championships ! Onwards and upwards." Replying to a Twitter user who asked him to delete the erroneous tweet, Milind said, "I know now, still happy :) and I won't delete the tweet, sometimes its ok to make a mistake." Indian wrestler Priya Malik defeated Kseniya Patapovich of Belarus 5-0 to win a gold medal at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships on Sunday. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Anil Kapoor and Sunny Deol took to social media to wish her. Priya's win comes a day after Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the 49 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics. On Saturday, while congratulating Mirabai, actor Tisca Chopra goofed up when she erroneously used a picture of Indonesian weightlifter Windy Cantika Aisah, who took home the bronze medal. Also see: The Kapil Sharma Show gets new promo: Sumona Chakravarti still missing, Archana Puran Singh whacks Kapil Sharma Replying to a Twitter user who pointed out her mistake, Tisca wrote, "Glad you guys had fun! That was a genuine mistake, am so sorry .. still doesn't mean I am not proud of @mirabai_chanu at the #TokyoOlympics .. and of the rest of our contingent." Meanwhile, Milind has been posting his workout videos on Instagram. In a post last month, he wrote, "Never forget the basics. Even when I say I have no time in the entire day to exercise, I can still spare a minute! And most times that's all I need. how many in 60secs? No excuses of no time, no space, no equipment, being able to move your own body weight is good enough. Just keep trying to increase the number of push-ups in a minute. It's a good goal to start with, and a great goal to finish with!"
49 With the unprecedented victory of Neeraj Chopra in India's history, the country's medal tally has gone up to 7 - the highest so far in any Olympics. It is evident India capped off its best-ever performance for the first time in Olympics history. As the Tokyo Olympics come to a close, take a look at the medallists and those who came within touching distance of glory but couldn't quite make it to the podium. NEERAJ CHOPRA: GOLD Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He became India's first track-and-field medal winner in the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m The 23-year-old, a Subedar with 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army, has been a consistent performer since bursting into the scene with a historic gold in the junior world championships in 2016 with an Under-20 world record of 86.48m which still stands. His other achievements include gold medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, besides the top finish in the 2017 Asian Championships. MIRABAI CHANU: SILVER The 27-year-old weightlifter from Manipuri lifted the spirits of the entire nation as she ended a 21-year wait for a medal in weightlifting, clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category. Chanu lifted a total of 202kg (87kg 115kg), finally exorcising the ghosts of her disastrous outing in the 2016 Rio Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift. Born to a poor family in Nongpok Kakching village about 20 kilometres from Imphal, Chanu's childhood was spent cutting and collecting wood from the nearby hills, hauling them up by herself, and fetching water from nearby ponds in milk powder cans. The 2017 world champion had initially wanted to be an archer but fate had different plans, and reading about fellow Manipuri the legendary N.Kunjarani Devi's exploits in the weightlifting arena all over the world, inspired Chanu to take up the sport. RAVI DAHIYA: SILVER The 23-year-grappler born in the Nahri village of the Sonepat district in Haryana stormed to the final of the men's 57kg freestyle event without any fuss. Although, he fetched a silver, his immense strength and stamina along with technical prowess impressed one and all. Born to a farming family, Dahiya had been trained at national capital's Chhatrasal Stadium, which has already given India two Olympic medallists -- Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt. He rose to prominence only when he qualified for the Tokyo Games with a bronze medal-winning effort at the 2019 world championship. He has steadily gown in stature ever since, winning the Asian Championship in 2020 and then defending the title this year. His father, Rakesh Kumar, would himself carry milk and butter to Chhatrasal Stadium, about 60km away from his home, every single day without fail to ensure that his son got the best diet. PV SINDHU: BRONZE PV Sindhu etched her name among the all-time greats after winning women's singles bronze medal to add to the silver she won at Rio de Janeiro five years back. The 26-year-old became the first Indian woman and second overall from the country to achieve the feat. Such was her dominance at the Tokyo Games that she dropped only two games, both in the semifinal loss to Tai Tzu Ying, in six matches. The Hyderabad shuttler rose to fame at the international level in 2014 when she won bronze medals in the world championship, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM: BRONZE Four decades of pain and disappointment was washed away as the Indian men's hockey team clinched the bronze, the country's 12th Olympic medal in the sport that came after a gap of 41 years. After the initial hiccup which saw the team being steam-rolled 1-7 by Australia in their second game, Manpreet Singh and his men made a strong comeback only losing to eventual champions Belgium. While Manpreet inspired the team with his leadership, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had a phenomenal tournament, standing like a wall when the opposition mounted an attack. It seemed the team was destined to win. How else could one explain the addition of Simranjeet Singh, who scored a brace in the crucial bronze playoff, when he wasn't even a part of the original squad and had been added following the International Olympic Committee's decision to allow "alternate athletes" in team events because of the COVID-19 pandemic. LOVLINA BORGOHAIN: BRONZE Competing in her maiden Olympics, Borgohain carved a niche for herself in the history of Indian women's boxing by clinching a bronze -- India's lone boxing medal at the Tokyo Games. The 23-year-old, who was brought up in Baro Mukhia village of Assam's Golaghat district, used to be a kickboxer, like her two elder sisters, before she turned to boxing. A day before she was to leave with the Olympic-bound boxers group for a training camp to Europe, Borgohain had contracted COVID-19. But the missed opportunity couldn't stop her from having a remarkable campaign in which she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the 69kg category. She became only the third Indian boxer ever, after Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom, to finish on the podium at the quadrennial showpiece. BAJRANG PUNIA: BRONZE Bajrang Punia won the bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men's freestyle 65kg play-off at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 27-year-old has been passionate about wrestling since childhood. As a kid all he wanted was to wrestle. Once at a Dangal, when he was about 34kg, Bajrang insisted that he be allowed to wrestle but the competition was meant for those who weighed about 60kg and to the amazement of everyone, he pinned his opponent, giving a glimpse of his determination. Those who were so close yet so far: WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM From a bottom-place finish at Rio 2016, the Indian women's team capped a remarkable journey at Tokyo Olympics, finishing a creditable fourth. Although the team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in the closely contested bronze medal play-off, the side recorded its best ever finish at the Games. With the odds stacked firmly against them a brave and determined women's team etched its name in the history books by entering its maiden Olympic semifinals. DEEPAK PUNIA After an impressive campaign that saw him race to the semifinals, Deepak Punia was only 10 seconds away from a medal, but the 22-year-old debutant ended up conceding a take-down in the 86kg freestyle bronze medal play-off. Wrestling was just a route that Deepak hoped would find him a good job to help sustain his family. He was offered the post of a sepoy in the Indian Army back in 2016 but was told to dream big and not settle for little things. He took the advice of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar seriously and has gradually made his mark. He became a World Cadet champion in 2016 and in 2019 won the junior World title, only the fourth Indian ever to do so. ADITI ASHOK Ranked 200 in the world, Aditi Ashok from Bengaluru competed toe-to-toe against the best golfers in the world. But, alas it wasn't meant to be as after coming agonisingly close, Aditi finished fourth. Aditi started playing golf at the age of five. At the Rio Olympics, where she finished 41st, Aditi was the youngest player.
50 On Saturday, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu gave India its first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020. She won the silver medal in the women's 49 kg category. The nation is in a celebratory mode and social media is abuzz with all sorts of messages related to this win of the athlete hailing from Manipur. Amid them, a heartwarming video has surfaced online. It captures the reactions of Chanu's family and neighbours as she bags the win. Shared on Twitter by ANI, the video is absolutely amazing to watch. "Manipur: Family and neighbours of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu burst into celebrations as they watch her win the #Silver medal for India in Women's 49kg category," reads the caption shared along with the video. Since being posted a few hours ago, the video has gathered more than 78,000 views and the numbers are only increasing. The post has also gathered over 12,000 likes. While replying to their own post, ANI also shared a quote from a relative of Mirabai Chanu. "'We are very happy today. This is a result of her hard work. India and Manipur are proud of her," says her relative in Imphal," it reads. "Priceless moments for the family and relatives!" wrote a Twitter user. "Congratulations," shared another. "Watching the person lifting his hands and synchronosing with the sportsperson makes the spirit high. That is the way of adding strength. That should be our nature," expressed a third. ANI also shared a quote from the athlete's parents on her win. "We're happy that she got the first medal for India. We expected her to win a gold medal but we are happy that she won the silver medal. She has made us and the whole country proud of her, say Saikhom Tombi and Saikhom Kriti, parents of #MirabaiChanu" it reads. The tweet is complete with a few images: Mirabai Chanu lifted a total weight of 202 kg to win the silver medal. The gold medal was won by China's Hou Zhihui. What are your thoughts on the video?
51 It was just two days. People were elated on Saturday at Mirabai Chanu's fantastic performance and at Saurabh Chaudhary ranking first in the qualification round of the 10m air pistol. Neither of these things-a medal on the first day and winning the qualification round-had ever happened in India's Olympic history, so we had started well. One day later, I saw a lot of anger directed at our athletes and the allegation they always buckle under pressure. On one side, I am privileged to be part of the sport from which people expect so much that even a small lapse is not ignored. But at the same time, I also know that because the sport is so technical not everyone is aware of what is happening. You see shooters standing and you think all they are doing is inserting a pellet and firing. You don't see the storm in their heads and how they are manoeuvring through it. That is where the real action is happening. What you know is the shooter's past performance and you are thinking he/she will, in keeping with the law of averages, emulate that on the given day. That's not how it happens. How many actually know that this was the first time Saurabh, who is just 19, faced the full might of the best senior shooters in the world? The country was expecting Saurabh to do well because he had won World Cup medals but let's put this out there-he was facing every other top senior player in the world for the first time. In the Asian Games he did beat South Korea's Jin Jong-Oh, who is a four-time Olympic gold medallist, but the rest of the world wasn't there. Like it wasn't in most of the World Cups during these years. The Chinese never came, for example, no one saw Pang Wei (who won bronze in the 10m air pistol in Tokyo) after Rio. Jin Jong-oh never did World Cups. All we knew was that 584-589 is the range Saurabh has been in and we can expect that. And he delivered. And to all those who think only Indian shooters can't handle pressure, here's some information: where was South Korea in pistol shooting at the Olympics? Jin Jong-oh didn't qualify for the finals and he is like the Usain Bolt of shooting. Saurabh did. An Indian shooter was dealt the worst of the cards by fate, dealt with the trauma of a broken pistol, lost 17-18 minutes, and ended up shooting 44 shots in mere 36 minutes. That's like an asking rate of 10 runs per over for at least 30 overs of your chase in an ODI (as she faced a broken pistol on her 15th shot out of a 60-shot match). Still, she got close. So close that if she had an inner 10 as her last shot, she would have been in the finals! I think what Manu Bhaker did was amazing, not because of some number on the score sheet but because of her effort. On to Saurabh. His grouping (the area where shots hit) was low in the final, meaning his gun was not zeroed properly during the sighters. It had nothing to do with the quality of his shooting but how zeroing of the gun works. A good grouping can choose a very wrong spot on the target. He could not make up for the initial loss because everybody else was shooting at the top of the game and he could not cover up. It happens. He lost to good players and not to bad performance. An athlete can live with that, and so should we. Looking forward, I hope the debutants emerge stronger from this experience. This is also the first time some of them are facing criticism. They have the talent and a much better start than we had in our day. Till now, their hard work and talent has paid off. But they need to work harder and smarter now. Among the things they can look at is mental toughness. Trainings should feel like matches and matches should feel like training. Simulation trainings and what-if scenarios need to find place too. Shooters like Manu should be able to trust their spare pistol because they have practised on it to get comfortable.
52 Tiger Shroff drew inspiration from Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and lifted weights of 140 kilos. Mirabai won a silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The actor, taking to Instagram, shared a video in which he was seen balancing the heavyweight on his shoulder while he performed a set of sit-ups. Sharing the video, Tiger Shroff said, "140 kgs and counting.So so inspired to get stronger and go beyond my limits thanks to #mirabaichanu what a performance! go team india! #tokyoolympics @mmamatrixgym @mirabai_chanu." Tiger's father Jackie Shroff took to the comments section and blessed the actor. "Bless ya Bhidu keep spreading Goodness," he wrote. Tiger also received compliments from his friends and fans. "Maashallah Tigzzz 140 whoof!!!! Oh yesss such a proud moment for us," one of his friends said. "OMG OMG OMG wowwww wowwww tigiiiiii #mirabaichanu U made India proud .Jai hind," another added. Fans also dropped comments such as "Keep up sir" and "strong". Many others dropped heart, fire and clapping emojis. Earlier in the day, The Family Man 2 actor Samantha Akkineni also shared a video in which she was seen lifting weights and credited Mirabai for inspiring her workout session. Tiger's shoutout to Mirabai Chanu came a day after she bagged a silver medal in the women's 49 kg category of the international competition. On Saturday, she claimed the silver medal in the 49 kg category with a total of 202 kg (87 kg, 115 kg). It is India's second Olympic medal in the sport after Karnam Malleswari's bronze that came 21 years ago at the Sydney Games. Mirabai had participated in the Rio Olympics five years ago but could not win then. Mirabai received love from numerous Bollywood celebs, including Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Suniel Shetty, Aditi Rao Hydari, Anil Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, and Abhishek Bachchan. Anushka Sharma was also all hearts when she read the news about Mirabai's special Olympics rings-style earrings.
53 India's Air Pistol and Air Rifle shooters are gearing up to compete in the Mixed Team events come Tuesday, July 27, 2021, when both the 10M Air Pistol Mixed Team and 10M Air Rifle Mixed Team competitions make their Olympic debuts. After disappointments in the individual events, India's Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary will pair up in the 10M Air Pistol Mixed Team event. Abhishek Verma and Yashaswini Singh Deswal too will compete in the same event. A total of 20 pairs will take part in the 10m air pistol qualifications with the challengers coming from Russia, Iran, China, France and Serbia. Here's all you need to know about the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event India team pairs Saurabh Chaudhary & Manu Bhaker Abhishek Verma & Yashaswini Singh Deswal Date & Time Qualification, stage 1: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 5.30AM IST Qualification, stage 2: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 6.15AM IST Medal rounds: Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at 7.30 AM IST Teams 20 pairs Favourites & Strong pairs: Russia, Iran, China, France, Serbia Format 1st qualification round: three series of 10-shots by each team member 2nd qualification round: top eight pairs of 1stround to shoot two series of 10-shots by each team member Medal rounds Bronze medal match- Team 3 (2ndround) v Team 4 (2ndround) Gold medal match- Team 1 (2ndround) v Team 2 (2ndround) Finals Scoring Team with a higher combined score of single shots fired by each team member on command gets two points with one point for a tie. First team to 16 points with a difference of two wins. 10M Air Rifle Mixed Team India have two pairs - Divyansh Singh Panwar & Elavenil Valarivan and Deepak Kumar & Anjum Moudgil - in the 10M Air Rifle Mixed Team event. It will see participation from 29 pairs with the biggest challenge expected to come from Hungary, Russia, USA, China and Germany. India team pairs Divyansh Singh Panwar & Elavenil Valarivan Deepak Kumar & Anjum Moudgil Date & Time Qualification stage 1: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 9.45 AM IST Qualification stage 2: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 10.30 AM IST Medal rounds: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 11.45 AM IST Teams 29 pairs Favourites & Strong pairs: Hungary, Russia, USA, China, Germany Format 1st qualification round: three series of 10-shots by each team member 2nd qualification round: top eight pairs of 1stround shoot two series of 10-shots by each team member Medal rounds Bronze medal match- Team 3 (2ndround) v Team 4 (2ndround) Gold medal match- Team 1 (2ndround) v Team 2 (2ndround) Finals Scoring Team with a higher combined score of single shots fired by each team member on command gets two points with one point for a tie. First team to 16 points with a difference of two wins. Meanwhile at the Asaka Shooting range on Monday, day three, of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Shooting competition, India's Angad Bajwa finished 18thin the qualifiers with a score of 120 and Mairaj Ahmad Khan ended 25thwith 117, to bow out of the Men's Skeet event.
54 Even 30 minutes after his bout against world champion Bakhodir Jalolov, Satish Kumar was getting his cuts stitched at the Kokugikan Arena's medical centre. Jalolov won the superheavyweight quarter-final 5-0 but Kumar, the last of India's five men boxers in the fray, braved pain to absorb a flurry of punches and on occasion, return the fire. The 6ft 5 inch Jalolov was lightning quick with counters and struck meaty blows on Kumar who had suffered a cut on his forehead in the first round win against Jamaican Ricardo Brown. In the third round on Sunday, he reopened the wound. Kumar was bleeding but charged in to try for a knockout, having lost the first two rounds. Even in rounds 1 and 2 Kumar, 32, did not flinch. Against the taller southpaw, he hit body shots and overhead punches. The Uzbek threw stinging jabs and mixed it up with an effective combination. True, Kumar could not keep up with Jalolov's speed but the stomach for a fight he didn't lack. Making India's debut in the over-91 kg category, Kumar is the only Indian male boxer to have won a contest. The rest - Amit Panghal, Vikas Krishan, Manish Kaushik and Ashish Kumar - lost in the opening round. A victory in the quarter-final would have taken him to medal contention but it was too much of an ask against Jalolov, a favourite for the gold medal here. "Jalolov is a difficult opponent but Satish has been the only boxer to trouble him, even at the Olympic qualifier in Jordan in the first round," said India's high performance coach Santiago Nieva. "Satish was a bit hampered by the cut and in pain. But it is a physical contact sport and injuries happen. Satish took it on his chin." Kumar had it tough in the build-up to the Games. Last December, at the Cologne World Cup, he had to pull out of the final because of a bicep injury. In May, he had Covid-19 and missed the Asian championships.
55 'Gaad diya Papa lath' were Neeraj Chopra's first words in chaste Haryanvi, uttered over phone to his father Satish Kumar, after winning India's first ever individual Olympics gold medal in an athletics event on Saturday in Tokyo. 'Gaad diya lath', roughly translates into a feat that is hard to undo and it perhaps echoed the sentiment of over a billion Indians after Chopra's epoch-making moment in Indian sports. "I greeted him and told him that he has done a great job for the country and how people are celebrating his win in India when I spoke to him with the help of some media persons", his father Satish said on Sunday. Distribution of sweets, dancing and playing of 'dhol' (a percussion instrument), amid long queues of vehicles outside his residence in Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat district, have created a celebratory atmosphere similar to a grand marriage ceremony in which the entire village is participating. The family members are busy in attending guests, especially the media persons, who made a beeline soon after he won the gold in javelin throw with his 87.58m throw in the Olympics event final on Saturday evening. "Desi ghee ka choorma" (a local delicacy prepared in clarified butter) will be ready for Neeraj, when he returns, said his mother Saroj Bala. "Choorma is Neeraj's favourite, whenever he comes home after a long break, he asks me to prepare choorma, and this time I will again welcome him with choorma as he will be returning with a gold medal," she added, making no effort to hide her elation. "Most of the time he remains away from home and comes to the village only once or twice in a year. He does not attend even marriages or other important functions in the village," she said, referring to Chopra's training schedule mostly keeping him away from home. Saroj added that Neeraj was a very simple and polite man but was very strict about his health and fitness. According to the family members, Neeraj worked a lot on his fitness since his childhood. They said he weighed around 90kgs at the age of 11, when his uncle took him to a gym to lose weight and fat. "In the gym, he met a javelin thrower Jaiveer from Bhinjhol village who asked him to choose Javelin throw as his sport," said Neeraj's uncle Bhim Chopra. Bhim said Neeraj could not speak to the family immediately after his win as he was very busy on Saturday but spoke to his father on Sunday morning over phone. "Neeraj spoke to me only for a few seconds and he was very happy and excited," said Bhim. Neeraj's family members and villagers are making preparations for his grand reception.
56 If you're a regular on social media, you are probably no stranger to the witty and amazing doodles shared by dairy brand Amul on its social media platforms. Their recent share is no different. Paying a wonderful tribute to javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who brought the first gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 for India, the doodle has gathered much appreciation.. The post has left many cheering for the 'golden boy' of India. The post shared on Twitter and Instagram shows a doodle of the 23-year-old showing his Olympic gold medal to the Amul girl who can be seen saluting him. The text in the doodle reads, "Neeraj on the thrown". Take a look at the share: Shared on August 8, the post has garnered over 7,000 likes and several reactions. From congratulating Chopra to appreciating the doodle, the comments were plenty. "A multi talented performance," wrote an Instagram user. "We are so proud," commented another. "The golden throne! You made us proud," said a third. What are your thoughts on this amazing art?
57 Atanu Das's heart was racing, but you could not tell that from his demeanour. He had one shot to beat a two-time Olympic gold medallist (the 2012 individual gold and the team gold here just a few days back), Oh Jin Hyek. Hyek had the luxury of going first in the single arrow tie-breaker. He shot a 9. Das had just one possibility for a win, a bullseye 10. Beads of sweat formed on his face as he pulled on the bowstring on a hot and humid day at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field. To make matters trickier, there was a light breeze that swirled around the range. Das held on to the drawn bowstring for longer than he usually does. He wobbled, or so it seemed. Then the arrow flew and landed. It was a 10. It was a moment that aptly summed up a turnaround in India's performance at the Tokyo Olympics with more athletes stepping into contention as the first week of competition started to wind down. There were no medals on offer for the Indians in competition on the sixth day of competition in Tokyo 2020, but it was a day to remember for the thrills it provided, for the fighting wins from many of the Indians in action, and for the hope it raised for the days to follow. PV Sindhu wrapped up her Round of 16 match against world No 12 Mia Blichfeldt in straight sets, dominating the match and pulling out an array of cross-court backhands, smashes and drop shots. India's first superheavyweight boxer, Satish Kumar, put himself one win away from a medal with a powerful win in his first match to move into the quarterfinal. And the Indian hockey team managed to script a remarkable turnaround by defeating the 2016 Olympic champions Argentina 3-1, and qualifying for the quarterfinals just four days after they had been hammered 7-1 by Australia. There was also loss, but it came with its own slice of history as the legendary Mary Kom, six-time world champion and London Olympic bronze medallist, bowed out in the Round of 16 in a closely contested match. This was her last Olympics and possibly the last fight of her career. The biggest spark came from Atanu, whose dramatic face-off with Oh Jin Hyek took him to the last-16. "There is pressure in every match in the Olympics," Das said. "Obviously I was tense. I was banking on my mind, not my heart. I simply focused and tried to go through the situation." Das's morning started brightly with a relatively comfortable 6-4 win against Chinese Taipei's Deng Yu-Cheng. It was a change from the way the Games have gone so far for him. In the ranking round on July 23, he finished a lowly 35, which meant the higher ranked Pravin Jadhav was fielded instead of him with Deepika Kumari in the mixed team event. Against Jin Hyek, Das lost the first set, shooting two 8s and a 9 to the South Korea's two 9s and a 8. World No 1 Kumari, who is also his wife, shouted out encouragement and instructions from the stands. "I could hear her voice from behind me all the time," Das said, flashing two rings, his wedding band and a gold ring in the shape of the Olympic symbol. "Pushing me all the while, telling me to be myself, that I could do it, to stay calm." In the next two sets, every arrow from Das fetched a 9. Jin Hyek kept pace. Then came the fourth set, where Das's opponent slipped to a six. Das pounced on the rare error, producing a 10 in reply to take the set. In the fifth, a nerve-wracking set, the two archers scored in lock-step: 10, 9, 9. Das felt that his sight needed slight recalibration. After a quick chat with coach Mim Gurung, the sight was adjusted. It worked. "We saw that all three of his last shots were closer to 10s, one just touched the 10, but we wanted to be more accurate, so that the shoot-off arrow can hit the inner 10," said Gurung. During the shoot-off, Das drew strength from the fact that he had been in this situation before, against the same opponent, at the 2019 Asian Archery Championship. There, in the bronze medal match, Das had managed an X (the inner circle of 10) to Jin Hyek's 10 in the tie breaker. "The situation in a match changes rapidly and those who can handle that well, can move forward," Das said. "I kept my nerves." Das will have another challenge on his hands against London Games silver medallist Takaharu Furukawa of Japan on July 31. Kumari goes up against Perova Ksenia of Russian Olympic Committee in the Round of 16 on Friday.
58 Akane Yamaguchi launched a stirring comeback just when it looked like PV Sindhu would seal the quarter-final with another easy win. Sindhu trailed after leading 14-8 and at 20-18, Yamaguchi had two game points. Sindhu saved both and won four successive points to win 21-13, 22-20 and make the semi-finals, where the crafty Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei lies in wait on Saturday, without dropping a game in the Olympics. A heavy metal scream followed the win and as Sindhu let it rip at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, her coach, Park Tae-sang of South Korea, dropped on his knees, his arms pumping and fists clenched. Park was a quarter-finalist in the 2004 Olympics. Through the time Japan's Yamaguchi showed a remarkable defensive game and engaged Sindhu in long rallies --- one of them lasted 54 shots and left both breathless --- Sindhu didn't look rattled. "I always knew she would come back. I was prepared for it," she said. There are few secrets at the elite level in sport. Speaking about when Yamaguchi took charge of the second game winning six of the seven points contested, Sindhu said: "You know, anybody would get nervous at that point. But we've trained so hard for this and my coach was constantly saying that it's okay, it's not over yet, be focused and you know you can do it." "Yamaguchi was engaging her (Sindhu) in long rallies and towards the end, she was reading Sindhu well. But the last four points, Sindhu was just brilliant. Also, I didn't see her panic; there was a very calm way in which she was dealing with the situation. Lots of improvement in that aspects," said U Vimal Kumar, the former India chief coach, speaking from Bengaluru. It's been quite a transformation for Sindhu who had lost to lesser-known opponents earlier this year. The reigning world champion was struggling to string a sequence of wins in competitions leading to a commentator suggesting on air that Sindhu should play lower-level tournaments to get her confidence back. In Tokyo, Sindhu has been in control for most of her four matches. Her drop shots have been deceptive and on Friday, Sindhu surprised Yamaguchi a number of times from the back of the court. Sindhu said she was happy that the drops came off well. "You will see some other new skill," she told reporters. Introducing new strokes in a competition isn't easy but Kumar said easy games in the group stage --- of the kind she wouldn't get in Super Series tournament --- gave Sindhu the freedom to try them out. "As a player, even if you have learned these things (and) don't use it's a waste. Many of them under pressure, they don't implement them but Sindhu is implementing these things. So that is a big plus. I always felt that on big occasions Sindhu has always (had) better results compared to many other Indian players." Since the final in the Rio Olympics where she won silver, Sindhu has played three successive world championship finals winning it in 2019 for the first time. Comfortable wins in the group games also gave Sindhu the chance to get used to the conditions. "Adjust (to the) drift in the hall, the shuttlecocks, the lights, everything matters. These are small things but at that level, they matter," said Kumar. In the quarte-final, Sindhu mixed the drop shots with crosscourt drives on both sides of the court. And by taking early control of the rallies --- unlike in the 2019 world series event where she lost to Yamaguchi --- Sindhu dictated the tempo for most of the match. It was only when Yamaguchi engaged her in long rallies --- it was the Japanese who won that remarkable 54-shot contest --- that Sindhu struggled as unforced errors crept in. Such a rally could have led to a shift in momentum but Sindhu didn't allow that. The net game is one area she has really improved, said Kumar. "The counter dribble at the net area, she is really playing well. And from the back of the court, she is playing good-mixing drops, those slow drops are very effective. Normally, she does high clears and then hit hard. This time there was variation. Yesterday (Thursday) also she was using that against that Mia Blichfeldt. So, she's brought variations in her game. We have to give a lot of credit to her coach Park," said Kumar who was coach when Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to be world No. 1 in 2015. Sindhu will need all of this and more against Tai who leads the head-to-head 18-5. "I think it's very important for me to be focused and relaxed now and get ready for the next match," said Sindhu. Tai's ability to change strokes at the last moment has caused Sindhu problems, said Kumar. "Sindhu has to move well, retrieve well and then counter punch because she has that finish." And do a Yamaguchi on her. "Tai Tzu doesn't like long rallies unlike the Japanese and Chinese girls," said Kumar. The other advantage for Sindhu is that Tai needed three games to beat Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon 14-21, 21-18, 21-18 in their quarter-final on Friday. "That extra energy is needed because n all these girls are very tough," said Kumar.
59 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated boxer Lovlina Borgohain on winning a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics and said her tenacity and determination are admirable. Modi tweeted, "Well fought @LovlinaBorgohai! Her success in the boxing ring inspires several Indians. Her tenacity and determination are admirable. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze. Best wishes for her future endeavours. #Tokyo2020." Well fought @LovlinaBorgohai ! Her success in the boxing ring inspires several Indians. Her tenacity and determination are admirable. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze. Best wishes for her future endeavours. #Tokyo2020 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2021 Borgohain (69kg) signed off with a bronze medal in the Olympic Games after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, praised India boxer Lovlina Borgohain after she won the bronze medal in the women's welterweight category (64-69kg) at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, Thakur wrote: "Lovlina, you gave your best punch! India is extremely proud of what you have achieved! You've achieved a medal in your first Olympics; the journey has just begun!" Lovlina, you gave your best punch ! �� India ���� is extremely proud of what you have achieved ! You've achieved a �� medal in your first Olympics; the journey has just begun! Well done @LovlinaBorgohai ! #Boxing #Olympics #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/kIW7qkeze5 - Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 4, 2021 Rijiju also took to Twitter and wrote: "Well done @LovlinaBorgohai ! #Boxing #Olympics #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India Dear @LovlinaBorgohai you have made our country proud! Congratulations on winning the Olympic Bronze medal! We are extremely proud of your achievement! #Cheer4India." Dear @LovlinaBorgohai , you have made our country proud! Hearty congratulations on winning Olympic Bronze medal! We are extremely proud of your achievement! #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/M4FDjENZ0w - Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 4, 2021 He further tweeted: Dear @LovlinaBorgohai, you have made our country proud! Hearty congratulations on winning the Olympic Bronze medal! We are extremely proud of your achievement! #Cheer4India."
60 Thanks to Neeraj Chopra's historic win, the Indian national anthem will be played at the medal ceremony for the first time since Beijing Olympics that took place in 2008. In men's javelin throw in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020, Chopra scripted history by winning a gold medal. He also became independent India's first athlete to win a medal in the track and field discipline. Since his win, social media is abuzz with congratulating messages the athlete on his big win. People are also posting to share how this is a big moment for the entire country. In fact, Neeraj Chopra's name is also trending on Twitter as people are sharing messages after his big win. "What a performance, gold medal for India after a long time, proud moment for every Indian," wrote a Twitter user. "End of 100 years of waiting for gold in Athletics. Proud of you, our golden boy. A huge applause and sincere hearted congratulations to Neeraj Chopra," shared another. "Neeraj Chopra won Gold for India. What a day for us," expressed a third. A few also took the route of hilarity while appreciating the win. Just like this individual who shared: Besides posting about Neeraj Chopra, people are also tweeting about Abhinav Bindra. He won a gold medal in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for shooting. A post about this historic moment of Chopra was also shared on the official Twitter handle for Olympics. "Neeraj Chopra of #IND takes #gold in the #Athletics men's javelin final on his Olympic debut! He is the first Indian to win an athletics medal and only the second to win an individual medal!" reads the tweet. How are your celebrating Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal win at Tokyo Olympics 2020?
61 Actor Kim Sharma took to Instagram Stories to share a post for her rumoured boyfriend Leander Paes. The occasion was the completion of 25 years since he won a bronze medal in tennis at the Olympics. Sharing a throwback picture of Leander, Kim wrote: "Congratulations on 25 years of your Olympic medal champ @leanderpaes #flyingman." On Sunday, the rumoured couple was spotted in Mumbai, taking a stroll with her pet. She was seen in a pink and white maxi dress while Leander was casually dressed in a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt. Last month, Kim and Leander were spotted at a restaurant-bar in Goa, which immediately sparked relationship rumours. They were seen enjoying a meal together, laughing. In another picture by the beach, he was seen hugging her from behind. Kim was previously in a relationship with Harshvardhan Rane but the couple broke up in 2019. After their breakup, Harvardhan had posted a cryptic note on Instagram and said: "K, Thank you gentle soul! It was amazing, and much more. God bless you, and God bless me too. Bye. H." Kim made her acting debut with Mohabbatein in 2000. The film also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. She did a few other films such as Fida and Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story. Leander, a multiple Grand Slam-winning tennis player, was previously married to model Rhea Pillai and the former couple have a daughter together. Incidentally, Leander too has dabbled with acting. He made his debut with the 2013 film Rajdhani Express, which also starred Jimmy Shergill and Sudhanshu Pandey.
62 Edtech startup BYJU'S today announced a cash reward of Rs.2 crore for star India javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra following his gold medal winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics. The startup also announced Rs.1 crore for each of the other six medallists, who brought laurels to the country at the Games. "Making further strides into encouraging players across sports disciplines, the company has announced Rs.2 crores for Neeraj Chopra and Rs.1 crore each for Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia," a release said. "Sports has a critical role to play in nation-building and it's time that we celebrate our Olympic heroes, not just once in 4 years, but every single day," Byju Raveendran, Founder, and CEO said. Chopra on Saturday produced a throw of 87.58m in the finals at the Tokyo Games to claim the country's first track-and-field medal and become only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics. His win also took India's medal tally at Tokyo to seven, making it the best ever Games for the country. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise will be honouring Neeraj Chopra as the javelin thrower won a gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. "To commemorate this special and historic feat, on behalf of the fans Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd., India's much loved and celebrated sports team and Lieutenant Colonel MS Dhoni extend their wishes to Neeraj Chopra, a Junior Commissioned Officer in Indian Army," said CSK in an official statement. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced a special cash reward of Rs.2 crore for athlete Neeraj Chopra for winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Manipur State Cabinet has decided to extend a reward of Rs.one crore to Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra for his historic win and specular performance as a javelin thrower.
63 Neeraj Chopra hogged the limelight as the whole of India celebrated the javelin thrower's historic feat on day fifteen of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The 23-year-old athlete took home the gold medal in the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m on the final day of throws at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. He is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Chopra threw his best with only his second attempt and it proved a road too far for the other competitors on the day as he became the first from India to win a gold in track and field in the Olympics. After Chopra's unprecedented victory at the Olympics, several brands and politicians have come forward announcing the monetary reward and other perks for the javelin thrower. Neeraj Chopra's full list of rewards: 1. Haryana government announced a Rs.6 crore cash reward for Neeraj Chopra and a class I category state government job. 2. Punjab government announced a cash reward of Rs.2 crore for Chopra. 3. Manipur cabinet decided to extend a reward of Rs.1 crore to the Olympic gold medallist. 4. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also announced a cash reward of Rs.1 crore for Chopra. 5. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings also declared a reward of Rs.1 crore for the javelin thrower. 6. Indian airline IndiGo announced that it will offer unlimited free travel for one year to Neeraj Chopra. 7. Businessman Anand Mahindra has promised to gift the gold medallist the upcoming SUV XUV700. Neeraj Chopra studied at DAV College Chandigarh and joined the Indian army in 2016. Chopra, a junior officer in the Indian army with the Rajputana Rifles, made his first mark on international athletics with a world junior title in 2016. Two years later, he became the first Indian athlete to win the javelin at the Asian Games and at the Commonwealth Games and was the current National Record Holder with 88.07 Metres throw. He had also won a gold medal in Junior World Championship and set U 20 World Record with 86.48 metres throw. He is also a 2018 Arjuna Awardee. It is the second Gold Medal by an Indian in the individual category of the Olympic Games after Abhinav Bindra, hailing from Punjab, won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
64 Inspired by two former India captains Pargat Singh and Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh has waited for three Olympics to fulfil not just his dream but also of his idols. Hailing from Mithapur village in Punjab, the talisman of the Indian team on Thursday finally realised what he set out for since he debuted for India in 2011. He captained his young squad to their first medal-a bronze-at the Olympics. After the win, he spoke about the experience. Excerpts What was it like to come through this tense match and win India's first Olympic medal in 41 years? Main toh wahin pe let gaya (I just lay down where I stood). I had no words. The way the team played today after being 1-3 down at one point was amazing. Poora jaan de rahe the (we fought with all our heart). We've sacrificed so much just to be here, in the bronze medal playoff, that we had made up our mind that we wanted to be on the podium. Just look at the last one year. We've been in SAI Bengaluru with guys staying away from their families for major parts of the year. Look at Sreejesh, who has been away from his wife and kids for so long. How did you pick yourself up after the 7-1 defeat against Australia? When we had lost the match against Australia, I was really heartbroken. That time Rupinderpal came to me and said, 'wait for 5 August. We will take a medal from here.' Today, when I met Bob (Rupinder) after the medal, the first thing I did was remind him of that conversation. Our aim was to make the final of the Olympics at Tokyo, but still bronze at an Olympics is a big deal. Particularly for India, since we haven't done this in a long time. We had decided that if we win a medal at Tokyo Olympics, we will dedicate it to our frontline workers and essential service workers. We also want to dedicate it to members of the police forces, and our army. All of them have been relentlessly and selflessly working during the pandemic. They've saved so many lives. We want to dedicate it to them. Take us through the match, the fight that you put up after trailing for the first part Germany are considered to have one of the best defences in the world. Scoring against them is difficult. We were 1-3 down. We didn't give up. We kept telling ourselves and each other that these 60 minutes will not come back. Even when I would go on the bench today for rolling substitution, people would remind me of this. We didn't want to experience that regret once we returned that we couldn't win a medal. Didn't want that 'what if' when the match was over. When I would go to the bench, Shamsher (Singh) would tell me, "paaji hum log karenge (we will do it)." We had to work a lot to fix our last-minute errors issue. We were very, very committed to the ideology that if we lost games, we would not blame anyone. We lost as a team, we won as a team.
65 Neeraj Chopra hogged the limelight as the whole of India celebrated the javelin thrower's historic feat on day fifteen of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The 23-year-old athlete took home the gold medal in the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m on the final day of throws at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. He is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. Chopra threw his best with only his second attempt and it proved a road too far for the other competitors on the day as he became the first from India to win a gold in track and field in the Olympics. After Chopra's unprecedented victory at the Olympics, several brands and politicians have come forward announcing the monetary reward and other perks for the javelin thrower. Neeraj Chopra's full list of rewards: 1. Haryana government announced a Rs.6 crore cash reward for Neeraj Chopra and a class I category state government job. 2. Punjab government announced a cash reward of Rs.2 crore for Chopra. 3. Manipur cabinet decided to extend a reward of Rs.1 crore to the Olympic gold medallist. 4. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also announced a cash reward of Rs.1 crore for Chopra. 5. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings also declared a reward of Rs.1 crore for the javelin thrower. CSK will be creating a special jersey with the number 8758 as a mark of respect to Neeraj Chopra. 6. Indian airline IndiGo announced that it will offer unlimited free travel for one year to Neeraj Chopra. 7. Businessman Anand Mahindra has promised to gift the gold medallist the upcoming SUV XUV700. 8.Edtech major BYJU'S announced a cash reward of Rs.2 crore for Neeraj Chopra Neeraj Chopra studied at DAV College Chandigarh and joined the Indian army in 2016. Chopra, a junior officer in the Indian army with the Rajputana Rifles, made his first mark on international athletics with a world junior title in 2016. Two years later, he became the first Indian athlete to win the javelin at the Asian Games and at the Commonwealth Games and was the current National Record Holder with 88.07 Metres throw. He had also won a gold medal in Junior World Championship and set U 20 World Record with 86.48 metres throw. He is also a 2018 Arjuna Awardee. It is the second Gold Medal by an Indian in the individual category of the Olympic Games after Abhinav Bindra, hailing from Punjab, won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
66 Ravi Dahiya, popular as 'moni pehalwan' in his Nahri village in Haryana's Sonepat, lost to Zavur Uguev of Russia in the 57kg freestyle wrestling final to claim a silver at the Tokyo Olympics. But his family and friends were elated to see him on the podium with the medal around his neck. Dahiya's grandmother Savitri Devi, who had been promised gold by her grandson, was still thrilled. "chora abhi jawan hai, gold bhi lavega (the boy is still young, he will bring gold too). Our village is a nursery of wrestlers. Ravi's medal will inspire youth to take up the sport. I want dozens of wrestlers from Nahri to bring medals for the country. I hope the government provides a new hospital and potable water to all houses in acknowledgement of Ravi's win," she said. People from nearby villages started trickling into the 23-year-old Dahiya's home on Thursday morning. They celebrated with dance and music when Dahiya wore the medal during the ceremony in Tokyo's wrestling hall. The Sonepat district administration had made special arrangements by installing a large screen TV and ensured uninterrupted power supply at a community centre near Dahiya's house for the local residents and visitors to watch the final. The wrestler's father, Rakesh Kumar Dahiya, was present too. Dahiya's mother Urmila Devi, grandmother Savitri and other women watched the bout at their house. Speaking to reporters after the final, Ravi's father was disappointed. He said they were expecting a gold medal from him but securing silver in the Olympics is not easy. "I hope the government will provide 24x7 uninterrupted power supply and better roads in future. The villagers are expecting that Dahiya's medal will bring development to the village and the government will provide better facilities for budding wrestlers," he added. The villagers claimed they received only eight hours of electricity in a day. Nahri has a population of a little over 15,000 people and known as a wrestling hub. Prominent wrestlers like Amit Dahiya (2012 London Olympics, silver medalist at the 2013 world championships), Arun Kumar (gold medallist in the 2011 junior Asian championships) and Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) have come from here.
67 Ravi Kumar Dahiya etched his name in history after becoming the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the ongoing Olympics. The 23-year-old wrestler finished on the podium in the final of the 57kg freestyle wrestling event and became one of the sixth athletes in India's sporting history to win a silver medal at the Olympics. "Thoda disappointed hun kyuki gold hi chahiye tha, but khush bhi hu (I'm a little disappointed because I wanted gold medal, but I'm happy too)," says Dahiya. His journey, from his village Nahari in Haryana to Tokyo, Japan is inspirational and shows his grit and determination. Coming from a rather modest background, he picked up the sport at a very young age and credits his father for his success. "When I was training in Delhi, my father travelled long distances each day to bring me fruits and milk for my diet. He did this for years. He is a farmer and though we are settled now, and woh aaram kar sakte hain, I won't ask him to give up farming," says the Olympian, who plans to head to his village and spend time with his family, after a long time. "Time bohot nahi hai kyunki training bhi karni hai, but I plan to head home and spend some time with my family, eat good food, because I've been away for so long," he says, adding that he will also go to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi to meet his coach, Satpal Singh. The Haryana government had announced that Dahiya will get Rs.4 crore, a government job and a plot at a concessional rate. And in honour of his victory, an indoor wrestling stadium equipped with modern facilities, will be built in Nahari. Dahiya adds, "It's great news! Nahari has sent athletes to the Olympics in the past as well, and my village needs many facilities. I'm glad that all the people, especially youngsters there will get more opportunities to train." And the two-time Asian champion is now channelising his energy for Paris Olympics 2024. He says: "I'm going to gear up and prepare in full form. This experience (in Tokyo Games) will help me do even better and bring home gold next time. Tab tak mehnat nahi rukegi!" Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
68 Who knew the answer to life, the universe, and everything was not 42 (as Douglas Adams would have us believe). For Indian sport, it was 87.58. 87.58 metres, to be precise - which Usain Bolt can cover in less than 8.5 seconds on land and Michael Phelps in about 41 seconds in the water - was the distance to immortality. Neeraj Chopra did it by finding a small pocket in the air and piercing it with his javelin. As the projectile soared, so did 101 years of India's Olympics history with it. It kept travelling, with complete disregard for the burden of the past and the shackles of what is and isn't possible. And when it landed, it had pushed the margins forever. That's what champions do. India getting an Olympic medal of any colour in track & field seemed impossible enough, given that no one - not even the hallowed pantheon of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George -- had managed it*. For that medal to be gold needed a miraculous defiance of all the laws - motion, logic, Murphy's, you name it. It happened because that's what sport is; and particularly because that's what the Olympics are for. India has finally tasted a slice of the incredible. Neeraj Chopra was born in 1997, the eldest of three children, in Haryana's Khandra village to farmer Satish Kumar and his wife Saroj. When he was 12, Neeraj weighed 80kg. His family, worried that the boy ate anything he could find, and did little to expend the calories, sent him to the gym at the Panchkula Stadium in Panipat, about 15km away. Neeraj was a reluctant starter, but after his perfunctory workout, he'd sit and watch the athletics squad in the stadium - the sprinters would be tearing down the track in one corner, the middle-distance runners doing interval training in another, and, in the distance, some people would be hurling a long spear into the void. This activity intrigued Neeraj. One day, local javelin thrower, Jaiveer Chaudhary, piqued by the boy's interest in the sport, asked him to give it a shot instead of watching idly from a distance. Jaiveer realised quickly that throwing the javelin came naturally to Neeraj, and soon they started training together. The family was delighted by this sudden change in Neeraj - all they wanted was for him to lose weight; they got an athlete instead. By the time he was 18, Neeraj was making heads turn - with his flowing locks (clipped just before Tokyo 2020), and with the distances he started recording. He first stunned the field with a throw of over 86m at the world junior championships in the Polish town of Bydgoszcz in 2016. Then came the gold rush - the 2017 Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar, the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, and Asian Games in Jakarta. And then the injury to his throwing arm that needed surgery and could've ended his career. Incredible as it makes this story, if the Olympics weren't delayed by a year, he may not have made it. The enormity of what Neeraj achieved on Sunday lies not in how this gold has forever taken the track & field monkey off India's back, but in what this could spark. Thirteen years ago, India's first Olympic gold at Beijing by shooter Abhinav Bindra made non-cricket athletes across the country believe that they, too, had a chance. The buzz it created led to six medals in London 2012 (a rich haul given that we were a one-medal nation until Beijing 2008 happened and this was somehow fine with our sports federations), and in more athletes getting into medal-winning positions at Rio 2016. To keep the momentum going, India's wish list for Tokyo 2020 had four items in it. In ascending order of difficulty: at least seven medals (to better London); one of them gold (to prove 2008 wasn't a one-off); one of them in hockey (to end the 41-year drought in a sport we once ruled); and one of them in track & field (to show we could compete in the most fundamental of all Olympic disciplines). Till the last day of competition, only one out of four boxes were checked. Then, Neeraj Chopra, spear aimed at the heavens, in a sport first introduced at the Ancient Olympics in 700 BC, gave 87.58 reasons why India's Olympics march must continue. (* Englishman Norman Pritchard, born in India, won two silver medals on the track in 1900. The jury on which country they should be credited to has been out for a century. India sent its first full squad to the Olympics in 1920.)
69 Ahead of boxer Satish Kumar's quarterfinal bout at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, residents of Greater Noida West are excited as they hope that the boxer will win a medal for India. Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida West, entered the quarterfinals of the men's super heavyweight (+91kg) category at the Olympics on Thursday. Kumar, a native of Pachauta village in Bulandshahr, has been staying at Arihant Arden housing society in Greater Noida West's Sector 1 for the past five years with his wife and two kids. "We moved to Greater Noida West five years ago in order to give better schooling to our kids. Ever since my Thursday's win, my family members in Bulandshahr as well as my wife in Greater Noida West have been receiving congratulatory messages," 32-year-old Kumar told HT over phone from Tokyo. Kumar is a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, two times bronze medallist at the Asian Championship and an Arjuna awardee. On Thursday at the Tokyo Olympics, Kumar won 4-1 against Jamaica's Ricardo Brown to enter the quarterfinals. The pugilist now faces Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov, the reigning Asian and world champion. In April this year, Kumar was down with Covid-19. "I have been at the boxing camp in Patiala for the past five years and only visit home occasionally. In April, I got infected with Covid-19 and I had to miss the Asian Boxing Championship held in May in Bangkok. But I worked very hard for the Olympics as it has been my dream to win a medal for India," he said. Due to the Covid-19 protocols, the Arihant Arden apartment owners' association (AOA) has not planned a screening of the Sunday's match at their club to cheer Kumar. "It is an extremely proud moment for us. We feel privileged to be from the same society where (Satish) Kumar stays. It is unfortunate that due to the pandemic, we cannot screen the match for all residents to watch together. However, we are planning a grand reception for Kumar whenever he comes back from Tokyo," said Bharti Jaiswal, a member of the AOA. Nishith Chaturvedi, another member of the AOA, said, "We are sure that Kumar will win an Olympic medal on Sunday. When he does, all residents of the society will come on their balconies to cheer him in spirit." Abhishek Kumar, president of Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA) echoed similar sentiments. "It is a proud moment for all residents of Greater Noida West to watch Kumar represent India at the Tokyo Olympics. We will plan a grand reception for him as well," he said. The boxer's wife, Savita Yadav, is confident he will win the quarterfinals and get a medal. "We are eagerly waiting for Sunday's match. All my friends in the residential society said that they will be cheering for my husband and will pray that he gets a medal," she said. Talking about Sunday's match, Kumar, who has been with the Indian Army since 2008 as Subedar Major, said, "I will give my 100% to make India proud. Rest is up to the Almighty." When asked what is the first thing he will do after returning to India, he said, "I will go to Bulandshahr first to get my parents' blessings and visit our family temple. Next, I will come to my Greater Noida West flat." Meanwhile, Aster Public School in Greater Noida West, where Kumar's two children study in classes 1 and 2, has decided to forego their school fees for lifetime. "We are elated to know that the father of two of our students is representing India at the Tokyo Olympics. To show our gratitude, we have decided to forego the children's education fee for lifetime. Kumar is an extremely concerned father, and often comes to the school functions (before Covid-19 outbreak) to watch his children perform," said Rachna Shukla, vice-principal of the school.
70 Hailing weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver medal win in the Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is elated by her stupendous performance. "Could not have asked for a happier start to Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian," PM Modi tweeted with the hashtag 'Cheer4India'. Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020 ! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu 's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/B6uJtDlaJo - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021 Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in Olympics. Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49 kg category to open the country's account in Tokyo today
71 The wait was agonising. India skipper Rani Rampal's gaze was nervously fixed on the scoreboard. Australia had sought a video referral for a penalty corner in the dying moments of the game. Goalkeeper Savita Punia came behind the post and took a sip of water. Until then, the seniormost player had shown great anticipation and skill to stop Australia in penalty corners, to defend a 1-0 lead for 55 minutes. The wait was never ending for the Indian camp as officials checked and re-checked the video. Australia got the penalty corner, in fact two in a row. But Punia was the wall that ensured Australia did not deny India the victory. She stretched and kept the ball away to keep Indian hopes intact. As the team marched into the semi-finals of an Olympics for the first time on Monday, Punia and Rampal hugged and walked arm-in-arm. Together they had endured the heartbreak of the Rio Olympics, where India finished 12th. "It is a very big moment for me," said an exhausted but relieved Punia. "I was a bit disappointed with the last match (India beat South Africa 4-3 after their rivals equalised thrice). We decided, like we did against Ireland, that even if we have just a one goal lead, as a senior goalkeeper I just have to stay calm at the back and not panic. That is what I did today to stay as calm as possible." There was one great save by Punia towards the end before a defender took the ball away, out of the circle and to safety. India's tight defensive formation took the sting out of Australia's attacks. Punia's counterpart in the men's team PR Sreejesh would agree to her talking about staying calm, he too having put in crucial saves match after match to help India reach their first semi-finals for 49 years. For the women, eight members from the Rio Olympics squad are part of the Tokyo campaign. For them, victory over Australia and reaching the semi-final is a huge vindication. "When we finished 12th in Rio, it was a very upsetting period for us," recalled skipper Rampal. "We didn't even want to tell anyone that we went to the Olympics. So you can imagine how bad the feeling was. In Tokyo we came with a different mindset. We told ourselves that Rio was our first Olympics and here we can accomplish something. The coaches made us believe we could do it." After the Rio debacle, having qualified for their first Olympics, India won the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy, 2017 Asia Cup, and silver at the 2018 Asian Games. A quarterfinal finish at the 2018 World Cup added to their confidence in the build-up to Tokyo. Like Sreejesh in the men's team, Punia, 31, is the senior most in the women's team and key to the team's success here. Her first big moment was winning bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. At the FIH Hockey World League in Belgium in 2015, she emerged a quality goal-keeper with saves against Japan that saw India qualify for the Rio Olympics. In any other context, a win over three-time champions Australia would have been unthinkable. But self-belief runs through this squad. The defensive steel was tested in the win over South Africa that sent them into the quarters. "It is not a surprise for us (show against Australia) because we deserved it. Everyone worked really hard. We had the belief we could do it. We worked as a team and that was reflected in the match. They were 60 minutes of do-or-die, we had no option but to do it successfully," said Punia. Things had not started the way India would have hoped for. They had lost the first three matches, to Netherlands (1-5), Germany (0-2) and Great Britain (1-4). Their hope was flickering. "Olympics is not just a tournament, it is big. Our first three matches did not go well, but we believed we would come back," said Punia. "We played well in the first half against Netherlands and that gave us a lot of confidence that we can do better than other teams. After the match against Great Britain everyone was crying because we did not follow the plan. We were not upset so much with the result but that we did not execute," said Rani Rampal. When they finally made it through to the quarter-final, the team was keen to play Australia. "We were hoping to meet Australia because we have played a lot of matches against them. We know we can play our game against Australia. They give us the space and today we took full advantage of that. As a team we gelled for the whole 60 minutes. "We helped each other. If the ball went loose, it didn't matter, we tackled again. We were ready to tackle again and again. That is the kind of effort we put and we got the result," Rampal said. In the last quarter, it boiled down to who handled pressure better and Australia wilted as the match drew towards a close. "The way Australia had pressure that they had to score, we had pressure to stay calm. We knew we could not rush, we were not to take any card or give them any PC. If we stay calm, then the game will go fine but if we were impulsive, there will be mistakes and we could give the advantage to Australia," said Punia. Even when they defeated South Africa, the performance was not good. Coach Sjoerd Marijne had spoken about the team holding on to the ball for a long time and not making the right decisions. They scraped past South Africa 4-3 in the last pool match, in a must-win game where the opposition came back thrice. "After we got the goal in the first quarter we were like "we are not going to play defensive hockey and we have to go for the second goal". Defensively we have to play in a pack to not give them a chance. We played attacking hockey in the second and third quarters. They got a lot of PCs but we handled it very well," she said. What was also key to the victory was Gurjit Kaur's drag flick. "My finish was very good," said Gurjit. "Our strategy was to put in as much effort as we could that by the end of the match we should have nothing left in us," said Gurjit, who is a product of the famous Shahbad Hockey Academy where Rampal also learnt the game.
72 Referring Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra as her son, former India athlete PT Usha said the Javelin thrower had helped her realise and 'unfinished dream after 37 years.' Neeraj on Saturday became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold in track and field events by bagging the gold in men's javelin throw. This was also India's first medal in track and field disciplines after 121 years. "Realised my unfinished dream today after 37 years. Thank you my son," tweeted PT Usha. Neeraj Chopra won the ultimate prize by with an 87.58m throw in the javelin finals. With his fifth career best throw, Chopra has done what the likes of late Milkha Singh and P T Usha could not do in 1960 and 1984 editions. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, PT Usha came close to winning a medal in women's 400m hurdles but, like Milkha, finished fourth. His was the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics and he joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) in an elite and very hard-to-reach club of India's individual gold winners in the showpiece. With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. Apart from Chopra's gold, India have won to silver and four bronze medals. Czech Republic throwers Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vitezslav Vesely (85.44m) took the silver and bronze respectively. Chopra came into the final as a medal contender after topping the qualification round on Wednesday with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m. But few would have thought that he would bludgeon his way to gold in such a dominant fashion at the grandest of the stage. Just like in the qualification round three days back, Chopra began with a bang by sending the spear to a distance of 87.03m and then improved it to 87.58m, his best of the day which none in the field could match.
73 Chandigarh In recognition of the achievement of subedar Neeraj Chopra (already a Vishisht Seva Medal), who won India's first-ever Olympic Gold medal in athletics, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced a special cash reward of Rs.2 crore for him. Chopra's javelin throw of 87.58metre was enough to earn him the highest podium in sport. It is just the second individual gold medal at the Olympics for India, after Abhinav Bindra, also hailing from Punjab, won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "It is a proud moment for India and all Punjabis as Chopra, a serving soldier in the army, has his family roots in Punjab," said the CM. Chopra practised his sport, mostly at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. Previously, he had won gold medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He had also won gold at the Junior World Championship and set a new U-20 world record with a throw of 86.48 metre. Chopra studied at DAV College, Chandigarh and joined the Indian Army (4 Rajasthan Rifles) in 2016.
74 Gianmarco Tamberi was at the top of his run-up, going through the routine in his head - direct approach, acceleration, sideways twist, Fosbury Flop off the left foot, arched back, and over the bar. It wasn't just another jump -- it was his final attempt for gold at the Tokyo Olympics. He wanted the crowd to clap in rhythm and set the tempo for his run, but there were no spectators in the stands. The only man putting his hands together to give Tamberi his beat was Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, the double world champion high jumper, and the man the Italian was trying to defeat. Tamberi didn't make his third attempt at 2.39m, just as Barshim hadn't a few minutes before that. They were dead even on the countback. The moments that followed -- officials tried to explain the rules of a potentially tense jump-off for gold to the athletes -- ended in what will be the most memorable five words spoken at these Olympic Games. "Can we have two golds?" Barshim asked. Yes, sirs, you can. This chain of events will go down as a defining example of the Olympic spirit. An example that echoes events from 85 years ago. Events that may have played a part in this extraordinary and emotional shared gold. Shuhei Nishida was born in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture in March 1910. An athlete from his time at school, he majored in engineering at Tokyo's Waseda University, made it to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, and won a silver medal in the pole vault to prevent an American sweep. Nishida started working at Hitachi after the Olympics, and was soon joined in training by a promising pole vaulter, Sueo Oe. Four years younger. Oe, born in a Kyoto suburb, looked up to Nishida as a mentor. The two became close friends, and they went to the 1936 Olympics as teammates. The pole vault final in Berlin was gripping. Though American Earle Meadows pulled away clearing an Olympic record 4.35m, there was a three-way tie for second at 4.25m between Nishida, Oe, and another American, Bill Sefton. This led to a simple mathematical problem: three places on the podium, four people. The concept of a countback to see who had fewer failed attempts did not exist at the time, and the athletes were told there would be a sudden-death jump-off to decide silver and bronze. Nishida and Oe managed to make it past the first height (which was reset at 4.15m), but Sefton was eliminated. The jump-off was supposed to continue to decide silver and bronze, but in minds of the two Japanese, the mathematical problem was solved: three medals, three athletes. They flatly refused to compete against each other out of respect for their friendship and each other's abilities. The organisers wouldn't have it, leading to a standoff. The Japanese team eventually decided that Nishida, being the "senpai" (old master), would take silver, and Oe, the apprentice, bronze. Nishida and Oe seemed to accept the decision, but once they had the medals in their possession, decided to do something truly extraordinary. On returning to Japan, they asked a jeweller to cut both medals in half, and got them welded together to create two hybrid silver-bronze medals that would better reflect the outcome, and celebrate their eternal bond. The following year, Oe cleared 4.35m to set a Japanese record. In 1941, he was killed in action in Philippines during the Second World War. Nishida continued to vault competitively, but could never scale Oe's mark, which stood for 21 years. He was too old to make it to the Japan athletics team by the time the country returned to the Olympics at Helsinki 1952. In the interim, the story of Nishida and Oe's "medals of friendship" travelled across the world. It eventually played a role in the introduction of the countback, and to athletes being given a choice before the sudden death jump-off. A choice that Barshim and Tamberi -- like Nishida and Oe, good friends who sometimes train together -- decided to exercise on Sunday night to enter the annals of Olympic history.
75 Ravi Dahiya, popular as 'moni pehalwan' in his Nahri village in Haryana's Sonepat, lost to Zavur Uguev of Russia in the 57kg freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics. But his family and friends were elated to see him on the podium with the medal around his neck. Dahiya's grandmother Savitri Devi, who had been promised gold by her grandson, was still thrilled. "chora abhi jawan hai, gold bhi lavega (the boy is still young, he will bring gold too). Our village is a nursery of wrestlers. Ravi's medal will inspire youth to take up the sport. I want dozens of wrestlers from Nahri to bring medals for the country. I hope the government provides a new hospital and potable water to all houses in acknowledgement of Ravi's win," she said. People from nearby villages started trickling into the 23-year-old Dahiya's home on Thursday morning. They celebrated with dance and music when Dahiya wore the medal during the ceremony in Tokyo's wrestling hall. The Sonepat district administration had made special arrangements by installing a large screen TV and ensured uninterrupted power supply at a community centre near Dahiya's house for the local residents and visitors to watch the final. The wrestler's father, Rakesh Kumar Dahiya, was present too. Dahiya's mother Urmila Devi, grandmother Savitri and other women watched at their house. Ravi's father was disappointed after the final. He said they were expecting a gold medal from him. "I hope the government will provide 24x7 uninterrupted power supply and better roads in future. The villagers are expecting that Dahiya's medal will bring development to the village and the government will provide better facilities for budding wrestlers," he added. The villagers claimed they receive only eight hours of electricity in a day. Nahri has a population of a little over 15,000 people and known as a wrestling hub. Prominent wrestlers like Amit Dahiya (2012 London Olympics, silver medalist at the 2013 world championships), Arun Kumar (gold medallist in the 2011 junior Asian championships) and Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) have come from here.
76 It was a great beginning of the day on Wednesday for the family of Panipat's Neeraj Chopra as he qualified for the Tokyo Olympics javelin throw finals with first attempt of 86.65m. There were celebrations in the Khandra village, where Neeraj lives in a joint family consisting of 19 members. According to his family, right before his performance in the early morning, the villagers remained glued to their television sets to watch his performance. Soon after his victory, people gathered at his residence and celebrated the win by distributing sweets. His father Satish Kumar, who is a farmer, said, "I feel proud of my son. We are confident that he will win a gold medal for the country. Now we are waiting for his performance in the finals on Saturday." "I'm happy with the achievement of my son. He has brought laurels for the country again," said his mother Saroj Bala. Neeraj's uncle Bhim Chopra said he was confident that he will win his first medal in his first Olympics as took just a few seconds to make it to the finals." "Not just the family, the entire country is waiting for his next performance on Saturday," he added. India's medal contender and Arjuna awardee Neeraj created history in 2016 by becoming the first Indian athlete to bag the title of world champion by clinching gold at the U-20 World Championships in Poland. He won gold at the 2016 South Asian Games with a throw of 82.23m and won another gold in Asian Athletic championships in 2017 with a throw of 85.23m. In 2018 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold medal with his best effort of 86.47m. Again, in 2018, he broke the national record at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 87.43m. Neeraj could not qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016 as he lost the competition scoring 82.37m, falling short of the required 83m by just 63cm. He has completed his graduation from Kurukshetra University and is posted as a subedar in the army.
77 India's performance in the air rifle and air pistol events has been disappointing. To understand what went wrong, we need to look at four things: rankings, composition and preparation of the core team, the mental aspect and, by extension, dealing with the pressure of the Olympics. Being world No. 1 and world No. 2 was amazing for shooting in India going into the Olympics. It got people talking about 10m air pistol world No. 1s such as Abhishek Verma and Yashaswini Deswal, Elavenil Valarivan (world No. 1 in women's 10m air rifle) and Saurabh Chaudhary whose multiple medals in the 10m air pistol over the past few years have defied belief that he is 19. But to put the Olympics' performance in perspective, we must demystify the rankings. From January 2021, world rankings started on a clean slate, meaning irrespective of whether you were an Olympic winner or a rookie, you were on zero. In that situation, New Delhi hosted the first World Cup (pistol/rifle) in March. A number of countries including powerhouses China and South Korea skipped that. As has been discussed in this paper, no one knew how China were preparing. Two days into the shooting competition, China (5 medals with one gold) have again showed the world why they are the best. The scores Indians achieved in the World Cup were good and our medal winners in New Delhi became world No. 1s and No. 2s. But the level and pressure of competition were far from what they experienced at the Olympics. So, if we went merely by world rankings, we were always running the risk of unrealistic expectations. Now, on to the core squad. Let me clarify that the Indian shooting federations have been transparent and fair in their selection. But in a year of no competitions, one where there was no clear idea of how the shooters were training, maybe we should not have firmed up the core squad nearly a year before the Games. We could have held on to the team selection till May 2021 but chose not so. Maybe, India paid a price for sticking to procedure and evaluating shooters based on their performance in 2018 and 2019 when they got the Olympic quota places. A deliberate digression here. In the 2012 Olympics, I represented India in the men's 50m rifle prone even though the quota was bagged by someone else. That happened because in the run-up to the London Games, I had a good run of form and garnered more points than the shooter who had sealed the quota place. Given that bonus points are added to your tally for bagging a quota place and winning medals in World Cups, it is difficult for a shooter to overtake one who has earned the quota. But not impossible. So, in hindsight --- always a wonderful thing --- choosing the core squad that early could have been avoided because we now have a bunch of shooters separated by decimal points in categories like women's air rifle. Some shooters who had bagged the quota place had a sharp dip in form in 2020 but held on to their berths--- fairly -- because of the bonus points. None of that justifies some of the scores which would have not been in the top 20 of our national championships. Going into the Olympics, the team did okay in the European championships, where India took part as guests, followed by the ordinary results in the World Cup in Croatia one month prior to the Games. That would or should have tempered our expectations. And that brings me to the mental aspect. For two months, the team largely shut itself and trained in Croatia. Maybe they bonded well --- for rare is it that Indian shooters train together --- and had great technical sessions but were they ready in the mind? Especially because in continuation of a trend from 2018, 2019, not all shooters had personal coaches in Croatia. I am not advocating shooters taking personal coaches to the Games or camps but often, interaction between the federation-appointed coaches and the personal coach is shunned. Again, I think for the sake of the player, the federations can be more inclusive. I am also surprised that a national coach like Jaspal Rana and foreign coach Pavel Smirnov, among others, did not travel to Tokyo. These young men and women have shown us they can deal with the pressure of World Cups and bagging quota places, that is why 15 have gone to Tokyo. But handling the pressure of the Olympics is different. What almost worked for me was telling myself that I am alone in this and so I need to be alert in the present. That said, it is not all doom and gloom. Saurabh and Manu Bhaker won four mixed gold medals in four World Cups in 2019 when the best took part. So, watch out for them in the mixed. The way Saurabh recovered and became the first Indian to lead the qualification round was superb. And Manu shooting 44 shots in 37 minutes to nearly make the final showed the stuff she is made of. They have been jolted, yes, but maybe they needed this shock to the system they needed. Early next week, we could all be celebrating.
78 Pistol shooter Manu Bhaker is one of India's top medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics this year, where she makes her debut in three events - 10m individual, mixed team, and 25m pistol. Back in Haryana's Goria, the Arjuna awardee's family says they are extremely proud of her, regardless of how the Olympics unfold. Ramkishan Bhaker, a chief engineer in merchant navy, beams with pride at his daughter's achievements. He says, "While she had already participated in the Youth Olympics (and won gold), this is the biggest stage yet and the highlight of her career. Humare liye toh state level competitions hi badi baat thi, Olympics toh bohot hi badi baat hai (We used to think state level competitions were big, this is far beyond our imagination)." Talking about her dedication, he recalls, "Manu used to play a lot of sports in school, including boxing and martial arts. In 2016, she wanted to change her sport, so I took her to the shooting range in the school. She had a near perfect score, and the coach was thrilled to see her talent. Then she started pursuing shooting with focus... As parents, we have never told our kids what they can or cannot do; we simply support their decisions." Ask if they are worried for her safety, amid the pandemic, as the 19-year-old preps for her competitions in Japan, and her mother, Sumedha assures, "She has had both her vaccines, and as a family, we had been practising sanitisation as a norm in the house long before the coronavirus pandemic happened. We know she is being careful and all safety measures are in place." Manu has logged out of all her social media accounts, for the duration of the Games, and speaks to her family only once a day. "She calls us, and gives us bullet points of how her day has been," shares Sumedha, adding, "We speak less, simply because we don't want to bother her at all. She has seen success at a very young age, and sometimes it can get pressurising. But Manu has handled herself gracefully. We don't talk about medals and shooting at all! Whether she gets an Olympic medal or not, we are going to take a vacation once she's back from Tokyo! Ek mahina party karenge (laughs)." Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
79 Indian Twitter users remembered Anu Malik after they heard Israel's national anthem at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. On Sunday, Artem Dolgopyat made history when he won Isreal's first Olympics gymnastics gold. After he was presented his medal, the country's national anthem -- Hatikvah -- was played, and a few Twitter users realised that the anthem sounded similar to Diljale's song Mera Mulk Mera Desh. The patriotic song, released in 1996, was composed by Anu Malik and sung by Kumar Sanu and Aditya Narayan. The video featured Ajay Devgn. After Hatikvah was played, several internet users took to Twitter and criticised Anu Malik for plagiarising the tune of Israel's national anthem. "Israel won their second ever Gold at Olympics and Indians ended up remembering Anu Malik," a Twitter user joked. "I was today years old when I realised Anu Malik plagiarised Israel national anthem. What... shamelessness is this man. How sad," another added. "Anu Malik just simply didn't copy Israel national anthem in 1996 film Diljale song. It needs years or research and analysis to find out which country isn't going to win medals for years. Visionary man," another Twitter user poked fun. "Anu Malik you copied Israeli's national anthem music & composed Mera desh, Mera mulk Mera yeh watan? Anu Malik need an Olympic gold medal for plagiarism," a tweet read. Anu has been accused of plagiarising music on several occasions in the past. Songs like Dil Mera Churaya Kyun, Kaho Na Kaho, Neend Churayi Meri and Nasha Ye Pyar Ka Nasha are a few songs that appear to be 'inspired' by international songs. Meanwhile, this isn't the only case of plagiarism in Bollywood that has come to light recently. Last week, Twitter users noted that the song Zaalima Coca Cola from Bhuj: The Pride of India, starring Nora Fatehi, sounded similar to a Pakistani song. The original song was sung by Noor Jehan, for the Punjabi film Chan Te Soorma.
80 Her single-minded pursuit rewarded with a silver medal at the Olympics, Mirabai Chanu returned to the country from Tokyo to a rousing, and chaotic, welcome on Monday. Surrounded by paramilitary personnel at the IGI Airport here, the weightlifter soaked in every bit of the adulation in the same calm way that saw her lift 202kg on the way to the Games podium on Saturday. Covid protocols in Tokyo mean that an athlete can't stay beyond 48 hours after her/his respective event is over. At a felicitation where Union sports minister Anurag Thakur and other dignitaries were present, Chanu said "this is a dream come true for me. I have been training for this moment for years. I am glad that it all came right for me at the biggest stage of them all, the Olympics." The 49kg weightlifter acknowledged that a late trip to the US right before the Olympics, in early May, helped her a lot. With the second wave of the pandemic raging in India at that time, she had to get special clearance for a second training stint with Dr Aaron Horschig, a renowned physiotherapist and strength-conditioning coach, which helped her iron out a few injury issues. "The trip to USA last year to address issues related to my shoulder was instrumental in my journey to this medal. I am grateful for all the support extended by the government towards me, without which this journey to an Olympic medal would not have been possible," Chanu, 26, said. The Manipuri weightlifter will be appointed as Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in the state police department, according to chief minister N. Biren Singh. "Mirabai Chanu would also be rewarded with Rs 1 crore as announced by the government," he said. Also, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, tweeted: "It was great to meet and congratulate the pride of India and honour of Indian Rly, @mirabai_chanu. Also felicitated her & announced Rs.2cr , a promotion and more."
81 At his first Olympics appearance, Bajrang Punia gave his all on the mat, and won a bronze medal in the 65kg freestyle wrestling event in Tokyo. But the wrestler is not satisfied. "Jo chala gaya vo chala gaya, use badal nahi sakta. I've won a medal but it's not the one I wanted. Nonetheless, I'm happy to have made my country proud," says the 27-year-old, whose victory is part of India's biggest medal haul at the quadrennial sports event. Having started out as one of India's top contenders, at the games this year, Punia's bronze gave India its second medal from wrestling in Tokyo after Ravi Dahiya's silver medal. Punia says, "I was struggling with an injury in my knee, but I knew that the hopes of my nation were pinned on me. So, I moved past the pain and tried my best." In his village, Khudan in Haryana's Jhajjar district, celebrations got a jump-start as soon as the news broke that Punia has won bronze. But Punia has his eyes on Paris 2024. Meanwhile, the first thing on his to-do list post Tokyo Games is to head home and spend time with family. "I spoke to my parents briefly; woh bahut khush hain. First, I'll head to Sonepat (in Haryana) and spend a few days there. I also need to work on my knee rehab and then start preparations for the World Championship in October," he adds. As wishes pour in from all quarters, the Olympian adds, "Because Tokyo Olympics is a huge platform, many people watched the matches, and are now following wrestling more keenly. Logon ka bahut pyar mila hai. I just want to thank everyone for giving me their unwavering support in my journey to Tokyo. But I also want to request people to give love and support to those athletes who lost; they must not lose hope!" Back home, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced the construction of an indoor stadium in Sonepat. Feeling grateful, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee says, "Haryana has been sending many athletes to Olympics, and announcements have been made for all the athletes. I'm thankful for all the respect and honour that is being bestowed on me, and hope more sportspersons will continue to bring laurels for India." Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
82 Neeraj Chopra who secured India's second individual gold in Olympic history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has another identity as subedar Neeraj Chopra as he joined the Indian Army in 2016. Here are 5 things to know about Neeraj Chopra's Army career: > In 2016, Neeraj Chopra was inducted into the Indian Army in the sports quota at the rank of Naib Subedar. His parent unit was 4 Rajputana Rifles. > He was selected for training at the Mission Olympics Wing and the Army Sports Institute in Pune. Mission Olympic Wing is the Indian Army's initiative to train promising sportspersons. > Subedar Kashinath Naik, who won the bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in javelin throwing, was Neeraj Chopra's trainer. > Neeraj Chopra was also trained under German coach Uwe Horn and won Gold medals for India in the Commonwealth Games in 2018. > From a Naik Subedar, Neeraj Chopra was promoted to the rank of Subedar and received accolades for his contribution to sports. He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Vishisht Seva Medal, which is a decoration of the Indian armed forces. Neeraj Chopra's feat was a celebratory moment for Pune's Army Sports Institute on Saturday. Army Chief general MM Naravane said the entire Army is proud of his achievement. "Neeraj Chopra has proven that when there is the WILL there is a way. He has done the Armed Forces and the Nation proud like many other Olympians who have created history in TOKYO 2020, chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said.
83 "Bajrang has never returned empty handed from a foreign (country). He always brought medals. Yesterday, we were sad after he lost in the semifinals but I was sure that he will bring the bronze (medal)," says Om Pyari, the mother of Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia. Bajrang's house in Sonepat was full of people as neighbours, friends and relatives assembled to watch his match with Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan. Celebrations started as soon as the referee declared him the winner. Bajrang's father Balwan Singh said he had received a phone call from Bajrang on Saturday morning. "He promised me that he will win the bronze medal and he fulfilled his promise by the evening. I am a proud father. Apart from wrestling, Bajrang is a very down to earth. We were expecting gold from him but he lost the semi-final match yesterday as he was struggling with an injury. I hope he will bring gold in the next Olympics," Balwan Singh said. Dronacharya awardee coach Mahavir Singh Phogat, whose daughter Sangeeta Phogat is married to Bajrang, expressed happiness over his performance. Phogat family was upset after Vinesh Phogat couldn't qualify for the semifinal. "I hope Bajrang and Vinesh will bring gold medals in the next Olympics. Bajrang's hard work has paid off," Mahavir said.
84 Anthony Nesty, the youngest of five children, emigrated from Trinidad to Suriname with his family when he was seven months old. He was six when he started swimming. The smallest country in South America was in turmoil at the time as a Dutch colony striving for independence, and after achieving that in 1975, was destined for more turmoil when Sergeant-Major Desi Bouterse took control in the 1980 military coup. By 1988, the nation was embroiled in civil war. Meanwhile, at the Seoul Olympics, American Matt Biondi was attempting to emulate Mark Spitz's record of seven golds at a single Games, and the world believed he had a realistic shot at it. No one had accounted for Anthony Nesty. A rank outsider from a country they could barely place on the map, he pulled off the most stunning swimming upset in Olympic history by beating Biondi to a silver in the 100m butterfly by one-hundredth of a second. Biondi ended the Games with five golds; Nesty as a spark that lit a million flames in several forgotten corners of the world. One of them was Oussama Mellouli, only four years old at the time. He was born on the outskirts of Tunis barely a month after the "bread riots" that eventually led to the ascendency of Ben Ali as Tunisia's president. Mellouli's passion for swimming was encouraged as an indulgence by his mother - the country's sporting success was restricted to boxing and long-distance running. Mellouli knew it should be impossible for a Tunisian to win an Olympic medal in swimming. But there was that man from Suriname who had done it; so why not him? To train, he moved to France as a teenager, and then to California. And at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mellouli stunned Australian Grant Hackett, who was going for his third straight title, to win the 1500m freestyle gold - the first in swimming by an African male. Unbeknownst to Mellouli (he is still active, by the way, and has even qualified for the Tokyo Games), the spark that he lit by making swimming mainstream across the Arab world, particularly Tunisia, would create another Olympic fable on Sunday morning. Ahmed Hafnaoui, 18, came to the Tokyo Olympics as a surprise package out of Africa - active on the junior circuit for the past three years, his Wikipedia page still a stub. He was the slowest qualifier for Sunday's 400m freestyle final, and no one was really paying attention to him in Lane 8 in a race that was meant to set the mood of the swim competition with a battle between Australia's Jack McLoughlin and American Kieran Smith. In an event that runs for eight lengths, allowing enough time for athletes to set the pace or catch up, the commentators first noticed Hafnaoui at the 100m split when he was in third place. The mentions, casual to begin with, became slightly more prominent when he was in 2nd place at the 200m mark, and when he remained there at the 300m split, and then even at 350m. But he was still expected to fall apart in the final 50m with McLoughlin ahead and Smith trying to catch up. It was only in the last 10m that everyone - the commentators, the stadium, the others in the pool, and perhaps Hafnaoui himself - realised that he was going to win, and a new Olympic outsider story was being written. On Sunday, it was Hafnaoui's turn to exemplify what the Olympics are all about, and how athletes from unexpected places, with almost fictional back stories, suddenly step up and shine. These champions also bring their nations, and their people, into the spotlight with them. And it is in these moments, that the idea of the Olympics - not as an arena to compare medal hauls in, but as a forum to bring the entire world together, and to get to know more about its farthest corners - becomes truly clear. Hafnaoui was still in awe of his hero Mellouli after the gold. "Oussama is a legend. I wish I could become like him," he said, as he set off a wave of celebrations across his country. Anthony Nesty, now a coach in Florida, who set the ball rolling 33 years ago, should take a bow.
85 Ravi Dahiya was feeling miserable. He had become only the second Indian wrestler to win an Olympic silver, after Sushil Kumar in 2012, but the glint of the medal hanging from his neck was not enough to soften the pain of defeat. He did not celebrate the silver. He was so close to gold. The 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana lost the final bout of the 57kg freestyle wrestling event to Zavur Uguev of Russia (in Tokyo under the banner of Russian Olympic Committee or ROC), the two-time world champion and on the day, just a little bit superior to the young Dahiya, making his Olympic debut. Dahiya went down fighting, but his compatriot Deepak Punia lost his bronze medal bout against San Marino's Nazem Myles Amine by being too passive and letting a one-point lead slip from his grip in the dying seconds of the match. The biggest shock of the day though was the early exit of World No. 1 Vinesh Phogat, beaten in the quarter-final by Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus. Phogat, who came to Tokyo 2020 as a strong medal contender, looked out of sorts and lost by fall, despite a rousing performance in her opening match where she beat Olympics bronze medallist Sofia Mattson 7-1. With Phogat's exit, all the attention was on Dahiya's gold medal fight. The previous day, he bounced back from the brink of defeat to pin the two-time world championships medallist Nurislam Sanayev in a thrilling semi-final. Against Uguev, Dahiya got no such opportunity. The Russian was swift with his counters, and strong in defence. He opened a 2-0 lead through step-outs. Dahiya brought him down to draw parity. But Zavur scored another two points with a takedown even as Dahiya did well to avoid getting tangled. In the second period, with Uguev leading 4-2, Dahiya stepped up the attack and looked for an opening. Even as he bravely went searching for the win, Uguev, extremely strong in defence, scored another three points with a fast counter. With one and half minutes remaining, there was still enough time for Dahiya to mount a comeback. A takedown gave him two more points but that was all he could muster. "Jis cheez ke liya aaye the, kami rahe gayi. Kuch kami rahe gayi mere me (I was not able to do what I came here to do. I fell short)," said Dahiya. "For two months, I have not spoken to my family, nor used my phone. I just wanted to give everything for the Olympics and win a gold medal. I didn't even go home during lockdown. I was training in Chhatrasal Stadium." A silver in Tokyo has only added to the stature of wrestling as that rare sport outside of cricket where India has a strong global presence. Starting with Sushil Kumar's bronze in Beijing 2008, India has now won a medal in every edition of the Games since. "I am an athlete, and I can't be satisfied by anything less than gold," said Dahiya. "People will celebrate, that is fine, but I will improve and come back stronger." Dahiya remembers the August night of 2008 when Sushil Kumar, now in jail on murder charges, won his Olympic bronze because that's where his journey started. "When Sushil Kumar won the medal, I was small, but I went to see him," Dahiya sad. "Later, Yogeshwar Dutt also won a medal (bronze, 2012). I have learned a lot from them. They inspired me to compete at the Olympics and win a medal." Dahiya, from the Nahri village in Sonepat, is not the first from his village to compete at the Olympics -- Amit Dahiya did that first in 2012. "Our village is a village of wrestlers. When Amit went to London, there was a great buzz in the village," Dahiya said. "My father was interested in wrestling and he took me to Hansraj ji who trains young boys in the village. Hansrajji then brought me to Chhatrasal Stadium." And that's where he took his first step towards Olympic glory.
86 Days before both our Indian teams left for Tokyo, I was in Bengaluru. Even though I would have loved to, I could not go to meet them due to the Covid-19 restrictions. So, I wrote a personal letter to both teams, and sent it across, along with bouquets and sweets. I wrote to them about how to enjoy the Olympics atmosphere, the Games Village, and playing at the biggest stage. This medal will be celebrated for a long, long time, because that is how long it has taken for Indian hockey to get here again. I want them to enjoy this victory; spend time with family; go on holiday. They have sacrificed so much for this due to the pandemic. The boys and the coaches have stayed away from home for long, being in one place for almost a year-and-a-half. Make no mistake, this was not a one-day process. A lot of coaches have played a role in the development of this team. We've had many foreign coaches work with the team, and also Harendra Singh. His 2016 World Cup triumph with the junior national team was a defining moment as well. Eight players from that team were part of the Tokyo squad. I have been fortunate enough to know some of the players of the 1980 gold medal-winning squad - Zafar Iqbal sir, Merwyn Fernandes sir and Baskaran sir, who was our coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. I would only hear all these people talk about the feeling of winning an Olympic medal. I was very, very close to seeing that medal in Sydney. But those last couple of minutes against Poland took everything away. That was on my mind, so I was thrilled to see how this team held on to its lead in the dying stages against Germany. Even though some people may say otherwise, due to the teams that weren't there, the 1980 medal was crucial. It inspired the players of the next generation, and then those from my batch. This medal, toom will have a huge impact on the younger generation wanting to take up hockey. They will look at how PR Sreejesh performed, how Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh played, how Savita Punia performed. More importantly, their parents will also have seen this; they will not stop their kids if they want to be the next Sreejesh or Savita or Harmanpreet. A lot of changes have taken place over the years in the sport, be it terms of facilities, infrastructure or the budget allocated. You see centres like Bhubaneswar and Ranchi blossoming now. I am confident that this will further boost that process of change in Indian hockey. Look at where these very set of players have reached now. Some of them came from limited backgrounds, and didn't even have hockey sticks or shoes when they started playing the sport. Hopefully, this can also revive the Indian hockey league. That will bring in more money in the sport and more recognition for our players. And they deserve every bit of the limelight, every bit of fame. My message to the team: let's carry forward the momentum of this victory. Be consistent with the results in the future tournaments - you have the next Olympics in three years, the World Cup in a year-and-a-half, the Asian Games next year. Take some time off now but begin the process towards that immediately after. Start afresh. Build on the good things that you have done in Tokyo and rectify the things that didn't go well. At the 2024 Olympics, our aim - without any doubt - should be a podium finish again. (Dhanraj Pillay is a former hockey captain and four-time Olympian)
87 They went to Tokyo 2020 heralded as India's brightest medal prospects. On Thursday, when India's air rifle and air pistol shooters ended their campaign not just without a medal, but also with only one out of eight shooters in six events managing to enter a final, the lid blew off a controversy over fractious player-coach relationships within the shooting squad. "We are going to see an overhaul of Indian coaching staff, for sure. We are no longer going to be held at ransom," National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president, Raninder Singh, said immediately after the 10m air rifle mixed pair event, in which Divyansh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan bowed out in the qualifying round. A few hours earlier, teenagers Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhury, exited the mixed pair 10m air pistol event at the qualifying stage as well. "There was only one person who was a negative factor in the whole thing, and I'm calling it out right now, it was Jaspal Rana," said Singh, referring to the four-time Asian Games gold medallist who is now one of the pistol coaches for India's elite shooters. "But this performance is not Rana's fault," Singh said. Though Rana was with the Indian Olympic shooting contingent for a two-month preparatory camp in Osijek, Croatia, he has not travelled to Tokyo. According to Singh, the problems began during the ISSF shooting World Cup in New Delhi in March, when Rana and Bhaker had a falling out. "Both sides were not willing to work because of various instances they cited," Raninder said. "The girl cited something, parents said something, and Jaspal in his defence cited something. I tried twice (to intervene) during the World Cup in Delhi, and once after that." Things came to a head when Rana arrived at the range for a practice session during the March World Cup wearing a shirt in which he had inscribed an angry text that Bhaker had sent him. Singh said that no disciplinary action was taken after the incident. "It was called out. But please understand when you are in the build up to the Olympics, as head of the family you have to keep everyone together," he said. "But this performance is not Rana's fault." Rana did not respond to multiple calls and messages sent to him for comment. Bhaker's father Ram Kishan Bhaker, who manages her career, said he did not want to comment on the controversy. "Whatever the federation head is saying is right," he said. Former shooter Ronak Pandit was appointed as Bhaker's coach after the World Cup. After her second setback in Tokyo -- she got out in the individual 10m pistol qualification round on date after losing time due to a jammed weapon -- Bhaker appeared to address the controversy. "I didn't choose to change my coach," she said. When asked whether she wanted to train under Rana, she said, "It's not about me wanting. It's that he didn't seem right at the moment." Bhaker is also the only shooter in the contingent competing in three different medal events - her last event, 25m pistol precision, is on July 29 (qualifying), with the final on the next day. It appeared that her competing in three events was part of the disagreement with Rana, who was not in favour of it. "I have been competing in three events regularly and the other event is completely different. I am already preparing for it," said Bhaker. Her father said that she did not sound confident when he spoke to her on Tuesday. "I asked her to move on. She has two days to recover from this loss," Ram Kishan said. Since 2019, Bhaker, 19, has been one of the top shooters in the world, winning nine gold medals at world cups, the Asian Shooting Championship in 2019, the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold, and the 2018 Youth Olympics gold. These medals all came while working with Rana: he was in charge of the junior development programme before being drafted into the senior team last year. Rana was also in charge of Chaudhary, who became India's youngest gold medallist at the 2018 Asian Games when he was 16. He went on to win eight world cup golds before making the Tokyo squad. In his first senior world cup in 2019, Chaudhary shot a world record score in the men's 10m air pistol final and won a second gold, pairing with Bhaker in the mixed team event. The two then won gold in mixed team in all four world cups that year before the pandemic cancelled out the 2020 shooting calendar. When shooting resumed again in 2021, Bhaker and Chaudhary won gold and silver in the only two world cups preceding the Olympics. This kind of dominance on the global stage made them favourites going into the Olympics, especially in the mixed team. "It doesn't matter whether we believe it or not but it has happened already," Bhaker said about their exit in the qualifying round in mixed team at the Olympics. "It was our first Olympics. Sometimes you don't have control over things when you try way too hard or expect things." The two teenagers stood staunchly next to each other outside the shooting range, answering questions. Indian shooters still have three more events coming up. Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat in 25m pistol, Sanjeev Rajput, Anjum Moudgil and Tejaswini Sawant in 50m rifle 3 positions (individual men's and women's).
88 Days before both our Indian teams left for Tokyo, I was in Bengaluru. Even though I would have loved to, I could not go to meet them due to the Covid-19 restrictions. So, I wrote a personal letter to both teams. I wrote to them about how to enjoy the Olympics atmosphere, the Games Village, and playing at the biggest stage. This medal will be celebrated for a long, long time, because that is how long it has taken for Indian hockey to get here again. I want them to enjoy this victory; spend time with family; go on holiday. They have sacrificed so much. The boys and the coaches have stayed away from home for long, being in one place for almost a year-and-a-half. This was not a one-day process. A lot of coaches have played a role in the development of this team. We've had many foreign coaches, and also Harendra Singh. His 2016 World Cup triumph with the junior team was a defining moment as well. Eight players from that team were part of the Tokyo squad. I have been fortunate enough to know some of the players of the 1980 gold medal-winning squad-Zafar Iqbal sir, Merwyn Fernandes sir and Baskaran sir, who was our coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. I would only hear all these people talk about the feeling of winning an Olympic medal. Even with some top teams missing, the 1980 gold was crucial. It inspired players of the next generation. This medal, too will have a huge impact on the younger generation wanting to take up hockey. They will look up to PR Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh and Savita Punia. More importantly, their parents will also have seen this; they will not stop their kids if they want to be the next Sreejesh or Savita or Harmanpreet. A lot of changes have taken place over the years in the sport, be it terms of infrastructure or the budget allocated. You see centres like Bhubaneswar and Ranchi blossoming now. I am confident that this will further boost that process of change. Look at where these set of players have reached now. Some of them came from limited backgrounds, and didn't even have hockey sticks or shoes when they started playing the sport. Hopefully, this can also revive the hockey league. That will bring in more money and more recognition for our players. My message to the team: let's carry the momentum of this victory. Be consistent in the future tournaments-you have Olympics in three years, the World Cup in 18 months, the Asian Games next year. Take some time off now but begin the process towards that soon. Start afresh. Build on the good things and rectify the things that didn't go well.
89 Neeraj Chopra, who created history on 7 August by winning India's first athletic Gold in the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m at the Tokyo Olympics, will be wooed by advertisers. The 23-year-old athlete is likely to see a massive surge in his brand endorsement fee and value, said sports marketing executives. At least two experts in celebrity management field said Chopra, who currently charges Rs.20-30 lakh annually per deal, is expected to witness over 200% jump with brand endorsement fee touching Rs.1 crore. This jump justifies his accomplishment. Chopra is the first Indian in over 120 years, and the first athlete from India, to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. It is also the second gold medal by an Indian in the individual category of the Olympic Games after Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Parth Jindal, founder, Inspire Institute of Sport and director of JSW Sports that manages Chopra said he is thrilled that the spark they saw in him almost five years ago is now being recognized by the entire country and the world. "Even before the Olympics, Neeraj was an established athlete having won Commonwealth and Asian gold medals. He's already sponsored by a number of brands and since last night, our team's phones have not stopped ringing," Jindal said. A senior sports marketing executive said Chopra could easily command Rs.1 crore per shooting basis. "There will be so many brands that would be interested in him, but he needs to be careful how he's managing his time and how his commercials are being priced," the person said declining to be named. He's also good looking and comes across as carefree and fresh, the executive quoted above pointed out. "He's not exposed so people don't know what to expect from him. In terms of brand value, it won't be a hyperbole to say that if he does things right and positions himself well then he can be as big as a Virat Kohli," the person added. So far, Chopra has received cash rewards from various state governments, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and edtech firm Byju's. Companies have also offered freebies-IndiGo offered unlimited free travel for one year, while auto firm Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd has said it would give a brand new XUV700 to him. Chopra, a junior officer in the Indian army with the Rajputana Rifles, made his first mark on international athletics stage with a world junior title in 2016. Two years later, he became the first Indian athlete to win a medal in javelin throw at the Asian Games and at the Commonwealth Games, and was the current national record holder with 88.07-metre throw. He had also won a gold medal in Junior World Championship and set U-20 World Record with 86.48-metre throw. He is also a 2018 Arjuna Awardee. Chopra has already worked with brands such as Mobil India Lubricants, Gillette India, P&G, Amstrad AC, Country Delight Natural and Chinese smartphone maker iQOO India, Exxon Mobile, sports drink brand Gatorade and nutrition and supplement brand MuscleBlaze. Celebrity managers also said since age is on his side, Chopra has another decade to go to reach at the top. His Olympic win has also translated into popularity in the virtual world with his social media following skyrocketing to touch over two million across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Jigar Rambhia, national director-sports, Wavemaker India said his agency is receiving multiple queries for digital only activations from brands with winning athletes especially after Mirabai Chanu win. "That's one opportunity that can be explored well, but I personally feel that if a brand is looking for creating a sustained impact then signing such athletes for long-term makes more sense especially in Chopra's case. He's only 23-year-old, I see him participating in at least two more Olympics (Paris and Los Angeles). If I was a brand manager, I would look at him from a long-term perspective as he brings a lot of value," he added. Rambhiar also argued that since athletics is something that youth in the country plays and follows, Chopra would make a perfect sense for a brand that is targeting the youth. "In fact, he will appeal to even slightly mature brands as well that are targeting consumers around 35-year of age as well," he added.
90 At the end of every Olympics, the obvious talking point is how India performed. Did we improve our medal count? Is this the best haul ever (still a pretty low bar)? Did we finally win a medal in hockey or athletics? The answers this time are: yes, yes and yes. With 7 medals, we've improved on our best-ever Olympic medals tally (6, at the 2012 London Games). We finally have an Olympic athletics medal, and it's a gold, courtesy Neeraj Chopra's incredible arm. And yet, the emphatic wins don't reflect the true state of sports in the country. Instead, the celebrations, awards and adulation (all deserved) will, once again, distract from the truth: India's sports administrators may step up when the results are good, but they are largely missing through the entire process that makes those results possible. Process before result is a truth so simple that the fact that they don't get it can only be attributed to wilful, cynical indifference. What is process? First, encouraging and developing a proper base by building spaces where a sport can be practised, hiring trainers to spot and mould young talent, and then allowing access to that infrastructure to the largest number of people possible, especially children. Without this, any medal an Indian wins will remain an oddity, any success will continue to feel like a one-off. There are some sports in India that are on the verge of a breakthrough in this regard. The narrative around the Indian shooting contingent, largely a bunch of young shooters who were at their first Olympics, has centred entirely on their failure to win a medal. This is understandable, given the hype surrounding them in the lead-up. But shooting is, in fact, one of the few sports in which we have made great leaps in terms of building a base. This change has largely been led by the first generation of our shooters who did well on the international stage and had struggled to find everything they needed - guns, pellets, jackets, shoes, ranges. Many have since opened their own training schools and the change this has wrought is visible. Wrestling is trying, but it needs a lot more. This sport has the advantage of deep cultural ties in the country. Still, it was only in 2008, after Sushil Kumar won India's first Olympic wrestling medal in 56 years, that governments in Delhi and Haryana distributed Olympic mats to wrestling schools in both states. Traditional Indian wrestling schools did their training in earthen pits, and the difference in the two surfaces was the difference between winning and losing. Since 2008, India has won wrestling medals at every Olympics, including Tokyo. But though wrestling is popular across India, none of the other states has done anything to nurture talent in it. The result: All India's medallists are from these two states. In hockey, once the sport of choice in India, all the basics were in place and almost all were allowed to crumble from neglect. Now that there is renewed interest in the sport because of the men's hockey team's bronze (India's first hockey medal in 41 years) and because of the women's team's improbable run to the bronze medal playoff, it's time to take a deep look at how that once-great culture can be revived so that it flourishes again. The first step is a simple one: astroturfs and protective gear.
91 Neeraj Chopra, 23, who created history on 7 August by winning India's first gold medal in athletics with a throw of 87.58 metres in men's javelin at the Tokyo Olympics, is likely to witness a massive increase in his brand value and endorsement fees, said sports marketing executives. At least two experts in the celebrity management field said Chopra, who charges an annual fee of Rs.20-30 lakh per deal, may see a 200% jump with brand endorsement fees touching Rs.1 crore, justifying his accomplishment. Chopra is the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic medal in a track-and-field discipline. He is also the second Indian to win a gold medal in the individual category of Olympic Games after Abhinav Bindra, who won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Parth Jindal, founder, Inspire Institute of Sport and director of JSW Sports, which manages Chopra, said he is thrilled that the spark they saw in him almost five years ago is now being recognized by the entire country and the world. "Even before the Olympics, Neeraj was an established athlete having won goal medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He's sponsored by a number of brands and, since last night, our team's phones have not stopped ringing," he said. Wearables, e-commerce, automobile, and consumer electronic brands are said to have shown interest in associating with Chopra. A senior sports marketing executive said Chopra could easily command Rs.1 crore per shooting. "So many brands would be interested in him, but he needs to be careful how he's managing his time and how his commercials are being priced," the person said declining to be named. He's also good looking and comes across as carefree and fresh, the executive added. "He's not exposed, so people don't know what to expect from him. In terms of brand value, it won't be a hyperbole to say if he does things right and positions himself well then he can be as big as a Virat Kohli." So far, state governments, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and edtech firm Byju's have announced cash rewards for Chopra. Many companies have also announced freebies, such as IndiGo's unlimited free travel for a year and auto firm Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd gifting a brand new XUV700 to him. Chopra, a junior officer in the Indian Army with the Rajputana Rifles, made his first mark at the international level with a world junior title in 2016. Two years later, he became the first Indian athlete to win the javelin gold at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He is also the national record holder with 88.07-metre throw. He had also won a gold in the Junior World Championship and set U-20 World Record with 86.48-metre throw. He is also a 2018 Arjuna awardee. Chopra has worked with brands such as Mobil India Lubricants, Gillette India, P&G, Amstrad AC, Country Delight Natural, Chinese smartphone maker iQOO India, sports drink brand Gatorade, and nutrition and supplement brand MuscleBlaze. Celebrity managers said since age is on his side, Chopra has another decade to reach the top. His Olympic win has also translated into popularity in the virtual world with his social media following skyrocketing to touch over two million across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Jigar Rambhia, national director, sports, Wavemaker India, said his agency is receiving multiple queries for digital-only activations from brands with winning athletes, especially after Mirabai Chanu won.
92 Diwali came early for the Dahiya household at Nahri village in Sonepat district of Haryana on Wednesday afternoon after Ravi Dahiya sensationally turned around the 57kg semi-final bout by pinning Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev to enter the finals. The family and others broke for a jig and celebrated Ravi's stunning triumph. Most excited was his grandmother Savitri Devi, who was teary-eyed after the win and said, "Chora bol ke gaya hai gold laake dega (Ravi has promised to win a gold medal in the Olympics). We have seen a tough time as a family and Monu (Ravi) has now brought good days for us." The village has a population of around 15,000. Ravi, 23, son of a farmer, is the third Olympian to emerge from this village after Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles) and Amit Dahiya (2012 London). With the semi-final win, Ravi became the second Indian wrestler ever to enter the Olympics final after Sushil Kumar back in 2012 London Olympics. Ravi idolises Sushil and Yogeshwar Dutt. In fact Sushil and coach Satpal Singh have worked relentlessly on grooming Ravi at Chhatrasal Akhara in Delhi. "Sushil has played a big role in shaping up Ravi's career. He was always bright as a young trainee and had the hunger to reach the top. I was not surprised with the way he played the semi-final bout. It is his natural game. He likes to attack. He was just himself and did not come under big-stage pressure. He is going to win the final and get India a gold," said former wrestler Darshan Lal, who is now the vice-president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Ravi picked up the sport at six. Nahri village residents and people from adjoining villages reached Ravi's house to congratulate his father Rakesh Dahiya. Recalling Ravi's formative years, Rakesh said, "I enrolled him at Chhatrasal Akhara and before that he would just train at the farm land. Raj Pahalwan was training him at the village. Despite financial crunch, we sent him to Delhi." "I used to travel for one hour everyday to give him milk and fruits which have been his diet for the last 10 years. Coach Satpal had identified his talent and had told me that he will make India proud," he added. Wrestling runs in the Dahiya clan's blood. His father used to wrestle in his youth but could not pursue it due to financial issues. Ravi's father owns land which is less than an acre in the Nahri village. His younger brother Pankaj Dahiya could not come home but watched the bouts with his friends at the Chhatrasaal Stadium where he trains as a Greco-Roman wrestler. Ravi will be the fifth wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal after KD Jadhav (bronze in 1952), Sushil Kumar (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012) and Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze in 2008) and Sakshi Malik (bronze in 2016). Ravi is a two-time Asian Championships gold medallist and a bronze medal winner at the World Championships in 2019.
93 Minister for Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday felicitated weightlifter Mirabai Chanu who won a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, and announced a reward of Rs.2 crore and a promotion in her job in the Northeast Frontier Railway. The minister said she has inspired billions around the world with her talent, handwork and grit. "It was great to meet and congratulate the pride of India and honour of Indian Rly, @mirabai_chanu. Also felicitated her & announced Rs. 2 Cr , a promotion and more. She has inspired billions around the world with her talent, handwork and grit. Keep winning for India!" Vaishnaw tweeted. It was great to meet and congratulate the pride of India and honour of Indian Rly, @mirabai_chanu . Also felicitated her & announced Rs. 2 Cr , a promotion and more. She has inspired billions around the world with her talent, handwork and grit. Keep winning for India! pic.twitter.com/gYRftarOrr - Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) July 26, 2021 Chanu, who returned to the country on Monday evening, lifted a total of 202kg (87kg 115kg) in the 49kg category to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics on Saturday. Chanu, hailing from Manipur, was promoted as an Officer on Special Duty (Sports) in the Northeast Frontier Railway in April, 2018.
94 Athletics, gold, India. Those three words have never been used together. That is, until Neeraj Chopra, his hair kept in place by a bandana, threw the javelin. It soared, picked out by the blaze of lights at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, through the warm and humid night, and plunged itself straight into the pages of history. Chopra, the muscular 23-year-old from Haryana, had become the first track and field medallist from independent India, only the second gold medallist in India's Olympic history after Abhinav Bindra's gold in 2008. It's the kind of moment that deserved hysteria, a roaring stadium, and tears. What it got was an ice-cool Chopra lifting both his arms in the air, smiling nonchalantly as if he had done nothing more than what he was meant to do. Then he was running through the nearly empty stadium, the Indian flag draped on his shoulders, stopping each time he spotted someone from India - a few journalists, some volunteers, a handful of athletes and coaches from the Indian track contingent. But mostly, he ran alone, his hair flying. "It's a good feeling," Chopra said later, the gold around his neck, still smiling like it was a normal day in office. "Even if this weighed 10kg, it would feel light right now." He dedicated the win to Milkha Singh. "We were in Portugal when I got news of Milkha Singh's death (on June 18)," Chopra said. "I was very sad. I wanted to win a medal and go and meet him. But hopefully he is watching from above and he is happy. I want to dedicate my medal to him, and to all those athletes from India, like PT Usha, who missed out on medals by very small margins." The legendary Milkha Singh missed out on a medal by a tenth of a second at the 1960 Olympics in Rome in the 400m sprint, in one of the greatest races in the history of the sport, where both the gold and silver medallists broke the world record and Singh himself broke the Olympic record. India had to wait 24 years till another athlete came close to a track and field medal at the Olympics. At the 1984 Los Angeles Games, PT Usha missed out on a medal in the 400m Hurdles by a hundredth of a second. Then there was Neeraj Chopra, Tokyo 2020, August 7, 2021. He now has the improbable track record of having won a gold medal at every major event he has competed in - the 2016 World Junior Championships, where he first announced himself with a 86.48m throw, the junior world record; the 2017 Asian Championships, the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games. In the last two years, he has endured an injury that ruled him out of most of the 2019 season after a surgical procedure on his throwing arm, the pandemic that cancelled out most of the 2020 athletics season and resulted in the Olympics being postponed, and a lead up to Tokyo where he had to plead with authorities to arrange for him to attend a few international competitions. "After the pandemic started I was not getting to go to any competitions. I kept saying that I need to go and throw at international competitions. Finally I got a few just before the Olympics, and that helped," Chopra said. Come his night and all of that was forgotten. "The only thing I thought about during the event is that anything is possible," he said. With his very first effort, he had thrown down the gauntlet, in the form of a spear - 87.03m - and he was leading the field of finalists. He would have won the gold with that throw (the silver medal went to Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch at 86.67m) but he did one better with his second - 87.58m. He didn't even have to look at the javelin land to know he had done something special. He rose from his follow-through with his back to the field and roared, before raising his arms with a smile. "When I released the second throw, I felt like it would be my personal best," Chopra said. "Till I got to know the distance, I was sure it was my personal best. It was not the perfect throw, must have got too much height on it. But I was pretty sure I had got a medal. After that, it was on my mind that I will get the Olympic record - 90.57m. I think because of that, I overdid it. Went too fast on the approach. It was only on the last throw that I was stable again." Chopra's next throw was only 76.79, his next two throws were disqualified and his final effort landed at 84.24m. Before the last throw, the medal was already his, but he took it anyway just for fun and perhaps because he still believed he could break the Olympic record. "I suppose I can work hard, break more records later," he said sheepishly. "But right now maybe the Olympic gold is a bigger thing." For a nation that has never before won an Olympic medal in athletics, the sport that, in many ways, defines the Games, it was everything.
95 A day after his historic javelin gold, Neeraj Chopra was his usual happy self, smiling at everyone, shy in conversation, walking around the Games Village wearing a peach T shirt and blue tracks. On Sunday morning, the final day of the Games, the few Indian athletes and coaches remaining in the Village got together for the first time since the Olympics began, to cut a cake and celebrate. In an interview, 23-year-old Chopra spoke about what went right for him on his big day, the difficulties of coming back from an injury and how he peaked for the golden throw. How is the feeling the day after? Did you get any sleep? Yes, I slept a bit. The night before my event, I wanted to get enough sleep so I had proper recovery, but I could only sleep around 12:30am, then I woke up at 5:30 without trying to. I thought I'll go back to sleep, but it didn't happen. I had too much energy. So I had a light breakfast and tried to go to sleep again. I just couldn't. I am still processing the feeling. It has not fully sunk in. Maybe when I go to India, I will have a sense of completion and I will understand better how I am feeling. How were the celebrations in the Games Village? It was amazing. All the contingent members gathered. The hockey teams were there, boxers, some other athletes, and coaches were also there. They all clapped, not just for me, but all the medalists. Everyone had nice things to say, and how the experience of being in the Tokyo Olympics was for them. There was this positive feeling that the coming time for Indian sports will be even better. We are making progress in sports. Hopefully, we will keep getting better. When you look back at last night, what clicked for you? Yesterday was all about the work we put in for four years - this time for five years - for the Olympics, and how you compress that work into one day. On the day of the competition, there is a time where we can achieve our peak, but it is very tough and you have to put in a lot of hard work for that. But it was that time yesterday for me, where I could perform. I stayed away from my phone, away from social media. Did not really want to read messages or talk to anyone. It was only a matter of 10-15 days, not a big deal. Kept my mind on training, on the event, visualized the throw. After the event there was a feeling that a journey has been completed. I feel this medal will help me to do better in upcoming competitions. You had a career threatening injury right when you were throwing at your best and winning gold medals everywhere - Commonwealth Games, Asian Games - you had to overcome that... Injuries, I believe, is a part of the sport. At that time, I was worried about how it would go after surgery. It was my first surgery. I didn't know if it would be successful or not or how the comeback would be. In our sport, the elbow is a crucial part (he had a surgery in the elbow of his throwing arm to remove bone fragments). If there is any problem with the elbow we can't throw. It took some time to regain my strength and range but I got good support from many people. Finally, when I was able to play, I qualified for the Olympics in my first competition. It was a tough time, but I kept myself positive, which helped me. I told myself whatever body part I needed to work on and improve in terms of fitness, this surgery has given me the opportunity to do that. Slowly we worked our way out of it. Your coach (Klaus Bartonietz) said you have started to understand your body better after the injury The biggest learning is that an athlete needs to know when to stop. To know that if I push beyond this, there could be a problem. Especially when training. Often, while training, we realise that yes, there is some discomfort, that there is pain, but we don't stop. We feel the tightness and dismiss it as a minor niggle. But now I understand that recovery is very important. After the injury I started using my mind more in sports. You consider Jan Zelezny, the Czech world record holder in javelin, your idol. Can you talk about his influence on your game? I love his technique, the consistency he had. He has won gold and silver in three Olympics, he has been a world champion, he is an absolute legend. He has thrown over 90m plus over 50 times. Throwing it once is maybe not so tough, but to keep doing it consistently is to keep yourself at that level, and he did that. He was also very strong in his technique. If you look at him, his physique might not give such an impression, but once he picked the javelin, his performance was astounding. Whenever I would get time, I would see his videos and play it over in my mind. How did you actually get a start in javelin? My uncle introduced me to sport because I was overweight as a child. I remember all those days going for training. I would just tell myself whatever is happening is fine. My job is to train and I will keep doing that. Now I feel that yes, it was a tough time for me but back then it didn't feel so tough. I never thought I will stop. My life became occupied with only a couple of things: go to the stadium and practice, come back home, eat, then go back to training. What did you do with the medal? I kept the medal near me. There is supposed to be a box to keep the medal, but I haven't got it yet. I kept it close to my pillow when I went to sleep.
96 Save a couple of routine wins against unheralded Pakistan pros in a Davis Cup tie in 2019, Sumit Nagal hasn't known the feeling of winning a singles match with "India" printed on the back of his t-shirt. No wonder that extra emotion gushed out of the 23-year-old the moment he beat Denis Istomin on Saturday. A little hop, face skyward, hands inching towards his heart before they changed direction to cover his face. The last time an Indian won a singles tennis match at the Olympics, the hands were wrapped around a medal-in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympics where Leander Paes won bronze. It had thus been a wait of 25 years for a player from the country to emulate Paes by winning a singles match at the Games; forget winning five of them. Indian tennis has since relied solely on doubles to provide the winning moments at the Olympics. Nagal changed that in Tokyo. The man from Jhajjar beat Uzbekistan's reigning Asian Games gold medallist 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in his maiden gig at the Olympic stage in a first-round match that stretched beyond two-and-a-half hours in the harsh noon temperatures of Tokyo. "Having the shirt which says 'India' gave me the push, kept me alive in the match," Nagal said. "If I was playing a Challenger or some other event, I'm not sure how I would've finished, to be honest. I was happy when I walked off the court, and therefore the emotions. Representing my country. Playing my first Olympics. Getting my first win." Until the end of last week, the most likely scenario was indeed the world No. 160 competing at a low-key Challenger event instead of the biggest sporting spectacle of the world. A flurry of withdrawals in the singles draw opened a last-minute door for the youngster, and Nagal joined the Tokyo bandwagon as the final Indian in its contingent. Sneaking in barely hours before the entry deadline, Nagal had to be quick to put on his adapting shoes: from the pleasant weather of Peine, Germany (where he trains) to the heat and humidity of Tokyo; from his favoured clay courts to the more challenging hard courts. All within four days. "I got here (Tokyo) Wednesday afternoon with a pretty intense jetlag from the seven-hour time difference. I had a hit twice on Thursday, once on Friday and that was it," Nagal said. "It was unfortunate that I got in at the last moment and couldn't prepare better. Adapting from clay to hard is tough too; you have to get comfortable on it. I could have not changed that, so I had to deal with it. I'm happy I could play a good match today despite these challenges." Pocketing the first set, Nagal was a break up in the second and also served for the match at 5-3. But the experienced Istomin, who was ranked as high as world No. 33 in 2012, dug in, forcing Nagal to work twice as hard to finish the job. "The weather was horrible, especially when you're playing tennis at around 12. To lose a set from there and come back to win the third, especially in that weather, it is super tough," he said. Super tough would be apt to describe Nagal's opponent in the second round, world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia (Russian Olympic Committee at these Games). Medvedev likes hard courts, and especially the "super fast" ones of Tokyo, as Nagal put it. The young Indian too likes to put on a show against the big guys at the bigger stages. Think Roger Federer at the 2019 US Open or Dominic Thiem in the same tournament last year. "I'm very excited for this match, playing the world No. 2 on a big court. I can't ask for more. This is why we play tennis, to live for these moments."
97 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. India has administered at least 480 million Covid vaccines till now India had administered at least 480 million Covid vaccine doses by Tuesday, August 3. In what should cause alarm, the number of cases has started rising across the country, after nearly three months of a steady decline. Karnataka cabinet expansion: 29 ministers to take oath today, no deputy CM Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday elaborated on the cabinet expansion in the state, confirming that as many as 29 members of the legislative assembly will take their oaths as ministers in the new cabinet. The post of the deputy chief minister of Karnataka is being done away with, Bommai said. 'Don't turn Parliament into fish market': Minister on 'Papri Chaat' tweet Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi slammed Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien for his tweet on passage of bills in Parliament. Naqvi said it's part of a conspiracy to malign Parliament's dignity. "If he's allergic to 'chaat-papri', he can have fish curry. But don't turn Parliament into fish market," Naqvi was quoted as saying. Ankit Gujjar, one of UP's most wanted criminals, found dead in Tihar Jail Ankit Gujjar, dubbed one of the most wanted criminals in Uttar Pradesh with multiple counts of homicide and robbery, was found dead in Delhi's Tihar Jail on Wednesday morning, confirmed prison officials. 'US trying to help India, other countries to produce Covid vaccine': Joe Biden Tokyo Olympics: Lovlina Borgohain settles for bronze after losing semi-final India's Lovlina Borgohain on Wednesday went down in the semi-final of the women's welterweight (64-69kg) category to Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli to settle for a bronze medal. This is India's third medal of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Badminton gold medal winner Viktor Axelsen exchanges shirt with opponent. How the tradition started After almost 12 months of delay due to the ongoing pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 is underway. There are several moments from the sporting event which have made their ways online and left people amazed. This incident between Badminton gold medal winner Viktor Axelsen and his opponent Chen Long is one such moment. Mouni Roy teams shaded pink sequin saree with the sexiest embellished bralette Sequinned sarees have always had a stamp of approval from our favourite Bollywood celebrities, and it is unlikely that this voguish attire is going out of style any time soon. Brahmastra actor Mouni Roy's latest look in a shaded pink embellished six yards for the song, Baithe Baithe, is also proving the same. Virat Kohli wishes his dad was alive to meet his and Anushka Sharma's daughter, talks about couple's first meet Virat Kohli, cricketer, and husband of Anushka Sharma, has confessed he sometimes wonders what it would be like if his father was around to see Vamika. The Indian cricketer lost his father in 2006 owing to a cardiac arrest. Anushka and Virat welcomed their daughter Vamika earlier this year.
98 Most of the greats of a sport tend to carry one nickname-CR7, Lightning Bolt, King of Clay, to (nick) name a few. Chinese table tennis star Ma Long has three of them: The Dragon, which comes from the Chinese character in his name; Captain Long; because is the captain of the national team; The Dictator, because, simply put, he almost always dictates the play against whoever is on the other side of the table. On Tuesday in Tokyo, that player will be Sharath Kamal, the veteran Indian paddler who won his second-round singles match beating Portugal's Tiago Apolonia 4-2 (2-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9) on Monday. If, while dragging his ageing body into a fourth Olympics at 39, Sharath was hoping for the draw to show a semblance of kindness towards him, it hasn't. The world No. 32 Indian will have to get past the reigning Olympic champion and arguably the greatest table tennis player of all time for a place in the Round of 16. The term "arguably" will, without doubt, be thrown out of the window should Ma Long win another gold medal in Tokyo. The 32-year-old from the Chinese city of Anshan is a three-time Olympic gold medallist, the joint second-most by any male paddler. Only compatriot Zhang Jike, whom Ma Long beat for the 2016 Rio singles triumph, has four medals at the Games with three gold and one silver. Ma Long has won every major singles title that the sport has on offer-Olympics, World Championships (2015, 2017, 2019) and World Cup (2012, 2015) to complete a "Grand Slam" in table tennis. He sat like an emperor at the top of the world charts for a total of 64 months, a record among men, starting from 2010. It included a dominant grip of 34 consecutive months as world No. 1 from March 2015 to December 2017. But the legend of Ma Long can hardly be restricted to rankings (currently 3rd), titles and stats. On the table, the right-hander's ferocious forehands, often coming at a loop from over the net, can be too skillful to handle for even the sharpest across. Ma Long has also developed a solid backhand over the years to complement his natural side. Sharath has a stronger forehand too, and his backhand play worked equally well against Apolonia. The Indian, feeling better than ever about his skills and fitness heading into this Olympics, will need every aspect of his game to be working like a dream against the Chinese, who will open his campaign against him having received byes in the first two rounds. Even that might not be enough for the Indian to bring down The Dictator. "Hopefully, I can challenge him," Sharath said. Note the word-challenge.
99 This is such a big, big victory for Indian hockey. I'm just so incredibly proud of this bunch of boys. They have done a brilliant job. To reach a semi-final at the Olympics after more than four decades is such a significant achievement. I'm really happy with the way this team has gone about its performance in Tokyo. No doubt, it took a lot of time to reach this stage. Right from the 1972 Olympics (when India last reached the semi-final stage) to now, we used to send our best team to the Games. But somehow, the team could not qualify for the semi-finals. We were close but we could not make it. The format, too, has changed. In my time, two teams from the groups would progress from the knock-outs; now four advance. But even in the group stage in Tokyo, this Indian team showed a lot of positivity and intent in its matches. The team got that one bad result (1-7 against Australia) out of the way and has bounced back well after that. In the quarter-final against Great Britain, India got an early first goal, which was so crucial. And in the second quarter, we were up again within 20 seconds of the start. The timing of both those goals, especially the first one, set the tone for the rest of the match. In was only in the last quarter that Great Britain created a few attacks in our circle. Every team that has come to the Olympics has come there to win, come there on the back of a lot of hard work spread across almost five years now. And in the last year and a half, the situation has been far from normal with the pandemic and the lockdowns. But despite these challenges, India has delivered. Which is what makes this feat all the more creditable. The team has stuck together in these times, got the support that it needed and delivered when it mattered. Now for the semi-final, which will already feel like a gold medal match! Belgium is a tough team. The players looked very composed out on the field in their semi-final (against Spain). The world champions showed their quality. We'll have to change a bit in terms of our game plan -when to slow down the game, when to pick it up, when to keep the ball with a string of quality passes; all of that will be really important. You cannot play 60 minutes of fast hockey against them. In their semi-final, Belgium were playing controlled hockey in the first two quarters, and then upped its attacking game in the next two. And they were all composed and structured attacks, not hurried. But we too have our strengths, although we will have to be cautious about the cards. But I am confident that India will give a tough fight to Belgium. Not just fight, we can win too. With PV Sindhu also winning her second straight Olympic medal, it was a happy day for Indian sport. Sunday was a big day for Indian hockey. Tuesday could be an even bigger day. (As told to Rutvick Mehta)
100 Amritsar After facing flak for its handling of the issue of a heritage structure found underneath the Golden Temple earlier this month, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to set up its own institution to deal with such issues, the Sikh Archives Project. SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, who chaired meetings of its Dharam Parchar and Education Committees, said, "A Sikh Archives Project will be established at Jathedar Gurbachan Singh Tohra Institute of Sikh Studies, Bahadargarh, Patiala. A sub-committee has submitted a detailed report on this and it will be implemented." "Important historic documents related to the Sikh community from around the world will be part of the project. The SGPC is committed to preserve Sikh heritage. England resident late Dr Darshan Singh Tatla, a scholar, has played an important role. His views will be given special importance. For Sikh documents in the possession of Dr Tatla, his family will be contacted," said the president. To facilitate Olympic medal winners Congratulating Kamalpreet Kaur of Muktsar, who secured a position in the final of discus throw sports event at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, she added that the SGPC will honour Sikh players who will win any medals at the Olympic Games. "On the selection of Kamalpreet Kaur for the Olympics, the SGPC had honoured her with Rs.2 lakh. We will also facilitate her on return." She added that subcommittees had been formed to draw the plan for organising events, dedicated to the 400th Prakash Purb (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Teg Bahadar, across the country. She added that to carry on the Dharam Prachar Lehar across the country, it has been decided to re-allocate the areas to Sikh Missions. "In those states which do not have Sikh Missions, their areas will be allocated to the already established Sikh Missions," she added.
101 Long before Mirabai Chanu produced lifts that were strong enough to earn an Olympic silver medal, she would receive lifts from truckers who were kind enough to drop off a young Mirabai to her training centre in Imphal. Back in Imphal as an Olympic medallist, India's star weightlifter now wants to meet those sand-carrying truck drivers who provided her regular-and free-transport from her home in the Nongpok Kakching village to the training centre at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal and lend a helping hand. "I wanted to see the truckers who provided me regular lifts from home to the training centre and seek their blessing," the 26-year-old Mirabai said on the sidelines of an event. "They really helped me during my hard times. I'm looking for those sand-carrying truckers so that I can extend whatever help they may require now," she added. According to Mirabai's mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Devi-who runs a tea stall in the village-the trucks, coming from Etham Moirangpurel area, would pass through the village and give her daughter a lift to Imphal. "As I run a tea stall here, the trucks usually stopped and took her to the centre," she said. The free rides helped Mirabai and her family save up on the transport cost, instead diverting that money into her diet during her training days as a teen. "The training centre used to be 20-30 kms away from our home," Mirabai's brother told olympics.com. Mirabai, who won the country's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, was accorded a hero's welcome when she returned home on July 27. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh received the weightlifter and handed over a cheque of Rs.1 crore.
102 Boxer Mary Kom on Sunday congratulated weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for winning a silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally on Saturday as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum. "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu. Emotional and happy to embrace each other. A proud Manipuri and a fighter for India in one frame," tweeted Mary Kom. Congratulations @mirabai_chanu . Emotional and happy to embrace each other. A proud Manipuri and a fighter for India in one frame. @NBirenSingh pic.twitter.com/5qrfbDervF - M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) July 25, 2021 Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. On the other hand, Mary Kom on Sunday stormed into the Round of 16 of women's flyweight (48-51 kg) category after defeating Miguelina Garcia of the Dominican Republic in the round of 32. Mary Kom defeated Miguelina 4-1. On Saturday, 29-year-old Vikas Krishnan lost his round of 32 match in the men's welterweight boxing event here in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and as a result, he has bowed out of the mega event.
103 All the nineteen members of Neeraj's family, along with hundreds of residents of Panipat's Khandra village, remained glued to a huge television screen installed outside his residence to watch his golden throw at Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. And the entire village erupted in joy as soon as 23-year-old Arjuna Awardee's javelin hit the ground covering a distance of 87.58 metres. The atmosphere instantly turned festive as people started distributing sweets and dancing to the beats of drums. Neeraj's parents - Satish Chopra and Saroj Bala - were soon drowned in garlands. "I am not getting words to explain the happiness; it's the fruit of his hard work and dedication," said his father Satish Kumar. "I remember the day when he started his daily practice at Panipat's Shivaji Stadium which was 20km away," he added. "Not only me but the entire country is happy over the performance of my son. I am proud of my son," said Neeraj's mother Saroj. Neeraj's uncle Bhim Chopra, who supported him throughout his sporting journey, said, "His friend Jaiveer helped him to focus on Javelin. In 2016, he was very disappointed when he could not qualify for the Rio Olympics after throwing 82.37m, just short of the qualifying 83m. But we did not let him lose hope and he worked harder," he added. Neeraj belongs to a family of farmers and they live in a joint family of 19 members. Neeraj had created history in 2016 by becoming the first Indian athlete to bag the title of world champion by clinching the gold medal at the U-20 World Championships in Poland. He won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games with a throw of 82.23m and won another gold medal in Asian Athletics Championship in 2017 with a throw of 85.23meters. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold medal with his best effort of 86.47 meters. In 2018, he broke the national record at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 87.43 meters.
104 Mirabai Chanu's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics was not unexpected, but it was a joyous moment when it happened nonetheless. Chanu, who comes from a farming village near Imphal, has been one of the world's best weightlifters in her category, 49kg, for some time now. She has won a world championship and holds the world record in one of the Olympics lifts, the clean & jerk. The Olympic silver simply adds to the aura and signals, yet again, the pioneering path forged by athletes from Manipur. Kunjurani Devi, the woman who inspired Chanu, was India's first medallist at the world weightlifting championship. She won a silver in 1989, at a time when being a woman weightlifter in India was almost unheard of. Devi inspired, and continues to inspire, generations of aspiring athletes to take up the sport in India. MC Mary Kom did the same with boxing - opening the way for women to get into a fighting sport and dream of big medals. Six world titles and an Olympic medal later, she is still fighting, in Tokyo. From the late Dingko Singh to Sarita Devi, and an assembly line of hockey and football players, Manipur has an outsized influence on the Indian sporting scene. Much of that has to do with the love for sport and the sporting culture of the state. Yet, Manipur's sporting infrastructure is below par, even compared to the usual less-than-ideal standards everywhere in India. Some states have, in the past decade, started to tap into sporting culture and encourage its development. Haryana has done that with boxing and wrestling at the grassroots. Odisha has done so with hockey and athletics and built world class infrastructure. Karnataka has some of the finest sporting institutes in India now. Manipur would do well to embrace its unique sporting identity and nurture it in a truly ambitious manner.
105 We couldn't be more proud and teary-eyed as the Indian national anthem played after 13 years in Olympics and we have only 23-year-old Indian javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, to thank for this glory as he won a gold medal in the sport at Tokyo Olympics 2020. While the champion "slept soundly with the medal near pillow last night", fans and fitness enthusiasts have been drawing inspiration from the javelin throw hero and we are no different as we take workout motivation from the athlete's recent Swiss ball exercise. In one of his social media posts earlier, Neeraj gave a glimpse of his preparation ahead of the main tournament and our jaws just dropped in awe as we saw him pull off the inherently riskier core strength exercise by standing on a Swiss ball and flaunted exceptional balancing skills to tone his muscles and core fitness. Testing his fitness in a relaxed way in Sweden's synthetic indoor track at IFU Arena in Uppsala, Neeraj donned a black sweatshirt and a pair of black tights to nail the athleisure look during his robust exercise session. While one picture featured him aiming a javelin while balancing his body weight on the Swiss ball, another picture featured him simply extending his arms out at 180 degrees and parallel to the ground as he maintained his balance on the gym equipment. Letting his training talk for itself, Neeraj left the caption blank but fans were left swooning over the "beast" in the comments section. Benefits: Also known as exercise balls, Stability balls, Yoga balls, Physio balls and balance balls, the Swiss ball exercises improve balance and tone the muscles apart from improving core strength. This gym equipment is used use in physical therapy to build muscles and endurance, strengthen the core and developing flexibility and balance. Additionally, the Swiss ball helps in rehabilitating the back, hips and knee injuries to deliver a powerful workout and improve core stability, posture and muscle balance. Standing and maintaining your balance on a Swiss ball not only prevents posture defects but also increases lumbar (low back) mobility by strengthening spinal muscles, improves abdominal and back muscle strength, improves balance and stability and develops an overall control and strength of the core body muscles.
106 PV Sindhu was reduced to tears after her semi-final loss on Saturday. Her dream of winning an Olympic gold after the Rio 2016 silver was over. Back in the locker room, coach Park Tae Sang needed to get the reigning world champion to shake it off and prepare for her bronze playoff. The Korean told Sindhu that there's "a lot of difference between finishing fourth and winning bronze". It was all that she needed to return next day, beat China's He Bing Jiao and claim bronze to become India's first woman two-time Olympic medallist. In an interview, talked about her journey in Tokyo, how she worked with different coaches over the years and how she longs to meet her dog, Rio. Excerpts: Has it sunk in yet? The second Indian-and only woman-to win two individual Olympic medals? (Laughs) it has not! I am just enjoying the moment, just very happy that I am the only (Indian) woman to win two individual Olympic medals. It is a proud moment for me and the country. I am thankful to all the people who have been supportive and motivating me. What were you thinking before going in for the bronze medal match? There was definitely pressure as you want to win that medal but it was the same for my opponent. I just told myself that I have to give my best and the rest is up to what happens in the match. I did my best, won the bronze and getting a medal at the Olympics is a really special thing and a dream come true for anyone. How difficult was it to lift yourself after that semi-final loss to Tai Tzu Ying? It was very important to keep my emotions aside and be focused because at that time I was sad and thinking that I should have won while another part of me was like should I be happy because I got another chance to play for the bronze. My coach (Park Tae Sang) and physio motivated me that it isn't over yet and I can still do it, that I have to play another match. That kept me going. On match day against He Bing Jiao, it was very important for me to let go of whatever happened in the past and really focus on what needs to be done. How easy or difficult was it to implement the strokes, skills and tactics you imbibed in your game during lockdown at the Olympics? It wasn't difficult. My coach kept telling me that you have to keep trying and I did. I had worked hard for this, to implement these strokes, every single day. And that is what you practice for, so why not use it in the game. The drift was quite a factor in Tokyo. Yes the drift was one of the reasons why we shifted to Gachibowli (stadium in Hyderabad) in February. The stadium is of international standard and I got used to the drift really well. the control was very important. I am very thankful to the government, sports authorities and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) because when we asked for permission (to train there during lockdown) they immediately planned it and we started training there from the next day. It really helped us get the medal. No spectators, the bio-bubble, constant testing-was it a mental battle? Wearing masks, maintaining social distance, sanitising our hands, no spectators, getting tested every day-it was very different to other Olympics. But we knew that it's going to be this way because when tournaments started in January it was the same, being in a bio-bubble. We knew that these are the protocols that need to be followed. Once the matches started it was important not to think about it much and just focus on the matches. I really missed the fans at the Tokyo Games. You have a Labrador named Rio. Any plans of getting another dog named Tokyo? Not right now (laughs). Didn't think about that, actually. I will be seeing my dog soon. I missed him a lot.
107 A mobile phone footage from Chhatrasal stadium sends shockwaves through the country. Sushil Kumar, the wrestling centre's most illustrious pupil and arguably India's greatest Olympian, is seen in a group of people assaulting a junior wrestler, Sagar Dhankad, who dies soon after. In a few days, Kumar is arrested. For the modern-day cradle of Indian wrestling, the incident is a dark chapter in what is otherwise a glorious journey. Speculations swirl whether Chhatrasal will ever be the same again. A steady dribble of top players leaving Chhatrasal had already dented its reputation. Kumar's arrest added another blow. It took a little over three months and an Olympic silver medal by another Chhatrasal ward to show that the institution was far from gone. When Ravi Dahiya rose to the Tokyo Olympics podium with a silver medal in the 57kg, those watching it on TV at the facility in west Delhi must have felt a sense of pride and relief. They had found a new hero. Dahiya is the centre's third Olympic medallist (Yogeshwar Dutt had won bronze in London) and that is an incredible feat. But the list does not end here. Deepak Punia, who lost his 86kg bronze medal match, also started from this academy, as has Bajrang Punia - a top medal contender in 65kg. Neither of them train there any more. For boys from Delhi, as well as the villages and towns that surround the capital who aspire to be wrestlers, Chhatrasal Stadium is the ultimate destination. They live here in cramped quarters packed with fellow wrestlers, living out of duffel bags, sleeping on mattresses lined up on the floor, and eagerly awaiting their fathers bringing them milk, fruits and ghee every morning to supplement their diets-that's the quintessential Chhatrasal life. It's the way Kumar came up, as did Dahiya. Kumar was 14 when he first came to the stadium in 1997 and started training under 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Satpal Singh. By 2012, Chhatrasal became Indian wrestling's equivalent of La Masia, the famous football academy of FC Barcelona. That year, two of its trainees returned with Olympic medals-Kumar and Dutt. Another trainee, Amit Dahiya, became the youngest Indian to compete at the Olympics at 18. He made it to the quarter-finals. Dahiya was already a trainee there at that time. He first came to Chhatrasal in 2008 to meet Kumar when the former wrestler had just come back with a bronze from Beijing. By 2010, a 12-year-old Dahiya was a resident student at the wrestling school.
108 It may not be easy for Mirabai Chanu to let go of the memories of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The weightlifter from Imphal was one of India's medal hopefuls when she, perhaps bogged down by the pressure of competing in the world's biggest sporting event, failed to clear all three of her clean and jerk attempts in the women's 48kg category. Chanu had managed a lift of 82kg in the snatch event before faltering in clean and jerk and thereby bidding goodbye to her hopes of a medal. "After Rio Olympics, I broke down when I could not bring home a medal even after working so hard in training. I was unable to understand why I failed. It was a tough period," Chanu had told reporters in April this year. "It was my first Olympics. There was so much pressure because of the expectations. People were expecting a medal from me. At the time, Chanu was just 22 years old. Speaking to a psychologist would later help her regain her confidence, Chanu said. "Players need psychologists a lot. Sometimes we feel really dull, we don't feel like training or if we get injured during training, we feel low. At that time a psychologist helps a lot. They motivate us," Chanu said. Since the disappointment of the Rio Games, Chanu has taken big strides in the sport and has firmly established herself as one of the medal contenders in the 49kg category at the Tokyo Olympics. She won her first major international title when she won the gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, USA. Just a few months later, she would go on to clinch the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. As she worked on her technique, strength and mental fortitude, Chanu began to lift heavier and heavier. Earlier this year, the Manipuri weightlifter broke the world record for the highest lift in women's 49kg clean and jerk category - 119kg. The same event in which she fluffed one 104kg and two 106kg lifts in Rio. Her combined total lift of 205kg in clean and jerk and snatch at the same event was a personal best. Chanu will, however, be looking to improving her lifts in snatch, having managed a personal best of 88kg so far, well below the world record of 96kg. In Tokyo, another factor will significantly boost Chanu's hopes of securing a medal when she takes the stage on July 24. While Hou Zhihui of China, who has won gold medals in World Cup, World Championships and Asian Championships and also holds the snatch and combined world records, will start as the favourite for the gold on Saturday, the field will not feature two big names. Zhihui's compatriot Jiang Huihua, who won the gold at the 2019 World Championships, will miss out on the event as only one lifter from a country is allowed in each category. Following the withdrawal of North Korea from the Tokyo Olympics, another medal contender in Ri Song-gum will also not feature in the event. This has left Chanu as the second seed in the 49kg category. Jourdan Delacruz of the US, who has managed multiple combined efforts of 200kg or more in international events and won a World Cup gold last year, will be among Chanu's rivals for a medal. Despite the pandemic, the 26-year-old Indian weightlifter's preparations have also been on course. Last year, she went to the US on a two-month training programme as part of her Tokyo preparations. Chanu has also worked on the lower back pain that had been causing her a few problems in recent years. Since last year, she has been working with Dr. Aaron Horschig, a prominent physiotheraphist in St. Louis and a former weightlifter himself. Training under Horschig has helped Chanu improving her regime, she said. "After I started training in lockdown, the back problem resurfaced. There has been huge improvement after working with Dr. Horschig. My training methods and routines have changed. If I do a heavy workout one day, I take it light the next day. He made me do a lot of rehabilitation exercises, for my shoulder, back and on various movements," she explained earlier this year. The focus in recent times, as Chanu explained during the interaction in April, has been to improve her performance in snatch, where she is a bit off the pace compared to her main rivals. "I have felt more comfortable in clean and jerk from the beginning. I am more confident. In snatch, my technique was not very good so I could not go higher in weights. I am still working on my technique in snatch," she said.
109 If you're over six feet tall and weigh over 100 kilograms, life can sometimes be easy because not too many people want to say no to you. But, if you're a woman, the world will make things hard by treating you as an outlier. So Kamalpreet Kaur did the best thing she could - become an elite track and field athlete. The importance of Kamalpreet to Indian sport cannot be overstated on a day when she will step into a circle 2.5m in diameter, with a 1kg disc in her hand, and look to hurl it beyond the margins of history. No Indian track and field athlete, not even the pantheon of Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George - each of whom won multiple international medals - managed to get on the podium at the Olympics. (Historians will point to Norman Pritchard's two silvers at Paris 1900, but the debate over which country those medals should really be credited to lingers on.) What has put a spring in Kamalpreet's stride as she goes into the final at Tokyo 2020 is that her 64m throw in the qualifying round was the second farthest in field after American Valari Allman's 66.42m. This, juxtaposed with how Kamalpreet became the only Indian woman to cross 65 metres in March, and then bettered her national record to 66.59m in June, suggests she's getting stronger with every competition. The trend makes her a dark horse in Monday's competition. The story goes that Kamalpreet was first persuaded to hurl the discus by a physical training instructor, and that she went with the suggestion for her love of milk and butter. Athletes in his high-performance programme, she realised, were given better food than others, and their access to the good stuff wasn't rationed. A journey that started that day has hit several rough patches -- there were financial constraints, injuries, even talk of an androgen test. There were moments when she wanted to give up, but Kamalpreet battled on. And with good reason - for when does Olympic glory come easy? Al Oerter was born in Astoria, New York City, two weeks after Jesse Owens transformed American track and field at Berlin 1936 with four gold medals. Tall, athletic, with the physique of a typical American jock, Oerter was scouted by the Yankees before settling for what he thought would be a career as a sprinter. One day, in the spring of 1952, Oerter was on his high school track when a disc landed in his path. He picked it up and hurled it back, beyond where the group of discus throwers were practising. His coach saw this, and Oerter's life took a pivotal turn from track to field. Four years later, he was at the Olympic Games. Oerter is the first athlete in history to win the discus gold at four consecutive Olympics between Melbourne 1956 and Mexico 1968 - a record matched only by Carl Lewis in the long jump between 1984 and 1996, and Michael Phelps between 2004 and 2016. But, unlike Lewis and Phelps, what was truly remarkable about his feat was that, on each occasion, he broke the Olympic record, defeated the current world record holder, overcame injuries that could've ended his career, and wasn't the favourite for gold. In 1991, he said in an interview to The Olympian magazine that he was "really young" at Melbourne, "not very capable" at Rome, "very injured" at Tokyo, and "old" in Mexico City. Oerter was probably right on all four counts. He competed and won anyway. Before the 1964 Tokyo Games, doctors treating him for a neck injury told Oerter it was time to retire. "These are The Olympics," Oerter replied. "You die before you quit." The story of Al Oerter is not so much about brilliance as it is about grit and perseverance. That's why anyone who picks up a discus is eventually told about the man who somehow always got the job done. Sixty-five years after Oerter's first appearance on an Olympic stage, in the same discipline, in a very different context, with different aspirations, but with the burden of history on her shoulders, Kamalpreet Kaur will get her chance.
110 Long before Mirabai Chanu produced lifts that were strong enough to earn an Olympic silver medal, she would receive lifts from truckers who were kind enough to drop off a young Mirabai to her training centre in Imphal. Back in Imphal as an Olympic medallist from Tokyo, India's star weightlifter now wants to meet those sand-carrying truck drivers who provided her regular-and free-transport from her home in the Nongpok Kakching village to the training centre at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal and lend a helping hand. "I wanted to see the truckers who provided me regular lifts from home to the training centre and seek their blessing," the 26-year-old Mirabai said here on Thursday on the sidelines of an event. "They really helped me during my hard times of training. I'm looking for those sand-carrying truckers so that I can try to extend whatever help they may require now," she added. According to Mirabai's mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Devi-who runs a tea stall in the village-the trucks, coming from Etham Moirangpurel area, would pass through the village and give her daughter a lift to Imphal. "As I run a tea stall here, the trucks usually stopped and took her to the centre," she said. The free rides helped Mirabai and her family save up on the transport cost, instead diverting that money into her diet during her training days as a teen. "The training centre used to be 20-30 kms away from our home," Mirabai's brother, Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, told Olympics.com. "Our parents would give her Rs10-20 for her journey. The village is very small and almost everyone knows everyone else. Early morning, trucks used to leave from the market square. We would know which of them is going towards her training centre and would send her with them. She never complained about it. She would go alone every day." Mirabai, who won the country's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, was accorded a hero's welcome when she returned home on July 27. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh received the weightlifter and handed over a cheque of Rs1 crore.
111 There are matches that deserve to be played in a packed stadium. You could argue that at the Olympics, that should apply to every match, but Japan winning their first-ever table tennis Olympic gold at the Tokyo Metropolitan Centre was more than special. The mixed doubles pair of Mizutani Jun and Ito Mima producing an epic comeback to beat the Chinese duo Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen 4-3. Emotions and thrills, defining the contest at the biggest sporting spectacle, threatened to burst through the roof. Yet at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, in the heart of the city, the empty multi-coloured bucket seats stare back at you. The sound of the ping pong ball hitting the table echo through the 7000-seater hall. Volunteers and local media assume the role of cheerleaders, jumping from their seats with triumphant cries with the winning shot. The cameras captured the winning moment beautifully: Jun and Mima letting out a huge roar, pumping their fists, and their coach hugging them in the middle for an extended celebration. It was instinctive, the pure joy to leave everything out there for your country. Then the silence of the stadium took over. This is the most unsettling part of covering this edition of the Olympics: the new normal, as some would say. The excitement of watching an event backed by a boisterous, raucous crowd; the whistles, comments, screams and sighs, the odd silence if the favourites are losing, is what makes watching sports such a transcendental experience. The absence of this is bitter reminder of the many ways this pandemic has impacted lives the world over. The incomplete feeling haunts every venue. At the Oi hockey stadium, all you can hear is the clatter of sticks and the coaches and players shouting instructions. "It is strange," reckons India's hockey coach Graham Reid. When you play hockey you play in front of thousands or you can play in front of no crowd. That's the reality but yes, it's disappointing."
112 Ravi Dahiya was feeling miserable. He had become only the second Indian wrestler to win an Olympic silver, after Sushil Kumar in 2012, but the glint of the medal hanging from his neck was not enough to soften the pain of defeat. He did not celebrate the silver. He was so close to gold. The 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana lost the final bout of the 57kg freestyle wrestling event to Russian Zavur Uguev, the two-time world champion and on the day, just a little bit superior to the young Dahiya, making his Olympic debut. The previous day, Dahiya bounced back from the brink of defeat to pin two-time Worlds medallist Nurislam Sanayev in a thrilling semi-final. Against Uguev, Dahiya got no such opportunity. The Russian was swift with his counters, and strong in defence. He opened a 2-0 lead through step-outs. Dahiya brought him down to draw parity. But Zavur scored another two points with a takedown even as Dahiya did well to avoid getting tangled. In the second period, with Uguev leading 4-2, Dahiya stepped up the attack and looked for an opening. Even as he went searching for the win, Uguev, strong in defence, scored another three points with a fast counter. With one and a half minutes to go, there was enough time for Dahiya to mount a comeback. A takedown gave him two more points but that was all he could muster. "Jis cheez ke liye aaye the, kami rahe gayi. Kuch kami rahe gayi mere me (I was not able to do what I came here to do. I fell short)," said Dahiya. "For two months, I have not spoken to my family, nor used my phone. I just wanted to give everything for the Olympics and win a gold medal. I didn't even go home during lockdown. I was training in Chhatrasal Stadium." A silver in Tokyo has only added to the stature of wrestling as that rare sport outside of cricket where India has a strong global presence. Starting with Sushil's bronze in Beijing 2008, India has now won a medal in every edition of the Games since. "I can't be satisfied by anything less than gold," said Dahiya. Dahiya remembers the August night of 2008 when Sushil, now in jail on murder charges, won his Olympic bronze. "When Sushil Kumar won the medal, I was small, but I went to see him," Dahiya sad. "Later, Yogeshwar Dutt also won a medal (bronze, 2012). I have learned a lot from them. They inspired me to be at the Olympics and win a medal." Dahiya comes from Nahri village in Sonepat, which has a strong tradition of wrestling. "My father took me to Hansraj ji who trains young boys in the village. Hansrajji then brought me to Chhatrasal," Dahiya said.
113 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Planning to relax more curbs, call on local train travel soon: Maharashtra CM Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday the state government is planning to bring in more relaxations in the ongoing restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) but utmost caution is needed at this step. Dr Aasha Goel murder case: 18 years on, trial yet to start Around 18 years after the murder of Dr Aasha Goel, her family is still awaiting the trial of four accused including one of her brothers and her maternal uncle. 'How will you...?': Kamal Nath questions MP govt over response to floods Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on Saturday questioned the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government over its response to the current flood situation in the state, also cautioning it that "this is not the time to play politics." Sherlyn Chopra says Raj Kundra 'misguided' her into shooting porn: 'He even told me that Shilpa Shetty likes my videos' Sherlyn Chopra alleged that Raj Kundra 'misguided' her into thinking that 'semi-nude and porn' shoots were normal. She even claimed that he told her that his wife Shilpa Shetty liked her pictures and videos. 'It's unbelievable': Neeraj Chopra reacts after historic gold at Tokyo Olympics Reacting for the first time after winning a historic gold medal in men's javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics, India's Neeraj Chopra said 'it feels unbelievable.' Chopra's gold medal on Saturday was special in more ways than one. 34% of Indians do not use dating apps because they are afraid of scammers, Kaspersky report reveals Kaspersky has conducted a global survey where it asked people about dating apps and their experiences with it. According to the survey results, most people do not use dating apps because they are scared of scammers. Shanaya Kapoor steps out in Rs.2k sporty outfit, pink Balenciaga bag Shanaya Kapoor, the daughter of Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, has become quite a celebrity even before her Bollywood debut and the young star kid is often in the news, be it for her sultry Instagram posts, dance videos or her fashionable outings in the city.
114 When American pole vaulter Christopher Nilsen came for the media interaction after winning a silver in a brief duel with Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, a Swedish reporter asked him straight: "I am from Sweden and I am going to ask about Mondo." Nilsen was game. "Sure, go ahead. I am also here to answer about Mondo." That's the kind of impact Duplantis has made on pole vault. On a humid night at the Olympic Stadium when Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk won a third straight hammer throw Olympic gold and Elaine Thompson- Herah blitzed the 200m track in the last event of the evening session, Duplantis was still not finished, competing all by himself after the rest of the field in pole vault had packed up. He was raising the bar one attempt after another. In fact, it was Nilsen who went and cleared 5.97m first. Duplantis followed, soaring over the bar and making it look all so easy and effortless. Next up was the 6.02m. Nielsen was done, but Duplantis's romance with the night wasn't over. He cleared 6.02 smoothly and then attempted to break his own world record of 6.18m. Hand almost did it, only for his chest to graze the bar and bring it down. He was all smiles, laughing, cheering himself up. Did Duplantis help Nilsen to aim higher, get his personal best? "I don't really know if he felt anything when I cleared 5.97 in the first attempt but in a normal competition here that is a very hard thing to do. But Mondo is Mondo as we all know. We like to say about professional athletes when you are on, you are on, when you are not, you are not. But Mondo is always on. It is very hard to beat him," said Nilsen. The media, still waiting for Duplantis to emerge, was happy to hear what Nilsen had to offer on the superstar. So, what was it like to compete against him? "It's fun. It is kind of how we hang out with friends. Like most people go to a bar, or and play video games, we compete at the Olympics," he laughed. And what was going through Nilsen's mind when Duplantis was attempting the world record? "How could he, he must be stupid, I thought," Nilsen said. "How cool it is to watch a world record holder and he almost got it. When I cleared 5.80 I was like wow I have cleared 5.80m at the Olympics. And now to watch him attempt 47cm higher, it was like a normal soccer player watching Messi or Ronaldo."
115 May 4, 2021 - A mobile phone footage from Chhatrasal stadium sends shockwaves through the country. Sushil Kumar, the wrestling centre's most illustrious pupil and arguably India's greatest Olympian with medals in Beijing and London, is seen in a group of people assaulting a junior wrestler, Sagar Dhankad, who dies soon after. In a few days, Kumar is arrested. For the modern-day cradle of Indian wrestling, the incident is a dark chapter in what is otherwise a glorious journey. Speculations swirl whether Chhatrasal will ever be the same again. A steady dribble of top players leaving Chhatrasal had already dented its reputation. Kumar's arrest added another blow. It took a little over three months and an Olympic silver medal by another Chhatrasal ward to show that the institution was far from gone. When Ravi Dahiya rose to the Tokyo Olympics podium with a silver medal in the 57kg category, those watching it on television at the facility in west Delhi must have felt a sense of pride and relief. They had found a new hero. Dahiya is the centre's third Olympic medallist - another trainee, Yogeshwar Dutt, had won bronze in London 2012 - and that, for any academy anywhere in the world is an incredible feat. But the list does not end here. Deepak Punia, who lost his 86kg bronze medal match on Thursday, also started from this academy, as has Bajrang Punia - a top medal contender in 65kg. Neither of them train there any more. For boys from Delhi, as well as the villages and towns that surround the capital who aspire to be wrestlers, Chhatrasal Stadium is the ultimate destination. They live here in cramped quarters packed with fellow wrestlers, living out of duffel bags, sleeping on mattresses lined up on the floor, and eagerly awaiting their fathers bringing them milk, fruits and ghee every morning to supplement their diets--that's the quintessential Chhatrasal life. It's the way Kumar came up, as did Dahiya. Kumar was 14 when he first came to the stadium in 1997 and started training under 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Satpal Singh. By 2012, Chhatrasal became Indian wrestling's equivalent of La Masia, the famous football academy of FC Barcelona. That year, two of its trainees returned with Olympic medals - Kumar and Dutt. Another trainee, Amit Dahiya, became the youngest Indian to compete at the Olympics at 18. He made it to the quarter-finals. Dahiya was already a trainee there at that time. He first came to Chhatrasal in 2008 to meet Kumar when the former wrestler had just come back with a bronze from Beijing. By 2010, a 12-year-old Dahiya was a resident student at the wrestling school. Despite the success, the school could not hold on to its wrestlers. Several alleged the high-handedness of those in charge. First, Dutt left. Then the likes of Bajrang and Deepak left too. Dahiya's success though could be the glue that holds the place together.
116 Neeraj Chopra's outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics has made him the nation's sweetheart! But, the javelin thrower is still in disbelief. "Pehla medal hai track and field mein, vo bhi gold. Main bayan nahi kar sakta kaisa feel ho raha hai. Zabardast shuruaat hui hai. I felt very proud when I was on the podium with the gold medal and the national anthem was playing," says Chopra, who believes the future seems bright for athletics. Ever since the 23-year-old from Panipat walked off the field with the tricolour on his back, there have been talks about what Chopra's biopic would look like. And it becomes crucial to ask the bigger question: Who will he like to portray him onscreen? Skeptical to get a biopic made on him just now, the Olympian, says, "Don't make a biopic on me yet. I'm still playing (the sport), and would like to continue doing so. I believe there are more stories to be added to my journey, and main chahta hun aur medal leke aaun. Jab tak career chal raha hai tab tak ruk jana chahiye (for the biopic). I want to focus on my game. I'd like it if a biopic is made on me, but after my journey is over and I retire from sports!" Delighted at the love he has received on social media, in terms of millions of people following him overnight, Chopra says, "I saw I've gained many followers on social media. I use social media very sparingly, to share about my competitions or exercise videos. Kabhi kabhi enjoy karna bhi zaruri hota hai. It feels good to know that so many people watched my game and appreciated my performance." Soon after his victory, the athlete had dedicated his medal to legendary athletes late Milkha Singh, and PT Usha. "I had watched Milkhaji's videos where he said that he wanted someone from our country to win a gold at the Olympics. Jab main stage pe tha toh maine yehi socha ki woh humare beech nahi rahe lekin unka sapna pura hua. PT Usha ma'am had also lost out on a medal by a whisker," says Chopra. A Subedar with the 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army, Chopra is now looking forward to celebrate his Olympic journey in India. "Whatever I had come to achieve here, I've achieved. Now, I just want to head home. Abhi wait hai maa ke haath ka khana khane ka, aur apne family ke saath celebrate karne ka. Then, I'll start my training again," says the track and field athlete, adding that the medal has made up for all the disappointments he had to face earlier: "Everything I had endured whether it was my elbow injury or the pandemic, this one moment made me feel like all my hard work has paid off. Standing in the field, with a gold medal in my neck, the Indian flag in front of me and the national anthem playing in the background, I forgot all those problems. Agar aise time se nikal ke maine gold jeeta hai toh woh time mere liye theek tha!" Author tweets @bhagat_mallika
117 India's hockey team bronze that ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought has been hailed as the fruits of labour, but for midfielder Sumit Kumar it is much more than a sporting idiom. The 25-year-old, among players who vindicated coach Graham Reid's mantra of youth, was labouring away in real life. The son of poor landless labour in Haryana was a cleaner in a dhaba (food kiosk) when he took up playing the game for a free pair of shoes and hockey stick given by a local coach to draw trainees. Kumar was a vital player in the team's engine room, guarding the space between midfield and striking circle, tasked with stopping attackers before the move got dangerous. Highly valued for his work rate and a regular in the playing eleven, he is arguably the fittest in the squad, having aced the yo-yo fitness test with the highest score. Kumar did odd jobs to help the family make ends meet while elder brother Amit Kumar quit playing the game to back the younger sibling's dream of playing for the country. On Thursday, as the nation erupted in celebration when India pipped formidable Germany 5-4 at the Olympics, festivities began at his Kurad village of Haryana's Sonepat district. People poured on to the streets in joy and congratulated Kumar's family, marking a happy milestone in a journey with origins in uncertainty. Ticketless travel In his early playing days, Kumar would travel ticketless on trains to save for diet money. "Before he was selected for the sports hostel in Gurugram, he worked at dhabas in Murthal (on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway) for five years so that he could arrange for diet and other expenses. Milk was a luxury. He used to travel in trains without ticket to save for meals and fruits," Kumar's brother said. "Gradually, he started spending the whole day on the hockey ground. At one point, we thought he might quit the game due to our family's poverty, but he continued. After three years in the sports hostel, he was selected for Sports Authority of India's (SAI) north zone Bahalgarh centre. He won't come home even on weekends to save the bus fare." Brother's wedding Many Indian athletes have skipped important family functions chasing sporting dreams that are also a way out of poverty. His village coach Naresh Kumar said Kumar missed the wedding of his elder brother, Jai Singh, a labourer. On Thursday, Kumar dedicated his medal to mother Darshna Devi, who died last year. "My mother worked as a domestic help to bring us up. Had she been alive, she would have been the happiest person today. It was her dream that India must win a hockey medal at the Olympics. Though she is not alive, her blessings are always with us," the player said over phone from Tokyo.
118 Every time the words hockey and Olympics are mentioned in the same sentence, India gets lost in a sepia toned wonderland of nostalgia and gold dust. After all, this is the nation that won eight Olympic gold medals, six of them in consecutive Games, and the overall tally would've been 10 had the Second World War not prevented two more opportunities for total dominance in 1940 and 1944. The stories surrounding the Olympic exploits of India's hockey magicians are endless, and their incredible scoresheets (including 24-1 against Team USA at Los Angeles 1932) well-documented. The anecdotes, once you start narrating them, eventually funnel up to one man from Jhansi. Born in 1905 (in Allahabad) to an army man, he enlisted at 17 to carry forward the family tradition. Not long after, he picked up a hockey stick. It felt just right, as if something had clicked - the wand chooses the wizard. This man got so obsessed with hockey that his mates in the barracks would often catch him shadow dribbling long past bedtime, or spot him practising in the moonlight in the regiment yard. The late-night routines led to a nickname that likened him to the moon. And so, Dhyan Singh became Dhyan "Chand". Through the 1920s and 1930s, if cricket, that most colonial of sports which was the country's other big distraction, had Don Bradman, here was India's answer. But Dhyan Chand was not the only genius - he was just the brightest star in a galaxy of legends, sons of the soil who played a sport that felt close to their roots, and poured their soul and sweat into it. The names are too many to be listed: Roop Singh, Jaipal Singh and Richard Allen from the 1920s and 1930s, Balbir Singh Sr, Leslie Claudius, KD Singh Babu and Udham Singh from the 40s and 50s, and Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh and Aslam Sher Khan from the 60s and 70s are just a few headliners from a 40-year era when they were kings. But these sepia toned glory days that go with every subsequent Indian hockey team to the Olympics put a burden of history that is impossible not to buckle under. They are numbers and anecdotes that increase expectations but serve no constructive purpose because they don't offer context. We need to focus on different facts and figures to understand how things really are. The last Indian gold was at Moscow 1980, where most of the top teams were missing; the one before that was at Tokyo 1964 - 57 years ago. The last time the Indian team won a medal of any colour (other than in 1980) was a bronze at Munich 1972. And in Beijing 2008 came the nadir - India didn't even qualify. The reasons for the decline were many - the arrival of Pakistan meant the Indian hockey nursery was cleaved in half after Partition since Lahore was such a crucial hub; the shift to the artificial turf took the "Indian dribble" out of the picture and made hockey a more physical sport; and the European teams utilised this to their advantage by throwing money, resources and expertise on power hitting and physical conditioning. But it wasn't only about how the sport changed. The problem lay in India's failure to accept that it had. The 1980s and 90s, which should have been used to make India ready for a different kind of hockey, were spent in denial, and in officials of the Indian Hockey Federation warring rather than working. When the astro turf was first unrolled in the 1970s, the more affluent nations gave young players access to the surface immediately. In India, by the time players stepped on an artificial turf for the first time, they were already in their 20s (this is true even today in several parts of the country). Indian hockey kept paying the price for the lost decades, and the European powerhouses kept pulling ahead. But over the last few years, hope has rekindled. India made the knock-out stage of the Rio Olympics, and have done it again in Tokyo despite a 7-1 drubbing by Australia. How India responded to that loss - beating Spain, defending champions Argentina, and Asian Games champions Japan - displayed character and spirit that separate journeyman teams from those that are world class. It won't be easy for India against Britain on Sunday in what is perhaps their most significant match in decades. The last time the Indian team reached the semi-final (other than 1980) was in 1972, on grass. And if they go on to win a medal of any colour, it will be worth several golds. For it will offer something much better than nostalgia - a new foundation to build on.
119 Savitri Devi was weeping with joy, but saying that her grandson is yet to fulfil his promise. "Chora bol ke gaya hai gold laake dega (he's promised to bring me a gold medal from the Olympics)," she said. As Ravi Dahiya spectacularly turned around the 57kg freestyle semi-final against Nurislam Sanayev in Tokyo on Wednesday, Savitri looked the most excited in the family home in Nahri village in Haryana's Sonepat district. The family's been through a lot for Monu (Dahiya), so this feels good, she said, as neighbours came over to congratulate them. Dahiya picked up wrestling when he was six. "I enrolled him at Chhatrasal Akhada (in west Delhi). Before that, he would train in the farm fields," said his father Rakesh. A former wrestler who gave up the sport because money was scarce, Rakesh farms on the family's one-acre plot. Dahiya's first coach was Raj, said Rakesh, suffixing his name with "pehelwan (wrestler)." The wrestling centre at Chhatrasal stadium has produced a number of internationals, of whom the most famous are double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, and Yogeshwar Dutt, who won bronze in London. Dahiya's younger brother Pankaj is also training to be a Greco-Roman wrestler at Chhatrasal stadium. "Coach Satpal had told me that Ravi would make India proud," said Rakesh, referring to Satpal Singh who won a wrestling gold in the 1982 Asian Games and bronze in 1974. A famous coach who runs the centre at Chhatrasal, Singh is also Sushil Kumar's father-in-law. So despite facing a financial crunch, Rakesh sent his son to train there. It meant he would travel for an hour every day for the next 10 years to give his son milk and fruits, which are an important part of a wrestler's diet. On Wednesday, Dahiya became the first Indian since Kumar in London 2012 to make a wrestling final at the Olympics. Sushil (he is now in jail for alleged murder) and Dutt are Dahiya's wrestling heroes, said Darshan Lall, a former wrestler who is also a vice-president at the Wrestling Federation of India. "Sushil has played a big role in shaping Ravi's career. He was always very bright as a young trainee who had the hunger to reach at the top. I was not surprised the way he played the semi-final bout. It is his natural game. He likes to attack and did not come under big-stage pressure. He is going to win the final and get India a gold medal," said Lall. Should that happen, it would be the most glorious chapter in the history of this village of 15,000 people. Dahiya is the third Olympian from Nahri after Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles) and Amit Dahiya (London 2012). But he's the first medallist.
120 Atanu Das's heart was racing, but you could not tell that from his demeanour. He had one shot to beat a two-time Olympic gold medallist (the 2012 individual gold and the team gold here just a few days back), Oh Jin Hyek. Hyek had the luxury of going first in the single arrow tie-breaker. He shot a 9. Das had just one possibility for a win, a bullseye 10. Beads of sweat formed on his face as he pulled on the bowstring on a hot and humid day at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field. To make matters trickier, there was a light breeze that swirled around the range. Das held on to the drawn bowstring for longer than he usually does. He wobbled, or so it seemed. Then the arrow flew and landed. It was a 10. The moment aptly summed up a turnaround in India's performance at the Tokyo Olympics, with more athletes stepping into contention as the first week of competition started to wind down. There were no medals on offer for the Indians in competition on the sixth day of competition in Tokyo 2020, but it was a day to remember for the thrills it provided, for the fighting wins from many of the Indians in action, and for the hope it raised for the days to follow. PV Sindhu wrapped up her Round of 16 match against world No. 12 Mia Blichfeldt in straight games, dominating the match and pulling out an array of cross-court backhands, smashes and drop shots. India's first superheavyweight boxer, Satish Kumar, put himself one win away from a medal with a powerful victory in his first match to move into the quarterfinal. And the Indian hockey team managed to script a remarkable turnaround by defeating the 2016 Olympic champions Argentina 3-1, and qualifying for the quarter-finals just four days after they had been hammered 7-1 by Australia. There was also loss, but it came with its own slice of history as the legendary Mary Kom, six-time world champion and London Olympic bronze medallist, bowed out in the Round of 16 in a closely contested match. This was her last Olympics and possibly the last fight of her career. The biggest spark came from Atanu, whose dramatic face-off with Oh Jin Hyek took him to the last-16. "There is pressure in every match in the Olympics," Das said. "Obviously I was tense. I was banking on my mind, not my heart. I simply focused and tried to go through the situation," he said. Das's morning started brightly with a relatively comfortable 6-4 win against Chinese Taipei's Deng Yu-Cheng. It was a change from the way the Games have gone so far for him. In the ranking round on July 23, he finished a lowly 35, which meant the higher ranked Pravin Jadhav was fielded instead of him with Deepika Kumari in the mixed team event. Against Jin Hyek, Das lost the first set, shooting two 8s and a 9 to the South Korean's two 9s and a 8. World No. 1 Kumari, who is also his wife, shouted out encouragement and instructions from the stands. "I could hear her voice from behind me all the time," Das said, flashing two rings, his wedding band and a gold ring in the shape of the Olympic symbol. "Pushing me all the while, telling me to be myself, that I could do it, to stay calm," he said. In the next two sets, every arrow from Das fetched a 9. Jin Hyek kept pace. Then came the fourth set, where Das's opponent slipped to a six. Das pounced on the rare error, producing a 10 in reply to take the set. In the fifth, a nerve-wracking set, the two archers scored in lock-step: 10, 9, 9. Das felt that his sight needed slight recalibration. After a quick chat with coach Mim Gurung, the sight was adjusted. It worked. "We saw that all three of his last shots were closer to 10s, one just touched the 10, but we wanted to be more accurate, so that the shoot-off arrow can hit the inner 10," said Gurung. During the shoot-off, Das drew strength from the fact that he had been in this situation before, against the same opponent, at the 2019 Asian Archery Championship. There, in the bronze medal match, Das had managed an X (the inner circle of 10) to Jin Hyek's 10 in the tie breaker. "The situation in a match changes rapidly and those who can handle that well, can move forward," Das said. "I kept my nerves," he said. Das will have another challenge on his hands against London Games silver medallist Takaharu Furukawa of Japan on July 31. Kumari goes up against Ksenia Perova of Russian Olympic Committeein the Round of 16 on Friday.
121 A breathless Bajrang Punia slapped the mat in anger as Haji Aliyev escaped his grasp one last time and the 65kg freestyle wrestling semi-final came to an end. One of India's brightest chances for a gold medal had gone up in smoke. Just like some of India's other big medal hopefuls, Bajrang simply could not bring his best to the Olympic stage. Aliyev, the three-time world champion and Rio Games bronze medallist dominated the semi-final for a 5-12 victory. Each time Punia threatened to launch his flurry of attacks, Aliyev defended strongly and denied Punia. The signs were ominous for the Indian from the start. He trailed the opening round 1-4. To make matters worse, Aliyev increased the gap to 8-1 in the middle of the second period. Aliyev had Punia's legs in a lock and twisted him for points. Punia just about escaped from a technical fall. His face was lined with worry. Aliyev was getting hold of Punia's legs repeatedly. As the seconds ticked away, Punia tried, a little too late, to get in a big throw. He locked in a head lock and looked for a four-point throw but Aliyev held his ground. With one minute and 20 secs left, Punia made it to 3-8 with a takedown. But Aliyev increased it to 9-3 in quick time with a step out. Ill at ease, Punia got another takedown and added two more points with less than 50 seconds left, enough time still for Punia to cover the deficit. After all, he had taken out Morteza Ghiasi Cheka of Iran by fall within the last few seconds in the quarter-finals. But Aliyev proved to be a tougher challenge. He effortlessly evaded Punia. This was the world No 2 wrestler, who has been on a roll in the last two seasons, winning medals at two world championships and an Asian Games gold. He walked off without speaking to anyone. "This is the Olympics, you have to be in a psychological battle. The referring was also poor but I don't want to make any excuses," said his coach Emzarios Shako Bentinidis. Asked about Bajrang's knee that he hurt during a bout last month, Bentinidis said, "his knee is fine." But the day's action was very unlike the way Punia usually goes about things. In both his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts, he got penalized for being too passive. In both bouts he struggled to find an opening for his attack. In the quarterfinal against Cheka, he was trailing 1-0 the entire bout before he turned a Cheka attack into a pin. It was a remarkable turnaround, but it also involved a little bit of luck. Punia, in his first Olympics, now has to try for a bronze, where he will meet the winner of the repechage. "It's like a final. He must get a medal. This is an important situation," said Bentinidis. "If you go to the final, you have an assured second place. But tomorrow, you have nothing to give away. You need to have double concentration." Aliyev will take on Japan's Takuto Otoguro in the final. Takuto defeated Russian world champion Gadzhimurad Rashidov in a gripping semifinal.
122 The Tokyo night sky lit up as the outer rim of Japan's National Stadium exploded in a shower of blue and white sparks, and the most unusual Olympic Games in decades were declared open. Inside the stadium, which can seat up to 68,000 people but where the stands were empty, spotlights picked out isolated athletes - one running on a treadmill, one on a cycling machine - to signify the tribulations the roughly 11,000 athletes at Tokyo 2020 have had to endure to get to this moment. Lockdowns, quarantines, the cancellation of entire sporting seasons - training through it all, often alone at home, in the hope of making it to a Covid-era Olympics, which, for long, were under threat of not happening at all. In keeping with the times, the ceremony itself was quicker and quieter than usual - instead of the usual torrent of celebrity performances and high-wire acts, it involved relatively low-key dance routines and fewer songs. When there was a pause in the music, the stadium was first engulfed in eerie silence, before noise from the hundreds of protesters gathered outside, demonstrating against the Games, seeped in. Then it was time for the athlete's parade, where everyone who walked out was unified by a common accessory - the face mask. Boxer Mary Kom and India hockey captain Manpreet Singh carried the Indian flag, followed by a small group of 16 athletes from the 207-strong contingent, the largest ever. This is the first time each nation nominated not one but two flag-bearers (each contingent was encouraged to name one man and one woman). The ceremony ended with Japan's tennis star Naomi Osaka lighting the flower-shaped Olympic cauldron, jogging up the steps of a temporary Mount Fuji erected in the stadium. Many from the Indian contingent were not just missing from the opening ceremony because of Covid-19 protocols, but also because the first full day of competition on Saturday is packed with action. Action, and anticipation. There has never been an Olympics where India has the opportunity to win not one, but a handful of medals on the first day. Consider the Indians in action in the medal events on Saturday: Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela in 10m Air Rifle, where they have rotated the world No. 1 tag amongst themselves over the last two years. Valarivan, making her Olympic debut, is the number one seed in Tokyo in her event. That event will be closely followed by men's 10m Air Pistol where India's two shooters - Abhishek Verma and Saurabh Chaudhary - are seeded 1 and 2. "On paper looks so, so good," Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic gold medallist (10m Air Rifle), told HT earlier this month. "A gold medal match between India A vs India B would be wonderful," he said. In fact, India won more medals in the 2019 shooting World Cup cycle than powerhouses such as Russia and China, an unprecedented feat (the 2020 cycle was sunk by the pandemic). But wait, there is no time to breathe: at around the same time as the men's pistol, Mirabai Chanu will be competing in the 49kg weightlifting event, where she holds the world record for the clean & jerk, and is ranked No 2 in the world. The medal events for India conclude with Deepika Kumari, the No. 1 ranked woman archer in the world, pairing with first-time Olympian Pravin Jadhav in mixed team archery. At no other time in India's weary history at the Olympics have there been more Indians ranked within the global top 3 in their sports going into the Games. This day could go one of two ways for India. Medals are won on the day, of course, which means that despite the trail of superb performances these athletes bring to the Olympic stage, there is a possibility that there will be no medals. If that happens, it may lower the morale of the entire contingent. But if performances go according to plan, it may also set an unprecedented tone for India's Olympic campaign: one of great self-belief and determination, a state of mind that could open the gates for what could possibly be India's best haul ever at the Games. In this, the eerily quiet atmosphere of Tokyo 2020 may even help Indian athletes, many of whom are on this stage for the first time (of the 15-strong shooting team, 11 are Olympic debutants). "You feel the aura and the atmosphere that exists in an Olympic arena and in an Olympic competition. In that sensory overload you are going to cognitively decline and that's going to affect your performance," Bindra had said earlier. "But here, you're pretty much locked into your room and are going to compete. So it's much closer to a normal tournament that you're used to, so it should play up to our advantage," he said. In Rio, India had to wait till almost the end of the Games - the 12th day - for the first medal, which came from an athlete flying under the radar till then, Sakshi Malik. This time, things could unfold very differently.
123 PV Sindhu was reduced to tears after her semi-final loss on Saturday. Her dream of winning an Olympic gold after the Rio 2016 silver was over. Back in the locker room, coach Park Tae Sang needed to get the reigning world champion to shake it off and prepare for her bronze playoff. The Korean told Sindhu that there's "a lot of difference between finishing fourth and winning bronze". It was all that she needed to return next day, beat China's He Bing Jiao and claim bronze to become India's first woman two-time Olympic medallist. In an interview, talked about her journey in Tokyo, how she worked with different coaches over the years and how she longs to meet her dog, Rio. Excerpts: (Laughs) it has not! I am just enjoying the moment, just very happy that I am the only (Indian) woman to win two individual Olympic medals. It is a proud moment for me and the country. I am thankful to all the people who have been supportive and motivating me. There was definitely pressure as you want to win that medal but it was the same for my opponent. I just told myself that I have to give my best and the rest is up to what happens in the match. I did my best, won the bronze and getting a medal at the Olympics is a really special thing and a dream come true for anyone. It was very important to keep my emotions aside and be focused because at that time I was sad and thinking that I should have won while another part of me was like should I be happy because I got another chance to play for the bronze. My coach (Park Tae Sang) and physio motivated me that it isn't over yet and I can still do it, that I have to play another match. That kept me going. On match day against He Bing Jiao, it was very important for me to let go of whatever happened in the past and really focus on what needs to be done. It wasn't difficult. My coach kept telling me you have to keep trying and I did. I had worked hard for this, to implement these strokes, every single day. And that is what you practice for, so why not use it in the game. Yes the drift was one of the reasons why we shifted to Gachibowli (stadium in Hyderabad) in February. The stadium is of international standard and I got used to the drift really well. the control was very important. I am very thankful to the government, sports authorities and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) because when we asked for permission (to train there during lockdown) they planned it and we started training there from the next day. It really helped us get the medal. Wearing masks, maintaining social distance, sanitising our hands, no spectators, getting tested every day-it was very different to other Olympics. But we knew that it's going to be this way because when tournaments started in January it was the same, being in a bio-bubble. We knew that these are the protocols that need to be followed. Once the matches started it was important not to think about it much and just focus on the matches. I really missed the fans at the Tokyo Games. Not right now (laughs). Didn't think about that, actually. I will be seeing my dog soon. I missed him a lot.
124 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. China gets new World Heritage Site with links to Hinduism, Tamil Nadu As many as 22 sites in the southeastern Chinese city of Quanzhou including a temple with links to Hinduism were included to the Unesco World Heritage List on Sunday. Pakistan's great game in India and Afghanistan It is a worn-down cliche to say that the 1999 Kargil war is a reminder to India that Pakistan can never be trusted. Can an enemy ever be trusted is the logical question to this surmise. I used the illegitimate children jibe because...': Salman Khurshid explains Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said his illegitimate children jibe about Uttar Pradesh's draft population control bill was aimed at "grabbing eyeballs". Fathers pay tribute to their martyred sons a day before Kargil Vijay Diwas As the country gets ready to mark Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, fathers of the martyred Indian soldiers have been commemorating the sacrifices their sons made for the nation. IPL 2021: UAE leg to begin on September 19 with CSK vs MI match; final in Dubai on October 15 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced the fixture of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, which is scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Milind Soman mixes up Priya Malik's gold medal with Tokyo Olympics, won't delete tweet: 'Ok to make a mistake' Model-actor Milind Soman made a gaffe as he congratulated wrestler Priya Malik on her gold medal at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships. He mistakenly wrote that she won a gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Tara Sutaria flaunts an hourglass figure in Dior's Rs61k hot bikini Making heads turn and how, Bollywood actor Tara Sutaria set the Internet on fire and her latest set of hot pictures in a bikini are to be blamed. Tara grabbed eyeballs for her jaw-dropping look as she slipped into the black and white bikini from Dior and her steamy photoshoot is enough to back our claim. Who can replace Yediyurappa in Karnataka? A look at the CM hopefuls Uncertainty looms over the continuation of BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister of Karnataka. The BJP leader has dismissed reports of leadership change but there are big speculations over Yediyurappa's replacement.
125 Standing on the podium step with his fellow bronze winner, Bajrang Punia picked up the medal from the tray, put it around his neck, and immediately lifted it with both hands. He examined one side of the medal, then flipped it, and stared at it for a couple of seconds before letting it rest on his stomach. It was not the medal - and indeed the position in which he was standing on the podium - that the star wrestler had envisioned before landing for the Tokyo Games. It was a medal nonetheless; a bronze in what was the 27-year-old's first taste of the Olympics stage. On Saturday, Punia showed his class and stamped his authority, beating Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0 to win the 65kg freestyle bronze medal bout. "I am not happy. This is not the result I had set out to achieve. Winning an Olympic medal is no mean achievement but I can't jump with joy with bronze," he later said. If Punia erred on the side of caution in the semi-final against Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev, he switched to attack mode against Niyazbekov. P25
126 What was PR Sreejesh, the Indian team's goalkeeper, doing perched on top of the goalpost even as his colleagues celebrated wildly at the Oi Hockey Stadium? "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job," Sreejesh said, still sitting there. "Most of the time I am alone in my goal and he is my best buddy. When I concede a goal I tell him, 'this is not the way'. If a ball hits the outside of the post, I tell him, 'that's the way buddy!' So I am celebrating with my buddy." Sreejesh had every right to celebrate with his buddy. Together, they had endured a torrid last few minutes in India's bronze medal playoff against Germany. Even the clock was playing truant with India. In the final minute of the game, the clock was mistakenly not restarted on time. Consequently, a few seconds got added to the duration of the match. An animated Graham Reid, India's coach protested from the sidelines. In the midst of the chaos, Sreejesh stood like a rock. He had just deflected away two penalty corners, refusing a relentless Germany an equaliser in the dying stages. Now, another penalty corner came rolling. Gathering all his experience, he calmly punched away the drag flick and raised his arm in triumph to ring in the celebrations for what was Indian hockey's first Olympic medal in 41 years. The 33-year-old goalie from Kerala sprinted to hug his teammates, then took his place at the top of the post. "I just did not know what to do after we won. It was like years of frustration coming out at that moment," he said. No one in this team knows that frustration better than Sreejesh. He is the only surviving player from the time Indian hockey hit rock bottom-not even qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. In 2012, he was the reserve keeper in London when India finished last without a single win. In 2016, he was in the goal when India were beaten in the quarterfinals by Belgium. "You know it has come after almost 41 years,' Sreejesh said. "The losses have been painful but now with this win we are passing on a legacy to youngsters. They will know that we are an Olympic medallist, they will believe that they can win that hockey gold again." Sreejesh had been one of the stars of India's campaign in Tokyo, if not the decisive factor that gave India the medal. All through the Olympics he has dived, palmed, and kicked with uncanny reflexes to stave off goal-bound strikes. "This is where years of experience comes into play. A goalkeeper is like an old wine, the more you play the better you become," he said. "I have been playing for 21 years now and I have seen all the phases of a sportsperson." In every match leading up to here, Sreejesh has walked off the pitch with a grim expression on his face. Now he could not stop smiling, or cracking jokes. "Here comes my grandfather," he said, when he saw Reid walking towards him, drawing a laugh from the Australian who seldom laughs. After a series of grinning selfies, Sreejesh said, "now take a serious one." Why? "Don't know. I was serious for so many days."
127 Wrestler Bajrang Punia lost the men's freestyle 65kg bout to three-time world champion Haji Aliev in the semi-finals of Tokyo Olympics, but his family is still hoping that he will secure the bronze medal. Bajrang, who hails from Khuddan village in Jhajjar, began the day by defeating Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev and then pinned Iran's Morteza Cheka Ghiasi to reach the semi-finals. Bajrang's family, friends and well wishers turned up in large numbers to catch the high-voltage match in Sonepat where his parents are staying. After he faced defeat in the semi-finals, his father Balwan Singh was teary-eyed but people gathered there continued to cheer for Bajrang. The family was happy when he reached the semi-finals and everyone was jubilant. However, after Bajrang lost the bout, the mood changed. But Balwan said all was not lost and there's still hope for a bronze medal. Balwan said Bajrang told him that he will give his best to bring an Olympic medal. "Wins and losses are part of the game. I am hopeful that he will be back with a medal," he added.
128 A breathless Bajrang Punia slapped the mat in anger as Haji Aliyev escaped his grasp one last time and the 65kg freestyle wrestling semi-final came to an end. One of India's brightest chances for a gold medal had gone up in smoke. Just like some of India's other big medal hopefuls, Bajrang simply could not bring his best to the Olympic stage. Aliyev, the three-time world champion and Rio Games bronze medallist dominated the semi-final in the 65kg category for a 5-12 victory at the Makuhari Messi Hall. Each time Punia threatened to launch his trademark final flurry of attacks, Aliyev defended strongly and denied Punia the opening. The signs were ominous for the Indian from the start. He trailed the opening round 1-4. To make matters worse, Aliyev increased the gap to 8-1 in the middle of the second period. Aliyev had Punia's legs in a lock and twisted him for points. Punia just about escaped from a technical fall. His face was lined with worry. Aliyev was getting hold of Punia's legs repeatedly. As the seconds ticked away, Punia tried, a little too late, to get in a big throw. He locked in a head lock and looked for a four-point throw but Aliyev held his ground. With one minute and 20 secs left on the clock, Punia made it to 3-8 with a takedown. But Aliyev increased it to 9-3 in quick time with a step out. Ill at ease, Punia got another takedown and added two more points with less than 50 seconds left, enough time still for Punia to cover the deficit. After all, he had taken out Morteza Ghiasi Cheka of Iran by fall within the last few seconds in the quarter-finals. But Aliyev proved to be a tougher challenge. He effortlessly evaded Punia. This was the world No 2 wrestler, who has been on a roll in the last two seasons, winning medals at two world championships and a Asian Games gold. He walked off without speaking to anyone. "This is the Olympics, you have to be in a psychological battle. The referring was also poor but I don't want to make any excuses," said his coach Emzarios Shako Bentinidis. Asked about Bajrang's knee that he hurt during a bout last month, Bentinidis said, "his knee is fine." But the day's action was very unlike the way Punia usually goes about things. In both his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts, he got penalized for being too passive. In both bouts he struggled to find an opening for his attack. In the quarterfinal against Cheka, he was trailing 1-0 the entire bout before he turned a Cheka attack into a pin. It was a remarkable turnaround, but it also involved a little bit of luck. Punia, in his first Olympics, now has to try for a bronze, where he will meet the winner of the repechage. "It's like a final. He must get a medal. This is an important situation," said Bentinidis. "If you go to the final, you have an assured second place. But tomorrow, you have nothing to give away. You need to have double concentration." Aliyev will take on Japan's Takuto Otoguro in the final. Takuto defeated Russian world champion Gadzhimurad Rashidov in a gripping semifinal.
129 Putter drawn, Aditi Ashok drew her breath. Four days of being near the top of the leaderboard had come down to this-a birdie on the par-4 18th hole at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. The putter cut through the tense silence and connected softly, but a birdie it wasn't. Grimacing, Ashok made par. She knew an Olympic medal, a first for India in golf, had slipped out of her grasp. The golfing gods were not with me, said Ashok, after finishing with three-under 68 on the final day, but she gave it her all. "I got a really good lie off the tee, I hit the fairway finally and then I had a good club in. So it was a good number too. Only then I thought that, okay, I had a chance to make a birdie," said the 23-year-old. "There was bunker and water [hazard] on right but still I gave myself a birdie putt and that putt I think, I mean I wanted to hole it. I gave my best attempt; it just it's hard to force the issue when you're like 30 feet away." Ranked 200th in the world, Ashok stunned the competition that included multiple winners of LPGA titles, a seven-time winner on the Japan Tour, and Olympic medallists, to finish with 15-under 269. That was one stroke behind New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Japanese Mone Inami. Ko is a former world No.1 with 16 titles and had won silver in Rio 2016. Inami is a seven-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour. Inami won the play-off to take silver with gold medallist and world No.1 Nelly Korda of the USA ending a stroke ahead, on 17-under 267. Nelly's sister Jessica, winner of six titles on the LPGA Tour, finished tied 15th. Not many had expected her to be in this group, and that is why Ashok, sole second after three rounds, generated more interest among the leading pack than the others. Many in India were awake at 3am on a weekend to follow the final day. A storm was forecast and Ashok would have won silver if the final round was not completed, reducing it to a 54-hole tournament. Another day, another tournament, Ashok would have taken the fourth place finish, and even been happy with it. And though the illustrious list of India's fourth finishers at the Olympics increased by one on Saturday, it wasn't one that Ashok said she wanted to join. Inami, who zoomed into contention for gold with a brilliant final round of 65, had nine birdies but she dropped shots on the second, sixth and 18th holes. Ashok walked toe-to-toe with Korda and Ko in the final round. She got birdies on the fifth, sixth, eighth, 13th and 14th holes but bogeyed on the ninth and 11th. On a day when play was stopped for 45 minutes because of rain-the tee-off times were brought forward to get the round done before a tropical storm hit-Ashok and Lydia were in a close race for the bronze. The New Zealander dropped a shot on 16th but recovered with a birdie on the 17th. Ashok couldn't. "Even the 17th was perfect. I hit it exactly with the speed I wanted, the line I wanted. Maybe I made too many (birdies) through the four rounds. The golfing gods were like, okay, we're not going to give her this one. But no, I just tried my best," she said. Ashok's mother, Maheshwari carried her bags in Tokyo. In Rio, where she had two great rounds but finished 41st, it was her father Ashok Gudlamani. "It was an incredible experience," she said, of her parents walking the course at successive Olympics.
130 As a swarm of accolades, felicitations and awards pour in from across the country for Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, a petrol pump owner in Gujarat's Bharuch has come up with a unique idea to celebrate the historic win. Ayuub Pathan, the petrol pump owner, has decided to offer free petrol, up to Rs.501, to people who share their names with the javelin thrower who brought the first gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 for India. "It is our two-day scheme to honour him. We are entertaining all valid ID card-holding namesakes of Chopra," Pathan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Meanwhile, Chopra was the cynosure of all eyes at a grand felicitation ceremony in Delhi that was organised by the government on Monday for the all seven podium finishers at the Olympic as they returned home from Tokyo. Calling their journey an "incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence", Union sports minister Anurag Thakur presented the medal winners with mementos and shawls. Ever since Chopra became the second Indian to secure an individual gold medal in the history of Olympic Games with a stellar performance, the athlete from Haryana has been flooded with prizes and awards by several state governments and private organisations. Besides Karyana and Punjab governments announcing cash rewards worth crores and other honours, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash reward of Rs.1 crore for Chopra. Indian airliner IndiGo has announced a one-year unlimited free travel offer for Chopra, while Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, has promised a brand new XUV 700.
131 7 August 2021 - the date that will be etched in golden letters in the history of Indian athletics. The credit goes to javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with his powerful 87.58m throw, single-handedly outfoxing his opponents. Chopra is now the second Indian athlete after shooter Abhinav Bindra to have won an individual gold medal at the Olympic games. His feat certainly ended India's 121-year-old wait for an Olympic medal in athletics. Each and every Indian citizen watching Neeraj aim for gold would have surely erupted in joy. People showered praise on social media as the 23-year-old boy from Haryana did the unexpected in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra Group, made an announcement that he would gift Neeraj an XUV 700 for his remarkable achievement. A Twitter user asked Anand Mahindra "Xuv700 for him (Neeraj Chopra)." In reply, the Mahindra group chairman agreed to it and stated that it would be a personal gift from him to India's 'Golden Athlete'. Not just this, but he even tagged two of his company officials to keep the car ready for the gold medallist. "Yes indeed. It will be my personal privilege & honour to gift our Golden Athlete an XUV 7OO. @rajesh664 @vijaynakra. Keep one ready for him please," Anand Mahindra tweeted. While Neeraj won the gold, Czech Republic throwers Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vitezslav Vesely (85.44m) took the silver and bronze respectively. He came into the final as a medal contender after topping the qualification round on Wednesday with a stunning first-round throw of 86.59m. Just like in the qualification round three days back, Chopra began with a bang by sending the spear to a distance of 87.03m and then improved it to 87.58m, his best of the day which none in the field could match. His third throw was a poor 76.76m, he then fouled his next two attempts before a final effort of 84.24m. (With Agency Inputs)
132 When one spends the better part of a decade redefining the possible within a sport, the standards change. Good is no longer good enough. Sometimes, great isn't either. Simone Biles received a crash course on it five years ago in Rio. After winning three gold medals at the 2016 Olympics, Biles lost her balance midway through a set and won a bronze. She was pumped. Others weren't. "People were really upset," Biles had said. Fast forward to team finals in Tokyo on Tuesday, when the "demons" Biles has been grappling with for years proved to be too much. Burdened by what she described as the "weight of the world", the 24-year-old instead took herself out of competition. On Wednesday, she also withdrew from the individual all-around final at the Games. Attention will now focus on whether she will compete in her four remaining individual events. Biles's exit has also drawn attention to the mental health issues faced by athletes. "On a podium, people see athletes, others see machines... at the back of my mind, I see a human being with social challenges as well," says Bernard Ouma, who coaches Kenyan runner Timothy Cheruiyot. P19
133 What was the first thing on Mirabai Chanu's mind after winning the silver medal? Home. It has been more than a year since she has visited her parents and her siblings in the house where she grew up in Nongpok Kakching near Imphal. "I just want to go home first. I have not been home for close to two years. Even when I have gone it's been for a very brief period," Chanu told reporters after her win. "It has been a struggle of five years. I have only thought of training and competition." During the lockdown last year, she spent that entire period- 68 days - at the National Sports Institute in Patiala, where India's elite weightlifters train. Since the weightlifting hall had been closed during that time, she could not even train, except to do basic exercises in her room. It took her two months to return to shape when the national camp finally reopened. Despite these interruptions and the pandemic scare, Chanu remained in training in Patiala, speaking to her mother every day over video calls. On the day of the competition, Chanu said she woke up with a strong feeling that she would win. "I was thinking of the podium and the gold medal. I was visualising how I would stand on the podium and what would be the feeling like. All that made me positive," she said. "I wanted to go there and put all that I have been doing in training. If I could do that, I know I would win a medal, I told myself. It was exactly what happened. Chanu's lifts during the event were executed with flawless technique and timing. "I was feeling good from the start today and I have worked on my snatch and after the second lift in clean and jerk I was relieved that I will get the silver." Chanu has less than two days remaining in the Games Village - Covid protocols demand that all athletes leave Tokyo 48 hours after the completion of their event, but the diminutive lifter would like to make the most of that time, starting with a welcome pizza after spending months eating only according to her strict nutritional plan. "I would like to have a party but the Village rules are very strict," she said. "Maybe I can have a pizza." On Friday, a day before the competition, Chanu had cramps from her periods but she fought through it. "She was in a bit of pain but she is so strong that it doesn't matter," said her coach Vijay Sharma. "She was fixed on her target." The 26-year-old's calm, happy demeanor on the biggest stage for her sport, where athletes are usually the most nervous they have ever been in their lives, was one of the remarkable aspects of Chanu's performance. "I realised after the Rio Olympics that I needed to clear my mind and worked with a psychologist," Chanu said. "I was so sad after losing in Rio and I asked myself why did it happen to me? I understood it was my first Olympics and the pressure was different. So, I had to prepare better for Tokyo. I think what I achieved today is because of that failure in Rio. I covered all the bases here in Tokyo." On that journey, Sharma was a constant companion. "We made changes to her training and it started showing results from the 2017 World Championships. As she won medals at international events it kept showing us that we are on the right path. I have not seen a harder working and more disciplined trainee." Her teammates in Patiala too said that Chanu inspires them with her single-minded focus to the sport. "She doesn't take a break. She is always on time, and we have never seen her taking a cheat day," said 18-year-old Jeremy Lalrinnunga, the youth Olympic gold medallist from Manipur. "We are so happy for her."
134 She was in a daze, her face reddened from the pounding Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli had subjected her to in the 69kg semi-final loss. Lovlina Borgohain rushed past the waiting media, relenting only after coach Raffaele Bergamasco asked her to. "Mujhe srif bronze hi milta hai, pata nahin kyun. Mujhe gold jitna tha ( I always end up with bronze, I don't know why. I wanted to win gold)," the 23-year-old said, almost pleading. Her hopes to become the first Indian boxer in an Olympics final had just been dashed by a superior rival. It took a while for her to switch off from her bout against a powerful rival. She received standing counts in the first and third rounds, lost a point for holding in the second, eventually losing 0-5. Surmeneli, world champion and top seed unleashed powerful jabs, straight punches and right hooks. Borgohain, though taller, made the mistake of trying to box from close, her tactic to stick to long range attacks collapsing early. She is only the third Indian boxing medallist. Mary Kom and Vijender Singh too won bronze. Borgohain spoke of the sacrifices she and her family had made. "It is not a four-year struggle but 12 years since I started boxing." "All these years I have stayed away from my family. I was only obsessed about winning an Olympic gold. I have never eaten junk, always used to be worried if I eat anything then will it affect my fight. I have not travelled anywhere except for tournaments. I want to take a break for some months." The boxer from Golaghat, Assam was happy to know a road has been finally built to her village. She thanked Sandhya Gurung, a former boxer from Sikkim who helped a young Borgohain overcome her fear of punches.
135 What do you do if you are trailing nine points to two, the clock has a little over a minute-and-a-half left on it, and you are fighting the match of your life - a match that will decide if you become only the second Indian wrestler to get a shot at an Olympic gold medal? You win by the grandest way possible in the sport - a fall. In what was a constantly shifting, roiling, furious battle, Ravi Dahiya, 23, exploded back from the brink of defeat to pin his opponent, Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev, in the 57kg category Freestyle wrestling semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics. It has been a sensational run so far for Dahiya, the reigning Asian champion for the second successive year, who has now won every bout at the Olympics by either technical superiority (where a wrestler opens up a 10-point difference) or, in this case, a fall (where a wrestler holds both of the opponent's shoulders on the mat simultaneously). Dahiya will face the reigning world champion, Russian Zavur Uguev, in the final on Thursday. The wrestler from Haryana had lost to Uguev in the 2019 World Championship semi-finals, eventually winning a bronze in that tournament. After the nature of Wednesday's win, anything's possible. "He was just one attack away from losing," said Anil Mann, the wrestling coach who was by the mat for Dahiya's fight. "We told him to be very patient, to focus and attack because in such situations a trailing wrestler generally gets puzzled, starts looking at the clock and makes mistakes." Dahiya himself left the wrestling arena in Makuhari Messe - a convention centre outside of Tokyo in Chiba city - looking displeased. "I had no business conceding that lead against Sanayev. I am not happy with it," Dahiya told PTI. "I have beaten Sanayev twice before, so I knew I can pull it off despite trailing by a huge margin. I was assured inside, but I should not have made it a close fight." Dahiya is only the fifth Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal. KD Jadhav became India's first individual Olympic medallist when he won bronze during the 1952 Helsinki Games. It took 56 years for the next one - Sushil Kumar's bronze in 2008 - but India can now boast of a medal in every edition of the Games since. In 2012, Kumar lost in the final to get silver, becoming India's first individual double Olympic medallist (PV Sindhu joined the ranks with a bronze in badminton at Tokyo 2020). In the same edition, Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze. In 2016, it was Sakshi Malik with a bronze. Dahiya, who is from a village called Nahri in Sonepat, one of the cradles of Indian wrestling, idolised Kumar as a wrestler. He joined the wrestling school in Delhi's Chhatrasal stadium, where Kumar trained, in 2008, after the Beijing bronze. Kumar is now in jail on a murder charge for the death of a wrestler who was assaulted inside the stadium. On the Olympic stage, it's the wrestlers from Chhatrasal who have made all the breakthroughs. Kumar and Dutt trained together there from when they were children. Now there's Dahiya from the Delhi school, but also Deepak Punia, who lost his 86kg semi-final a few minutes after Dahiya's bout, steamrolled by American David Taylor. Punia is still in contention for a bronze through repechage. India's most dominant male wrestler now, Bajrang Punia, whose campaign begins on August 6, is also from Chhatrasal. In Dahiya's semi-final, only the first two minutes of the bout did not fly by in a frenzy of attacks. At this stage, Sanayev was up by a single point, awarded against Dahiya for passivity. Sanayev then shot for the legs, and Dahiya defended by moving his legs away and leaning into his opponent. Dahiya got an underhand grip, and did something interesting - with a sudden burst of power and a big change in direction, he turned Sanayev. But Dahiya lost his grip and could not capitalise on it. As soon as the second half started, Sanayev shot for the legs again and got a solid grip. A counter-attacking move slipped away from Dahiya, and suddenly the Kazakh had a dangerous hold from behind - the "fitley" or leg lace, the same move that got Dutt his medal in 2012. With this lock in place, Sanayev could make Dahiya rotate at will, and almost won the bout on technical superiority, racing on to nine points, before the Indian wrestler dug deep and Sanayev could not move him anymore. Now, with nothing to lose, Dahiya went for broke - attacking furiously without a pause, with little over a minute and a half left on the clock. It paid off, the score moving up to 5-9 but with less than a minute left, Dahiya had to find something big. And he did. He shot for Sanayev's legs, who defended by dropping to the knees. At this point, perhaps remembering how he got his first score of the bout, Dahiya, with just a single arm hooked under Sanayev's arm, attempted a mighty, twisting heave. Sanayev was on his back - in a flash, Dahiya had his full bodyweight on him, with a fierce headlock in place. Sanayev resisted, painfully, even biting down on Dahiya's arm, but there was no let up. Dahiya had the pin and a chance to do what no Indian wrestler, despite the country's rich culture of wrestling, has managed to do before. Win an Olympic gold. "I still have some unfinished business to do," Dahiya said. "I came with a target here and that is not complete yet."
136 at a time when India became the most dominant team in hockey. His goal scoring ability was phenomenal and the opposition defenders were often made to look like sitting ducks in front of this wizard from India. Chand joined the Indian Army at the age of 16 and took up hockey while he was still enrolled. Since Dhyan Singh used to practice a lot during the night, he was given the nickname "Chand" by his fellow players; his practice sessions at night invariably coincided with the coming out of the moon. 'Chand' means moon in Hindi. After India's first match at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, people watching other sporting events thronged to the hockey stadium. A German newspaper carried a banner headline: 'The Olympic complex now has a magic show too.' The whole city of Berlin had posters: "Visit the hockey stadium to watch the Indian magician Dhyan Chand in action". Australian great Don Bradman met Dhyan Chand at Adelaide in 1935. After watching him play, Bradman remarked, "He scores goals like runs in cricket". Dhyan Chand has scored over 400 goals in his career spanning 22 years (1926-48). Dhyan Chand is arguably the greatest sportsperson that India has ever produced. It is not surprising that the Government decided to rename the Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honour after him.
137 With weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu's silver medal, India got its first win in the Tokyo Olympics. PV Sindhu's bronze has given India a second medal. And boxer Lovlina Borgohain's success assured India of a third medal. And while India remains in contention for other medals, there is a lesson in Ms Chanu and Ms Borgohain's success. The former is from Manipur (as is Mary Kom, a previous Olympic winner who lost out narrowly this time around) and Ms Borgohain is from Assam. The lesson is not just how the Northeast is a potential hub for sporting excellence - it is indeed and must be developed - but how diversity and inclusion helps. To be sure, the primary identity that matters in the case of Ms Chanu, Ms Kom and Ms Borgohain is that they are all champions. It would also be inaccurate, as is often done, to group all those from different states of the Northeast into one category when they come from distinct political, social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural traditions. But there is little doubt that identity has been a basis of discrimination and exclusion for those from the Northeast, reflected in dismal representation across all professional spheres. This has not just deprived people of opportunities and perpetuated structural injustice, but also left those spheres poorer. Diversity and inclusion are sources of strength. Having individuals from distinct regions (and castes, tribes, religions) across the distinct worlds of, say, business, media, entertainment, allows a country to not just give a sense of belonging to all, but actually leverage talent. Aviation and hospitality are just two small examples of areas where many from the Northeast have made a mark. But ensuring opportunities in all other spheres for those who have been on the margins is not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. Sport has shown the way.
138 Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu gave India its first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020. She won the silver medal in the women's 49 kg category. Since her win, people are taking to various social media platforms to share different kinds of posts. Among them, a share by the athlete herself has now won people's hearts. The post details how she felt after meeting her family after two years. There is a possibility that her post will win you over too. "This feeling of meeting my family after a long span of 2 years is beyond words. I'm grateful to each one of you for showing faith in me and supporting me. Thank you Ema and baba for all the sacrifices you made for me to reach at this level," Mirabai Chanu wrote. Her post is complete with two images of her with her family members. Take a look at the post: Since being shared, the post has gathered more than 56,000 likes and the numbers are quickly increasing. People, other than talking about her heartening post, also expressed their reactions on her win. "You're one of the power-packed women of India! Enjoy the moment with your dear ones. Wish you reach greater heights," wrote a Twitter user. "Family is one of the boosting factors behind every successful champion. Congratulations @mirabai_chanu and whole family on winning silver medal and making India proud," shared another. "Simplicity," posted a third. What are your thoughts on the post shared by Mirabai Chanu?
139 It takes courage to step into an arena and compete at the highest level. It takes courage to return to that arena five years later, after having won gold medals and having already demonstrated that you have no further worlds to conquer. It takes courage to recognize the tension between the mind and the body in that arena. It takes courage to accept one's limits. It takes courage to listen to an inner voice telling you that something must be wrong if you can no longer make sense of spatial dimensions, whether you are up or down, and that it is necessary to pause. It takes courage to admit a mental block and not keep rushing at it in the hope of crushing it. It takes courage to take decisions day by day. It takes courage to return once more to the same arena, give one's best performance, and be among the top three in your chosen field at the end of the day. Simone Biles was a terrific gymnast before she went to Tokyo. She had won gold medals at Rio and was described as the greatest of all time in a sport that has seen many greats, like Ludmilla Tourischeva, Olga Korbut, Nadia Comeneci, and Mary Lou Retton. Excellence in gymnastics is more of a subjective measure than in many other sports, since no goals are scored, you don't swim faster than others, nor jump higher or lift bigger weights. There are medals to compare, but these are given on the basis of the aesthetic sense and yardsticks of judges. Biles carried not only the expectations of her country, but other heavier burdens as well, including the horrendous experience of being abused by the disgraced and convicted former doctor of the US gymnastics team, Larry Nassar. When she spoke of the "twisties" she experienced, gymnasts understood; they know and dread the phenomenon when they are mid-air and can no longer tell whether they are up or down, and could crash-land and suffer serious injury. But people who probably cannot touch their own toes or do ten sit-ups called her a "softie". The British TV host Piers Morgan, who seems to have a particular problem with women of ethnic minorities (Biles, Meghan Markle, or Naomi Osaka), said, "There is nothing remotely courageous, heroic or inspiring about quitting," conveniently forgetting how he had stormed off a TV set when his co-presenter Alex Beresford called him out for his bullying. That swagger is a problem. Compare Morgan's response with what happened when tennis ace Novak Djokovic expressed his frustration after losing at the Olympics. He was looking to achieve a Golden Slam this year-winning the Olympic gold on top of four major singles titles. He has won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, and the US Open starts later this month. But he failed in Tokyo. He trashed his racket and then said he had a shoulder injury. He skipped the Olympic play-off for the bronze medal, leaving his partner Nina Stojanovic in the lurch and depriving her of a medal. But there hasn't been the kind of criticism of Djokovic as there has been of Biles. To be sure, Djokovic's injury may be serious (I hope not), and some stars set exacting standards, and when they lose their temper, they are angry with themselves. Think of John McEnroe, known for his on-court tantrums. To win, you play hard. Several American Football coaches have been credited with the aphorism that winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. But that's not the Olympic spirit. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of modern Olympics, had said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." Athletes are under enormous pressure to win. That pressure, tennis star Billie Jean King has noted, is a privilege, a point Djokovic too made last week before his meltdown. It takes grace to turn that pressure into real courage, to paraphrase Ernest Hemingway. By placing her mental health first and then practising quietly at a suburban gym to regain her sure-footedness, Biles returned to the arena not knowing what would follow. She then showed she was in charge and did things because she wanted to and not because she had to. She knew the pressure; she showed grace; we saw her courage. The Tokyo Olympiad will be known not only for its unusual setting, with performances in empty stadia, but also for the women who have stared back and asserted their identity. Besides Naomi Osaka, who returned centre-stage after stepping aside following the French Open, and Simone Biles, who picked up another medal, there are the German women gymnasts who wore full-body unitards, taking a stand against sexualization of the sport, and the Norwegian women's beach handball team, which refused to wear skimpy bikinis, choosing shorts instead. Bizarrely, the European Handball Federation fined them; the international federation couldn't explain why its rules stated that women must wear bikini bottoms "with a close fit and cut on an upward angle towards the top of the leg". How such guidelines help anyone's performance is a mystery. By saying 'no' to absurd expectations, these women have laid down the rules that the world must follow. Salil Tripathi is a writer based in New York. Read Salil's previous Mint columns at
140 It's pouring rewards for Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after he secured India's second individual gold in Olympic history with a stellar performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games. The athlete from Haryana has been honoured by several state governments and private organisations for his achievement. Haryana chief minister ML Khattar said on Saturday that Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs.6 crore. Khattar also announced that the 23-year-old will be made head of the upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula. "As per our sports policy, Neeraj Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs.six crore, a Class-I job and a piece of plot of land at concessional rates, Khattar said. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced a special cash reward of Rs.2 crore for Chopra. Singh said that it was a proud moment for India and all Punjabis, since the family of Chopra, traces its roots to Punjab. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash reward of Rs.one crore for Chopra. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings also announced a reward of Rs.one crore for the athlete. "As a mark of appreciation and honour on his stellar achievement, CSK is awarding Rs. 1 Crore to Neeraj Chopra," the CSK said in a statement. Indian airliner IndiGo has announced that it will offer unlimited free travel for one year to Chopra. The offer is applicable from August 8, 2021 till August 7, 2022. In a statement, Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights." Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, has announced to give a brand new XUV 700 to Chopra when he returns to India. Realty firm Elan group Chairman Rakesh Kapoor has announced a Rs.25 lakh cash award for Chopra, reports news agency PTI. The Manipur government has announced to award Chopra Rs.one crore. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said, "On this historic day where India bagged an Olympic Gold medal in an athletic event after 100 years, the Manipur State Cabinet has decided to honour the Javelin throw Gold medalist @Neeraj_chopra1 by extending a reward of Rs.1 Crore. Congratulations on this historic win, Neeraj."
141 Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal at the recent Tokyo Olympics, once said that he would like Akshay Kumar to play him in a biopic. However, in an interesting turn of events, Akshay now wants Neeraj to portray him in a film based on his life. In an interview, reacting to Neeraj's suggestion, Akshay was quoted by The Quint as saying, "I would say Neeraj Chopra is a very good-looking guy. Agar mera koi biopic karega toh woh kar sakta hai (If a biopic about me is made some day, he should play me in the film)." Earlier, in 2018, Neeraj told the website that it would be 'great' if a film was made on his life, and said that he would want either Akshay or Randeep Hooda to play him. After Neeraj won an Olympic gold medal, meme-makers dug up an old picture of Akshay holding a stick and flooded the internet with memes suggesting that the actor was already getting ready to play the athlete in a film. Reacting to the viral memes, Akshay said, "I saw that meme where I am holding a stick in my hand. It's from my first film Saugandh. People started saying, 'Arre, abhi se practice chalu ho gayi! (He has already started practicing for Chopra's biopic)'. I found that very funny." Meanwhile, Neeraj now seems to have changed his mind about a biopic. After his Olympic win, he told Hindustan Times in an interview, "Don't make a biopic on me yet. I'm still playing (the sport), and would like to continue doing so. I believe there are more stories to be added to my journey, and main chahta hun aur medal leke aaun. Jab tak career chal raha hai tab tak ruk jana chahiye (I want to win more medals. Until I am still playing, the biopic should be on hold). I want to focus on my game. I'd like it if a biopic is made on me, but after my journey is over and I retire from sports!" In the past, Akshay has played a number of roles inspired by real-life characters, in films such as PadMan, Rustom and Kesari. Currently, he is gearing up for the release of the espionage thriller BellBottom, in which he plays an undercover agent on a mission to rescue hostages from a hijacked plane. The film, which also stars Lara Dutta, Vaani Kapoor and Huma Qureshi, is slated for a theatrical release on August 19. Akshay also has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including Prithviraj, Sooryavanshi, Bachchan Pandey, Raksha Bandhan, Ram Setu and Atrangi Re.
142 It was just two days. People were elated on Saturday at Mirabai Chanu's fantastic performance and at Saurabh Chaudhary ranking first in the qualification round of the 10m air pistol. Neither of these things--a medal on the first day and winning the qualification round--had ever happened in India's Olympic history, so we had started well. One day later, I saw a lot of anger directed at our athletes and the allegation that they always buckle under pressure. On one side, I am privileged to be part of the sport from which people expect so much that even a small lapse is not ignored. But at the same time, I also know that because the sport is so technical not everyone is aware of what is happening. You see shooters standing and you think all they are doing is inserting a pellet and firing. You don't see the storm in their heads and how they are manoeuvring through it. That is where the real action is happening. What you know is the shooter's past performance and you are thinking he/she will, in keeping with the law of averages, emulate that on the given day. That's now how it happens. (Read full coverage of Tokyo Olympics 2020) How many actually know that this was the first time Saurabh, who is just 19, faced the full might of the best senior shooters in the world? The country was expecting Saurabh to do well because he had won World Cup medals but let's put this out there --- he was facing every other top senior player in the world for the first time. In the Asian Games he did beat South Korea's Jin Jong-Oh, who is a four-time Olympic gold medallist, but the rest of the world wasn't there. Like it wasn't in most of the World Cups during these years. The Chinese never came, for example, no one saw Pang Wei (who won bronze in the 10m air pistol in Tokyo) after Rio. Jin Jong-oh never did World Cups. All we knew was that 584-589 is the range Saurabh has been in and we can expect that. And he delivered. And to all those who think only Indian shooters can't handle pressure, here's some information: where was South Korea in pistol shooting at the Olympics? Jin Jong-oh didn't qualify for the finals and he is like the Usain Bolt of shooting. Saurabh did. An Indian shooter was dealt the worst of the cards by fate, dealt with the trauma of a broken pistol, lost 17-18 minutes, and ended up shooting 44 shots in mere 36 minutes. That's like an asking rate of 10 runs per over for at least 30 overs of your chase in a game of 50-over cricket (as she faced a broken pistol on her 15th shot out of a 60-shot match). Still, she got close. So close that if she had an inner 10 as her last shot, she would have been in the finals and India would have praised her saying she has nerves of steel! I think what Manu Bhaker did was amazing, not because of some number on the score sheet but because of her effort. On to Saurabh. His grouping (the area where shots hit) was low in the final, meaning his gun was not zeroed properly during the sighters. It had nothing to do with the quality of his shooting but how zeroing of the gun works. A good grouping can choose a very wrong spot on the target. He could not make up for the initial loss of points because everybody else was shooting at the top of the game and he never got that window to cover up. It happens. He lost to good players and not to bad performance. An athlete can live with that, and so should we. Looking forward, I hope the debutants emerge stronger from this experience. This is also the first time some of them are facing criticism. They have the talent and a much better start than we had in our day. Till now, their hard work and talent has paid off. But they need to work harder and smarter now. Among the things they can look at is mental toughness. Trainings should feel like matches and matches should feel like training. Simulation trainings and what-if scenarios need to find place in their trainings. Shooters like Manu should be able to trust their spare pistol because they have practised on it to get comfortable. I am hopeful about the mixed events. These juniors have felt the full might of the pressure already and will be ready. Yes, it will be tough because we don't know what the Chinese, Koreans and Russian will do but if they can perform to their potential, we should get a medal, or medals. (Heena Sidhu is the first Indian pistol shooter to be ranked world No.1, a world record holder in the 10m air pistol and the first from India to win a World Cup gold)
143 Ankita Konwar has corrected a Twitter user after he called her Mrs Milind Soman. The fitness enthusiast, on Tuesday morning, had highlighted racism in India after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver medal win at the ongoing Olympics Games in Tokyo. Taking to Twitter, Ankita Konwar had tweeted, "If you're from Northeast India, you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as 'chinky' 'Chinese' 'Nepali' or a new addition 'corona'. India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience. #Hypocrites." The tweet received several reactions from her followers. One user said, "Not sure if I should like this message as I am ashamed of this fact, discrimination is part of our culture," to which Ankita said, "Realising it actually covers the basics." "Yes in general, you are right. But there are lot of us here who think everyone from Nagaland to Mumbai & from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is a proud Indian irrespective of their religion, caste & colour. Cheers," another user said. "And that's how we become a country! (heart emoji)." However, a user was disappointed with Ankita's tweet. The man tweeted, "Very negative approach........ at least not expected from Mrs Milind." Ankita responded, "I'm Ankita Konwar." Milind and Ankita got married in 2018 in Mumbai. In April, the couple celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Sharing a picture of them together, Milind had captioned the post, "3 years!!! Happy anniversary @ankita_earthy Still seems like yesterday this is the smile that warms my heart, this is the sweet heart that makes me smile.."
144 The fifth day of the Monsoon session of the Parliament witnessed stormy scenes today after the Opposition raised slogans and placards on the Pegasus snooping row and farmers' issue. While Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Tuesday, Rajya Sabha has resumed functioning at 3 pm. The Upper House was adjourned for the third time on Monday. Earlier, it was adjourned till 12 noon and again till 2 pm. Soon after the resumption of House, the opposition parties created ruckus over the issue of the 'Pegasus Project' report and demanded a discussion on the matter. Amid the Pegasus spyware controversy, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that West Bengal has formed a commission to investigate the matter.The announcement was made by Banerjee before her scheduled visit to Delhi to meet the Opposition leaders including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.Briefing media persons, the chief minister said, "Through Pegasus spyware, everyone including the judiciary and civic society have been under surveillance. We expected that during the Parliament session, the Centre will investigate the matter under the Supreme Court's supervision but they did not. West Bengal is the first state to initiate a commission of inquiry." The Opposition has alleged that names of several Indian politicians, journalists, lawyers, and activists have appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware. This comes following reports published in The Wire. The members of both the House paid tribute to the brave hearts of the Kargil war on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. They also congratulated weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for winning a silver medal at Tokyo Olympics.
145 Proving that the future is female, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu left Indians swelling with pride as she cinched a silver medal in weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and inspired not only sports persons but also fitness enthusiasts including actor Tiger Shroff. Making jaws drop at this gym this Sunday, Tiger laid powerlifting goals during his cardio workout by weightlifting 140 kgs and performing barbell front squats after being inspired by Mirabai Chanu's historic win. Taking to his social media handle, the Bollywood hunk gave fans a glimpse of his robust workout as he gushed over the silver medal champion. The video featured him with his back to the camera, donning a pale blue hoodie that as held at the waist with a belt and teamed it with a pair of black tights. Standing barefoot before a mirror as he sweat it out, Tiger kept his feet shoulder-width apart in front of a racked bar. With a barbell placed on his collar bone, Tiger grasped the bar with his hands and kept his wrists facing forward, palms facing upwards to allow his elbows to lift forward. Bracing his core, he pushed his hips back, bent his knees and squat back until his thighs were parallel to the floor. This was followed by keeping his glutes and core engaged and pushing through his heels to stand back up and repeat the same movement for a few sets. He shared in the caption, "140 kgs and counting.So so inspired to get stronger and go beyond my limits thanks to #mirabaichanu what a performance! go team india! #tokyoolympics (sic)." Benefits: Barbell front squats help athletes improve quad strength and are a staple in Olympic weightlifting. This cardio exercise not only builds muscles and burns body fat but also improves heart health, strengthens bones and joints and reduces injury risk. It boosts metabolism, staves off disease, regulates insulin and lowers inflammation. Additionally, this workout helps in improving posture, sleep, mood, endurance, mobility and energy levels.
146 The emerging backstory of Olympic diving champion Quan Hongchan, 14, and her disarming candour after winning the gold medal is being hailed as both inspiring and endearing. China's youngest athlete at the Tokyo Games, Quan scorched the scoresheet in the individual 10m platform final on Thursday, drowning the competition with three perfect 10s for an overall score of 466.20, which is being described as sensational. Barely into diving for seven years and a relative unknown until Thursday, the teenager is now a household name in China - her story is already the stuff of Chinese sporting legends. Quan is likely to be showered with gifts, money, free passes to zoos and amusement parks - neither of which she has visited until now - and lifetime supplies of her favourite "Latiao", a local spicy snack in China made of wheat flour and chilli. Quan is from a farmer's family in a town in south China's economic powerhouse, Guangdong province. Reports on her in Chinese domestic and social media - where the teenager, unlike in the pool, has made quite a splash in the past couple of days - say that she was discovered by a talent scout while practising diving at school in 2014. If her dives won the medal, her post-win media interaction won hearts. "It seems there is no difference between the Olympics and national competitions. My coach told me to relax and don't be nervous before the Games," she was quoted as saying by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) at the post-win media interaction in Tokyo. The inspiration behind her impulse to dive, as it turns out, wasn't exactly lofty - she wanted to bunk school. "I feel like I was cheated into starting diving. It's mainly because I don't like to go to school, and my grades are poor, but it feels good to dive," Quan said. When asked about her secrets in being able to dive literally without a ripple on the water, Quan said: "I don't know, I haven't compared myself to dumplings!" What broke the Chinese internet and possibly millions of hearts was when Quan spoke about her ill mother, dedicating the win to her. "My mother has been in hospital several times," Quan told The Paper, a Chinese digital newspaper. "The treatment costs a lot. I feel like I have to earn money to send it home to mom. Mom is ill. I want to make a lot of money, to treat her, and cure her completely." Quan is likely to get substantial support from Chinese netizens in her endeavour. Interestingly, her compatriot Chen Yuxi who won the silver in the same event is only 15. Australia's Melissa Wu, 29, whose father is of Chinese origin, took the bronze in the event. Wu, in fact, had won the silver medal for synchronised diving at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
147 What was PR Sreejesh, the Indian team's goalkeeper, doing perched on top of the goalpost even as his colleagues celebrated wildly at the Oi Hockey Stadium? "A goalkeeper's is a lonely job," Sreejesh said, still sitting there. "Most of the time I am alone in my goal and he is my best buddy. When I concede a goal I tell him, 'this is not the way'. If a ball hits the outside of the post, I tell him, 'that's the way buddy!' So I am celebrating with my buddy." Sreejesh had every right to celebrate with his buddy. Together, they had endured a torrid last few minutes in India's bronze medal play-off against Germany. Even the clock was playing truant with India. In the final minute of the game, the clock was mistakenly not restarted on time. Consequently, a few seconds got added to the duration of the match. An animated Graham Reid, India's coach protested from the sidelines. In the midst of the chaos, Sreejesh stood like a rock. He had just deflected away two penalty corners, refusing a relentless Germany an equaliser in the dying stages. Now, another penalty corner came rolling. Gathering all his experience, he calmly punched away the drag flick and raised his arm in triumph to ring in the celebrations for what was Indian hockey's first Olympic medal in 41 years. The 33-year-old goalie from Kerala sprinted to hug his teammates, then took his place at the top of the post. "I did not know what to do after we won. It was like years of frustration coming out at that moment," he said. No one in this team knows that frustration better than Sreejesh. He is the only surviving player from the time Indian hockey hit rock bottom-not even qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. In 2012, he was the reserve keeper in London when India finished last without a single win. In 2016, he was in the goal when India were beaten in the quarterfinals by Belgium. "You know it has come after almost 41 years," Sreejesh said. "The losses have been painful but now with this win we are passing on a legacy to youngsters. They will know that we are an Olympic medallist, they will believe that they can win that hockey gold again." Sreejesh had been one of the stars of India's campaign in Tokyo, if not the decisive factor that gave India the medal. All through he has dived, palmed, and kicked with uncanny reflexes to stave off goal-bound strikes. "This is where years of experience comes into play. A goalkeeper is like an old wine, the more you play the better you become," he said. "I have been playing for 21 years now and I have seen all the phases of a sportsperson." In every match leading up to here, Sreejesh has walked off the pitch with a grim face. Now he could not stop smiling, or cracking jokes. "Here comes my grandfather," he said, when he saw Reid walking towards him, drawing a laugh from the Australian who seldom laughs. After a series of grinning selfies, Sreejesh said, "now take a serious one." Why? "Don't know. I was serious for so many days."
148 Sportsperson Neelu Mishra from Varanasi, who has won 51 national and 28 international medals in athletics, is elated with the country's performance at recent Tokyo Olympics. With an exceptional journey, Mishra has inspired film maker Manoj Tiwari to direct her biopic. The 49-year-old athlete says, "The director, who had earlier made P se Pyaar F Se Faraar based on a javelin player, has come down to sign a contract with me for the biopic. Scripting is on and now they are zeroing on an actor who can essay my role as mine is a sports journey of a fat to fit so it needs a lot of transformation." She feels Alia Bhatt, Taapsee Pannu, Anushka Sharma or any newcomer can play her character. "Initially I was 54 kgs which reached to 89 kgs due to illness and then reduced to 62 kgs." Giving an insight of her journey she says, "I belong to Basti and before marriage (1995), I played 12 nationals and my record for inter-university in UP of 100 m in 12 seconds is still unbroken. Then, I left sports and got busy with my family, son and government job. After miscarriage, I developed medical conditions and nearly had a kidney failure, sugar, BP, asthma with heart and intestine problem." Warned by doctors, in 2008, she realised that she really wants to be back on track. "In three months, I made a turnaround. In January 2009, I bagged gold medal in national game (35 plus age category) held at Hissar and in July won bronze medal in World Masters Athletic Championship, Finland." Currently, she plays in 45 plus category and from next year will play 50 plus. She has won 79 medals and feels had lockdown not happened the tally today would have clocked 100. She last won 2 gold and 1 silver in Imphal (2020), while in Malaysia (2019) she bagged a gold medal. Mishra inspired many in the city too. "I started my club and soon girls and boys started joining in, even from Naxalite area. Many of them have won medals, got government job and some had opened academy and even become coach. It was tough as I had to convince family and answer patriarchal society, but I had to do it," says the Rani Laxmibai awardee. Elated with the India's performance in Olympic she says, "I am very happy that men did well but happier that girls have made us so proud. Being a sportsperson, I know besides sports they have to put up a fight in every stage of life. The medal haul will be an inspiration for female sportsperson and parents." Mishra is working hard for national championship to be held later this year and the Asian and World Championship next year.
149 Savitri Devi was weeping with joy, but saying that her grandson is yet to fulfil his promise. "Chora bol ke gaya hai gold laake dega (he's promised to bring me a gold medal from Tokyo)," she said. As Ravi Dahiya spectacularly turned around the 57kg freestyle semi-final against Nurislam Sanayev in Tokyo on Wednesday, Savitri looked the most excited in the family home in Nahri village in Haryana's Sonepat district. The family's been through a lot for Monu (Dahiya), so this feels good, she said, as neighbours came over to congratulate them. Dahiya picked up wrestling when he was six. "I enrolled him at Chhatrasal akhada (in west Delhi). Before that, he would train in the farm fields," said his father Rakesh. A former wrestler who gave up the sport because money was scarce, Rakesh farms on the family's one-acre plot. Dahiya's first coach was Raj, said Rakesh, suffixing his name with "pehelwan (wrestler)." The wrestling centre at Chhatrasal stadium has produced a number of internationals, of whom the most famous are double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, and Yogeshwar Dutt, who won bronze in London. Dahiya's younger brother Pankaj is also training to be a Greco-Roman wrestler at Chhatrasal stadium. "Coach Satpal had told me that Ravi would make India proud," said Rakesh, referring to Satpal Singh who won a wrestling gold in the 1982 Asian Games and bronze in 1974. A famous coach who runs the centre at Chhatrasal, Singh is also Sushil Kumar's father-in-law. So despite facing a financial crunch, Rakesh sent his son to train there. It meant he would travel for an hour every day for the next 10 years to give his son milk and fruits, which are an important part of a wrestler's diet. On Wednesday, Dahiya became the first Indian since Sushil Kumar in London 2012 to make a wrestling final at the Olympics. Sushil (he is now in jail for alleged murder) and Dutt are Dahiya's wrestling heroes, said Darshan Lall, a former wrestler who is also a vice-president at the Wrestling Federation of India. "Sushil has played a big role in shaping Ravi's career. He was always very bright as a young trainee who had the hunger to reach at the top. I was not surprised the way he played the semi-final bout. It is his natural game. He likes to attack and did not come under big-stage pressure. He is going to win the final and get India a gold medal," said Lall. Should that happen, it would be the most glorious chapter in the history of this village of 15,000 people. Dahiya is the third Olympian from Nahri after Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles) and Amit Dahiya (London 2012). But he's the first medallist.
150 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok carded a three-under 67 in the third round to hold on to the second position and remain in strong contention for the country's maiden Olympic medal in the sport on Friday. Aditi was 12-under 201 after three rounds and is the sole golfer in second position, three strokes adrift of leader Nelly Korda of USA who carded a two-under 69 in the penultimate round. With the threat of a tropical storm brewing, organisers have brought tee times forward on Saturday morning in the hope of completing the final round. If the round is unable to be completed, the tournament will revert to the 54-hole results. Four players -- New Zealand's Lydia Ko (66), Australia's Hannah Green (67), Demark's Kristine Pederson (70) and Japan's Mone Inami (68) -- shared the third spot with totals of 10-under 203. Aditi fired five birdies and two bogeys on the day. She was three-under after picking up shots on fourth, sixth and seventh holes before bogeys on ninth and 11th pulled her back. However, she made amends with birdies on the 15th and 17th to keep herself in the hunt for a historic medal. The other Indian golfer in fray, Diksha Dagar, remained in the lower half of the leaderboard after an erratic one-over 72, her third successive over-par card of the week. Dagar, who started from the back-nine, managed one birdie against two bogeys in her round on Friday. This is Aditi's second Olympic appearance. She had finished tied 41st in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition.
151 Manu Bhaker nervously fidgeted with her Morini pistol at the Asaka shooting range, a look of panic creeping into her eyes as she failed to load her gun. Just a moment ago, she had shot a fine 98 in the first of the six-series qualification round at the 10m air pistol event. Each series consists of 10 shots and all 60 shots need to be completed in 75 minutes. Now here was Bhaker, early in her second series, with her barrel jammed. She walked up to coach Raunak Pandit and they checked the gun. The cocking lever - a tiny metal part that is lifted and pulled back to open the barrel - was broken. Bhaker still had 44 shots to go in 55 minutes. The ordeal of the 19-year-old had just begun at the biggest sporting event in the world. In the end, after a spirited fight back once her pistol was fixed, Bhaker lost out on a qualification by just two points and left the range in tears. It was emblematic of how India's young team of air pistol and rifle shooters - some of the finest in the world - fared at the most rarefied stage for their sport. On Sunday their individual campaigns ended when a few hours after Bhaker, 18-year-old Divyansh Panwar, world No. 2 in 10m air rifle in the Tokyo 2020 rankings, and Deepak Kumar both failed to qualify for the final. Panwar was a big hope, having won a World Cup bronze in Delhi this year and been world No. 1 till recently. Now their hopes for a medal rest with the mixed team events on Tuesday. India's shooting contingent, a record number sent to the Olympics, arrived in Tokyo with expectations running high because of the way they had performed in the 2019 shooting calendar, where they had swept the world cups, and won more medals than powerhouses China and the US for the first time (the 2020 calendar was cancelled because of the pandemic). They also carried with them the pressure of the Indian shooting team returning without a medal from the Rio Games. Bhaker's pistol Bhaker could have used a back-up pistol but that was a risk - because she would have to calibrate the alignments on it. "We still have enough time, no need to panic," Pandit told her. They went for a 'weapon breakage' and walked out of the range. They had to replace the lever, adjust its settings, test the pistol and get back to the match. A gun malfunction in the air pistol, which has an electronic trigger, is rare. Pandit and Bhaker picked the spare parts from their bags and went to the repair room. Pandit unscrewed the parts and replaced the lever from the spare pistol and checked the settings, telling Bhaker: "We can still do it." But it wasn't over. "When we checked everything, we saw the trigger had stopped working," Pandit said later. "I opened the circuit - it was red hot - that too had to be replaced with a new one." The entire repair took around 14 minutes. Bhaker rushed back to her lane, now left with 41mins for her 44 shots. Now she needed to fire testing shots to check the gun's accuracy, even as other shooters were into their fourth series. Finally, it came down to 37 minutes and 44 shots. "This was unprecedented for me," Pandit said. I've never seen something like that happening with an air pistol. She was nervous, anyone would be, but she gathered herself very well." said Pandit. Bhaker, a pistol prodigy, started brilliantly, with two 10s. Every time she dropped to a 9, Pandit walked up to her for a chat and she would hit a 10 again. A 98 in the fifth series raised hopes that she could sneak into the top eight even as she was rushing through her shots. A 10 in the penultimate shot and hope floated. It came down to the last shot. But that was an 8, and Bhaker finished with 575 with the cut falling at 577. Bhaker's teammate Yashaswini Deswal finished 13, scoring 574. "Her world has collapsed. She has been putting in so much hard work, training for 10-12 hrs and was perfectly ready," said Pandit. "Things were out of control but she did brilliantly. It shows her preparation was good. This had to happen on the day of the match!" said an anguished Pandit. Under pressure In Tokyo, none of the Indian shooters performed the way they usually do. Of the eight shooters from India in air rifle and air pistol, only one, Saurabh Chaudhary, 19, qualified for the final, before exiting early there. Chaudhary and Bhaker will pair up for the mixed team event. While Bhaker suffered an unfortunate setback, did the rest cave under pressure? "You should not think about the outcome or the performance," said Vijay Kumar, who won the rapid fire silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. "You have to keep your focus on technique. If you think about the result and medal, pressure will be there. There are still events and I hope they (make a) comeback." Indians will also be in action in the 25m sports pistol, 50m rifle three-position and skeet events.
152 As soon as Olympic rings nail art was uploaded by badminton ace PV Sindhu, fans of sports and those cheering for the Indian athletes representing the country at the Tokyo Games, got into a frenzy. Recently, the tricolour nail art, by table tennis champ Manika Batra, got noticed by PM Narendra Modi as well. And Batra, Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medallist , says, "I'm glad if other great sportspersons are following this trend! In return, I too would like to perform and make the country proud. Honestly, the art on my nails became famous after I won four precious medals, which had never happened before, in CWG. I'll have my nail art at the Olympics as well, and wish to set a trend in the coming years although with my game performances!" The trend, of wearing your patriotic heart on your nails, has caught the fancy of young girls who are opting for Olympic themed nail art. "Some want the national flag or just India written. A few have also asked for Olympic rings or badminton shuttle," says Rekha, a Noida-based nail art expert. Adding that this Olympic people want to go quirky and cheer their favourite sport stars playing for our country, and hence are opting for such nails: "After watching India's star shuttler PV Sindhu's Olympic rings nail art, so many girls came up requesting for quirky nail designs, to cheer Indian players. A few of them are also requesting for the Olympic torch and gold or silver medals. Some are going for an icon representing a sport such as the shuttle for badminton, weights for weight lifting, gloves for boxing , bulls eye for shooting, and bow-arrow for archery. So many other things related to sports are coming up as a cool new way to cheer our sports stars." A Mumbai-based make-up expert, Kapil Bhalla, says well done nails make "quite a bold statement" as the hands of the athletes are always in focus. Advising how to carry such nail art, Bhalla adds, "Its a great trend to experiment with nails, especially for athletes or sportspersons as there is not really anything else in terms of make-up that they can wear for obvious reasons. Outfits and nails don't really have to match anymore, metallics such as gold or silver tips look coordinated with almost any ensemble. French tips or red nails or gold, silver or color blocking or deep greys and even neon green can be worn with almost anything!" Sharing tips to do nail art at home, Bhalla informs, "The correct way to wear your nails fuss free, is to match your nail paint with either your handbag or shoes or scarf or your lip colour." But it's not just the Olympic fever that's gripping nail art enthusiasts. It's not just the Olympic fever, even Covid-19 nail art has inspired some. Rajni Ranjan, a nail art expert, recently used an Instagram post showing funky nail art to urge people to get vaccinated, and had people going 'OMG loving this'.Ranjan shares, "The main motive to make this art was to spread awareness against this virus in a creative way so that it can attract people's attention. And it reached out to audience pretty well. Many girls are doing great in this field they want to learn and they contact me very often about how to do and what to use for arts. They reached out me for this Covid-19 themed nail art as well." Author Tweets @Nainaarora8
153 Dholavira in Gujarat and the Ramappa Temple in Telangana have just joined 38 other Indian sites (including Agra's Taj Mahal, the Churches and Convents of Goa and Sikkim's Kanchenjunga National Park) to make up which prestigious global list? Big black eyes are watching you everywhere in this holy city in Odisha. Last week, it became India's first to provide drinking-quality tap water. What is the four-letter name of this ancient town? Astronomers observing I Zwicky 1, a galaxy with a supermassive black hole at the centre, have, for the first time, been able to detect what's behind it. What kind of radiation, the stuff you'll use to identify a bone fracture, have they found? The national art museum of this country is returning to India 14 items they acquired from art dealer Subhash Kapoor, who turned out to be a thief and smuggler. The bronze and stone sculptures, a painted scroll and photographs are worth $3 million. Name the island down under that's doing the right thing, mate. Of India's 15 Olympic medals since 2000, 7 have been won by women. The first of them was by Karnam Malleswari. She is now vice-chancellor of the upcoming Delhi Sports University. Can you recall the sport she competed in? The oldest fossils ever found aren't dinosaur bones. They're of beings that existed even earlier, about 890 million years ago. Their skeletons look like connected branches of a tree. Name the soft sea creatures whose descendants still help us with dish-washing and sofa stuffing. It's the most sought-after kind of US visa among Indian IT professionals. Some 85,000 of them used to be issued annually, 70% of them to Indians. Trump banned them. Biden lifted the ban. Now, the US will conduct a rare second lottery to employ more foreign workers in speciality occupations using the visa. Its name? This chilli from Nagaland got Geographical Indication certification in 2008. It's among the world's hottest and is known for its distinct flavour. It's now being exported to Europe. It's not the Bhut Jholokia. Name the kingly chilli. Swimmer Tatjana Schoemaker set a new world record for the 200m breaststroke at the Olympics last week. She clocked an astounding 2 minutes and 18.5 seconds. Perhaps she can outrace penguins to Antarctica. Which African nation has she made proud? This 3,500-year-old Dream Tablet, written in Akkadian, was discovered in 1853 in modern-day Iraq. In 2003, an American arts-and-crafts firm bought it on auction for more than $1.67 million. The US government has since seized it and will return it to Iraq. Name the Epic inscribed on the tablet, often considered the earliest written works of literature.
154 A day after Indian wrestler Ravi Dahiya secured the silver medal after losing 7-4 to world champion Zaur Uguev of Russia in the 57kg freestyle category at Tokyo Olympics, his home in Sonepat's Nahri village is abuzz with fans, media, relatives, friends and well wishers to congratulate his family. A bearded ascetic, Bramhachari Hansraj, who had groomed a teenager Ravi Dahiya for three years before convincing his family to shift him to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi in 2004-05, is still busy training budding wrestlers along the banks of Yamuna at Nahri village. Hansraj, who is in his early 50s, is a wrestler and had done wrestling training with Ravi's father Rakesh Kumar. He found respite in religion after his knees blew out nearly three decades ago. Now, he spends most of his time along the banks of Yamuna devoting his time to prayers besides giving training to budding wrestlers of nearby villages. He has prepared a mud akhara where he had trained Ravi Dahiya, Amit Dahiya (youngest Indian wrestler to achieve a medal at the World Championship) and hundreds of others over the decades. Nahri, which has a population of over 15,000, is a nursery of wrestlers. The village has produced international wrestlers including Amit Dahiya (silver medallist in the 2013 World Championship), Arun Kumar (gold medallist in the 2011 Junior Asian Championship), Mahavir Singh (1980, Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles) and Amit Dahiya ( London in 2012). Ravi Dahiya's father Rakesh said Hansraj had asked him to bring Ravi and his younger brother Pankaj to the akhara on the banks of Yamuna when the elder one was just 6-year-old. "He trained Ravi for the next three years. Then, he asked us to shift Ravi to Chhatrasal stadium in Delhi, where he was groomed by coach Satpal Singh. For the last three decades, he has been training young wrestlers and if he finds potential, he asks the wrestler's family to shift them to Chhatrasal stadium. He had identified the talent in Ravi," Rakesh added. Hansraj said he trained many youngsters but Amit was sharper with more natural ability as compared to other players. "But Amit and others haven't reached anywhere where Ravi has. Ravi had never complained no matter how hard the training was. Even though Ravi lacked the natural skills as compared to other wrestlers, he loved to train," he said. "If you ask him for 2-hour practice, he will do double the time. Our village has lots of talent, the only need is to discover them," Hansraj added.
155 Be it major sporting events like the Tokyo Olympics or culinary competitions like MasterChef Australia, Indians are making the country proud in every field. Such was a feat achieved by Justin Narayan, an Indian-origin chef from Perth who won the 13th season of the popular cooking show, with his modern renditions of a number of traditional Indian delicacies. "Indian food has a lot of layers and complexity of spices. Its understanding helped me drive flavour in a short span of time," says the chef, whose roots go back to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He also reveals that he enjoys experimenting with Indian flavours. "I like my take on a few dishes, it was my play on Indian flavours. I made a version of my mum's chicken curry, I did a version of dal bhaath, I even did a chicken taco dish with Indian curry spices in it. I also prepared a lamb curry sauce for the semi-final cook. It was like my modern take on a lot of different Indian food," he says. Narayan, who was up against Pete Campbell and Kishwar Chowdhury, is the second Indian-origin winner of the competition - Sashi Cheliah was the first, having won the tenth season. But, the 27-year-old's triumph was celebrated across the country. "It was very overwhelming. A lot of people have been so kind to write incredible comments and messages, and it's a huge honour to be able to represent my culture. It feels great to have won that competition and to represent Indian culture on a stage like MasterChef," says Narayan, who wishes to dedicate his prize money ($250,000) for the welfare of underprivileged children in India. "I'm definitely going to try and work towards using the money to start a restaurant that would help contribute towards (welfare of) kids in slums. When I was in India on my last trip, it was impactful to see those children. I'm passionate about doing this, and if I can participate with an organisation that's doing that already in an incredible way, why not?" he says. When it comes to Indian food, what would he say is his all-time favourite? "Masala dosa with all the chutneys on the side," he says, but is quick to add, "There's just so much to choose from, so it's quite hard to narrow it down. I have visited Delhi and Agra as well. However, I need to visit more places, discover and try more food. I can't wait to try street food from north India on my next trip." Viewers can watch the show on Disney+ Hotstar Premium and Disney+ Hotstar VIP. Author tweet @ruchikagarg271
156 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Emirates extends flight ban to UAE from India, Pakistan, two other countries till July 28 In line with the UAE government directives, the country's flagship carrier Emirates has extended its suspension of flights to Dubai from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka till July 28. Rainfall intensity to decrease along western coast in next 24 hours: IMD The India Meteorology Department (IMD) on Saturday said that the intensity of the rainfall along the western coast of India may decrease over the next 24 hours bringing relief to rain-battered Maharashtra and Goa. JEE-Main aspirants from districts hit by heavy rain, landslides to get another chance to appear for test Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced that students of Maharashtra who will not be able to appear for JEE Mains exam on July 25 and July 27 because of the heavy rains and landslides will get another opportunity. 'Farmers know how to teach a lesson': Rakesh Tikait's fresh warning to Centre Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday once again warned the Centre over the three legislations against which the farmers are holding protests. He said that farmers know how to teach a lesson to people who ignore them. India Predicted XI for 1st T20I against Sri Lanka: Padikkal set for debut, Dravid and Dhawan mull mystery spinner option With reports doing the rounds that Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav are set to leave for England for the Test series, Devdutt Padikkal has a golden chance to make his India debut in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday. Tisca Chopra apologises for congratulating Mirabai Chanu with Indonesian weightlifter's pic, calls it 'genuine mistake' Tisca Chopra apologised for making a huge gaffe on Saturday as she congratulated Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for winning the silver medal in the 49 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics. WhatsApp multi-device support: Good news for Apple iPhone users, feature arrives on iOS WhatsApp's upcoming multi-device functionality feature enables users to use their WhatsApp account on up to four connected devices. And importantly, they will not require the primary device, the smartphone, at all.
157 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. No plans to tweak Citizenship Amendment Act: Centre tells Rajya Sabha The Centre told the Rajya Sabha in a written response on Wednesday that the government has no plans to revise the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to include other minorities under the purview of the Act. Incessant rainfall creates flood-like situation in Hadauti region of Rajasthan Incessant rainfall has created a flood-like situation in many areas of the Hadauti region of Rajasthan, with road connectivity to over 100 villages has been cut off. At least 500 people have been rescued in Baran district. 100-ft-high national flag to be installed at Srinagar's Hari Parbat fort The Jammu and Kashmir administration will install the national flag at a height of 100 feet at the historic Hari Parbat fort in Srinagar. The 18th-century fort, where entry is regulated by security forces, is surrounded by a shrine, a temple and a gurduwara. China pushes to vaccinate minors against Covid-19 amid surge in Delta cases China has begun to urgently promote its Covid-19 vaccination campaign among minors as authorities try to control a surge in cases driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Gauri Khan and Suhana Khan are in Belgrade, check out pics from their day out Actor Shah Rukh Khan's wife, film producer and interior designer Gauri Khan is in Serbia. She is joined by their daughter Suhana Khan as they explore the city of Belgrade together. Manushi Chhillar in bralette and distressed denims nails the ultimate summer look Miss World 2017 winner Manushi Chhillar's latest photoshoot is the ultimate guide to nailing that perfect summer look. Whether you want to lounge by the pool with your friends or go out for a laidback yet classy lunch date, her classic combination of printed bralette and distressed denims is for those occasions you don't want to try too much but still look good. Tokyo Olympics: Ravi Kumar Dahiya ensures at least a silver medal for India; enters men's freestyle 57kg wrestling final India were assured of at least a silver medal in the men's freestyle wrestling 57kg category as Ravi Kumar Dahiya staged a great comeback against Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev to make his way to the final. Dad catches daughter stealing snacks. Her reaction is absolutely hilarious. Watch Most of us are guilty of stealing snacks from fridge or kitchen counter when our parents weren't paying attention. And what did you do when you got caught? Chances are you tried to mumble some excuse while receiving a good scolding from them.
158 She was named by an elder sibling and even though her parents played football, archery was her preferred sport. Seeing that she could lift stuff her sons couldn't, Mirabai Chanu's mother asked her to consider "woh weight uthane ne ka game (sport where you lift weights)". Chanu refused and went to the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, hoping to be an archer. "The office of the state archery federation was next to that of weightlifting. When I went there, a training session was on--the lifters were shouting, exhorting themselves. That energy attracted me. And I told Ma that weightlifting is what I want to do. Around this time, Kunjarani Devi's achievements were part of our school curriculum. That led to a further spurt in interest," said Chanu. Also from Manipur, Devi is a seven-time world weightlifting championship silver medallist and winner of two Asian Games bronze medals in the 44kg category. "That was in 2008. I was 14," said Chanu. And a journey began that hasn't ended with the 49kg Olympic silver on Saturday. A journey that almost didn't get this far because she was sure she would quit after failing three clean-and-jerk attempts in Rio 2016. "If I had one successful attempt, I could have got silver in Rio," said Chanu, the only time she wasn't her usually sunny self during an almost hour-long conversation in a central Kolkata hotel in February 2020. This was one day after she lifted 203kg (87kg snatch + 115 clean and jerk), bettering her national record to win the 49kg gold in the national championships. In a world still unaltered by Covid-19, one where Tokyo2020 was months from being deferred, Chanu spoke about how close she had come to quitting. "The Olympics experience was good till I failed. After that I didn't want to go anywhere. My mind had gone blank. Suddenly, it was like I had forgotten to do the jerk. Clean was easy," she said. "Nervous ho gaya, it had never happened to me before. "I had worked very hard and my performance was improving. I had trained for two weeks in Brazil. And then that happened. I told Sir (Vijay Sharma, her coach) I will quit. For five days, I didn't feel like eating, I just stayed in my room and wept. Sir was crying too." She didn't give up for two reasons. A competitor from China who, like Chanu, was a medal prospect in another category had a similar experience and Sharma, along with officials of the federation, used her example to tell Chanu that she wasn't the only one. And because Chanu's mother simply told her, "thik ho jayega." "She asked me what was the next big event and I said, 'the world championship in 2017.' And she said, "you will do well there." Prescient words. Chanu won gold in the 48kg with a total of 194kg. After Rio, she had switched her phone off and got down to work with Sharma at Patiala's Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports that has been home since 2012. "It is ultimately about your power to believe. You focus on training, you recalibrate goals and slowly those memories recede," she said, softly but firmly. When she was in the USA for the world championships, one of her sisters got married at home. "I told them to defer the wedding. They told me, it couldn't be done and so I missed it," she said, simply. Another sister got married while Chanu was in Kolkata for the senior national championship. "I ask them, why do you choose dates that clash with my events?" Chanu is the youngest of four sisters and two brothers. The brothers, like their parents, play football. One joined the Army through football, the other works with the state police, she said. "I watch football but never really felt like playing it. My parents played at the village level." One of her sisters is a nurse and another runs a beauty parlour, she said. Her father worked in the state public works department and her mother is a homemaker. It was one of her sisters, "my second oldest didi" who named her. "She had a friend named Mirabai in school. They were very close and when they left school, my sister told her friend that she would name me after her," said Chanu. Three years after she signed up for weightlifting, Chanu got called to a camp in Bengaluru for the Asian and Commonwealth youth championships. Chanu said she took part in the Asian meet and was again called to a camp, this time in Patiala, in 2012. By then Kunjarani Devi was one of her coaches. Unable to speak Hindi and living so far from home was hard and "a lot of tears were shed over phone calls." A measure of how much things have changed could be gauged by this conversation happening mostly in Hindi. "But at least then, I would go home for two weeks after, say, two months." That changed when she became part of the core group of lifters. In February 2020, Chanu said she hadn't been home for five months and wouldn't till the Olympics, which hadn't been deferred then. "You miss one day's training you take a week to get back to where you were. So, except Sundays, which is a day of rest, we don't miss training." That explained why Chanu didn't attend her sister's wedding. She was training every evening at the Khudiram Anishilan Kendra, the venue for the national championship, adjacent to Eden Gardens. Her schedule, she said, had lifting weights every morning and evening except Thursday when she worked out in the gym. "I also do strength training after Tuesday's evening session." Chanu has had her share of injuries and after the high of 2017, she missed the Asian Games next year because her back played up, "suddenly when we were training in Himachal Pradesh." It needed four months of rest and recovery under sports science and medicine expert Heath Matthews in Mumbai. "When I resumed, I couldn't do 35kg in snatch," said Chanu. Last year, Chanu went to USA to work on her back. From 2014, Sharma has been Chanu's coach. "He improved my technique, especially in clean and jerk. With Sir, it felt like I was learning all over again, I got stronger and could increase the intensity of my sessions. My diet too changed with more red meat which Sir would arrange for," said Chanu. "In two years, 20kg up kar diya." If getting over the disappointment was a struggle, living with the notion that she is an Olympic medal hope brought a different kind of pressure. "I know all eyes are on me. To fail is not an option," she said. So how does she deal with it? "I tell myself, I will go fully prepared, the rest is in God's hands."
159 Here are today's top news, analysis and opinion at 5pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Communal sloganeering at Jantar Mantar: Delhi Police registers FIR The Delhi Police on Monday said they registered a first information report (FIR) in connection with a video in which some people are seen raising communal and inflammatory slogans near Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Sunday. Cong leader demands immediate evacuation of Sikhs, Hindus from Afghanistan Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill on Monday urged Union minister for external affairs S Jaishankar to immediately evacuate Hindus and Sikhs from conflict-ridden Afghanistan. Forces claim to have foiled terror plot in Jammu and Kashmir before I-Day Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday claimed to have foiled a terror plot five days before the 75th Independence Day by recovering a large cache of arms and ammunitions including AK 47 assault rifles, hand grenades, detonators and pistols. In a separate incident, the J&K Police arrested two freshly-recruited terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen from Kishtwar district. 'Ensure plastic tricolours are not used for I-day celebrations': Centre to states, UTs The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has directed all states and Union territories (UTs) to ensure that people do not use national flags made of plastic during the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations. In a statement, MHA said that flags made of non-biodegradable items do not decompose for a long time and make their appropriate disposal a practical problem. Gujarat govt's decision to remodel Sabarmati Ashram 'shocking': Gehlot Opposing the plan of redeveloping Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said it is a shocking, uncalled for and politically-driven decision taken by the Gujarat government. Akshay Kumar wants Neeraj Chopra to play him in a biopic, reacts to viral meme Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal at the recent Tokyo Olympics, once said that he would like Akshay Kumar to play him in a biopic. However, in an interesting turn of events, Akshay now wants Neeraj to portray him in a film based on his life. 'Was like gold dust for us': Virat Kohli says Indian bowlers have been batting 'in the nets regularly' One of India's biggest weaknesses in recent times has been the inability of the lower-order batsmen to contribute to the score. With the fall of the last recognised batsman, it has generally been seen that the tailenders have also been dismissed cheaply. In contrast, Indian bowlers have faced some difficulty in dismissing the lower-order batsmen of the opposing sides. Since 2018, India's last three batsmen have had the worst average of all test-playing nations. Audi RS 5 Sportback launched at Rs.1.04 crore. Check out details here Audi RS 5 Sportback has been officially launched in India at an introductory price of Rs.1.04 crore (ex showroom). With a 2.9L V6 TFSI engine at its core, the performance-oriented Audi sedan is brought in via CBU route and is directed straight at driving enthusiasts looking for a capable luxury vehicle. Nora Fatehi glams up vintage pantsuit and corset with Rs.57k pumps, bold red lips Moroccan beauty Nora Fatehi may have made a mark in the film industry with her infamous dance moves, but one cannot ignore her impeccable fashion choices through the years. The dancer-turned-actor can slay any fashion statement, be it corsets, pantsuits or printed co-ords. Her recent look in a vintage pantsuit and corset teamed with bold lips proves the same.
160 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Afghan Army chief postpones visit to India because of Taliban offensive Afghan Army chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai has postponed a visit to India this week because of the offensive by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Afghan embassy said on Monday. BS Yediyurappa announces his resignation as Karnataka chief minister Putting an end to speculation, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced his resignation during a function celebrating the second-year anniversary of his government in Bengaluru. Rahul Gandhi rides tractor to Parliament in protest against farm laws Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi was seen driving a tractor to the Parliament on Monday. The vehicle was mounted with a banner demanding that the three "anti-farmer black laws" be repealed. Gandhi, however, could not take the tractor inside the premises as only vehicles with valid passes are allowed entry. Ladakh visit cancelled due to bad weather; President travels to north Kashmir President Ram Nath Kovind's visit to Ladakh to attend a function on the 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on Monday was cancelled due to bad weather. With Ladakh trip cancelled, the President travelled to north Kashmir's frontier district of Baramulla. Aussie coach's epic reaction after 'Terminator' Titmus' win is making waves on social media - WATCH A win at the Olympics is sure to fire up many athletes and support staff. It is the biggest stage for sporting events where athletes from all round the world turn up for their countries and match-up against the best athletes of the world. On Monday, Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus surprised everyone when she managed to win the gold medal ahead of five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States in a thrilling women's 400m freestyle final. Anushka Sharma enjoys a day out in bag worth more than Rs.2 lakh, chic denims and crop top Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma recently turned muse for Athiya Shetty in the United Kingdom. Anushka is with her husband Virat Kohli in the UK. She posed for the camera in the scenic outdoors wearing a cropped jacket over a crop tee and denims. Read on to know the mind-blowing price of her jacket and shoulder bag. Saif Ali Khan on whether he gave Kareena Kapoor a haircut during lockdown: 'I think she would stab me' In the absence of salon services during the Covid-19 lockdown last year, many celebrity couples gave each other DIY haircuts, but Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were not among them. In a new interview, he joked that she might 'stab' him if he tried to give her a trim. 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser customers banned from reselling the SUV. Here's why The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a formidable SUV across the globe and has had quite a successful run in many countries. Famed for its go-anywhere capabilities and imposing body structure, the latest 2022 LC300 Land Cruiser has received thousands of orders in Japan but for those here looking at driving the model home, there's a catch - they reportedly cannot sell the vehicle within 12 months from the date of purchase. Amazon Prime Day 2021 sale: From Samsung Galaxy M31s to iQOO 7 5G, here are the top deals for Prime Day today Amazon Prime Day 2021 sale: One of the most awaited e-commerce sales of the year is finally here, with offers across every section of the online store. From computers, laptops to tablets, smartphones, accessories, electronics, TV and home appliances, the popular sale, which began at midnight, offers deep discounts on several products from Xiaomi, Samsung, and iQOO, among others.
161 Actor Abhimanyu Dassani has pulled up those people who say they are 'proud of athletes when they win'. His reaction comes after Mirabai Chanu from Manipur won a silver medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Abhimanyu called them 'bandwagon clout'. He also said that if they were not cheering for the athletes when they were working hard then they don't have 'the right to be proud of them'. Abhimanyu Dassani tweeted, "To all the bandwagon clout chasing sports fans that come out of their holes to be 'proud' of athletes when they win. Here is the meaning of proud. feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is CLOSELY associated." He also wrote, "If you werent cheering for them when they were grinding blood sweat and tears on their fields or in their gyms You dont have the right to be proud of them, you can be happy for them. Start investing directly/indirectly into thier journeys to earn that right. Be a real fan." Reacting to his post, several users tweeted. A user wrote, "So if a person is a tax payer in this country his tax goes to union govt. the union government is running the TOPS scheme for olympic podium finishes..and the money used there comes from the tax payers in the country ..so they have the right to feel proud of their nations players." He replied, "You clearly haven't been a competitive level athlete anywhere. And with that arrogant thinking I don't expect you to understand what sportsmen/women go through. Carefully read the definition of proud, again." Another said, "We are connected to her as an Indian and it's a proud moment for our country." He responded, "Sure but instead of being an active supporter you still won't cheer for the athlete until they win something prestigious. That's sad." A third wrote, "It's difficult for everyone to invest in someone's journey if they don't know them to begin with.but I support your views about 'pride'. For me pride is strictly reserved for personal choices and achievements only." Abhimanyu said, "I meant ... Just watch their games maybe tweet about them before they win. Don't have to literally put down money or infrastructure to help them grow. Even a few nice words go a long way when you're down. Specially by strangers appreciating you." Meanwhile, Abhimanyu will be seen with actor Sanya Malhotra in Meenakshi Sundareshwar, produced by Karan Johar. He will also be seen in action romantic comedy, Nikamma alongside actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Abhimanyu made his Bollywood debut in 2018 with Ramesh Bala's Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. He earned praise for his work in the action film and even won the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Male.
162 Ravi Dahiya was feeling miserable. He had become only the second Indian wrestler to win an Olympic silver, after Sushil Kumar in 2012, but the glint of the medal hanging from his neck was not enough to soften the pain of defeat. He did not celebrate the silver. He was so close to gold. The 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana lost the final bout of the 57kg freestyle wrestling event to Zavur Uguev of Russia, the two-time world champion and on the day, just a little bit superior to the young Dahiya, making his Olympic debut. "Jis cheez ke liya aaye the, kami rahe gayi. Kuch kami rahe gayi mere me (I was not able to do what I came here to do. I fell short)," said Dahiya. Dahiya's disappointment was palpable, but his achievement is no less significant. A silver in Tokyo has only added to the stature of wrestling as that rare sport outside of cricket where India has a strong global presence. Starting with Sushil Kumar's bronze in Beijing 2008, India has now won a medal in every edition of the Games since. The previous day, Dahiya bounced back from the brink of defeat to pin the two-time world championships medallist Nurislam Sanayev in a thrilling semi-final. Against Uguev, he got no such opportunity. The Russian was swift with his counters, and strong in defence. He opened a 2-0 lead through step-outs. Dahiya brought him down to draw parity. But Uguev scored another two points with a takedown even as Dahiya did well to avoid getting tangled. In the second period, with Uguev leading 4-2, Dahiya stepped up the attack, but Uguev scored another three points with a fast counter. With one-and-a-half minutes remaining, a takedown gave Dahiya two more points but that was all he could muster. "I am an athlete, and I can't be satisfied by anything less than gold," he said. "People will celebrate, that is fine, but I will improve and come back stronger."P21
163 Ravi Dahiya was feeling miserable. He had become only the second Indian wrestler to win an Olympic silver, after Sushil Kumar in 2012, but the glint of the medal hanging from his neck was not enough to soften the pain of defeat. He did not celebrate the silver. He was so close to gold. The 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana lost the final bout of the 57kg freestyle wrestling event to Zavur Uguev of Russia, the two-time world champion and on the day, just a little bit superior to the young Dahiya, making his Olympic debut. "Jis cheez ke liya aaye the, kami rahe gayi. Kuch kami rahe gayi mere me (I was not able to do what I came here to do. I fell short)," said Dahiya. Dahiya's disappointment was palpable, but his achievement is no less significant. A silver in Tokyo has only added to the stature of wrestling as that rare sport outside of cricket where India has a strong global presence. Starting with Sushil Kumar's bronze in Beijing 2008, India has now won a medal in every edition of the Games since. The previous day, Dahiya bounced back from the brink of defeat to pin the two-time world championships medallist Nurislam Sanayev in a thrilling semi-final. Against Uguev, he got no such opportunity. The Russian was swift with his counters, and strong in defence. He opened a 2-0 lead through step-outs. Dahiya brought him down to draw parity. But Uguev scored another two points with a takedown even as Dahiya did well to avoid getting tangled. In the second period, with Uguev leading 4-2, Dahiya stepped up the attack, but Uguev scored another three points with a fast counter. With one-and-a-half minutes remaining, a takedown gave Dahiya two more points but that was all he could muster. "I am an athlete, and I can't be satisfied by anything less than gold," he said. "People will celebrate, that is fine, but I will improve and come back stronger."P21
164 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that the highest award is given to any sportsperson in the country, Khel Ratna Award will now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award after the legendary hockey player. PM Modi took to Twitter to make the announcement.He tweeted,"I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!" "Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him," PM Modi said. I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/zbStlMNHdq - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021 Dhyan Chand, widely regarded as the greatest player in Indian hockey, earned three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He played internationally from 1926 to 1949. Dhyan Chand was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1956. His birthday on 29 August is celebrated as National Sports Day in India every year.
165 Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Bengaluru has 162 containment zones, sees slow but steady rise in Covid cases The resurgence of coronavirus cases in the southern states, which has become of cause for concern since the last week of July, is slow but steady in Bengaluru, the data of Bruhat Bengaluru Maganagara Palike has revealed. Unofficial economic blockade of Mizoram ends following Assam's intervention Hundreds of trucks carrying essential items to Mizoram, stranded in Assam for over 10 days following a deadly clash over a border dispute between the two sides. 'Closest neighbour': Pakistan issues statement on India's snub at UNSC meeting on Afghanistan Pakistan Foreign Office has issued a statement regretting that it was not invited to the United National Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, despite being the closest neighbour of the conflict-ridden country. 'It wasn't going to last long but India refused to bat': Lloyd reacts to Pant, Rahul's attempt to walk off during rain Former England cricketer David Lloyd was not pleased with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant's decision to walk off the ground as passing showers threatened to impact play on Day 3 of the first Test between India and England. Bigg Boss OTT contestant Zeeshan Khan: 'Everything changed after my bathrobe stunt' Zeeshan Khan proved his candidature for the popular reality show Bigg Boss much before his name was confirmed. Kiara Advani in Rs.79k bralette and skirt set promotes Shershaah with Sidharth Malhotra Bollywood actors Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra have been actively promoting their upcoming film Shershaah based on the life of Captain Vikram Batra, who died in the Kargil War and was honoured with the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. PM Modi dials Neeraj Chopra after Olympic success; rewards rain for golden throw It is raining rewards on athlete Neeraj Chopra after he won first ever-track and field gold medal. Watch
166 In several disciplines of sport, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is a sign of perfectionism. This is especially so in gymnastics, where even perfection can be perfected further, as proven by the past performances of Simone Biles, an American gymnast who does not deserve the flak she got for not outperforming herself once again in Tokyo. Earlier this week, she withdrew from the gymnastics all-round final at the 2020 Olympic Games, citing her inability to participate on account of a mental-health disruption. With a haul of four Olympic gold medals and a silver and bronze apiece, not to mention a fandom across the world, she had an extraordinary burden of expectations to defy beyond just gravity. She flubbed her opening vault and found she could not go on. "It's just me in my head," she later said, "I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being." Aspects of health that relate to the mind have got in the way of many top performers in recent times. It is not all that uncommon. Think of tennis champs Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, swimmer Michael Phelps, basketball player Kevin Love and wrestler Ronda Rousey. Yet, Biles' action has attracted a barrage of criticism. For a world champion representing her country in the glare of a global audience, Biles' withdrawal was taken as too casual, even as her reason was dismissed as the product of whimsy and her motivations placed under a scanner. Various voices on air labelled her "selfish" for what they saw as desertion. It was a team event that she had exited, and so her "quitting on her teammates", as one voice put it, was slammed by some critics as a matter of "shame" for America. Allegations of betrayal arose too. Without Biles, the US team lost that final contest to Russia, which some of her co-citizens seem to have taken as a special affront. For all these harsh words, though, she has also evoked empathy on social media. Not just her fellow gymnasts, athletes across disciplines and countries have leapt to her support, several of them testifying that it could happen to just about anybody. Indeed, what happens in one's head may be invisible and difficult to diagnose, but should be taken every bit as seriously as a physical injury that's visible to all and easy to treat. This is a message that needed to get around the world, and thanks to her frankness, it has. In a press address, Biles revealed that she'd got a case of "twisties", a term that describes a mental snap that causes one to lose spatial awareness in the midst of a performance. This might sound like stage fright to the uninitiated, but to a gymnast, it can be the difference between landing a perfect 10 and breaking one's neck. The choice she made was sensible. As for the charge of selfishness, it crumbles in the light of what made her a global celebrity outside the gymnasium. In 2018, she spoke up against a sexual predator, a team doctor, as one among his many victims, and exposed the sordid state of sports training in the US. For many of her fans, this act of hers mattered more than the glitter of her gold medals. Her sponsor brands have stood by her, Visa and Uber Eats among them. If they are confident that the esteem in which Biles is held will endure, they have made a smart bet. It is not just the leap off a mat that will assure as much, but her candour-and the conversations she opened that the world needs to have.
167 In several disciplines of sport, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is a sign of perfectionism. This is especially so in gymnastics, where even perfection can be perfected further, as proven by the past performances of Simone Biles, an American gymnast who does not deserve the flak she got for not outperforming herself once again in Tokyo. Earlier this week, she withdrew from the gymnastics all-round final at the 2020 Olympic Games, citing her inability to participate on account of a mental-health disruption. With a haul of four Olympic gold medals and a silver and bronze apiece, not to mention a fandom across the world, she had an extraordinary burden of expectations to defy beyond just gravity. She flubbed her opening vault and found she could not go on. "It's just me in my head," she later said, "I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being." Aspects of health that relate to the mind have got in the way of many top performers in recent times. It is not all that uncommon. Think of tennis champs Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, swimmer Michael Phelps, basketball player Kevin Love and wrestler Ronda Rousey. Yet, Biles' action has attracted a barrage of criticism. For a world champion representing her country in the glare of a global audience, Biles' withdrawal was taken as too casual, even as her reason was dismissed as the product of whimsy and her motivations placed under a scanner. Various voices on air labelled her "selfish" for what they saw as desertion. It was a team event that she had exited, and so her "quitting on her teammates", as one voice put it, was slammed by some critics as a matter of "shame" for America. Allegations of betrayal arose too. Without Biles, the US team lost that final contest to Russia, which some of her co-citizens seem to have taken as a special affront. For all these harsh words, though, she has also evoked empathy on social media. Not just her fellow gymnasts, athletes across disciplines and countries have leapt to her support, several of them testifying that it could happen to just about anybody. Indeed, what happens in one's head may be invisible and difficult to diagnose, but should be taken every bit as seriously as a physical injury that's visible to all and easy to treat. This is a message that needed to get around the world, and thanks to her frankness, it has. In a press address, Biles revealed that she'd got a case of "twisties", a term that describes a mental snap that causes one to lose spatial awareness in the midst of a performance. This might sound like stage fright to the uninitiated, but to a gymnast, it can be the difference between landing a perfect 10 and breaking one's neck. The choice she made was sensible. As for the charge of selfishness, it crumbles in the light of what made her a global celebrity outside the gymnasium. In 2018, she spoke up against a sexual predator, a team doctor, as one among his many victims, and exposed the sordid state of sports training in the US. For many of her fans, this act of hers mattered more than the glitter of her gold medals. Her sponsor brands have stood by her, Visa and Uber Eats among them. If they are confident that the esteem in which Biles is held will endure, they have made a smart bet. It is not just the leap off a mat that will assure as much, but her candour-and the conversations she opened that the world needs to have.
168 Even 30 minutes after his bout against world champion Bakhodir Jalolov, Satish Kumar was getting his cuts stitched at the Kokugikan Arena's medical centre. Jalolov won the superheavyweight quarter-final 5-0 but Kumar, the last of India's five men boxers in the fray, braved pain to absorb a flurry of punches and on occasion, return the fire. The 6ft 5 inch Jalolov was lightning quick with counters and struck meaty blows on Kumar who had suffered a cut on his forehead in the first round win against Jamaican Ricardo Brown. In the third round on Sunday, he reopened the wound. Kumar was bleeding but charged in to try for a knockout, having lost the first two rounds. Even in rounds 1 and 2 Kumar, 32, did not flinch. Against the taller southpaw, he hit body shots and overhead punches. The Uzbek threw stinging jabs and mixed it up with an effective combination. True, Kumar could not keep up with Jalolov's speed but the stomach for a fight he didn't lack. Making India's debut in the over-91 kg category, Kumar is the only Indian male boxer to have won a contest. The rest --- Amit Panghal, Vikas Krishan, Manish Kaushik and Ashish Kumar - lost in the opening round. A victory in the quarter-final would have taken him to medal contention but it was too much of an ask against Jalolov, a favourite for the gold medal here. "Jalolov is a difficult opponent but Satish has been the only boxer to trouble him, even at the Olympic qualifier in Jordan in the first round," said India's high performance coach Santiago Nieva. "Satish was a bit hampered by the cut and in pain. But it is a physical contact sport and injuries happen. Satish took it on his chin." Kumar had it tough in the build-up to the Games. Last December, at the Cologne World Cup, he had to pull out of the final because of a bicep injury. In May, he had Covid-19 and missed the Asian championships.
169 Just a few months after Lovlina Borgohain had first stepped out of her village Baramukhia, near Assam's border with Nagaland, she found herself in trouble. It was 2012, and the then 14-year-old boxer was at her first tournament, the sub-junior nationals in Kolkata. She needed a red-corner kit, but did not have one. She asked another girl, who had lost her bout, if she could borrow her kit. "She agreed but with a condition that I give her my mobile phone," Borgohain said in an earlier interview to HT. That phone was her lifeline. It had been only two months since Borgohain had left home to join the boxing programme at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Guwahati, more than 300km away, and it was the only way to stay in touch with her family. Borgohain took the hard decision and gave the phone. But she did not get the promised kit. "You know some incidents in life leave a mark. It still rankles whenever I think of it," she said. Perhaps it will not rankle her anymore. Borgohain became only the third boxer from India to win an Olympic medal-after Vijender Singh's 2008 Beijing bronze and her idol Mary Kom's 2012 London bronze-when she was assured of at least a bronze after winning her quarterfinal match against Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-Chin in Tokyo and moving into the semis. Back home, Lovlina's parents-her father owns a small tea plantation-chose not to watch the quarterfinal bout live. "We never watch Lovlina's matches live actually," said her father Tiken Borgohain over the phone. "We do watch the highlights later on but it's a bit difficult to watch the bouts live because in that moment when she is in the ring, it gets too exciting for us." But they got the news immediately as neighbours poured into the house to congratulate them and their phones began ringing. "Our district (Golaghat) is still in the Covid red zone but the excitement among all our friends, relatives and neighbours is so much that quite a few people have been visiting to congratulate us," Tiken said. Borgohain last met her parents in February in Kolkata, when her mother underwent a kidney transplant there. Borgohain, Tiken said, was fascinated with combat sports from a very early age, inspired by her twin elder sisters Lima and Licha, older to her by four years, who were both into Muay Thai. When she was 11, Borgohain too started training in Muay Thai and Thang-ta, a Manipuri martial art. But in 2012, when she was 14, she was spotted during a scouting run by Padam Boro, the coach who runs the boxing programme at SAI's Guwahati centre. Boro was short of boxers for the upcoming sub-junior nationals in Kolkata. "I noticed that she had a good height and build for a boxer," Boro said over the phone. "So I gave her a few tests to check her boxing skills. I realised that she could be a very good boxer so I didn't have to think too much to select her." It was a break for Borgohain, but she had to leave home and go very far away. The decision was made easy by her mother Mamoni Borgohain, who told her that she must take the opportunity. "We are three sisters and like in Indian villages there was this constant this talk that there is no son," Borgohain said. "Our father had to stay away from home for months due to work. My mother used to say that we have to do something to change our situation." Borgohain went to her first tournament, the sub junior nationals in Kolkata with bare minimum training. "In Thai boxing you have 1-2 punches (a combination of two punches)," Borgohain said. "I was told by the coach, just don't use the kick, and throw as many punches as possible. I did just that." It got her a gold, but Borgohain has come a long way from those rookie days. "At this moment, Lovlina is now technically very sound, in all aspects of her game," Boro said. "She is at a stage now where, whatever tournament she plays in, she can win a medal and can beat any opponent she faces." The technical aspect of Borgohain's boxing was on full display in the quarterfinal fight against Chen Nien-Chin, a boxer who has beaten Borgohain in all three of their meetings before this one. Chen Nien-Chin, the 2018 world champion, is stocky and powerful and likes to fight by moving close to her opponent and unleashing a barrage of punches. Borgohain, who is taller and leaner, simply did not allow her to do that. With a stiff jab and a deft footwork, Borgohain was in control of the distance for the entire fight. As Chen Nien-Chin got more and more frustrated, her punches became more reckless and Borgohain capitalized with a series of hooks and straights that made solid connections. "I had been planning how to beat her. I was not competing against anyone but myself. I enjoyed the bout, it was a fun fight, I played with freedom, without any fear," Borgohain said. "If she fights like she did today, I am certain that she will bring home the Olympic gold," Boro said.
170 It won't be long before a biopic is announced on the life of Indian weightlifter, and now an Olympic silver medallist, Mirabai Chanu. She has made the country proud, and her journey would certainly make for an interesting watch. The casting is something, which actor Adil Hussain would keenly look forward to. Reason? In the past, there was a biopic, Mary Kom, made on the life of the Indian boxer from Manipur. Hussain has maintained ever since that an actor from the Northeast should have been cast in the lead role, which was eventually played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. "I'd have definitely preferred someone from Northeast. This isn't at all a judgement on Priyanka, she's a very accomplished artiste. First of all, Bollywood isn't a family or mafia, it's a stupid name actually given by some unimaginative people, it's not original. I'm saying that the Hindi film industry lost an opportunity," says the actor. Hussain, 57, explains that it was a chance to introduce "amazing faces" and people from the inner parts to the masses of India. "If someone makes a movie on Mirabai Chanu, I'm sure they'd be more imaginative and cast someone from the Northeast," he hopes. The Pareeksha (2019) actor believes that this would be the industry's chance to redeem itself. He continues, "I hope they do it and make the right choice, They should make the film so well so they don't have to invest in a star, like Ang Lee did in Life of Pi (2012), it earned a billion dollars." Hailing from Goalpara, Assam, the actor feels that Chanu's achievement is very crucial, as it gives hope to people in Northeast the most. "Northeast is always neglected by mainland India - politically and economically, we're still to be assimilated and looked at as part of India by a lot of common people, who think that people especially from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram are Chinese," admits Hussain. According to him, it's quite something for someone to even dream of going to a National level. He elaborates, "I heard in an interview of one of Chanu's coaches. She had worked with him in America, because she was injured. He described her as the most dedicated, hard working person, who followed all instructions. That's the quality of people in the Northeast, when they want to do something, they do it. I feel emotionally charged."
171 The Advisory Committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has recommended cash awards for athletes participating in Tokyo Olympics. Athletes winning gold medal in the global sports event will be awarded Rs.75 lakh. Silver medal winners will be given Rs.40 lakh, and bronze medal winner will receive Rs.25 lakh. Each athlete in the Indian contingent to Tokyo Olympics will get Rs.1 lakh, IOA said.
172 The host country's superstar is out of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1 6-4 in the third round of the Tokyo tennis tournament on Tuesday. The second-ranked Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States, struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes. The 42nd-ranked Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners and other crafty shots that drew Osaka out of her comfort zone. Osaka won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental-health break. But conditions were different on Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.
173 Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya on Thursday clinched an Olympic silver after losing his 57kg final to Russian two-time defending world champion Zavur Uguev. This is India's second silver medal and fifth medal overall at the Tokyo Olympics.
174 Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) signed off with a bronze medal in Olympics on Wednesday after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli, bringing an end to the country's campaign in the sport. Up against quite literally a bully in the ring, Borgohain was completely out-punched by the gold medal favourite, who produced a thoroughly dominating performance. The Assam boxer also coped a one point deduction in the second round for not paying attention to the referee's instructions despite a couple of cautions. The Indian's start was not all that bad as she stood up to the strong challenge but she came undone after Surmeneli got down to connecting her vicious hooks and body shots. The third round was especially punishing for Borgohain, who faced two standing eight counts during the bout.
175 The Indian cricket fraternity came together to congratulate shuttler PV Sindhu on winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, thus taking the country's medal tally to three at the Games. With the win, Sindhu created history, becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals as she beat Chinese shuttler He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 in straight games to ensure a podium finish. From Sachin Tendulkar to Virender Sehwag to the BCCI, the cricket fraternity extended its good wishes to Sindhu for bringing laurels to the nation. Here are some of the tweets. A day after losing the semi-final to World No. 1 Tai-Tzu Ying, which ended her hopes of a silver or a gold medal, a fiercely determined Sindhu made it count in the bronze medal match. Against an opponent, she had a 6-9 record against, Sindhu, the reigning world champion, dominated to secure a straight game victory.
176 Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Friday lost to Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev 5-12 in Men's 65kg Freestyle semi-final. He will now compete for Bronze medal. "Winning and losing is part of life. He will definitely win the Bronze medal," Bajrang Punia's father, Balwan Singh said. Punia had advanced to the men's freestyle lightweight semi-finals after edging Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev and pinning Iran's Morteza Ghiasi. A single takedown in a 3-3 scoreline had made the difference against Akmataliev while the 27-year-old Asian champion Punia found himself trailing against Ghiasi before he pinned the Iranian, who desperately tried to escape the hold but failed. Today, Punia faced Azerbaijan's three-times world champion Haji Aliyev, who beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 9-1 in a controlled quarter-final bout.
177 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday directed officials to give a cash reward to the shuttler, PV Sindhu, for winning a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics as per the State Sports Policy. As per the State Sports Policy, a bronze medalist is entitled to get Rs.30 lakhs. Before leaving for the big-ticket event, Sindhu met Jagan and the Andhra government had sanctioned two acres of land for setting up Badminton Academy at Visakhapatnam. Sindhu defeated Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 in the bronze medal match that lasted 52 minutes. Sindhu had earlier returned with a silver medal at the Rio Olympics 2016. The 26-year-old is now the second Indian athlete to win two individual Olympic medals. Wrestler Sushil Kumar also has two medals as he returned with a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics 2008 and a silver at the London Olympics 2012.
178 Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais and chief minister Hemant Soren on Saturday congratulated javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra as he created history by winning India's first gold medal Tokyo Olympics. Governor Ramesh Bais said country was proud of his achievement. "He has left countryman filled with joy by winning gold at Tokyo Olympics with his talent and splendid performance. The country is proud of his historic achievement," Bais said in a statement issued by the Raj Bhawan. Joining him, chief minister Hemant Soren said people were proud of his achievement. "My heartiest congratulations to #NeerajChopra for his remarkable feat, his golden throw in #Tokyo2020 Javelin event, bringing India the first ever Olympics Gold Medal in Track And Field events. We all are proud of his momentous achievement.(sic.)," Soren said in a tweet.
179 Haryana chief minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced to construct an indoor wrestling stadium with modern and world-class facilities at the native village of Ravi Dahiya, who has won the silver medal in the 57kg freestyle wrestling in Tokyo Olympics. Congratulating Dahiya, a resident of Sonepat district, Khattar announced that the wrestler will be given a cash award of Rs.4 crore for winning a silver medal in the Olympics. He will also be appointed to the post of Class-I officer, apart from the state government giving a plot at concessional rates to Dahiya. Similarly, the two bronze winning hockey team players from Haryana will be given Rs.2.5 crore each cash award, besides job in the sports department and a plot on concessional rates.
180 Lovlina Borgohain says she wanted to win a gold, but her hopes to become the first Indian boxer in an Olympics final was dashed by a superior rival on Wednesday. She lost to Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli 0-5 in the 69kg semi-final on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old has made history with a bronze. She is only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal, after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh. P18
181 India grappler Priya Malik clinched gold at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships on Sunday. Malik defeated Kseniya Patapovich 5-0 in the summit clash and as a result, she won a gold medal at the World Cadet Championships in Hungary. Priya Malik won in the women's 73kg weight category and she has given the country another reason to smile as, on Saturday, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Priya Malik had also won the gold medal in the 2019 edition of Khelo India in Pune and she then went on to clinch gold at the 17th School Games held in Delhi. Earlier Tannu had won the title in the 43kg category.
182 Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India in javelin throw on Saturday. The Indian athlete topped the charts with a distance of 87.58 metres. On his achievement, words of praise began pouring in from everywhere. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What Neeraj Chopra has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold."
183 World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Aditi could well have their medals sewn up already given the uncertain weather India golfer Aditi Ashok is in sight of an Olympics medal as she carded three-under 68 (a total of 12-under 201) and is three shots behind world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who shot two-under 69 for a total of 12-under 198. Nelly, daughter of former tennis star Petr Korda, and Aditi could well have their medals sewn up already given the uncertain weather. As the threat of a tropical storm is brewing over Japan, the organisers have brought tee times forward on Saturday morning in the hope of completing the final round. Aditi tees off at 4.48am IST. If the round cannot be completed, the tournament will revert to the 54-hole results. That means the 23-year-old from Bangalore will give India its third silver medal of these Games. But Aditi is not thinking about a podium finish. "I think one more day of golf and a lot happens on the final day. Although it's just one round, it feels long mentally, so definitely staying patient and hoping we have good weather and hope I play good," she was quoted as saying by the International Golf Federation. Aditi's mother Maheswari is caddying in Saitama, where golf is being played. Aditi is aware that her exploits till Friday have generated a lot of interest in India. "I think nobody really follows golf as much. Whenever the Olympics come around, the interest is always because we had a lot of sports where we were actually really good, like hockey, where we used to win gold medals all the time. I think with golf being included for the second time, people are a lot more educated and trying to follow it a lot more," she said. "For sure (there will be pressure) but I'm not thinking about it that much. I think no matter how I do this week, people have heard about golf and they will continue to tune in because I'm in the top three. I think that's good itself." Unlike her previous two rounds, Aditi's putting was not that perfect on Friday. She had three birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes. After two bogeys on the ninth and 11th pegged her back, she recovered well with two more birdies on the 15th and 17th. "Aditi is not physically strong, her focus has always been on the short game. Inside 100 yards, she is real champ," her childhood coach Tarun Sardesai told The Telegraph from Bangalore. "Aditi was with me till she was 14 at the Karnataka Golf Association and even at such a nascent age Aditi showed amazing talent," Sardesai added. "She is in top form now and I hope she brings a medal. I have seen her during the Rio Olympic Games and at 18 she looked very calm and focused," Olympian SSP Chowrasia said from St Andrews, Scotland, where he is participating in the Hero Open. Aditi, a regular face on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and Ladies European Tour, said she was yet to recover fully after contracting the coronavirus in May.
184 With a magnificent throw of 87.58 metres at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the first Indian to win a Gold medal in Javelin throw in the Olympic Games. Putting an end to the country's 121-year wait for an athletics medal, Neeraj Chopra won India's first Olympic medal in track and field events. He joins Abhinav Bindra, who won the Gold in the 2008 Olympics. Subedar Neeraj Chopra, a 23-year-old soldier from Panipat, Haryana was born on December 24, 1997, into a farming family in the small village of Khandar. His father, Satish Kumar, is a farmer, while his mother, Saroj Devi is a housewife. He was raised alongside two sisters. Neeraj took to javelin throw to lose weight as he was obese, but he quickly became enamoured with the sport, and the rest is history. On 15 May 2016, Sub Neeraj enlisted in the 4 Rajputana Rifles as a Direct Entry Naib Subedar. After joining the Indian Army, he was selected for training at the Mission Olympics Wing and the Army Sports Institute in Pune. The Indian Army's Mission Olympics Wing is an endeavour to identify and train excellent athletes in eleven specific disciplines at five Mission Olympics Nodes. The Mission Olympics Wing strives to assist selected athletes to excel in various national and international competitions. Mission Olympics Wing has provided the nation with two Olympic silver medals in shooting and is committed to providing many more. Sub Neeraj Chopra's medal recognises Mission Olympics Wing's hard work and dedication. Neeraj Chopra rose to fame after setting a new Junior World Record with an 86.48m throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Poland. He won the Asian Championship 2017 in Bhubaneswar with a throw of 85.23 metres. Neeraj began his training under Germany's legendary Uwe Hohn and proceeded to win gold at the Commonwealth Games 2018 with a throw of 86.47m, as well as a personal best of 87.43m in the Diamond League's Doha leg. He won the Asian Games with a throw of 88.06m. He also received the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the VSM in 2020 for his athletic endeavours. Read | Read | Graphic From Subedar to Gold medalist: Neeraj Chopra's journey at Indian Army's Mission Olympics Wing
185 Dairy brand Amul congratulated 'golden boy' Neeraj Chopra with an animated doodle after he won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 23-year-old from Haryana's Panipat won the Men's Javelin Gold medal. The doodle shared by Amul features an animated sketch of Neeraj Chopra holding the javelin in one hand and the gold medal on the other. He can be seen showing his medal to the Amul girl, who is saluting him. "#Amul Topical: India wins her first-ever track and field gold medal (sic)," Amul shared the animated doodle with this caption. "Neeraj on the thrown," reads the text on the graphic. The post went crazy viral with thousands of likes. Netizens took to the comments section to laud Neeraj Chopra and congratulate him. Neeraj Chopra became the second Indian, after Abhinav Bindra, to win an individual Olympic Gold medal. Neeraj ended India's 121-year wait for an athletics medal with his gold in the javelin final. The 23-year-old athlete dedicated his gold medal to Milkha Singh. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Amul congratulates Neeraj Chopra with animated doodle after athlete's gold win at Olympics
186 Punjab and Haryana with just 4.4% of population have together sent 50 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics 2020 accounting for 40% of the Indian contingent. Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be remembered in history for a long time for many reasons, the foremost being the first games to be played during the COVID-19 pandemic. But wait, not just that. Tokyo 2020 gave India many reasons to smile with heads held high in pride. While India is yet to have its National Anthem moment, there have been several occasions where we got to the podium and our tricolour fluttered with pride. Yes, we got our share of medals and all thanks to the127 athleteshailing from different states,who are representing the country and 135 crore Indians with pride. The athletes are representing India in 18 different games being played at the Olympics including Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Badminton, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. But there is something particularly very striking to it.Athletes from Haryana and Punjab are once again leading from the front. Punjab and Haryanawith just 4.4% of India's huge population, have together sent 50 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Games, accounting for 40% of the Indian contingent. Haryana has 31 athletes in the contingent, which is nearly 25% of the total, while Punjab has 19.Tamil Nadu has sent 11 athletes to Tokyo which is 8.7% of the contingent. This is followed by Kerala and Uttar Pradesh each with 8 athletes. The interesting part is that while UP is the largest state of India with nearly 17% of India's total population, it iscontributing just 6.3% of the country's contingent atTokyo 2020. When compared to Kerala which has just2.6% of the country's population is alsocontributing 6.3%of the country's contingent atTokyo 2020, equalling that with the largest state of Uttar Pradesh.Five athletes from Manipur are also representing India, not to forget that it wasChanu Saikhom Mirabai from Manipur who won the first silver medal for India and set the momentum for Tokyo 2020. The Haryana Wrestling Association is also affiliated to the Olympic association of Haryana and the Wrestling Federation of India. Haryana is not just home to the most number of individual Olympic medal winners but has also sent the most number of participants,31 athletes, in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Before the Tokyo Olympics 2020 began, the data revealed that till the last Olympics, Indian individuals won 17 medals in the world's biggest game played every four years. Among the 17 medal winners from 11 states, Haryana accounts for four - Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik all won after the 2008 Olympics. Haryana is followed by West Bengal with three Olympic medals and Delhi with two Olympic medals, while participants from at least eight states have won one medal each. With six players, four in hockey and two in wrestling, Sonepat districts has contributed to the most number of Olympians, followed by Kurukshetra and Jhajjar. The two panchayats of Nahri and Nahra in the Sonepat district of Haryana are famed for producing wrestlers, as is almost every village in Sonepat. The village is home to two Arjuna awardee wrestlers Satveer Singh and Mahavir Singh, and two Olympians Mahavir Singh (1980 Moscow) and Amit Kumar Dahiya (2012 London). At 18, Amit Kumar Dahiya held the record of being the youngest Indian wrestler to have competed at the 2012 London Olympics. This year in Tokyo,freestyle wrestler Ravi Dahiya (57kg) from Nahri village of Haryana took to the mat at the Tokyo Olympics and is now going to play the finals. From Haryana, nine players are part of the women's hockey team. Also, seven wrestlers of the contingent are from the state.
187 Neeraj Chopra bagged a historic gold medal at Tokyo Olympics in the men's javelin throw final on Saturday, August 7. He became the second Indian to grab an individual Olympic gold and the first Indian to win a gold medal in an athletics event. Congratulatory messages have been pouring in from all corners for Neeraj. Bollywood celebs also took to social media to laud his performance. BOLLYWOOD CONGRATULATES NEERAJ CHOPRA FOR OLYMPICS GOLD . Meanwhile, Bollywood celebrities also congratulated him for making history. Anushka Sharma wrote, "And a gold comes home!! You make the entire country so proud Congratulations Neeraj Chopra (sic)." Kareena Kapoor also congratulated him with a special post on social media. Ajay Devgn tweeted, "Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on your win at the Tokyo Olympics. More power to you! You've made your parents & India proud. Can't tell you how happy I am. This is awesome #NeerajChopra #TokyoOlympics (sic)." Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on your win at the Tokyo Olympics. More power to you! You've made your parents & India proud. Can't tell you how happy I am. This is awesome - Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) Abhishek Bachchan took to Twitter and wrote, "HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! Kudos to @Neeraj_chopra1 for the first-ever athletics gold medal at #TokyoOlympics. @WeAreTeamIndia #Cheer4India (sic)." HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! Kudos to for the first-ever athletics gold medal at . - Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) Here's how Ranveer Singh lauded Neeraj Chopra's historic Olywmpics win: Here's how other celebs congratulated Neeraj Chopra: Hailing from Panipat's Khandra village, Neeraj Chopra scripted history with a best throw of 87.58 metres, winning a historic first Olympic gold in athletics for India. Our heartiest congratulations to him. ALSO READ| ALSO READ | Graphic Anushka Sharma to Kareena Kapoor, celebs hail Neeraj Chopra's historic gold win at Olympics
188 The 26-year-old Manipuri became the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. The lone Indian weightlifter to qualify for Tokyo Olympics gave fans a reason to rejoice as Saikhom Mirabai Chanu managed to bury the ghosts of the 2016 Rio Olympics and won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 26-year-old Manipuri became only the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. The veteran had won a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. Who is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu? Mirabai, at the age of 13,from Nongpok Kakching village - around 20km from Manipur's capital Imphal - had decided she wanted to be a sportsperson. So she went ahead and decided to learn archery. With a plan in mind, in early 2008, she travelled with a cousin to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre, at Khuman Lampak in Imphal. However, she did not find any archer training that day. Things took a turn when she saw clippings of the legendary Manipuri weightlifter Kunjarani Devi. This inspired her and after a few days, she went to the weightlifting training centre. She met the former international weightlifter and coach Anita Chanu, and this got her into the sport. She had also started juggling her training and her school schedule to make her dream come true. Road to weightlifting fame: In the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Mirabai lifted 170kg to win a silver. She then won gold in the 2016 Senior Nationals. She had a disappointing show at the Rio Olympics, but Mirabai silenced her detractors by winning the gold in the 2017 World Championships and even at the Commonwealth Games a year later. She also overcame an unspecified back problem, which she had acquired in 2018. She changed her weight category to 49kg from her original 48 kg and now she is a proud silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
189 Boxer Lovlina Borgohain's medal-winning campaign in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics has not only spread cheers across the country and Assam, but it has also brought major relief for her native village in the form of a proper road. On July 30, soon after after defeating Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen in the women's welterweight category, her humble home in Baromuthia village in Assam's Goalghat district was caught in a heavy downpour. Medal and new road The road connecting Baromuthia village to her home was lying neglected in pathetic conditions. Now the 3.5 km muddy 'kuccha' road to Lovlina's home is being repaired by the Public Works Department (PWD) before her from Tokyo. Local MLA Biswajit Phukan took on the initiative to build a proper road to her residence and said that the previous road was in a bad condition. "But we have started the work to make this road a metalled road," the MLA said. "We can say that this is a gift to Lovlina. I appeal to the people of Assam and the country to pray for Lovlina so that she can return to the country by winning a gold medal. Lovlina is an inspiration for all the numerous girls from such small districts. We will try to make world-class sports infrastructure in this area and I hope the Assam Chief Minister will extend his support," Biswajit Phukan said. Bitul Gohain, a local youth of Baromuthia village said that the construction work of the road was started the same day Lovlina assured a medal and entered the semifinal. "We are so happy that the road is being repaired. Lovlina will play her semifinal match tomorrow. We hope that she wins the gold medal. When she entered the semifinal, the road repairing works was started," Bitul Gohain said. "The local MLA has given this road as a gift after Lovlina entered the semifinals and assured an Olympic medal. We hope that Lovlina will win a gold medal," Swapan Chakraborty, another local villager of Sarupathar area, said. Lovlina's Olympics campaign In her match at the Tokyo Olympics on July 30, debutant Lovlina Borgohain assured India of its first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games when she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei to enter the semifinals. The 23-year-old, who started her career as a Muay Thai practitioner, has become only the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish at the Olympics after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). Lovlina Borgohain, a two-time world championship bronze-medallist, is also the first female boxer from Assam to qualify for the Olympics. Earlier, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma took part in a cycle rally in Guwahati to wish Lovlina for her bout at the Games. Graphic Lovlina's medal-winning Olympics campaign gets her native village in Assam a new road
190 A spectacular video of a colourful firework display on a tall building is being widely shared on social media with the claim that it was a part of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 inauguration ceremony. Posting this video, RJ Golmaal Gagan from 94.3 My Fm wrote, "This is so Amazing! Tokyo fireworks on Olympics inauguration". The archived version of this can be . India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the viral video is neither related to the Olympics and it is not recent. It shows a firework extravaganza which was put up in Taiwan's iconic skyscraper 'Taipei 101' on the occasion of New year celebration on 31 December 2020. This claim is . AFWA probe On reverse searching the keyframes of the viral video, we found that several had in the month of January this year. We also found a similar video on the YouTube channel of . 'Taiwan News' had also published a on this event. As per the report, a five-minute fireworks display was conducted to welcome the arrival of 2021 in Taipei 101, Taipei. This year, the show displayed 16,000 fireworks as a tribute to Taiwan's frontline medical workers. On comparing the visuals from the viral video with the 'Taiwan News' video report, we noticed many similarities. We found of the new year celebration on the . These videos were recorded live on December 31, 2020. According to the , the official venue for conducting the opening and closing ceremony of Tokyo Olympics 2020 is 'The National Stadium of Tokyo'. It is noteworthy that this stadium looks completely different from Taipei 101. The actual visuals of the firework show from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony can be seen in the below video report by Reuters. Thus, it is clear that around six-month-old fireworks show video of the New Year Celebration in Taiwan is being falsely shared as the inaugural ceremony of Tokyo Olympics 2020. READ | ALSO READ | WATCH | Graphic Fact Check: New Year Celebration in Taiwan passed off as opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics
191 Great Britain's gold medalist diver, Tom Daley also represents the LGBTQ+ community at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 After winning his gold medal for diving at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Tom Daley went viral for another thing that he did. He was spotted on the stands where he was seen enjoying the women's 3m springboard diving final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Sunday whilst knitting. What happened next was inevitable, his pictures of knitting went viral. In the picture, the 27-year-old is seen wearing his Team Great Britain's kit and a mandatory mask flaunting his needles and purple wool in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. After his photo went viral, people from around the world began tweeting pictures of themselves knitting whilst watching the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and there were lots of them. The picture was also shared by the Olympics official Twitter handle. They captioned it, "Oh this? Just Olympic champ @TomDaley1994 knitting in the stands while watching the diving." Great Britain's official account also tweeted the picture by captioning it, "Nothing to see here - just @TomDaley1994 having a knit at the diving." For the unversed, Tom Daley has been knitting and crotching for a long time. He even has a dedicated account on Instagram to promote his skills called 'madewithlovebytomdaley'. He also posted a video after winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 showing off his new creation which is a small pouch to carry his gold medal. Tom explained in the video how knitting has kept him sane throughout the whole process. He captioned the video, "THANK YOU TO ALL MY FELLOW STITCHERS! Learning to knit and crochet has helped me so much through these Olympics and we won GOLD yesterday I made a little medal case too! YAY!" For those who do not know, Tom Daley also represents the LGBTQ community at the Olympics.
192 Milind Soman made a 'mistake' on social media while congratulating wrestler Priya Malik, but the actor is brave enough to admit it. Immediately after Milind posted a tweet on Priya Malik, social media users fact-checked him, following which the 55-year-old actor apologised on Twitter, but refused to delete his first incorrect post. It so happened that Priya Malik won the gold medal in 73 kg world title at the Cadet World Championships in Budapest on July 22. However, a has won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. and congratulated Priya Malik for winning at the Tokyo Olympics. "Thank you Priya Malik! #gold #TokoyoOlympics #wrestling welcome to Mt Olympus," Milind Soman said in his post. Thank you Priya Malik! welcome to Mt Olympus - Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) Soon after Milind's tweet was posted, it went viral with several retweets as social media users pointed out, "Sir it is world wrestling championship and not Olympic... It is held in Hungary...fyi." "World wrestling championship not Olympics," another user said. See the comments here: Kindly google little and find out in which world sporting event she won... It's not mandatory to post congratulatory tweet without knowing about it - Aghori Archer (@Rocky33852616) Sir it's world wrestling championship and not Olympic... It is held in Hungary...fyi - Dhaval Thacker (@DhavalThacker2) World wrestling championship not Olympics. - Akash Garg (@akashgarg123) Double- check whether it is Tokyo Olympics or World Wrestling championship .. - cricbuff (@007nikhilsharma) Dear sir its not Olympic medal.. its cadet championship - Vijender Upadhyay (@Vijender9786) She didn't win Gold in the Olympics. It's the World Wrestling Championships. - Jai #NoleFam (@JayFedex) She's won World Wrestling Championship, not in Olympics. Congratulations to her anyways,.. we are proud of her - Koushik Upadhyay (@ShreeKoushikJi) Sir check yr information then post. - awara_rohit (@RoyalStag_Bisht) World Wrestling Championship Hungary - Adrift Gypsy (@AdriftGypsy) Milind realised his 'mistake' and tweeted, "Sorry, should have checked before my earlier tweet, but was too overcome with joy. Priya Malik won Gold at the World wrestling Championships! Onwards and upwards." Sorry, should have checked before my earlier tweet, but was too overcome with joy Priya Malik won Gold at the World wrestling Championships ! Onwards and upwards - Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) Meanwhile, a social media user responded to Milind's first tweet and said, "Sir please delete this. She won at World Championship at Hungry. Even I got excited initially." The actor responded soon after, saying, "I know now, still happy and I won't delete the tweet, sometimes it's ok to make a mistake." I know now, still happy :) and I won't delete the tweet, sometimes its ok to make a mistake - Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) Nice! , is the star of films Bajirao Mastani and Chef. ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic Milind Soman congratulates Priya Malik for winning at Tokyo Olympics. Internet fact-checks him
193 It was a historic win for ace badminton player PV Sindhu, who won her second Olympic medal at the Tokyo Olympic 2020. The heart of every Indian was brimming with pride as the Indian shuttler won bronze after defeating China's He Bingjiao. After her historic win, for her stupendous show. However, there was one Twitter user who wanted PV Sindhu to be felicitated with Mahindra Thar for her historic performance. Twitter user, Mr. Wadewale, tagged Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and PV Sindhu in his tweet and wrote, "She deserves Thar for her performance. #TharforPVsindhu (sic)." she deserves Thar for her performance. - Mr. Wadewale (@shubhwadewale) Anand Mahindra took to Twitter to respond to the user saying that she already has one Mahindra Thar parked in her garage. The 61-year-old businessman also shared a picture from 2016 in which PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik can be seen riding a red Mahindra Thar. "She already has one in her garage (sic)|," Anand Mahindra responded to the tweet. She already has one in her garage - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) For the uninitiated, after PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik won medals at the Rio Olympics 2016, Anand Mahindra had announced on Twitter that the company would be gifting the young achievers a brand-new customised SUV. While PV Sindhu won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, wrestler Sakshi Malik brought home a bronze medal. In another tweet, Anand Mahindra also lauded PV Sindhu for her inexplicable performance, resilience and commitment. "If there were an Olympics for mental strength, she would be on the top of the podium. Think about how much more resilience & commitment it requires to rise above a demoralising defeat & give it your all You're still our Golden Girl @Pvsindhu1 (sic)," he wrote. She already has one in her garage - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra reacts to Twitter user demanding Thar for PV Sindhu after Olympics Bronze win
194 "I designed a pattern for the colour work that would signify everything about these games!" Tom Daley shared on social media Olympic gold medallist Tom Daley, who was recently photographed knitting while watching a match at this year's event, has finally completed his project. He took to social media to share pictures of the cardigan he made. The white cardigan not only featured the Olympic rings but also the Team GB logo at the back. Calling it his "Olympic cardigan", Daley wrote on social media, "When I got to Tokyo, I wanted to make something that would remind me of the Olympics to look back on in the future. I designed a pattern for the colour work that would signify everything about these games!" He added, "On the back I went for a classic @teamgb logo, the shoulders have a flag and GBR on them. For the front I wanted to keep it simple and I tried my best to embroider TOKYO in Japanese!" On either sleeve were embroidered a Union Jack and GBR logo. Netizens could not keep calm. "Could you be the sweetest person alive?! Following the knitting progress more than the Olympics itself at the moment!" a user commented. Another wrote, "This is amazing! How do you knit so quickly?" "You paint with wool. So creative!" another social media user commented. The 27-year-old British diver runs a separate page on Instagram that is dedicated entirely to knitting. In an earlier post, he showed a woollen case that he knitted for the gold medal that he won this year. "Learning to knit and crochet has helped me so much through these Olympics and we won GOLD yesterday. I made a little medal case too," he wrote. Daley also knitted some 'doggy jumpers'; he shared pictures on social media.
195 Indian shuttler PV Sindhu won a Bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, her father said she will now have ice cream with PM Modi in New Delhi Indian shuttler PV Sindhu won a Bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics on Sunday after defeating the eighth seed China's He Bingjiao and now she will have ice cream with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, her father said. PV Ramana said that the Badminton champion will return to Delhi on August 3. He said that PM Modi had encouraged her and promised her that if she will return with a medal, he will have ice cream with her. PV Ramana said that now Sindhu will be taking up the offer of the PM and she will have ice cream with PM Modi after her return. "The encouragement PM Modi had given to her, he had said, 'you go, we will have ice cream when you come back,' so she will now definitely go and have ice cream with the Prime Minister," Ramana said at a press conference PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two consecutive medals at the Olympics as in 2016 she had won a Silver medal in the Rio Olympics. She also became the second Indian athlete to win two consecutive medals after Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics 2008 and a silver medal at the London Olympics 2012. The 26-year-old beat Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15 in a match that lasted 52 minutes at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1. PM Modi congratulated Sindhu on her win, saying, "We are all elated by the stellar performance by PV Sindhu. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze at @Tokyo2020. She is India's pride and one of our most outstanding Olympians." "I am happy that she is the first Indian woman to win two consecutive medals at the Olympics. She has brought name and fame to the country," PV Ramana told reporters on Sunday. He added, "I am confident she will play next Olympics also. We have to get as many medals to the country." "Sindhu is focused and she has that hunger. She enjoys the game. Sindhu is 26, with age you get more experience. I have seen that in the entire Tokyo Olympics," PV Ramana said.
196 Celebrities took to social media to congratulate Mirabai Chanu and celebrate India's first medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. After Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinched a silver medal in women's 49kg category in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, celebrities took to social media to congratulate the sportswoman and celebrate India's first medal at the 2020 Olympics. Hailing from Manipur, the 26-year-old is a Padma Shri awardee and was honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2018. She lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to become the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari, who won a bronze in 2000 Sydney Olympics, to win a medal for the country. Taapsee Pannu quoted a news report about the win on Twitter and wrote, "And we begin !!!!!! Come on India ." Raveena Tandon shared on Twitter, "#proudindianwomen." Saiyami Kher tweeted, "YESSSSSS Sports medal #MirabaiChanu #Olympics." Congratulations #MirabaiChanu .. #TokyoOlympics2021 #Weightlifting - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 24, 2021 Filmmaker Venkat Prabhu shared, "First medal for #teamindia proud moment!! Thank q @mirabai_chanu #silver #Weightlifting more to come!! ." Kritika Kamra also celebrated the win by sharing a news report about the win. Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani tweeted, "Congratulations, India! Yet again, an Indian Woman brings us international sporting acclaim! #MirabaiChanu wins an #OlympicSilver! Jai Hind!!!" Congratulations, India! Yet again, an Indian Woman brings us international sporting acclaim! #MirabaiChanu wins an #OlympicSilver! Jai Hind!!! - VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) July 24, 2021 Actor-politician Ravi Kishan tweeted, "What a win ....congratulations Mirabai chanu." Director Anubhav Sinha tweeted, "#MirabaiChanu. Manipur, India. ZINDABAD!!!" #MirabaiChanu. Manipur, India. ZINDABAD!!! - Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) July 24, 2021 Sunny Deol said, "Great beginning @mirabai_chanu. Congratulations India. #MirabaiChanu #IndiaAtTokyo2020." Actor Sophie Choudry tweeted, "Woohoo!! Congratulations #MirabaiChanu Stadiums may be empty but a billion people are cheering!!!! Come on #TeamIndia #Olympics #OlympicGames #Tokyo2020." Malayalam film actor Tovino Thomas wrote, "India's First Medal at Tokyo Olympics! #MirabaiChanu." Congratulations #MirabaiChanu for opening our account in the #OlympicGames with your #silver thank you for all your hard work and that competitive spirit #Olympics - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) July 24, 2021 Randeep Hooda shared, "Congratulations #MirabaiChanu for opening our account in the #OlympicGames with your #silver thank you for all your hard work and that competitive spirit #Olympics." Pranitha Subhash wrote, "What an outstanding opening by #MirabaiChanu! First time ever India's secured a medal on the first day of Tokyo Olympics. A promising start. #Weightlifting #Cheers4India #silver."
197 New Delhi, July 22: Six-time world champion and 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom's road to another Olympic medal just got tougher as she dons the Indian jersey one last time at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Five Indian boxers will begin their challenge in the pre-quarterfinals stage as the draws were unveiled at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday. World No. 1 Amit Panghal (52kg) alongside Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Satish Kumar (91kg) are the five Indian pugilists who will start their quest for the medal in last-16 stage. On the other hand, MC Mary Kom (51kg), Manish Kaushik (63kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg) will be seen competing round-of-32 in their respective categories. Vikas, the only second Indian boxer after Vijender Singh to compete in the third consecutive Olympic Games, will start proceedings for the country at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday as he will take on Japanese boxer Mensah Okazawa in the round of 32. If progress, Vikas may face a challenge from London Olympics champion Cuban boxer Roniel Iglesias in the next round. Mary Kom will start against Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez in the first round and likely to meet Rio Olympics bronze medallist Colombian boxer Ingrit Valencia in the second round. World Championships silver medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) will have a comparatively easy challenge in his maiden Olympic Games as he will begin his campaign on July 31 in the last-16 stage. Lovlina, the first woman boxer from Assam to qualify for the Olympics, will be challenged by Germany's Nadine Apetz in the round-of-16 bout. World Championships bronze medallist Simranjit, who has been seeded fourth, will also be starting her campaign in the pre-quarters. Pooja Rani (75kg), who was the first India to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, will take on Algeria's Ichrak Chaib in the last-16 stage and is likely to face strong challenge from Rio Olympics bronze medallist and second seeded Chinese boxer Qian Li in the quarter-finals. Apart from Panghal, Satish is another Indian boxer to kickstart his challenge in the pre-quarters in the men's section as he will fight against Ricardo Brown, who is the first Jamaican boxer to compete at the Olympics since 1996 Atlanta Games. Satish, the first Indian boxer to qualify for super heavyweight category, may play against top-seed and reigning world champion Uzbekh boxer Bakhodir Jalolov in the quarters. World Championships bronze medallist Manish will also have a tough task going ahead in the tournament as he is likely to face two-time world champion Andy Cruz of Cuba if progresses into the last-16 stage. India have won two medals in boxing at the Olympic Games so far with Vijender Singh winning the bronze in 2008 and Mary Kom adding the second bronze to the tally in 2012. The upcoming Tokyo Olympics will witness a record nine Indian pugilists competing and aiming to win medals for the country. The upcoming Olympics will have 289 boxers, including 102 women and 187 women, fighting across 13 weight categories. Indian boxing draw for Tokyo Olympics Women Mary Kom vs Miguelina Hernandez (flyweight 51kg) Simranjit Kaur - first round bye (lightweight 60kg) Lovlina Borgohain - first round bye (welterweight 69kg) Pooja Rani vs Ichrak Chaib (middleweight 75kg) Men Amit Panghal - first round bye (flyweight 52kg) Manish Kaushik vs Luke McCormack (lightweight 63kg) Vikas Krishan vs Okazawa Quincy Mensah (welterweight 69kg) Ashish Kumar vs Tuoheta Erbieke (middleweight 75kg) Satish Kumar - first round bye (super heavyweight +91kg)
198 After Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India at the Tokyo Olympics, Indian celebrities took to social media to celebrate the historic moment. Neeraj Chopra on Saturday clinched a gold medal with a stunning throw of 87.5m in the men's javelin throw final at the Tokyo Olympics. With the win, Neeraj became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, and the first to notch up a track and field Olympic medal for the country. After Neeraj won the first gold medal for India at the Tokyo Olympics, Indian celebrities took to social media to celebrate the historic moment. Adivi Sesh tweeted, "#GOLD !!!!! #NeerajChopra YOU BEAUTY!!!!" Richa Chadha posted on Twitter, "GOLD! @neerajchoprajav. so good in the first two attempts that the third attempt didn't matter." Vikram Prabhu shared on Twitter, "@Neeraj_chopra1 Olympic Gold medalist!!!!" Neeerraaaaaaajjjjjjj Chopraaaaaaaaaa our Olympic Gold champion ..... what a win !!!!! #NeerajChopra jai Hind - Neha Dhupia (@NehaDhupia) August 7, 2021 Neha Dhupia tweeted, "Neeerraaaaaaajjjjjjj Chopraaaaaaaaaa our Olympic Gold champion ..... what a win!!!!! #NeerajChopra jai Hind." "This is actually an incredible achievement! The greatest by an Indian athlete ever," Sudhir Mishra said via Twitter. Nivin Pauly posted on Twitter, "A 23 year old scripts history for India in track and field - our first medal in athletics in 100 years! And a #GoldMedal that too! Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 #TeamIndia #TrackandField #Javelin #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020" Shaabash #NeerajChopra You make us proud. Historic win for #IND pic.twitter.com/DNasmS6xtZ - Manoj Joshi (@actormanojjoshi) August 7, 2021 Manoj Joshi shared a photo of the "Hum jeet gaye (we won)" moment from Lagaan, and wrote, "Shaabash #NeerajChopra. You make us proud. Historic win for #IND." Aishwarya Rajesh tweeted, "It's a gold for India !!! Let the celebrations begin! Our boy #NeerajChopra wins GOLD!!! Wins the javelin competition with a fantastic throw of 87.58 mtrs!!" It's a gold for India !!! Let the celebrations begin! Our boy #NeerajChopra wins GOLD!!! Wins the javelin competition with a fantastic throw of 87.58 mtrs!! - aishwarya rajesh (@aishu_dil) August 7, 2021 Vatsal Sheth shared a photo of Neeraj Chopra and wrote, "Yesssssss ...First place medal. #NeerajChopra #Tokyo2020." Prithviraj Sukumaran also shared a photo of Neeraj's winning moment and wrote, "Gold!!! #NeerajChopra #TokyoOlympics2020." Taapsee Pannu expressed her delight, writing on Twitter, "It's a gold!!!!!!! I am jumping with Joy!!!! This young man Neeraj Chopra has created history !!!!!!!." Nakuul Mehta shared on Twitter, "Watershed moment for Indian sport! Neeraj Chopra, you." "Gold Gold Gold. @Neeraj_chopra1. Congratulations Champion !!#Olympics #gold What a proud moment for every Indian across the world. Jai Hind," Riteish Deshmukh said via Twitter. Ajay Devgn wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on your win at the Tokyo Olympics. More power to you! You've made your parents & India proud. Can't tell you how happy I am. This is awesome #NeerajChopra #TokyoOlympics." Kapil Sharma took to Twitter and wrote, "Congratulations #India we r so proud of you @Neeraj_chopra1 #goldmedal #Tokyo2020 god bless." Shehnaaz Gill tweeted, "It's a gold Heartiest congratulations #NeerajChopra on creating history!"
199 All sections of people of Manipur joined hands with those in the rest of the country in congratulating Padma Shri Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won the first silver medal in the 49-kg category in the Tokyo Olympics. Bhakta Charan Das, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee now camping here said, "Miss Mirabai has done the country and the people proud by winning the first silver medal in the Olympics games. I on behalf of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi congratulate her. I also congratulate the people of this soil on this proud moment." T. Radheshyam, former Minister and now Congress MLA and president of the Manipur Olympics Association, said, "It is a great day for Manipur and the rest of the country. Mirabai has made all of us proud by winning the country's first medal at Tokyo. In the history of India it is the first time that an Indian has won the silver medal in weight lifting." Despite curfew and other COVIND-19 restrictions, people celebrated the great event. "But she will do better in the next Olympics games" is the refrain. Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren, who is in Meghalaya, has congratulated Ms. Mirabai Chanu on her victory. Mr. Biren, who was a national level footballer, had some weeks ago announced rewards amounting to more than ₹1 crore for any Manipuri player who wins a medal. Cash incentives will be given to all those who take part in the games. An elderly woman in her village, Nongpok Kakching, said, "I knew she would shine one day since from her childhood she has been strong and good natured girl."
200 Indore: "This is the time we should celebrate and encash on this euphoria. We can use this moment for the benefit for hockey," says Negi. "If we let traumatic history repeat itself from 1998, we're bound to lose the chance of another win for decades again." What happened in 1998? The last Asian Games of the 20the Century were held in Bangkok in 1998 and they provided a golden moment for Indian hockey. It was a tale of two tournaments in 1998. In May 1998, India had floundered at the 9 World Cup in Utrecht, the Netherlands, finishing a dismal ninth. "It was when I was coaching the team too," says Negi. Sadly, the legacy of this 1998 Asian Games gold medal triumph did not last long. After the success in Bangkok, Dhanraj Pillay and some senior players requested the IHF for monetary incentives and even asked for graded payment for playing international matches for India. The request for money and graded payment was seen as the players' revolt. Pillay and several other members of the victorious 1998 squad were suspended for the test series vs Pakistan. "We lost the players and lost the Olympics for following decades," rues Negi. What to do to save the moment and be ready for next Olympics? * Organise 15-20 exhibition matches between the Indian Olympic Team and Rest of India, or the MP team, or the particular state team where the matches are going to be held... reaching out to every part of the country and encashing on this win * Reach out to the hockey players and organise matches with local teams. Ranchi, Raipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Bhopal are the major centres for hockey players * A procession of very high magnitude should be organised to celebrate the win and the players must be given respect as never before
201 She said that while the Indian shooters were dominating before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the gap might have given others a chance to catch up Anjali Bhagwat may truly be called a trail-blazer in Indian shooting. She was the first to make it to an Olympic final - in the 10m air rifle at the 2000 Sydney Games - and though she never won an Olympic medal, she went on to win a ISSF World Cup Final and be a Commonwealth Games champion among her other achievements. She also became the world No 1. With the shooting team at the Tokyo Olympics expected to bring in medals, Anjali said she was confident that the mixed team events (10m air pistol and 10m air rifle) will go India's way. "But as far as individual events are concerned, I really feel that whoever can keep a cool head on that day will win," said Anjali, who will be part of the Sony Sports Olympic special show 'Sports Extraaa', during a virtual interaction on Thursday. Asked whether teen sensations Saurabh Chaudhary Manu Bhaker can win individual medals, she said: "Let's not talk about medals, but I am confident of a good performance. It will be their first Olympic Games, but they have had great international exposure and have done extremely well. "They have won medals consistently at World Cups, at Asian-level meets, the Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympics. They are very talented and confident. Also they have been guided and supported well and have nothing to lose." How will the team handle the pressure of the Olympics? "Pressure is always there, even in domestic meets. But the Olympic Games have their own aura. It is a very different atmosphere. You have a responsibility towards your nation. There are expectations of bringing home a medal. But by the time you make it to the Olympics, you should be ready for it." Anjali added that while the Indian shooters were dominating before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the gap might have given others a chance to catch up. "In 2019, Indians were winning everything. If the Olympics had taken place in 2020, I would have surely said we would get four to six medals. But with the pandemic striking, the rest of the world got the time to catch up with us. "But I am very confident about our chances in the mixed team events. Both India pairings (Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan in 10m air pistol and Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker in 10m air rifle) are very strong. "But in individual events you need luck, you have to be in the zone, you have to have positive thoughts. I feel Rahi (Sarnobat, 25m pistol) has a good chance. But again, it will be the shooter who performs best on that day, the one who can rise above the occasion. "A shooter must have a positive mind set. They have invested four years for this very special day. They must wake up with the confidence that they have done their best to prepare. You need to enjoy your performance. And then, if your best is good enough for a medal it will be a bonus." She added: "Look at what happened to Jitu Rai in 2016. He was billed to win a medal, even a gold. But he could not match up to the expectations. It all depends on what happens on that particular day." Asked how dangerous can the Chinese team be, she said: "They are keeping their team a secret. They have not taken part in any major event since the pandemic struck. They also have a fantastic domestic set up. So we have no idea how good they are right now. They are generally very strong. Even the Iranians can be a challenge." Looking back at her performance in Sydney, she said: "I was a wild card entry. I was not prepared enough. When I made the final I had no idea how to handle it. But the team members now are not just talented but also very well prepared. They have been trained and taken care of well. They have made winning a habit. "We hardly had anyone to look up to. But now India has medals of all three colours in our kitty. So that barrier has been broken. The new generation has started on a positive note that they can win an Olympic medal." The Olympics will be shown live on Sony Six, Sony Ten2 and Sony Ten3.
202 Tokyo Olympics: How much money will medal-winning athletes earn? Know the cash prizes announced by different countries. Chanu Saikhom Mirabai is India's sole medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 till now. While she was conferred with a silver medal and a memorable podium tribute for her achievement, the medal doesn't accompany any official cash prize from the International Olympic Committee. As is the custom with nations that send athletes to Olympics, Chanu's effort will be rewarded with cash prize from her home country. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Viashnaw announced a Rs 2 crore reward for Chanu. Manipur Chief Minister M Biren Singh announced a Rs 1 crore reward while Indian Olympics Association added a Rs 10 lakh reward to further the Olympian's winnings. When converted to USD, Chanu's combined cash reward will be in excess of US $400,000. But how does Indian Olympic medalist's earnings compare to winners from other countries at Tokyo Olympics 2020? Cash rewards for Olympic medalists in different countries Cash rewards allocated for gold, silver and bronze medals at Olympics are varied across countries. A list of cash rewards for Olympic medalists from 12 countries, compiled by CNBC and Money Under 30 shows that American athletes are conferred with much less cash rewards compared to Indian winners. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has set the cash prize at $37,500, $22,500, and $15,000 for winning gold, silver and bronze respectively. On the other hand, one of the highest rewarding countries is Singapore which will pay medalists around $737,000 for gold, $369,000 for silver and $184,000 for bronze. Another high cash prize paying country is Kazakhstan with rewards of $250,000 (G), $150,000 (S) and 75,000 (B). Other countries rewarding in excess of $200,000 to winners are Malaysia, Italy and the Philippines. Countries that perform well and are higher placed in the Olympics tally such as Japan, South Africa and Brazil pay in the lesser range of under $50,000, rewards amounting closer to the USA. Canada and Australia pay just $16,000 and $15,000 to their gold medalists, respectively. Rewards announced by India The Indian Olympic Association has set cash prizes of Rs 75 lakh for gold medalists and Rs 40 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for silver and bronze respectively. However, that prize will be escalated by steep cash rewards being offered by several states to spur their athletes to medals at Tokyo Olympics. Highest rewards are announced by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Odisha at Rs 6 crore for gold winners, Rs 4 crore for silver and Rs 2 crore, Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 2.5 crore respectively for bronze. Most states have announced cash rewards where a gold medal will earn athletes between Rs 1-3 crore. The lowest cash prize announced is reportedly by West Bengal at Rs 25 lakh (G), Rs 15 lakh (S) and Rs 10 lakh (B). Apart from such cash rewards on winning medals, some Olympians also bag sponsorship or endorsement deals on the back of success in the games. But such deals are still rare for medalists in most Olympic sports.
203 India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra dedicated his Gold medal win in the Tokyo Olympics to late legendary sprinter Milkha Singh. Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win a medal, let alone gold in Track and Field for his country in Olympic Games. Neeraj with a throw of 87.58 metres in the men's javelin throw final won the gold medal, first for India in the Tokyo Olympics. After the win, the 23-year old dedicated his medal to the country's legendary sprinter Milkha Singh, who died on June 18 this year due to COVID-19 hoping that he is watching him from wherever he is. Neeraj Chopra, with that win, also became only the second Indian to win an individual Gold medal for India, after Abhinav Bindra. Talking to the media after his win, Neeraj said, "I dedicate this medal to Milkha Singh. I hope he's watching upon me from wherever he is." Chopra, who finally fulfilled India's long dream of winning a medal in athletics as the likes of Milkha Singh, who finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics, PT Usha and Anju Bobby Geroge, who nearly missed on one. For Neeraj, it was an unbelievable feeling winning a medal, that too gold, that too in athletics, in just his first appearance in the Games. "It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won gold in athletics, so I feel very good. We have just one gold here in other sports. This is our first Olympic medal for a very long time, and in athletics, it is the first time we have gold, so it's a proud moment for me and my country," he said. Neeraj was later congratulated by PM Narendra Modi, cricketers, actors, other celebrities, fans, journalists alike as his medal meant India also achieved their best-ever medal tally in the history of Olympic Games - seven.
204 PV Sindhu defeated the eighth seed China's He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match in straight sets in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian shuttler PV Sindhu defeated the eighth seed China's He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match in straight sets in the Tokyo Olympics to win her second consecutive medal in the Games following her Silver medal win in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Sindhu beat Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15 in a match that lasted 52 minutes at theMusashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM Court 1 and became the first Indian woman to win two medals in the Olympic Games and only the second Indian athlete after Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic 2008 and a silver medal at the London Olympics 2012. The 26-year old was dominant from the start as she didn't give her opponent any chance. He Bingjiao was a little slow in her movement and Sindhu used it to her full effect. She used her height and the fact that Bingjiao is a southpaw and she attacked her right side of the court. Sindhu continued from where she left off in the first set and overcame a few close moments to keep her relentless pursuit and finished the game 21-15. Earlier Sindhu had lost the semi-final against the second seed and World No 1 Tai Tzu-Ying in straight sets and was out of the gold medal contention but she ensured that bronze was in her grasp throughout the game as she didn't look in any discomfort.
205 India's Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin at 86.65 metres in his first attempt in the qualifying round and advanced to the final in the Tokyo Olympics. India's final medal hope and only gold medal hope Neeraj Chopra will be taking part in the men's javelin throw final in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj qualified for the final in only his first attempt where he threw the javelin at 86.65 metres. Gold medal contender and Neerja's biggest threat Germany's Johannes Vetter qualified in his third attempt with a throws of 85.64 metres. Vetter was followed by Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem with an 85.16-metre throw and Finland's Lassi Etelatalo, who threw at 84.5 metres. Here are the details of the final: When will Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final start? Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final will begin at 4.30 PM IST on Saturday, August 7. Where will Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final be played? Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final will be played at Olympics Stadium in Tokyo. Which TV channels will broadcast Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final? Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw finalwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw final? Fans can catch the live streaming of Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw finalon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
206 Tokyo: There's one thing about being a favourite and being a king of expectations and then there's other part where you have to actually deliver on field. Calm and composed Neeraj Chopra seems to have mastered both of them. All eyes were on Neeraj Chopra to deliver India's elusive Olympic medal in athletics and end a wait of 100 years in the men's javelin throw final here on Saturday and he certainly did. A pre-tournament medal contender, the 23-year-old Chopra fuelled country's expectations by topping the qualification round with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m. On the D-day, Neeraj Chopra delivered not once, but twice. His first throw of 87.03 was bettered by 87.58! Enough for him to bag gold. The closest someone came to threaten Neeraj Chopra's throw was Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, who with an enormous 86.67, almost breached Neeraj Chopra's 87.58m! Three track and field athletes were part of the five-member Indian team at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, the other two being wrestlers. Since then, no Indian has won a medal in athletics. A farmer's son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana who took up athletics to shed flab, Chopra scripted history by winning the elusive medal, which the likes of late Milkha Singh and P T Usha let it slip from their grasp in 1964 and 1984 editions. "I am at my first Olympic Games, and I feel very good. In warm-up my performance wasn't so good, but then (in the qualifying round) my first throw had a good angle, and was a perfect throw," Chopra had said after the qualifying round on Wednesday. Chopra's performance on Saturday was one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics, as he finished ahead of gold medal favourite and 2017 world champion Johannes Vetter of Germany.
207 At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there are 335 sportspersons from Russia competing with athletes from around the world. Yet, unlike their counterparts, the Russians are not allowed to use their country's name, flag and anthem, and are competing under the acronym ROC, meaning Russian Olympic Committee. In the 2020 medals tally, all of their medals are listed next to the name ROC, with a flag that is different from Russia's official. This is because Russia, which has historically been among the world's top sporting nations, has been 'banned' from the Tokyo Olympics. What led to Russia being 'banned' from Tokyo 2020? In December 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia for four years from competing in international events, including the Tokyo Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The ban was enacted after new revelations came up about a doping programme that Russia had been accused of. For many years, whistleblowers and investigators had accused Russia of running a doping programme so sophisticated that it forced international federations to stop its athletes from competing in major events. In September 2018, after multiple investigations, WADA lifted the sanctions on the condition that Russia hand over athlete data from its Moscow laboratory to doping regulators, which would help identify hundreds of athletes who may have cheated across various sports. Russia was then accused of manipulating that database, leading to the WADA panel suggesting the four-year ban. What was Russia originally accused of? In 2014, 800m runner Yulia Stepanova and her husband Vitaly, a former employee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, RUSADA, appeared in a German documentary and lifted the lid on what was later described as one of the most "sophisticated doping programmes" in sports history. Two years later, another whistleblower - Grigory Rodchenkov, a former head of the RUSADA - told The New York Times that Russia ran a carefully planned, state-sponsored doping scheme. Rodchenkov's claims were more damning. He alleged a wider conspiracy, in which the country's anti-doping and members of intelligence services substituted urine samples of the athletes through a hidden hole in the wall at the agency's laboratory during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The lab, according to investigations, was guarded by members of Russia's state security services. Subsequently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), WADA and other global federations launched a series of investigations. What did these authorities do then? Immediately after the allegations surfaced, the accreditation of Russia's anti-doping lab was suspended in 2015. After the preliminary investigations, the IOC removed 111 athletes, including the entire track and field team, from Russia's 389-member contingent for the Rio Olympics. Following a deeper inquiry, the IOC suggested a complete ban on Russia's participation at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Ultimately, 168 athletes participated through special dispensations from the international federations. But the Russian Olympic Committee was barred from attending the event and the country's flag was not officially displayed at any of the venues. Russian athletes, too, were forced to wear neutral uniforms with "Olympic Athlete From Russia" printed on them. What happened then? In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the initial ban of four years to two, but it ensured that no official Russian team can participate in events organised by a WADA signatory until the sanction term ends on December 16, 2022. This means that official Russian teams are out of the 2020 Summer Olympics, next year's Paralympics in Tokyo as well as the Beijing Winter Olympics. Even at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Russia would have to compete under a neutral name, if it qualifies. Russia is also not allowed to host any world sporting event whose governing body is registered with WADA during the ban period. According to a report in The Independent, Russia will be reinstated after the ban term ends, if it respects and observes all imposed sanctions, pays its fines and contributions, and starts adhering to WADA regulations. But what does the 'ban' effectively mean? The ban is not outright, and 335 athletes from Russia are still playing at Tokyo, only under the name ROC, meaning Russian Olympic Committee - the team that sends Russian athletes to all Games. In effect, the 'punishment' only consists of forcing them to not use Russia's name, flag or national anthem. WADA President Witold Banka said about the case to USA Today, "We at WADA remain disappointed that CAS has decreased the level of the sanctions from four years to two years and that CAS allows them to compete Russian athletes with the colours of the flag in the uniforms." The ROC players are only those who have been able to prove that they were not part of the doping scam. As per the IOC, "All public displays of the organisation's participant name should use the acronym 'ROC', not the full name "Russian Olympic Committee". If on the kit of any athlete the name 'Russia' is written, the words 'neutral athlete' must also be written. However, the athletes will still be wearing uniforms in the country's colours, as per IOC guidance, the Independent report said.
208 Even though Lovlina Borgohain lost her semifinal bout to reigning world champion Busenaz Srmeneli, celebrities hailed her bronze medal-winning performance. Bollywood celebrities on Wednesday took to social media to congratulate Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain on winning a bronze medal at the Olympics in Tokyo. The 23-year-old sportswoman lost her semifinal bout to reigning world champion Busenaz Srmeneli of Turkey 5-0 in the women's 69kg category. The first Olympics medallist from Assam and the only boxing medal winner for India at Tokyo Olympics had the entire nation cheering for her. Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan shared Lovlina's photo on her Instagram story, adding a heart and high-five emojis. Deepika Padukone also congratulated the sports champ by sharing a creative with Lovlina featuring as the Queen in a deck of cards. The Family Man actor Samantha Prabhu also shared the news, adding a 'dancing girl' GIF to the Insta story. Abhishek Bachchan, who himself is a sports enthusiast, took to Twitter to congratulate the boxer. The Manmarziyaan actor shared, "Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai on bringing home bronze at your debut Olympics! We're all so proud of you #TokyoOlympics. @WeAreTeamIndia." @WeAreTeamIndia." Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai on bringing home bronze at your debut Olympics! We're all so proud of you #TokyoOlympics @WeAreTeamIndia - Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) August 4, 2021 Calling it a 'super achievement', Randeep Hooda posted on Twitter, "Super achievement #Lovlina .. the whole country is proud of you for bringing in the bronze #boxing #Olympics2020 #Olympics." Super achievement #Lovlina .. the whole country is proud of you for bringing in the bronze#boxing #Olympics2020 #Olympics - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 4, 2021 Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly also posted a tweet sharing how Lovlina Borgohain had made the country proud. "Congratulations @lovlinaborgohai for making us all proud! #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #LovlinaBorgohain #Cheer4India," wrote Nivin. Congratulations @lovlinaborgohai for making us all proud! #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #LovlinaBorgohain #Cheer4India - Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) August 4, 2021 Check out other posts congratulating Lovlina Borgohain on her bronze medal. - Kritika Kamra (@Kritika_Kamra) August 4, 2021 Heartiest congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai! So proud to see you on that podium #WomenPower #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/wMtaxFzfIf - Diana Penty (@DianaPenty) August 4, 2021 What a stellar performance !! You are an inspiration to many #lovlinaborgohai !! Your Bronze in Boxing in your first olympic participation is equal to GOLD #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Bronze #TeamIndia - R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) August 4, 2021 Even though Lovlina Borgohain was outplayed, she became India's second woman boxer with an Olympic bronze medal after Mary Kom in the 2012 London Games. Lovlina's bronze medal takes India's medal tally to three after Mirabai Chanu's bronze medal in women's weightlifting on July 24 and PV Sindhu's bronze in badminton women's singles on August 1.
209 Gold winner Zhihui Hou asked to stay back in Japan for necessary formalities Mirabai Chanu's Tokyo Olympics saga is probably not over yet. The 26-year-old Manipuri, who won a silver in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, might be up for a medal upgrade. Yes, she could end up with a gold. According to news agency ANI, anti-doping authorities in Tokyo will test China's Zhihui Hou, who won gold in the 49kg category at the Tokyo International Forum. And if Hou fails the scrutiny, Chanu will be awarded the coveted yellow metal. Hou has reportedly been asked to stay back in Tokyo for the tests. Chanu had ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. She lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift. China's Hou Zhihui lifted 210kg (94kg+116kg), while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg). Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell. She lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year. However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg.
210 Athletics Neeraj Chopra is India's biggest gold medal hope at the Tokyo Olympics as he prepares to take the field in the men's javelin throw final today (Saturday). The 23-year-old kept India's hopes of an elusive Olympic medal from track and field events alive through direct qualification into the finals with a stunning throw of 86.65m. The throw had put him on the top of the Group A contest on Wednesday. Neeraj Chopra in the final of men's javelin throw: 4:30pm IST Golf Golfer Diksha Dagar has kick-started Day 15 for India in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics but all eyes will be on Aditi Ashok as she aims for a medal. Golfer Aditi is currently ranked second after another stellar performance in Round 3 in the women's individual stroke play. The 23-year-old rolled in five birdies to be placed second on twelve-under 201 ahead of a New Zealander, an Australian, a Japanese, and a Danish golfer (203) -- who all are tied on third place. The Indian finished round three with 68 (-3) for Day 3 here at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in women's individual stroke play round 4: 3:00am IST. Wrestling Wrestler Bajrang Punia beginning his Tokyo 2020 campaign, won both games comprehensively. The Indian wrestler first defeated Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan in the 1/8 Final and then beat Iran's Morteza Ghiasi Cheka by pinning him down to the mat (victory by fall) in the 1/4 Final. However, Bajrang had to face a crushing defeat in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics at the hands of Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan in the men's freestyle 65kg event. Bajrang Punia in men's 65kg freestyle bronze medal match; either second or third bout after 3:15pm IST start.
211 Facebook banned Jamaican gold medal winning sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah from Instagram for two days, invoking the fury of her fans. When the fastest woman in the history of Olympics was banned from Instagram days after winning gold in 100m and 200m at Tokyo 2020, it sparked an enormous uproar among sports fans and the sprinter's admirers. On Wednesday, Elaine Thompson-Herah, who broke the Olympics record for women's 100m race, announced that her Instagram account had been blocked because she had posted short clips from both her gold-medal winning races. She was blocked by Facebook-owned Instagram for copyright infringement. Thompson-Herah took to Twitter to share the news with the world. She posted, "I was blocked on Instagram for posting the races of the Olympic (sic) because I did not own the right to do so. So see y'all in 2 days." Thompson has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram. Some fans and sports commentators used words like 'disgusting' and 'insulting', referring to the ban. Confronted by social media outrage, Facebook clarified that Thompson-Herah's account was wrongly suspended and that it had been reinstated. It did add that the content put up by the Olympian was correctly removed. As per the International Olympics Committee (IOC), athletes can post content that Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHBs) with exclusive rights to broadcast the Tokyo Olympic 2020 share on their social media accounts. However, athletes cannot share content from any of the competitions "natively." Thompson-Herah also confirmed the unblocking of her account on an Instagram Story. She later posted a pic of the 200m semi-finals captioning it, "Elaine Thompson 200m semifinals# I don not own rights to this video." The Jamaican speed queen completed a remarkable double-double at Tokyo 2020 having also picked up the gold medals for 100m and 200m at Rio Olympics in 2016. With the feat, Thompson-Herah has emulated her countryman Usain Bolt. Bolt achieved the sprinting double-double in 2008 and 2012, only to go on and better it with a triple-double, winning gold in 100m and 200m in 2016 as well.
212 Abhinav Bindra, who broke a glass ceiling for Indian sports by winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, congratulated the 23-year-old Javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra after he clinched gold in the men's javelin throw with a best throw of 87.58m on his second attempt, thus becoming the first from the country since Independence to win an athletics medal at the Olympics in spectacular fashion. Bindra wrote, "And Gold it is for @Neeraj_chopra1.Take a bow, young man ! You have fulfilled a nation's dream. Thank you! Also, welcome to the club - a much needed addition! Extremely proud. I am so delighted for you". Bindra also posted a letter to Neeraj as one Olympic gold medallist to another congratulating him on becoming India's second gold medallist at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. "Javelin throw might not be the most followed sporting discipline in India but your historic achievement has brought it to the limelight, capturing the imagination of billions watching at home. The impact your victory will create on promoting your sport amongst the country's youth is immeasurable", Bindra wrote in the letter. "Thanks to you, we have finished our Tokyo endeavor on a great high. Your performance has further elevated what has been evident throughout the Games - that our athletes are not only capable of going toe to toe with the best, but are firmly establishing ourselves as the favorites", Bindra said, signing off with 'admiration and respect!'. This was Neeraj Chopra's first appearance at the Olympics but his journey towards clinching an Olympic berth has not been easy, amid a few injury setbacks hindering his goal. Neeraj now has a gold medal at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
213 India scripted history with athlete Neeraj Chopra's win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 23-year-old won the Men's Javelin Gold medal. The heart of every Indian is brimming with pride and they took to social media to congratulate the athlete. Smriti Irani, Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women and Child Development, also shared a special message for 'golden boy' Neeraj Chopra on social media. Smriti Irani shared Neeraj Chopra's video, which showcases his 87.58m javelin throw that gave India a historic Gold medal. "The Nation proudly celebrates Olympic Gold Medalist Subedar @neeraj____chopra . Confident , diligent, he symbolises a New India ! His victory will surely fire up many an ambition in Indian athletics. Congratulations, well done (sic)," Smriti Irani wrote sharing the video. Neeraj Chopra became the only second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual Olympic Gold medal. Neeraj ended India's 121-year wait for an athletics medal with his gold in the javelin final. "You all helped me (fans and media). . Thank you so much for all the facilities," Neeraj Chopra told reporters after his Olympic win. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Smriti Irani celebrates Neeraj Chopra's Olympics win, says he symbolises a new India
214 India's Neeraj Chopra became only the second individual Indian athlete after Abhinav Bindra to be crowned Olympic champion as he won gold in the men's javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The gold medal is also India's first Olympic medal in track-and-field events. It took India's medal count at Tokyo 2020 to seven - their best-ever haul at a single Olympics. India had won six medals at London 2012 but there were no gold medals. Soon after creating history in Tokyo, Neeraj won the hearts of millions of fans he dedicated his gold medal to the late Milkha Singh. The legendary Indian sprinter had passed away in June 2021. "I dedicate this medal to Milkha Singh. I hope he's watching upon me from wherever he is," he said. Milkha had come close to winning a medal in track and field events but fell short as he finished 4th in the 1960 Rome Olympics. "I am happy. Abhinav [Bindra] won it for India. I did it for the country too. The Olympic gold was the priority. I can break the national record later also by working hard", Chopra said. A day after his 84th birthday (back in 2013), the 'Flying Sikh' had expressed his one-long lasting wish about how it was his dream to watch an Indian athlete win that elusive medal in athletics at an Olympic Games. He set the national record in the 400m at the Rome Olympics and it stood for almost 40 years. He won four Asian Games gold medals and was the only Indian athlete to win an individual athletics gold medal at a Commonwealth Games until Krishna Poonia won the discus throw at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Neeraj Chopra's historic feat ensured that India ended the Tokyo Olympics on a golden note. The men's javelin was the last event for the Indian contingent at the Summer Games.
215 India's boxing champion Mary Kom on Day 6 lost her chance to bag the second Olympic medal in the the pre-quarters of Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. The London Olympics bronze medalist lost against 3rd seed Ingrit Valencia of Colombia via split decision in a closely-contest Round of 16 match in the Women's Flyweight category. Valencia won the bout 3-2. Valencia advanced to the quarter-finals of the showpiece event after defeating Mary Kom in the women's flyweight (48-51kg) category event. Valencia got off to a flyer as she won the first round. Four out of the five judges gave her a 10 while one had a 9 for her showing. Mary Kom, earlier this week came up with a dominant display of boxing in her opening round on Sunday. She defeated Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez Garcia 4-1. Mary displayed all her experience and skilss by coming up with a tactical masterclass against Migueline who is 15 years her junior. Starting on a cautious note, the 38-year-old swayed away from punches and gauging her opponent, who is a a Pan American Games bronze-medallist. .'It'll be a shame if an actor of another ethnicity plays Mirabai Chanu in biopic', says 'Mary Kom' actress Lin Laishram. Mary Kom put behind the disappointment of missing the Rio Olympics qualification and provided she was not done by winning the world championships gold medal in of her home fans in 2018. A bronze followed at the 2019 World Championships. On the other hand, two-time Asian champion Indian boxer Pooja Rani (75kg) out-punched Algeria's Ichrak Chaib in her opening bout to enter the quarterfinals of her maiden Olympic Games here on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Indian clinched it 5-0, thoroughly dominating a rival 10 years her junior. The Haryana-boxer was in command with her right straights and also benefitted immensely from Chaib's lack of balance in the ring. All three rounds were a story of Rani's domination as Chaib, also appearing in her maiden Olympics, just could not figure a way to connect cleanly.
216 Anu Malik booked a spot on Twitter trends list on Monday after Israel won its first gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. Why, you may ask? Well, after Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat won Israel's first-ever Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, as is ritual, the country's flag was raised and their national anthem Hatikvah was played. However, desi Twitter had a field day making memes and cracking hilarious jokes after it realised that the Anu Malik-composed song Mera Mulk Mera Desh from the film Diljale is actually copied from Israel's national anthem Hatikvah. Don't believe us? Well, you should watch this video from . actually copied the Israeli National Anthem for Mera Mulk Mera Desh Song from (1996) ??? - maadalaadlahere (@maadalaadlahere) ABOUT THE FILM Diljale released in 1996 and starred Ajay Devgn, Madhoo and Sonali Bendre in the lead roles. Directed by Harry Baweja, Ajay played the role of a terrorist in the film while Sonali played his love interest. The film also featured Parmeet Sethi, Shakti Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and Amrish Puri in supporting roles. The film garnered positive reviews up on release. ABOUT THE SONG MERA MULK MERA DESH Anu Malik was the music composer of Diljale. The film had eight tracks and its music was a huge hit with the people. The song Mera Mulk Mera Desh appears on several occasions in the film. Watch the song from Diljale here: Anu Malik became the fodder for hilarious memes and jokes after netizens realised that his song Mera Mulk Mera Desh is actually copied from Israel's national anthem. Several Twitter users called out the music composer for blatantly copying a country's national anthem. Check out some of the hilarious comments below: When Fans came to Know the Song of The Movie Diljale Mera Mulk Mera Des Composed by Anu Malik was Inspired by Israel's National Anthem,Fans to - Tadkamarkey 2.0 (@AnilPil63050188) Indians to after hearing national anthem - Laluwitharana #Tokyo2020 (@laluwitharana) Israel won their second ever Gold at Olympics and Indians ended up remembering Anu Malik - Mohit Dogra (@Dmohit36Dogra) This is hilarious !!! I was wondering why was trending and realized that he didn't even leave Israel's national anthem copy king - The Thinking Hat (@ThinkinHashtag) There are total 193 countries in the world. So Anu Malik still has chance to make another 192 songs! - Biduuu! (@Jackiebidu) Even Wikipedia knows this - Puneet Narang (@DearPunit) This is not the first time Anu Malik has been called out for plagiarism. The music composer has been in the headlines on several occasions for blatantly copying famous songs from Egypt, UK, Spain and Italy. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anu Malik trends on Twitter after Israel wins gold at Tokyo Olympics. Here's why
217 Tokyo, August 6: All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra to deliver India's elusive Olympic medal in athletics and end a wait of 100 years when he competes in the men's javelin throw final here on Saturday. A pre-tournament medal contender, the 23-year-old Chopra fuelled country's expectations by topping the qualification round with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m. Three track and field athletes were part of the five-member Indian team at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium -- the other two being wrestlers. Since then, no Indian has won a medal in athletics. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's 200m and 200m hurdles silver medals in the 1900 Paris Olympics to India though various research, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain. A farmer's son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana who took up athletics to shed flab, Chopra can script history by winning the elusive medal, which the likes of late Milkha Singh and P T Usha let it slip from their grasp in 1964 and 1984 editions. "I am at my first Olympic Games, and I feel very good. In warm-up my performance wasn't so good, but then (in the qualifying round) my first throw had a good angle, and was a perfect throw," Chopra had said after the qualifying round on Wednesday. "I will need to focus on the throw, and try to repeat this (performance) with a higher score," said the youngster who came into the Olympics with the fourth best throw (88.07m) this year. Chopra's performance on Saturday was one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics, as he finished ahead of gold medal favourite and 2017 world champion Johannes Vetter of Germany. Vetter, who had earlier said that Chopra will find it tough to beat him in the Olympics, struggled in his first two throws before crossing the automatic qualification mark with a 85.64m final throw. The 28-year-old towering German, who came into the Olympics after having seven monster throws of over 90m between April and June, was lying at a dangerous seventh position after his first two throws but eventually qualified for the final at second overall behind Chopra. Ask all top athletes and they will say what it counts is the performance on the day but Chopra will come into Saturday's final with a host of pre-tournament medal hopefuls falling at the first hurdle. Season's second top performer Marcin Krukowski (PB & SB 89.55m) of Poland and 2012 Olympics champion and 2016 Rio Games bronze-medallist Trinidad & Tobago's Keshorn Walcott (PB 90.16m, SB 89.12m) failed to qualify for the final with best throws of 74.65m and 79.33m respectively. Latvia's 2014 under-20 World champion Gatis Cakss (PB & SB 87.57m) -- fifth best performer this season -- and reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada had poor throws of 78.73m and 80.42m respectively to fail to make the final cut. Only Chopra and Vetter remain among the top-five performers this season. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who had won a bronze medal when Chopra clinched gold in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, topped Group B to earn an automatic qualification to the finals with a second round throw of 85.16m. He qualified for the finals at overall third behind Chopra and Vetter. The Indian camp here is hoping that Saturday should turn out the finest day of Indian athletics. "I have always wanted an Olympic medal since I first became AFI president (in 2012) and I am hoping the dream will be realised before the end of my term," Athletics Federation of India President Adille Sumariwalla told PTI. Sumariwalla's third term as AFI president will end in 2024 and he cannot be re-elected under the National Sports Code. Sumariwalla and Klaus Bartonietz, the bio-mechanics expert in charge of Chopra, chief national coach Radhakrishnan Nair were seen cheering Chopra from the almost empty stands on Saturday. Again on Saturday, the Indian athletics contingent is expected to be in full strength at the Olympic Stadium, hoping that history is created by Chopra. Neeraj Chopra in the final of men's javelin throw time: 4:30pm IST Channels: Sony Sports Network and DD OTT: SonyLiv
218 Wrestler Ravi Dahiya clinched a silver medal for India after beating several opponents in a row in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. On social media, a video of a man congratulating an Indian wrestler by lifting and is being shared as a celebration by Dahiya and his coach. "This is how Dahiya's coach celebrated their victory #Olympicsindia #Cheer4India #RaviDahiya Many Congratulations #Wrestling #Olympicsindia #TokyoOlympics2020," says the caption. This is how Dahiya's coach celebrated their victory Many Congratulations - @Sushishere (@Sushishere1) The archived version of the post can be seen . ALSO READ | India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the video is around three years old and shows wrestler Bajrang Punia's coach Shako Bentinidis congratulating him after his victory in the semifinal of the 'World Wrestling Championships'. AFWA probe An incomplete term "pest 2018" can be seen printed on the floor of the wrestling ring. This gave us a clue that the video is probably from 2018, while "pest" could be "Budapest". Using these clues, we conducted a keyword search that led us to the semifinal video of the 2018 'World Wrestling Championships' in which Punia had defeated Cuban wrestler Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier. The was posted on the official YouTube channel of 'United World Wrestling' on October 21, 2018. The 13-second viral portion can be seen here at the 7:40 mark. A comparison between visuals from the viral video and the original clipping can be seen below. Punia's coach Bentinidis had also posted some stills from the viral video on Instagram in October 2018. As per the official website , the World Wrestling Championships was held in Budapest, Hungary, from October 20-28, 2018. Punia's victory in the semifinal of this championship was by the media. ALSO READ | Punia is a freestyle wrestler from Haryana who bagged a bronze medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. His is from Georgia. Ravi Dahiya, on the other hand, is also a freestyle wrestler from Haryana. He won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 57kg category. Dahiya's coach is , a 2015 Padma Bhushan awardee. Both and have posted several pictures of their coaches on their respective Instagram accounts. We compared two such pictures with a still image of the coach in the viral video. It is quite clear from this comparison that the coach in the viral video is Bentinidis. Evidently, a video of Punia's victory at the semis of the 2018 World Wrestling Championships is being falsely linked to one of Dahiya's recent winning bouts at the Olympics. Graphic Fact Check: This amusing video does not show Ravi Dahiya's coach flinging him after Olympics victory
219 Neeraj Chopra made history as he won the men's javelin throw final at Tokyo Olympics on August 7. A galore of wishes poured in for the athlete from all corners. Prem Chopra, who shares his surname with Neeraj, had a unique way of congratulating him. FROM ONE CHOPRA TO ANOTHER, PREM CONGRATULATES NEERAJ FOR OLYMPIC WIN With his spectacular performance, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal in an athletics event. He is now the second Indian to grab an individual Olympic gold. on social media. Now, Prem Chopra can be seen telling him that he has made the country proud in an interesting manner. In a video shared by retired Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia on Twitter, Prem Chopra used one of his most famous dialogues to laud Neeraj Chopra. He said, "Saari duniya jaanti hai mujhe. Prem naam hai mera Prem Chopra. Lekin Neeraj, aaj tune mausam badal diya. Aaj baaki saari duniya bolegi, Neeraj naam hai mera. Neeraj Chopra. (The entire world knows who I am. My name is Prem Prem Chopra. But Neeraj, you've changed the weather. The world will now say, My name is Neeraj Neeraj Chopra). The veteran actor continued to praise the Olympic Gold medalist, "Very proud of you. You have brought glory to the nation and you have given the nation a status and dignity. Congratulations to you and all your family members and everybody. The whole country is proud of you. Thank you." The video's caption on Twitter reads, "#NeerajGoldChopra An apt tribute from one famous Chopra ( Prem) to another Chopra the Olympic Gold Chopra. Jai Hind (sic)." An apt tribute from one famous Chopra ( Prem) to another Chopra the Olympic Gold Chopra. Jai Hind. - Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia Retd (@Ptr6Vb) ABOUT NEERAJ CHOPRA'S OLYMPIC GOLD WIN Hailing from Panipat's Khandra village, Neeraj Chopra broke the Olympic record during his javelin throw with a throw of 87.58m, winning a historic first Olympic gold in athletics for India. . While speaking to the media, Neeraj admitted that the national anthem during the medal ceremony meant the world to him and and he was on the verge of crying. ALSO READ| ALSO READ | Graphic Prem Chopra lauds Neeraj Chopra for Olympics gold win, says mausam badal diya. Viral video
220 After Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to grab an individual Olympic gold by winning the men's javelin throw final at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the 23-year-old for scripting "history". PM Modi wrote on Twitter, "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What Neeraj Chopra has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold." History has been scripted at Tokyo! What has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) PM Modi also talked to Neeraj Chopra soon after he won the gold medal. He said, "Just spoke to Neeraj Chopra and congratulated him on winning the Gold! Appreciated his hard work and tenacity, which have been on full display during Tokyo2020." "He personifies the best of sporting talent and sportsman spirit. Best wishes for his future endeavours," the Prime Minister added. Just spoke to and congratulated him on winning the Gold! Appreciated his hardwork and tenacity, which have been on full display during . He personifies the best of sporting talent and sportsman spirit. Best wishes for his future endeavours. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) Neeraj Chopra, who ended India's 121-year wait for an athletics medal , has earned praises from all corners. Social media has been flooded with congratulatory messages for him. President of India Ram Nath Kovind congratulated Neeraj Chopra, saying his "gold breaks barriers and creates history". The President tweeted, "Unprecedented win by Neeraj Chopra!Your javelin gold breaks barriers and creates history. You bring home first ever track and field medal to India in your first Olympics. Your feat will inspire our youth. India is elated! Heartiest congratulations!" Unprecedented win by Neeraj Chopra!Your javelin gold breaks barriers and creates history. You bring home first ever track and field medal to India in your first Olympics. Your feat will inspire our youth. India is elated! Heartiest congratulations! - President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Congratulations to India's ace Javelin Thrower, Neeraj Chopra for winning the prestigious Track and Field medal for the first time in the history of Independent India. Gold medal in the Javelin throw event at the Olympics is unprecedented. Proud of him for creating history!" Congratulations to India's ace Javelin Thrower, for winning the prestigious Track and Field medal for the first time in the history of Independent India. Gold medal in the Javelin throw event at the is unprecedented. Proud of him for creating history! - Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) Anurag Thakur, who is the Union Sports Minister, also congratulated the athlete from Haryana. "Your superbly soaring throw deserves a Billion Cheers! Your name will be etched in the history books with golden letters," he wrote. NEERAJ CHOPRA India's Golden Boy ! India's Olympic History has been scripted! Your superbly soaring throw deserves a Billion Cheers ! Your name will be etched in the history books with golden letters. - Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also congratulated the athlete from his state. He tweeted in Hindi, saying, "The whole country had been waiting for this moment. The whole is proud of you." ! .. - Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) Dushyant Chautala, who is the deputy chief minister of Haryana, called Neeraj Chopra the "Golden boy of India". ... , , , !!! !! !! - Dushyant Chautala (@Dchautala) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "History has been scripted! Beyond proud of Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for winning the Gold Medal at the Olympics 2020! Today, the entire nation shall rejoice in this glorious victory! Many, many Congratulations to you!" History has been scripted! Beyond proud of Javelin thrower for winning the Gold Medal at the ! Today, the entire nation shall rejoice in this glorious victory! Many, many Congratulations to you! - Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) The Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, said, "Neeraj Chopra has proven that when there is the WILL there is a way. He has done the Armed Forces and the Nation proud like many other Olympians who have created history in TOKYO 2020." He added, "We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sportspersons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and greater honour to our Nation. We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sports persons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and greater honour to our Nation."(2/2) - ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) ALSO READ: WATCH: Graphic History has been scripted: PM Modi, others congratulate Neeraj Chopra for Olympics gold
221 Promising at 14, on top of the world at 23, that has been the course travelled by Neeraj Chopra in the eyes of Naseem Ahmad, the javelin Olympic gold winner's coach Promising at 14, on top of the world at 23. That has been the course travelled by India's new hero Neeraj Chopra in the eyes of Naseem Ahmad, the javelin Olympic gold winner's coach in his formative years at Panchkula's Haryana Sports Department Residential Academy. "He came to our academy when he was 14. That was 2011. He looked like 16 and was very sturdy. He was amazingly receptive to whatever he was told," Ahmad told The Telegraph on Sunday. Ahmad remembers Neeraj's love for the javelin. "He was obsessed with javelin. After practice, he used to be on YouTube watching javelin videos." Neeraj scripted history on Saturday by winning India's maiden athletics medal in Olympics with a best throw of 87.58m. Neeraj has made a lot of people famous and Ahmad was honest enough to admit he was enjoying his moment under the sun. After this paper managed to get hold of him on Sunday evening, Ahmad, in the middle of the conversation, hung up since one television channel, which had come to interview him, had left back their tripod. "I am tired now. Neeraj has made me so famous that my phone hasn't stopped ringing. But yes, I am enjoying all the attention," he said. Ahmad ridiculed the idea that Neeraj was obese. "He was well-built. This motapa (obesity) is all bakwas (wrong). I would not be surprised if someone claims he started by throwing ganna (sugarcane sticks) before hurling bhalla (javelin). Anything is possible now that he has won gold. But yes when he came to Panchkula from Panipat, we made sure he did a lot of core exercises. And he did everything, whatever he was told," he said. Ahmad last spoke to Neeraj when he was in Europe before the Tokyo Olympics. "He was in Europe when we spoke. He told me he was going for the gold. Otherwise his good friend Narender Ranbir used to keep me updated." Narender is a javelin thrower who represented India in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics. "They are very close," Ahmad said. Next year, Neeraj has a packed schedule. The Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Athletics Championships. "The focus will be on him, an Olympic champion. But he has a calm head so he will be able to handle the pressure," Athletic Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla said. "He will be the man everyone will be watching out for," Ahmad said. Overwhelmed Klaus Bartonietz, the bio-mechanics expert who guided Neeraj to gold, on Sunday said he felt "overwhelmed". "I feel overwhelmed that Neeraj was able to win a medal, not a bronze, not a silver but a gold and he became the best javelin thrower in the world," Bartonietz said in a short clip released by AFI.
222 Swimmer Ariarne Titmus stunned American defending champion Katie Ledecky to clinch the elusive gold medal. Termed as the biggest sporting event in the world - a medal at the Olympics is what every athlete dreams of. So during the 400m freestyle swimming competition in the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics when Australian swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus stunned American defending champion Katie Ledecky to clinch the elusive gold medal, things went crazy. While the win for the Australian was the biggest, it was her coach that grabbed all the attention. It was not because of his coaching, but the passionate celebration by Dean Boxall that got all heads turning. The coach was seen celebrating her win from the dugout and Boxall - who is known for his jubilant celebration - expressed his emotions like this. Meanwhile, the battle between the two swimming greats did not disappoint fans. The women were locked in an intense competition, however, in the end, Titmus created a new Oceania record to defeat Ledecky. As for the United States star, she was leading the competition at the halfway mark, but the Australian overtook the American at 350m. The Aussie finished the race in 3:56.69. Ledecky will have a chance to avenge her defeat, when she will face Titmus in the 200m freestyle and 800m freestyle later.
223 The Indian Army top brass congratulated Neeraj Chopra for throw at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, said that the 23-year-old athlete did the armed forces, and the nation proud. General Bipin Rawat, said, "Neeraj Chopra has proven that when there is the WILL there is a way. He has done the Armed Forces and the Nation proud like many other Olympians who have created history in TOKYO 2020." He added, "We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sportspersons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and greater honour to our Nation. We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sports persons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and greater honour to our Nation."(2/2) - ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) The Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, also congratulated Neeraj Chopra, who ended India's 121-year wait for an athletics medal with his gold in the javelin final. General MM Naravane and All Ranks of congratulate Subedar Neeraj Chopra on winning Nation's first ever in in Olympics with a throw of 87.58 meters at . - ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin 87.03m in his first throw and bettered it with 87.58m, which took him to the gold medal position and kept him there till the last. He couldn't manage any better throw and in the remaining four attempts, he covered the distances of 87.03m, 87.58m, 76.79m and 84.24. His fourth and fifth throws were disqualified. Neeraj Chopra's gold medal is only the second for India in the individual category after Abhinav Bindra, who bagged the top prize in the 19m Air Rifle shooting event in China ALSO READ: WATCH: Graphic Subedar Neeraj Chopra did Armed forces, nation proud: CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on Olympics gold
224 While a delirious India was celebrating, Neeraj Chopra had quietly disappeared off camera. When the camera panned across to him again, he was running on the elliptical track that encircled his victory arena, his head held high along the near-empty stands. The Tricolour was billowing behind him. Subedar Neeraj Chopra wasn't running for any spectators. Chopra's lap must have been his message of gratitude to the Indian Army and a nation that had waited so long for this moment. This is not the first time that the Indian Army has displayed guts and glory on the world stage. The Indian armed forces and their heroics in the sporting arena are the stuff of legend. The first sporting icon of the country post-Independence was Major Dhyan Chand, who served in the Punjab Regiment. Milkha Singh, "The Flying Sikh" who passed away in June, was recruited as a sepoy in 1951. Paan Singh Tomar of the Bengal Engineers Group represented India in the steeplechase at the Tokyo Asian Games in 1958. Army boxer Padam Bahadur Malla was the first to win a gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Ignacious Tirkey of the Madras Engineering Group of the Indian Army was awarded the Arjuna Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian hockey. The Indian polo team has always been fielded with ace polo players from the 61st Cavalry. The list goes on and on. From a professional point of view, the interest of the Indian Army has been natural in sports such as shooting, mountaineering and sailing. The army operates its Marksmanship Unit in Mhow and the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg. After Tenzing Norgay, some of the first Indians to climb Mount Everest were from the army, starting with Avtar Singh Cheema. Mountaineer Narendra "Bull" Kumar is credited with securing Siachen for India. The Indian Army has a sailing team that is trained at the Army Rowing Node in the College of Military Engineering, Pune. India's armed forces have been at the forefront of producing sportsmen of international pedigree. The army adopts a systematic and structured method with the aim of attaining sporting excellence. Tournaments are held at the battalion, brigade, divisional and command levels in every sporting discipline to seek out champions. These tournaments are intensely fought for the "naam" and "izzat" of the respective battalions. The best athletes from the tri-services get to represent the defence forces at national-level meets. The Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) was set up in March 1919 on the lines of the British body with the same name. In 1945, the ASCB was merged with all sports organisations of the three services, and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) was formed. The SSCB focuses on 18 inter-services sports events, and has produced international medallists such as shooter Vijay Kumar, boxers Suranjoy Singh, Dingko Singh and Kaur Singh, race-walker Chand Ram, and hockey stars Manohar Topno, Tirkey and Sylvanus Dung Dung among others. But the going hadn't been too good for Indian sports for a very long time. The Indian Army top brass felt that the armed forces should do something about it. Thus, the programme Mission Olympics was launched in 2001. Three years later, an army man, Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, climbed the podium at Athens, winning a silver medal in shooting. Eight years later, in London, Havildar Vijay Kumar emulated him, winning a silver in shooting. The Mission Olympic wing has five nodes: the Army Sports Institute (Pune), the Army Marksmanship Unit (Mhow), the Army Rowing Node (Pune), the Army Yachting Node (Mumbai) and the Army Equestrian Node (Meerut), which are working towards producing world-class sportsmen in archery, boxing, shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, equestrian and rowing. It comes as no surprise that a sizeable part of India's Olympic contingent at Tokyo was made up of athletes from the Services. The Army Sports Institute at Pune has changed the face of the country's sporting culture. It is a unique, multi-disciplinary sports institute that imparts training in seven sports: archery, athletics, boxing, diving, wrestling, fencing and weightlifting. The training is imparted by renowned foreign and Indian coaches and qualified physical trainers. They are supported by a team of specialists in sports medicine, sports physiology, sports psychology, bio-mechanics and nutrition. The institute provides modern training infrastructure, equipment, accommodation and environment, and a sports sciences centre. When the army's athletes failed to win any medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics of 2016, the planning for the Tokyo Olympics began on a war footing. It was that same year that Chopra joined the Indian Army as a junior commissioned officer. The army has made a concerted effort to nurture and produce sportspersons, providing equipment, support staff, coaching, accommodation, and a proper diet to its athletes. In other words, everything is taken care of, and then there's job security as well. Another factor that the army's athletes swear by is discipline. Chopra says he got a sense of self-reliance after joining the army. "My father is a farmer, mother a housewife and I live in a joint family.... For me, it's a sort of a relief because now I'm able to help my family financially, besides continuing with my training." With Subedar Neeraj Chopra of the Indian Army's Rajputana Rifles winning the lone gold for India at Tokyo, "Citius, Altius, Fortius - Communis", the newly modified motto of the Olympics, could add another word, "Extremus" - farthest, or situated at the end, edge or tip - and raise a toast to the sportsmanship of the Indian Armed Forces. * Deepam Chatterjee is a former captain of the Indian Army
225 India go down fighting 5-2 against Belgium in the first semi-final of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics here at Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch on Tuesday. Belgium will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and Germany in the gold medal match on Thursday. On the other hand, India will lock horns in the bronze medal match on Thursday with the loser of the game Australia and Germany. Although the score-line suggests an overwhelming win for the World champions, it was anything but easy. Both sides went into the final quarter of the match levelled at 2-2 but a flurry of penalty corners and a penalty stroke helped Belgium take a 2-goal advantage early in the 4 quarter. A green card to Manpreet Singh (2-minute suspension) did not help India's cause either. India played a final few minutes of the quarter without their goalkeeper P Sreejesh and substituted him with another attacking option. Belgium once again made the most of it and struck an easy goal in final seconds. With this loss, India will still have a shot at Bronze medal. Alexander Hendrix scored a brilliant hattrick (his 3 at this Olympics) to prove this Belgium side still remains the best in business despite being called an aging side. In the first quarter, India led 2-1 with quality counter-attacks. Mandeep Singh struck a goal in 9 minute to give India the lead before Harmanpreet equalised for India from the second penalty corner. It was also Harmanpreet's fifth goal in Tokyo Olympic Games. Earlier, Belgium converted a penalty corner through Loick Luypert in the very 2 minute of the match to go 1-0 up.
226 India marches into the mega event With a 228-strong contingent comprising over 120 athletes The pandemic might have altered the narrative of the mega event by a bit, but nothing can affect a participant's hunger for medals. In Rio 2016, India collected two medals -- a silver in badminton by PV Sindhu and a bronze by wrestler Sakshi Malik. This time around, with a 228-strong contingent comprising over 120 athletes, India march on with a thirst for medals in Tokyo. We have picked India's medal prospects at the Games. Here's a list: Amit Panghal - Boxing This flyweight is shouldering expectations that would be enough to bog down a super heavyweight in some cases. The world number one, the top seed, Panghal is being seen as a sure-shot medal for India in Tokyo. He knows it and he is revelling in the spotlight. The Armyman from Haryana is a nice mix of controlled aggression and tactical acumen. His cabinet already has the World Championships and Commonwealth Games silver medals, an Asian Games gold medal, and multiple Asian Championships medals. Competing in his maiden Olympics, the 25-year-old has been unstoppable for the past four years, starting with a breakthrough Asian Championships bronze back in 2017. Even in loss, he has hardly ever looked outplayed. But he does know his weaknesses well. A late starter and someone who tends to wear off a bit in the final three minutes, Panghal says he has addressed the issues in his desperate pursuit of an Olympic medal. Amit Panghal's dedication to his craft is evident, even at first glance, but when it comes to India's boxing gold medal hope, there is a lot more than meets the eye. Learn about his story in the latest Olympic Channel Original series, Jee Jaan Se.@Boxerpanghal @BFI_official Mary Kom - Boxing If there is a name in Indian boxing which needs no introduction, it is Mary Kom. This 38-year-old icon would be eyeing a second Olympic medal, something that puts her heads and shoulders above all else in the Indian team. A six-time world champion, her achievements and medals have become a bit difficult to keep count of. And the astonishing part, the Manipuri isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The ring is quite literally her playground and it has remained so for more than two decades now. Among the sharpest movers in the ring at the peak of her prowess, Mary Kom is, however, candid enough to admit that she has slowed down but to make up for that, she has worked on adding more muscle and thereby more power to her punches. It remains to be seen how she handles the younger competition which awaits her at the Games. She is fittingly one of the two flag-bearers of the Indian contingent and has sharpened her hook to make sure that nobody takes her lightly. PV Sindhu - Badminton Being someone who loves to thrive on the big stage, badminton star PV Sindhu is the best bet to satiate the country's thirst for a second individual gold medal from the Olympics. India haven't won anything before or after shooter Abhinav Bindra's golden triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With Carolina Marin ruled out due to knee injury - Sindhu had lost to the Spaniard in the final of the Rio Olympic Games - there is huge expectation that the reigning world champion will bring home the yellow metal. Seeded sixth in Tokyo, Sindhu should have it easy till the quarter finals. Placed in the bottom half, Sindhu will face Hong Kong's world No. 34 Cheung Ngan Yi and Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova, ranked 58th. The real battle, however, begins from the last-eight stage. In the round of 16, Sindhu is expected to be up against Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt. Sindhu had lost to Mia in the round of 32 at the Thailand Open at the beginning of the year. If Sindhu reaches the quarter finals, local favourite Akane Yamaguchi would probably be her opponent. In the All England badminton championship quarter final, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi after one hour and 16 minutes of thrilling action, but that was Yamaguchi's only loss to her in the last four outings. Throwback to Carolina Marin's nail-biting victory over PV Sindhu in women's single badminton at Rio 2016! #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/1KrPQSYqd1 Deepika Kumari - Archery World No. 1 Deepika Kumari clinched three gold medals in the World Cup Stage 3 in Paris in June - in singles, women's team and the mixed pair event with husband Atanu. It's needless to say she carries most of the country's hopes from archery. Of course, the fact that she slipped in both London and Rio will be at the back of her mind, but Deepika is trying to steer her mind away from all negative emotions. Being the lone female archer in the India camp in Pune, Deepika has been competing with Atanu and in fact with all three of the male members. "I'm trying my best to shoot better than them always. In fact, I'm winning most of the times," Deepika said, recently. The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist had become world No 1 ahead of her maiden Olympic appearance in London but only to make a first round exit. "At my first Olympics, I was ranked world number one, though I was not aware of it much. It was kind of a fantasy for me being the first Olympics," she said. Deepika will be the lone female Indian archer at the Olympics after the women's team failed to qualify. After the qualifications round on the opening day of the Games on Friday, Deepika will have her first event, the mixed pair competition, on Saturday. Her individual event will begin on July 27. Mirabai Chanu - Weightlifting Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has emerged as a strong contender in the women's 49kg category in the run up to the Olympics, making her one of the brightest medal prospects at the Tokyo Games. The lone Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Tokyo Games, Chanu will be eager to make amends for the disappointing show at the 2016 Rio Olympics where she had failed to record a legal lift in any of her three attempts in clean and jerk and thus could not get an overall total in women's 48kg. Not only did she silence her detractors by winning the gold in the world championship in 2017 and the Commonwealth Games a year later, the diminutive Manipuri also overcame an unspecified back problem, which marred her progress in 2018, and changed her weight category to 49kg from her original 48 kg after the international federation decided to introduce new categories in the sport in the run up to the Tokyo Games. Chanu currently holds the world record in clean and jerk in the women's 49kg category. She successfully heaved 119kg in the Asian Championship, her last tournament ahead of the Tokyo Games, in April to win the gold medal in the section and an overall bronze. The performance is bound to boost her confidence when she heads into the weightlifting arena on July 24. After today's practice session @mirabai_chanu . #Tokyo2020 #ComeonIndia Vinesh Phogat - Wrestling Vinesh Phogat has emerged as one of the best medal prospects in Tokyo. One of the most disturbing images of Rio 2016 was the sight of Vinesh writhing in pain on the mat, having suffered a career-threatening injury that ended her 2016 Olympic campaign. But she made it back to the competitive arena and earned the right to fight in Tokyo, winning a bronze in the 53kg category at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships. The Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medal winner also won the 53kg gold in the 2021 Asian Championships. She seems to have had a measure of the competition she may face in Tokyo and a podium finish is very much possible. "Vinesh has a great chance of winning a medal. She has shown tremendous guts having recovered from the Rio injury and then going on to defeat top wrestlers in international tournaments," Vinesh's uncle and coach Mahavir Phogat had told The Telegraph. Neeraj Chopra - Javelin Neeraj Chopra. That's the name everyone is banking on to give India its first medal in the track and field event. But the 23-year-old javelin thrower has a mountain to climb in an event where a host of others are capable of winning a medal. Defending Olympic champion Germany's Thomas Roehler is out with a back injury, but the likes of Johannes Vetter (Germany), Trinidad's Kreshorn Walcott and reigning world champion Grenada's Anderson Peters have enough in their armoury to stand on the podium. Games debutant Neeraj's personal best is a throw of 88.07 metres but most of his rivals in Tokyo have breached the 90-metre mark consistently.
227 Manipur government facilitated Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu in presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday. The Chief Minister handed over the appointment letter as the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) to Mirabai Chanu. While speaking at the event Chanu said, "I want to thank everyone for your support. With your support, today I have received this silver medal in the Olympics". "I dedicate my medal to all the people in Manipur", she added. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Monday felicitated India's first medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics Mirabai Chanu. After being felicitated, the Indian weightlifter arrived in Imphal amid a roaring welcome by the people. Everyone lined up in Imphal streets to welcome the Olympic champion. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was also at the Imphal airport to welcome Mirabai Chanu. Manipur Government on Monday had decided to appoint Chanu as Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in the police department. "Mirabai Chanu would also be rewarded with Rs 1 crore as announced by the government," Biren Singh had told media persons. The Chief Minister said that all the participants would be given Rs 25 lakh each. He also said the state government had decided to establish a world-class weightlifting academy in the state soon. Chanu had opened India's medals tally on Saturday as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum.
228 New Delhi, July 30: India rejoiced after Lovlina Borgohain on Friday assured the country of its second medal at the Tokyo Olympics with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and shooting ace Abhinav Bindra joining others in sending the young boxer congratulatory messages. Debutant Borgohain (69kg) assured India of their first boxing medal at the ongoing Games when she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei to enter the semifinals. "Lovlina has entered the Semi Finals ! Well done @LovlinaBorgohai , what an amazing news for India to wake up to today! We've been glued to the tv screen watching you in action!," Thakur wrote on his social media handles. India's only individual gold medallist Bindra wrote on Koo, "Super super show by @LovlinaBorgohai ! Two more to go ! goforgold." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bisaw Sarma was one of the first to congratulate the boxer, who comes from the northeastern state's Golaghat district. "This is a BIG punch. You continue to make us proud LovlinaBorgohain and keep India's flag high & shining at TokyoOlympics2020. Well done," Sarma wrote in regional language on Koo. Former sports minister Kiren Rijiju too sent her his congratulations. "India is confirmed of 2nd Olympics medal. What a lovely Boxing from Lovlina. LovlinaBorgohai has reached semi-finals and looking for Gold medal in Tokyo2020 Olympics!" Rijiju wrote. The 23-year-old Assam boxer won 4-1 to make the last-four where she will square off against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, who hammered Ukraine's Anna Lysenko in her quarterfinal bout. Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt said, "What a day!! One more Medal confirmation win by Indian Women proud." Former world champion shooter Heena Sidhu said, "medal confirmed for Lovlina!!!! Great show!!! Amazing amazing amazing." Former India hockey team captain Viren Rasquinha wrote, "This means everything!! Keep going. Don't be satisfied with this." Borgohain, a two-time world championship bronze-medallist, displayed tremendous calm in the face of a plucky opponent, who had beaten her in the past. From the cricket fraternity, BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote, "Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai on beating former World Champion Chen Nien-Chin and entering the semis of the women's welterweight category. First place medal Let's go for Gold, Lovlina!" Shooter Joydeep Karmakar said, "Still hold my congratulatory message! But what courage and deliberation @LovlinaBorgohai."
229 Personalities from different spectrums showered praises on Neeraj Chopra, made history by becoming first Indian to win gold in athletics in Olympics Neeraj Chopra made history on Saturday by becoming the first-ever Indian to win gold in athletics in Olympics. Personalities from different spectrums showered praises on Neeraj Chopra while some entities also announced cash rewards for the Javelin thrower for his achievement. Haryana-born Neeraj Chopra, who brought home the second individual gold medal in Olympics, first in athletics, won the honour with an 87.58-meter throw in his second attempt. For his remarkable win and honour, the Haryana government announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and CM Manohar Lal Khattar said Neeraj Chopra will be made head of the upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula. While the Punjab government announced a cash reward of Rs 2 crore for the 23-year-old, whose roots trace to Punjab. A serving soldier of the Indian Army, Neeraj Chopra was was initially interested in cricket but he took up the sport in 2011 as he was inspired by watching people throw the javelin in Haryana. The cricket board of India, BCCI announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for Neeraj Chopra, while IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings also declared a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for the gold medallist. The Manipur cabinet has also extended a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for the 23-yr-old. Meanwhile, IndiGo has announced unlimited free travel for one year for Neeraj Chopra, as the airline CEO, Ronojoy Dutta said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and I know all IndiGo employees would be truly honoured to welcome you onboard one of our flights."
230 During the felicitation event held on Tuesday, an award of Rs 1 crore and the appointment letter to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) was handed over to her by the CM. Slogans of "Long live Mirabai, long live Manipur!" rent the air as people lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of her. The crowd had swelled at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal and also present among the hundreds of well-wishers and supporters, who waited for her arrival, was Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Mirabai Chanu, who set India's campaign at Tokyo off to a glorious start by winning a silver medal in weightlifting in the Olympics, returned to Manipur to a hero's welcome on Tuesday. Chanu landed at the airport in the afternoon, after which she was escorted to the city convention centre in Imphal where she was given a grand reception by the state government. During the felicitation event, an award of Rs 1 crore and the appointment letter to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) was handed over to her by the CM. The state had earlier announced the decision to appoint Chanu as the ASP (sports) in the police department. Moreover, there will be cash awards for all the state athletes who win medals in the Olympics. After the felicitation, Chanu headed to Nongpok Kakching led by a motorcade of well-wishers, local clubs, police. Nongpok Kakching lies on the eastern side of Imphal valley, about 20 km from the capital city. Despite the ongoing curfew owing to Covid, hordes of people across all age groups lined up the streets to cheer Chanu all the way to her village. Many even tried to gift her with flowers and garlands but were stopped by cops due to the Covid curbs in place. "I have no words to express how happy I am. The love and support extended to me is overwhelming. Right from the airport till here, your warm welcome has made this the greatest day of my life," Chanu said while addressing a gathering at her village. She thanked the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had called her up to congratulate her after her medal win. At Nongpok Kakching, the villagers also organised a grand reception for Chanu at a community hall. Gifts were presented to Chanu and the village elders delivered congratulatory speeches. Sharing her experiences, Chanu said, "One of my driving forces for what I have achieved is my desire to put Manipur on the world map. It pains me when I see that many people don't even know that a state like Manipur exists." She also said her main focus would be to start preparing for the next Olympics, though it is still three years away.
231 While Indians can't stop to celebrate Neeraj Chopra's outstanding victory at Tokyo Olympics by clinching first ever gold for India in Javelin Throw, Chopra's opponent from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem who was also a participant in Javelin Thow event congratulated Neeraj for his feat. But besides congratulating Neeraj, Arshad also apologised to his country Pakistan for not bagging a gold medal. Nadeem was one of 12 throwers hoping to capture Olympic gold and perpetual glory for their countries. The man from Mian Channu has a personal and season best of 86.38 metres, and is ranked 23rd in the world. Arshad in a Tweet wrote, "Congratulations to my Idol #NeerajChopra for winning gold medal....Sorry Pakistan I could not win medal for you." Before Neeraj Chopra bagging the gold medal, Nadeem threw a brilliant 85.16 in qualification to top Group B and will be aiming for a podium spot today. Not long back, the Pakistani javelin thrower cited his Indian counterpart as one of his idols. Nadeem had won bronze at the 2016 South Asian Games hosted in India where Chopra had won the gold. Nadeem finished fourth in the opening round with a throw of 84.62 metres on his third attempt. India's Neeraj Chopra topped the opening round with a throw of 87.58m. Nadeem's first throw landed at a distance of 82.40 - well below his personal best of 86.38m. His second attempt was deemed a foul. He had qualified for the finals at overall third behind Chopra and Vetter. However, Neeraj Chopra Neeraj Chopra on Saturday made history by becoming the first Indian to win gold medal in athletics at Olympic Games. Chopra has also become only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Chopra now holds gold medals in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and now the Olympics, all at the same time. After his win, prime minister Narendra Modi said history has been scripted and stressed that what Neeraj has achieved today will be remembered forever.
232 After beating Germany by 5-4 to win the bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, the Indian hockey team and coach got a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they thanked him for his inspirational talk after their semi-final loss. The coaches told Modi that his talk motivated the team to perform well. Exactly 85 years ago in the month of August, the Indian hockey team led by Major Dhyanchand too was in need of motivation while taking on Germany in the finals of hockey at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. And, it was Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda state, whose pep talk lifted the morale of the team during the halftime. Historian and art curator Chandrashekhar Patil said, “Maharaja Sayajirao had gone to Germany in 1936 to watch the Berlin Olympics. He watched the hockey finals between India and Germany from the stadium pavilion where Adolf Hitler too was present.” “In the first half, the Indian team could score just one goal and Sayajirao noticed that the players were struggling. So, he decided to meet the players at halftime. The players told him that they were struggling to play properly wearing shoes as they are used to playing bare feet. Sayajirao had given them shoes for playing in the finals,” Patil told TOI. “The king immediately asked them to remove their shoes and play their natural game. The team was a bit nervous as it was playing against the Germans in Germany. Sayajirao gave a pep talk to Major Dhyanchand and the team, and asked them to win the finals,” Patil added. Dhyanchand scored three goals in the second half and India beat Germany 8-1 to win the gold medal.
233 Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's account here on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift. The gold went to China's Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg) , while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg). Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell. She lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year. However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg. The Chinese lifter also holds the world mark (96kg) in the category. In the clean jerk, Chanu, the world record holder in the section, lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts. However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt but it was enough to fetch her a medal and open India's account. The diminutive Mannipuri broke down after realising that she has secured a medal and hugged her coach in jubiliation. She later broke into a dance too to celebrate the historic podium finish.
234 At the Tokyo Olympics, athletes have delivered extreme performances that have been partly attributed to these advanced shoes, as well as a high-tech track that they ran on. Since the Rio Olympics of 2016, a slew of world, national and personal athletics records have been broken, thanks to what are described as "super shoes". While these high-tech shoes have been praised for transforming track and field events, they have also been slammed by purists, who believe the new footwear has ruined athletics. Even at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, athletes have delivered extreme performances that have been partly attributed to these advanced shoes, as well as a high-tech track that they ran on. Critics, however, allege that using the super footwear, first developed by the American multinational Nike and now adopted by several competitors, amounts to 'technological doping'. What are some of the records broken at the Tokyo Olympics? In men's 400m hurdles, Norway's Gold-winning Karsten Warholm beat the world record (which he himself set last month) by a remarkable 0.75 seconds. USA's Sydney McLaughlin did the same in the women's 400m hurdles. What is more, even the Silver Medal winners in the same men's and women's races broke the previous world record. Newsletter | Click to get the day's best explainers in your inbox Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won Gold in both 100m and 200m sprints, broke a 33-year-old Olympic record in the former and clocked the second-best time in history in the latter. In the triple jump, Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas - who won Gold - set a world record. Eliud Kipchoge of Ethiopia, the current world record holder in marathon running, became the third person in history to win two successive Olympic races, finishing the Sunday race in two hours eight minutes and 38 seconds. The debate over technological doping was first triggered after the same Ethiopian athlete performed an astonishing feat at Vienna in 2019, running a marathon in under two hours. That timing, however, was not recognised as the official marathon world record. What are 'super shoes'? In 2017, Kipchoge made his first attempt to break the two-hour barrier but fell short by 26 seconds. Back then, it was believed that the version of the shoe which he wore would have given him an advantage. These shoes were called the Vaporfly Elite. The Vaporfly series of shoes by Nike, lab tests have shown subsequently, helps an athlete save four per cent more energy than a competitor who does not wear them. Two weeks before Kipchoge's feat in Vienna, Ethiopian great Kenesisa Bekele, another runner who used the Vaporfly, came within two seconds of the former's world record. A day after the two-hour barrier fell, Kenya's Brigid Kosgei broke the 16-year-old women's record at the Chicago marathon. Later, track spikes - shoes that have spikes underneath to give runners a grip - also became more technologically advanced as marathon shoes did before them, as per a report in New Scientist. As per the report, both super shoes and super spikes combine a unique foam with a rigid carbon-fibre plate. Unlike traditional spikes, which have tried to lessen the amount of midsole foam in order to decrease weight and energy absorption, super spikes have a better foam that is able to return as much as 80 to 90 per cent of energy to the athlete- thus acting like a spring in every step. The carbon-fibre plate in super footwear is believed to allow athletes a more effective push-off. World Athletics, the governing body for track and field sports, approves "super shoes", but with regulations on foam thickness, as well as other parameters, as per an AFP report. Along with "super shoes", the track specifically engineered for Tokyo that the athletes ran on is also believed to have increased their speed. As per the New Scientist, the track, whose surface required three years to be completed, has been tuned to allow shock absorption and energy return- working like the foam in super spikes. So, what explains the 'technological doping' complaint? While the technological advancements in shoes have been welcomed by many for the transformative effect they have had on track and field events, there are others who have been less enthusiastic. Some athletics purists insist that running should only involve human effort, not a combination of human effort and technology. Essentially, they assert that athletes should be rewarded for their endeavour, and not for their choice of footwear. The debate is especially charged when it comes to elite sports, when even a small difference in technology can be the deciding factor in tight races. Critics ask how it would be possible to accurately assess an athlete's individual effort in a race by separating it from the boost received from high technology shoes. There also remain concerns about the high cost of super shoes - which could effectively erase chances of poorer athletes excelling in track and field.
235 Mumbai: The Germans were hit by Storm India in Japan and the celebrations started for the billions of people back home. The India vs Germany hockey contest, as usual, was fierce, with nine goals being scored in the 60-minute ordeal. "Words cannot describe the way our boys went about their task," former Indian skipper Dhanraj Pillay told FPJ. "It is about the feeling, and I am sure every Indian feels the same about our boys," Pillay, who has represented the country in four Olympics, said. "Manpreet and his boys, including the support staff, have done what I and my teammates could not. Hats off to them," Pillay said. "I am sure hockey will find a special place in our country and I should thank the team, the support staff, and everyone who has made this happen," said Dhanraj, who led the team to victory at the Asian Games in 1998. "I always had the regret that I could not win an Olympic medal. I used to wonder whether I would be able to see India at the Olympic podium again in hockey. Now with this historic win, I have no regrets," he said. An all-time great, Pillay said that any team goes to the Olympics to win a medal and that "your morale is broken when you end up playing classification matches". Former international MM Somaya agreed with Pillay. "It is amazing and I am sure it is the hard work by the boys and the support staff," said Somaya, a member of the gold-winning team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. "The boys are an example of a never-give-up attitude despite defeats. They went from low to high and their resilience has proved that anybody emerges victorious if one puts one's mind to the task and the best. Coming back from 1-3 down to win the match and that too against a side like the Germans is remarkable," said Somaya. Refusing to compare the 1980 side with the current one, Somaya said, "I cannot (compare) as it was a different format. Many countries had boycotted the Games then, and we did not have the Germans." Former India captain Joaquim Carvalho recalled the game against Germans at the Champions final. "We were leading 5-4 and we conceded a penalty, and on Thursday, it was a repeat of that. But Sreejesh and the defence held their nerves," he said.
236 Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Taapse Pannu, Randeep Hooda, Suinel Shetty and others congratulated Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for bagging silver in men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Ravi Kumar won the silver after losing 4-7 to Zavur Uguev of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the final on Thursday and became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games. Kareena took to her Instagram handle to congratulate the wrestler. The Indian grappler had to endure his semi-final opponent's unsportsmanlike attitude. During the final minute of the game, Dahiya was trailing 5-9 and it was then that, Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev was seen biting the Indian on his arm when the Indian grappler had pinned him down. Actor Suniel Shetty took notice of this moment and tweeted: "If what I see is true, then you have already won gold in our hearts! You are the true symbol of the Indian Sporting Spirit. #RaviKumarDahiya we are so proud of you!!" Taapsee Pannu tweeted, "It's a silver for our Ravi Dahiya!" "Kasuta ladya bhai Ravi Dahiya!! #Olympics #Silver #RaviKumarDahiya #Wrestling #ravidhaiya," tweeted Hooda. "Another one coming home! Congratulations on the Silver!" wrote Anil Kapoor.
237 When a total of 126 Indian athletes across 18 sports disciplines landed in Tokyo to participate in Olympics 2020, one billion Indians cheered for them. Soaring hopes and prayers of the Indians egged them on to go for the Olympic glory! Every athlete was ready to give her or his best for the nation. What a better start Indian fans could have expected than a medal on the very first day, that too a silver! The impressive performance by various sports persons on the following days has strengthened the country's position in the event and the country is hopeful to get a medal each in Badminton and welterweight boxing. As industrialist Anand Mahindra said in his congratulatory message to Mirabai who ensured India's first medal at the event, “One woman. The burden of expectations of over a billion. All lifted high above her head, effortlessly.” With her silver medal ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal in Olympics. Mira bettered Karnam Malleswari's bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Mira lost the gold to China's Hou Zhihui. When Mira won silver on the very first day of Olympics, the entire nation erupted into celebrations. Congratulatory messages poured in! Once Mira returned to her hometown, Imphal in Manipur, thousands of people came out on the streets to greet their daughter. Despite Covid-restrictions, they danced to rejoice Mira's accomplishment. No doubt, it was a flying start for India in Tokyo! PV Sindhu's advancement into Badminton and Lovlina Borgohain in welterweight boxing has given a lot of hope to the country of winning more medals and adding on to the country's march to a spectacular performance. This wonderful performance by the women of the country has also given a lot of boost to the rise of women power in the country. After her victory, Mira said, “It was really a dream-come-true for me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my country and would like to thank the billion prayers of all Indians. I am grateful for all the support extended by the government towards me, without which this journey to an Olympic medal would not have been possible.” She literally lifted the spirit of Indian contingents in Tokyo! The moment Mirabai Chanu bagged silver, she proved that “Medals are made from tears and sweat. Victories are marked by tears of joy!” “This silver medal is even more special because of the love people of India and my state Manipur have shown me. I'm grateful to each and every person who came today to congratulate me and gave me their blessings,” an overwhelmed Mira reacted. No doubt Indian hopes are still high in other categories like badminton, archery, boxing, and hockey, but it was Mira's moment this year in Tokyo. She is already back home and will cherish the moment of glory for years and will inspire millions of youngsters. Olympic is one such event where every sportsperson fights it out to showcase their skills and bring glory for their nation. It is a moment of glory for every athlete to represent their country. The Olympics remain the most 'compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself'. For an athlete, the Olympics are 'the ultimate test of their worth.' Originally scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9, last year, the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games had to be pushed back due to global Covid-19 threat. After a lot of deliberations and consultations among the organisers and stakeholders, the Tokyo Olympic Games will now be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, and the Paralympic Games from 24 August 24 to September 5, 2021. Altogether around 11,000 athletes from 206 countries are participating in 33 sports categories. No doubt, the spirit of the game will be upheld with the successful completion of the mega event in due course. The Olympic games will be a testimony of the triumph of indomitable human spirit over the pandemic. But even the severest threat in the form of Covid-19 could not dampen the spirit of the athletes and organisers. As IOC (International Olympic Committee) president Thomas Bach has put it, “Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.” Held amidst extraordinary time in human history, the Tokyo Olympic Games has been an 'extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport.'
238 Veteran asks why she was asked to alter her attire "just a minute before" her fight with Colombia's Ingrit Valencia Legendary Indian boxer Mary Kom has kicked up a storm by questioning why she was asked to change her ring dress "just a minute before her pre'quarters" bout on Thursday. The 38-year-old, who lost to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia in the round of 16, took to Twitter to say, "Surprising..can anyone explain what will be a ring dress. I was ask to change my ring dress just a minute before my pre qtr bout can anyone explain. @PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @KirenRijiju @iocmedia @Olympics." Surprising..can anyone explain what will be a ring dress. I was ask to change my ring dress just a minute before my pre qtr bout can anyone explain. @PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @KirenRijiju @iocmedia @Olympics pic.twitter.com/b3nwPXSdl1 Kom slams IOC Boxing Task Force The six-time world champion on Thursday slammed the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force for "poor judging" in her flyweight (51kg) pre-quarterfinal, which she lost despite winning two of the three rounds. The Task Force is conducting the boxing competition in Tokyo after the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended by the IOC for alleged misgovernance and financial wrongdoing. "I don't know and understand this decision, what's wrong with the Task Force? What's wrong with the IOC?" she asked in a telephonic interview to PTI after the 2-3 loss to Colombian Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarters in Tokyo. "I was also a member of the Task Force. I was even giving them suggestions and supporting them in ensuring a clean competition. But what have they done with me?" she said. The 38-year-old, multiple-time Asian champion who was eyeing her second Olympic medal after the bronze at the 2012 London Games, said the loss did not sink in even after she had gone for her dope test. "I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost," she said. "I had beaten this girl twice in the past. I couldn't believe that her hand was raised by the referee. I swear, it hadn't struck me that I lost, I was so sure," she added.
239 Indian boxing legend MC Mary Kom thought she had won and it was only hours later that she realized that the decision had gone the other way. The videoof MC Mary Kom's Round of 16 bout with Ingrit Valencia on the official Tokyo Olympics YouTube channel shows a banner during the post-bout visuals stating "Magnificent Mary bowed out with a smile on her face." A closer look will tell you that Mary Kom seems smiling and jubilant believing she had been adjudged the winner. Mary Kom bowed out of Tokyo Olympics after a valiant effort, losing to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia by just one point. The former Olympic bronze medallist was left shocked when she realized that she had lost. Losing on a 3-2 split decision verdict despite winning two of the three rounds has left the boxer confused and unconvinced. Not just that, Mary Kom has stated that she will be taking up the issue with boxing's task force. What caused the confusion? Boxing matches usually end with the announcment of the verdict of the judges and the refereeraising the hand of the winning boxer. However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place the custom of raising the winner's hand has been suspended at Tokyo Olympics. Mary reportedly did not hear that the announcement had given the decision to Ingrit in the red corner. Both boxers raised their hands with huge smiles on their faces before referee pointed towards Valencia, a gesture that Mary didn't see. She celebrated and her opponent too hugged Mary and raised her hand. It was only later on she realized what had happened. Mary Kom said, "I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost." It was only after reading a congratulatory tweet from Indian union minister Kiren Rijiju that Mary realized the decision didn't go her way. Why Mary Kom thinks the decision is unfair? The match was a gritty and cagey affair where Valencia was arguably much more potent than she has been when facing the marauding Mary Kom in the past. The Colombian boxer, who lost 5:0 to Mary Kom at the World Championships in 2019, took the first round. While the Indian juggernaut came back winning round two and three, Valence had more points over the three rounds during the final tallying of scores given by individual judges. In round one, Valencia was awarded 10 points by four of the five judges while only one gave Mary 10. In both the other rounds, three judges gave Mary 10 points while Valencia managed 10 from only two. However, the final tallying saw Valencia's round one advantage prevail over Mary's brilliant comeback. Mary Kom reportedly said, "The bout was not too close also. First round, I don't know why it was 4-1 (in Valencia's favour); there was no fighting, there were no clear punches... I won the second and third rounds so when two rounds are mine, I should win. Why should they give it to her?" Why can Mary do about it? Unconvinced by the decision, Mary has stated that she will be reaching out to the boxing taskforce after some time and will raise the issue. She is also considering resigning from the position of an athlete ambassador of International Olympic Committee's Task Force at Tokyo Olympics in the light of the 'unfair' decision. Mary has reportedly said, "I will definitely raise this issue after some time... now I don't think it's the right time because I am not in control of my emotions after realising I haven't won. I gave a suggestion to the members of the task force to have free and fair judges in big games. I pointed this out all the time. Now, I don't know why I have received this kind of unfair judgment. So, I will maybe give my resignation and no longer be a part of the task force." In the aftermath of the controversy, Mary Kom has also expressed that she was surprised after the organizers asked her to change her jersey a minute before the bout.
240 Readers write in from Calcutta, Noida, Chennai, Hyderabad and Nellimarla Moment of glory Sir - India has reasons to be elated because for the first time in its history, the country has won an Olympic medal on the very first day of the event ("Chanu lifts India out of bronze age", July 25). For Mirabai Chanu, who failed at all her three attempts in the clean and jerk section at Rio de Janeiro five years back, winning a silver medal in Tokyo was nothing less than redemption and a show of grit. Not only did she have to literally lift weight, but she also had to bear the weight of the hopes of the millions; and she did not disappoint. Chanu's silver will hopefully encourage many youngsters to pick this sport as a career. May this be the first of many medals India wins in this edition. Bal Govind, Noida Sir - Mirabai Chanu must be congratulated for ending India's two-decade long wait for a medal in weight-lifting at the Olympics by winning silver this time. Her historic triumph is the fruit of five years of hard work, after her failure at the Rio Olympics. That Chanu won a silver on the opening day should help boost the morale of the entire contingent and motivate other athletes to win medals this time. It is also encouraging that the Indian Olympic Association has decided to reward her coach, Vijay Shankar. But Rs 10 lakh seems to be a pittance; the association should increase the amounts to Rs 20 lakh for a gold medal, Rs 15 lakh for silver and Rs 10 lakh for bronze for the winners' coaches. Janaki Mahadevan, Chennai Sir - Congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for creating history at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the first silver medal for India in weight-lifting. Interestingly, this is also the first time that India has won a medal on the opening day in any Olympics edition. With this win, Chanu buried the ghosts of the 2016 Games at Rio de Janeiro where she finished without any successful lifts. As a 13-year old girl from a low-income family living in a nondescript village in Imphal, Chanu was tenacious and uncompromising with her dream of earning fame as a sportsperson. Her efforts - years of rigorous workouts, travelling 22 kilometres by bus every day in the early morning for training - have finally borne fruit. Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai Sir - The first day of the Tokyo Olympics was marked by Mirabai Chanu winning a silver medal. Clearly, Indian women prove their mettle in every field. One must also acknowledge the efforts of the sports ministry for initiatives such as 'Khelo India', which has been a boon for sports enthusiasts. This has encouraged especially those from rural backgrounds to display their talents. These days, several athletes from rural areas take interest in sports. More youngsters from both rural and urban parts of the country should select sport as a career. The sports ministry should open sports universities in all Indian cities and districts and help sports lovers acquire basic education in the field. The future of Indian sports looks bright and one expects that in the days to come Indians will dominate the world of sports at the international level. Syed Nissar, Hyderabad Sir - Mirabai Chanu must be lauded for winning the silver medal. The good start to the prestigious global sports event with over 200 participating countries is encouraging for the country. With proper planning and focus on its demography, India can reap rich dividends with regard to competitive sports and improve its records in the field. Young sportspersons in the country are shining in spite of all odds. D.V.G. Sankararao,Nellimarla, Andhra Pradesh Sir - The star weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, deserves to be congratulated for winning silver in the women's 49 kilogrammes category. Undoubtedly, this stunning achievement of the ace sportswoman would boost the confidence of all other Indian players who are participating in this edition and one hopes this helps them clinch more medals for our country. Sourish Misra, Calcutta Wrong list Sir - Given the deteriorating condition of the Great Barrier Reef, the Unesco had rightly decided to downgrade its World Heritage status. But Australia has managed to defer this move, asking for more time to work on conservation measures. This is a poor excuse; the government was issued a warning as early as 2014. The 'in danger' list could have protected the Great Barrier Reef to some extent. But, clearly, it is more important for the government to protect its reputation. One hopes that the country wakes up to the threat of climate change before it is too late. Sraddha Mehta, Calcutta
241 The 23-year-old's doesn't have words to describe how it felt to stand on the podium Neeraj Chopra doesn't have words to describe how it felt to stand on the podium in Tokyo on Saturday. "When you stand on the podium at the Olympics, wearing the gold medal, with your national flag being hoisted and the national anthem being played, you feel all your years of hard work have paid off. I just can't explain that feeling. I don't have words for that. All I can say is it was an extremely proud moment," an emotional Neeraj said in an interaction from Tokyo, a day after his gold medal winning feat. "On Saturday, all I was thinking was that I have to improve with each throw. But javelin is a very technical sport. A very small error can lead to a huge difference in the distance. Going into the final, I was confident that I would be able to better my personal best mark. It is true I could not do that, but winning an Olympic gold is a different feeling altogether." Neeraj's gold medal throw of 87.58m fell short of his personal best of 88.07m, a national record he set this year. The 23-year-old's journey since 2019 has not been easy. Plagued by injury and then the Covid-19 pandemic meant he missed out on training and competitions. But the Tokyo sojourn has wiped away all the negatives. "All that went wrong for me in the past two-three years because of my injury and then the pandemic, all that I lost - this gold has made up for all that. This is what matters. Now I can say, whatever happened, happened for the best." Neeraj now wants to come home and celebrate with his loved ones. "I want to go home, have food cooked by my mother, celebrate a little. And then I will again get back to training. I may take part in some meets this year, but I really want to focus on the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games next year." His mother is waiting to cook for her golden boy, specially the choorma that he loves. Is a biopic on the anvil? "I want to focus on my sport now. I would wait till my career is really over. There will be more to the story then," he concluded with a smile.
242 USA's artistic gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from women's all-around final in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in order to focus on her mental health. Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has talked in support of the USA's artistic gymnastics star, Simone Biles, who has withdrawn from the women's all-around final in the ongoing Olympics in a bid to focus on her mental health. Mental health has become an important topic of discussion in the post-pandemic era in every field but especially in sports as most of the players, athletes around the world are staying in bio-bubbles with restrictions and nowhere to go for long periods of time and away from their families and loved ones. Ravi Shastri, who has talked about the struggles of bubbles previously saying that you get cooked mentally, supported Simone Biles saying that she owed this to herself at this tender age and doesn't owe anyone any explanation about the same. "Take your time @Simone_Biles. You have earned the right to owe it to yourself at this tender age. 48 hours or 48 days it might take. Just do it Champion. You owe no explanation to no one. @naomiosaka, you too. God bless you girls #Olympics," Shastri wrote in a tweet. USA's gymnastics team on Wednesday had informed that Simone Biles won't be taking part in the finals of the all-around competition owing to her mental health and said in a statement that they fully support her in that decision. "After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health," the governing body said in a statement. "Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals. Jade Carey, who had the ninth-highest score in qualifications, will participate in her place in the all-around. "We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many," the statement further added. Recently Japanese Tennis star Naomi Osaka had withdrawn from the French Open due to the same reason and missed the Wimbledon as well. Last year, Australian star batsman Glenn Maxwell took a break from cricket for a few months to focus on his mental health, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has spoken about the mental pressure he had gone through during the England tour of 2014 when he was not able to score runs. Recently, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) talked against the stricter bio-bubbles as it will only increase the mental fatigue of the players.
243 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday made history by becoming the first-ever Indian to win a gold medal in athletics in Olympics. 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra won a Gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58-meter throw in his second attempt. It is also the country's second individual gold medal in its Olympic history after Abhinav Bindra's heroics in Beijing 2008. The Javelin thrower was born on December 24, 1997, and hails from Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat. Neeraj, who was initially interested in cricket, took up the sport in 2011 as he was inspired by watching people throw javelin in Haryana. The son of a farmer, Neeraj Chopra is a Subedar and he has 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army. A graduate of DAV college in Chandigarh, the 23-year-old is also the first Indian to win gold in javelin throw at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Neeraj has won in Javelin throw at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Neeraj in 2016 became the first Indian to win a junior world title in athletics by winning gold at the World Junior Championships in Poland. The 23-year-old goes by the philosophy, "When you work hard enough, the external factors fade away."
244 Some sportspersons at the Tokyo Olympics this year were spotted with dark patches on their body. Team Australia's swimmer Kyle Chalmers even shared some pictures on Instagram that showed the dots on his body. They were also spotted on Japanese swimmer Akira Namba's back. In 2016, similar dark circles were reportedly seen on Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelp's back. These marks are the result of an ancient therapy known as cupping. This therapy, thought to have roots in Middle Eastern and Asian cultures, involves the application of heated cups to create local suction on the skin. According to an article by Independent, cupping has been used in traditional Iranian medicine throughout history. It has also been used in China for decades. It is of two types - dry and wet. In both cases, the therapist puts a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs or paper in a cup and sets it on fire, according to webmd.com. Once the fire goes out, the cup is then put upside down on the skin just for a few minutes. A modern version, however, uses a rubber pump instead of fire to create a vacuum in the cup. After this, an antibiotic ointment and bandage are used to prevent infection. One is expected to regain normal skin within 10 days. Cupping is known to have many benefits. Research has shown that this therapy can help with pain management, herpes zoster (reactivation of chickenpox virus in the body) and acne. According to National Health Portal of India, cupping mobilises blood flow to promote healing or cure diseases. It lists the following health issues where cupping can be used: *To clean the skin from waste matters * To stop excessive menses and epistaxis * To correct liver disorders * To treat problems such as spleen disorders, malaria piles, inflammation of testes and uterus, scabies and boils Earlier, Phelps told Sky Sports in a 2016 interview that he usually got the treatment on his shoulders. "That's where I usually hurt the most [and] I've done it before meets, pretty much every meet I go to," he was quoted as saying.
245 Bhavani Devi was cast aside for the Asian Games in one of the most baffling selection calls by the country's fencing governing body. The 27-year-old Bhavani Devi scripted history when she became the first fencer from India to qualify for the Olympics. At Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she became the first Indian fencing player to win a match at the Olympics after registering a confident 15-3 win against Tunisia's Nadia Ben Azizi. But, in the next round, she lost toworld number three and Rio Olympic semifinalist Manon Brunet of France, 7-15. Manon Brunet dominated Bhavani over the two halves as she defeated the Indian by 15-7 and marched into the round of 16. After getting knocked out from Tokyo 2020, Devi took to Twitter where she admitted that she had put in everything and did her level best but couldn't convert the second round into a win. "I am sorry," Devi wrote along with folded hand emoji and Indian tricolors. However, Bhavani Devi got praise for her accomplishment in the Olympics from the Prime Minister. PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded India's first-ever fencer in the Olympics, Bhavani Devi for her commendable performance in Tokyo. PM Modi reacted to her tweet, stating that wins and losses are a part of life. The Indian Prime Minister further wrote that the country is proud of her contributions. "You gave your best and that is all that counts. Wins and losses are a part of life. India is very proud of your contributions. You are an inspiration for our citizens," PM Modi wrote in his tweet. Fencing is one of five sports that have been permanent fixtures at the Olympic Games since the first modern Games were held in 1896. Based on sword fighting, fencing demands speed, anticipation, reflexes, and great mental strength. Though fencing has its roots in Europe, China and the United States have enjoyed success at recent Games. Ruben Limardo won the second Olympic gold medal in Venezuela's history in the London Olympics 2012. Evidence of sword fights goes back as far as Ancient Egypt in 1190 BC with bouts and duels continuing until the 18th century. Fencing was originally a form of military training and started to evolve into a sport in the 14th or 15th century in both Germany and Italy. German fencing masters organised the first guilds, the most notable being the Marxbrueder of Frankfurt in 1478. The sport's popularity increased in the 17th and 18th centuries due to the invention of a weapon with a flattened tip known as the foil, a set of rules governing the target area, and a wire-mesh mask. Bhavani Devi hails from a middle-class family from north Chennai's Washermenpet. She is the first Indian fencer to ever qualify for the Olympics after qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics. She is supported by GoSports Foundation through the Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Programme. Of the three categories in fencing - epee, foil and sabre Bhavani Devi fences sabre. Bhavani Devi was cast aside for the Asian Games in one of the most baffling selection calls by the country's fencing governing body. At the Senior Commonwealth Championships in Canberra, Australia, last week, Bhavani Devi won a gold, beating England's Emily Ruaux 15-12 in a closely fought final. Her decision to carry on training at her base in Italy, undeterred by her non-selection, had been made in a split second.
246 Tokyo, July 24: Indian shooters endured multiple heartbreaks on the first day of their competition in the Tokyo Olympics here on Saturday, with the biggest disappointment being Saurabh Chaudhary's failure to win a medal after topping the qualifications. Chaudhary could not replicate the form he displayed in the qualifications to finish seventh in the men's 10m air pistol final. His roommate and friend Abhishek Verma could not make the eight-man finals, settling for the 17th place with 575 in the event that was considered one of India's best bets for a podium finish. Iran's Javad Foroughi, who entered the Games in red-hot form having won both the World Cups in the lead-up, was crowned the new Olympic champion, finishing with a score of 244.8 in the 24-shot final. Serbian Damir Mikec realized his dream of an Olympic medal in his fourth Games, winning silver with 237.9. Beijing Games champion Pang Wei of China won bronze with 217.6. In the women's 10m air rifle event, first-timer Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela, too, failed to qualify for the finals, finishing 16th and 36th respectively, at the Akasa Range. China's Qian Wang won the ongoing Games' first gold medal after she shot an Olympic record 251.8 in the eight-woman finals. The Russian Olympic Committee's Anastasiia Galashina claimed the silver with 251.1 while Switzerland's Nina Christen took the bronze with 230.6. Following his sensational entry into the finals, a lot of hope were pinned on Chaudhary after a dismal show by the women. But the script did not pan out the way the country's shooting team would have wanted it to. The Indian ace shot 137.4 to be eliminated in the seventh place. Chaudhary did not get off to the best of starts and, with a score of 47.7, was placed eighth in the standings after the first five shots. The Asian Games and Youth Olympics gold-medallist was positioned sixth after the 12th shot, with a score of 117.2. He managed to survive the first elimination round but could not sustain that for long. Things were different in the qualifications though, with Chaudhary shooting 586 to finish ahead of a world-class field, thanks to a perfect 100 in the fourth series after back-to-back 98. Verma was also in contention to make the cut after staging an excellent rally, but two 8s in the final series dashed his hopes. Chaudhary started in an excellent fashion, shooting 10 out of 10 before slipping in the second part of the first series. Appearing in his maiden Olympics, the 19-year-old multiple World Cup gold-medallist then rallied from the 19th place, in a field of 36, to inch closer to the top eight qualifying spots. Earlier in the day, world number one Elavenil finished 16th in the qualifications after shooting 626.5 over six series of 10 shots each, while the more experienced Apurvi, who is also the finals world record holder in the event, settled for the 36th place after aggregating 621.9. The Indians were off to a decent start and even as Apurvi slipped after a disastrous second series, with two scores of 9.5 and 9.9, the 21-year-old Elavenil tried to remain in the reckoning with a fine performance in the third series, including shooting a perfect 10.9. However, Elavenil, a World Cup Final gold-medallist, could not maintain the same form and a couple of 9s in the fifth and sixth series pushed her further down. Apurvi, 28, who has won two World Cup gold medals during her excellent run in 2019, had finished 34th at the 2016 Rio Games. Ironically, the women's 10m air rifle was the first event in which India clinched quotas for the Tokyo Games with Apurvi and Anjum Moudgil claiming them at the 2018 World Championship in Changwon, Korea. Moudgil's quota was given to Elavenil on the basis of the latter's excellent run of form through the Olympic selection cycle.
247 With decisive smashes, cutting backhands and a confident gait, Rio 2016 silver medallist India's PV Sindhu on Sunday (July 25) made quick work of Israel's Ksenia Polikarpova, beating her at 21-7, 21-10. Both matches totalled just twenty-nine minutes, with Polikarpova visibly frustrated and hanging her head with each lost point. "It was quite an easy match," Sindu said at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, adding that she knows she has the hopes of a billion people behind her. Though Sindhu, who was beaten to the gold at the Rio Olympics 2016 by Spain's Carolina Marin, is No. 7 in world rankings, she is considered a serious threat to table-toppers Taiwan's Tai Tzu-Ying and Chen Yu Fei of China. "Tokyo is a fresh start," Sindu said. "You can't expect to be Superman, to think that you will again be a medallist. It's not like that because everybody is going to be at their top form." Later on Sunday, Japan's Kento Momota will make his long-overdue Olympic debut, in his highly anticipated match against the United States' Timothy Lam coming after personal and professional setbacks, including contracting COVID-19. Momota was embroiled in an illegal gambling scandal months before the Rio Games in 2016, and banned by the Nippon Badminton Association. Then world No. 2, Momota was stripped from the league tables and by the time he got back on the court in 2017, he was ranked 282nd. With a 39-match unbeaten streak, he clawed his way back to the top. But Momota's Olympic dreams seemed crushed again in early 2020 when he was in a car accident that left the driver dead and damaged his sight among other injuries. He had time to recover during the pandemic, and made a comeback at the All-England Open in March, raising Japanese hopes he can challenge for Olympic gold. "You never know what's going to happen. Kento has had, obviously, some tough experiences," said Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, men's world No. 2 and Momota's biggest competition at the Games. "It's good to see him back and healthy, most importantly of all. We'll see who can do well here."
248 Indian shooters have fired a blank for the second successive Olympics and a bitter mudslinging game is on with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) blaming pistol coach Jaspal Rana for the debacle. "They need to find a scapegoat after what happened in Tokyo. But I am not someone who will take this lying down. They are passing the buck to me for Manu Bhaker's failure. I want to know what were the coaches doing in Tokyo? I was not there. "What happened in Zagreb (Croatia) from May onwards where the shooters had a camp? Nobody is asking that. I was in Zagreb for a month. I had told the association to have a camp at a place where the weather would be similar to Tokyo in July-August. The weather in Zagreb was pleasant. Nobody bothered to listen to me. "If you ask me, there has to be accountability in NRAI. I had requested the then sports minister (Kiren Rijiju) to appoint a government observer to oversee how things are being run in NRAI. After all, it's the taxpayer's money the association is feasting on. Why not record selection committee meetings to make us know what happens during those deliberations? If Parliament proceedings can be shown live, what's the big deal about NRAI meetings," Jaspal told The Telegraph. According to Jaspal, the problem started after pistol shooter Chinki Yadav earned India a quota place during the Shooting World Cup held in New Delhi in March and he proposed her name for the 25m pistol event. "I advocated for Chinki's inclusion which the powers-that-be did not like. They decided Manu and Rahi Sarnobat would participate in the 25m pistol. Chinky had better scores still missed the bus. "Why on earth was Manu allowed to participate in three events (10m pistol, 10m pistol mixed and 25m pistol)? Even shooters of the calibre of Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra or Gagan Narang did not participate in three events. And you throw a kid into the cauldron. Manu is just 19 and she just buckled under pressure. "She was too preoccupied with other things like posting pictures on social media. That too on the eve of the 10m mixed event. Next day Saurabh (Chaudhary) tried his best but Manu could not get things right. She has age on her side. In Paris she will be more matured," Jaspal, the 1994 Asian Games gold medallist, said. Both NRAI president Raninder Singh and Manu have blamed Jaspal for the pistol shooters' abysmal performance and Jaspal thinks the 19-year-old is being manipulated. "That's the feeling I get. She is a kid and is being used to malign me. I have built this pistol squad from the junior level. I am angry that everything has fallen apart. Even when we were leaving for Croatia I was told I would be travelling to Tokyo. In Amsterdam, from where the shooters took the flight to Tokyo, I came to know I am not accompanying them. I felt bad when I had to break the news to Abhishek (Verma). He was expecting me at the shooting range."
249 Six-time world champion and London Olympics bronze medallist registers fine 4-1 victory in round-of-32 bout Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) powered into the Olympic Games' pre-quarterfinals after staving off a stiff challenge from Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez Garcia in the opening round here on Sunday. The 38-year-old, who is a 2012 Olympic bronze-medallist, prevailed 4-1 against a rival who is 15 years her junior and a Pan American Games bronze-medallist. In a bout that was exciting from start to finish, Mary Kom displayed some brilliant tactics to overcome the spirted fight that Garcia put up. If she held back in the opening round to get a good measure of her rival, the veteran was aggression personified in the final three minutes after Garcia bagged the second round with some fierce punching of her own. Mary Kom's trusted right hook aided her well through the bout and she also displayed a sharp mind by forcing Garcia to lunge at her, opening up the space for the Indian to land clear punches. The youngster from Dominica had the stomach for a fight but was undone by her inability to strike clearly. Mary Kom, a mother of four, will next be up against third-seeded Colombian medallist Ingrit Valencia, who was a bronze-medallist at the 2016 Rio Games.
250 A plump kid took to athletics to lose weight and ended up being India's first track-and-field Olympic gold-medallist. Sounds like a fairytale? That's Neeraj Chopra's life actually, all of 23 and a superstar, or dare one say a messiah, that Indian athletics had been waiting for over a century. On Saturday, with his javelin in hand, Chopra was nothing short of a rockstar at Tokyo's Olympic stadium, which should have been full to capacity to watch his genius unfold but had just a handful officials and coaches to cheer him on, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. He got everyone to cheer for him like he always does and didn't even need to throw a personal best of 88.07m. The gold was sealed with the 87.58m throw, which was just his second of the final round. But many years before this moment of greatness, Chopra was under tremendous pressure from his joint family of 17 to lose weight. He was all of 13 at that point and had become a mischievous boy, often fiddling the beehives on village trees and trying to pull buffaloes by their tails. His father Satish Kumar Chopra wanted something to be done to discipline the boy. So, after a lot of cajoling, the child finally agreed to do some running to shed the flab. His uncle took him to Shivaji Stadium in Panipat -- around 15km from his village. Chopra wasn't interested in running and almost instantly fell in love with javelin throw when he saw a few seniors practising at the stadium. He decided to try his luck and as the clich goes, rest is history, which would probably now make its way into school textbooks. He has been a consistent performer since bursting into spotlight with a historic gold in the junior world championships in 2016 with an Under-20 world record of 86.48m which still stands. His other achievements include gold medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, besides the top finish in the 2017 Asian Championships. He is also a 2018 Arjuna Awardee. His infectious smile doesn't give it away but Chopra has had his brush with low phases too. He underwent an arthroscopic surgery on the elbow of his right throwing arm in 2019 which kept him out of action for nearly a year but he came back stronger. In pursuit of excellence, it was a roller-coaster ride for the tall, sprightly and humble athlete after being pulled into the sport by senior javelin thrower Jaiveer Choudhary from a nearby village in 2011. Chopra was game to it and after a few months, in search of better facilities, he shifted to the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula. By the end of 2012, he had become the U-16 national champion. At this point came the financial issues as Chopra needed accomodation, better equipment, a kit and better diet to go up the next level. It was a tough decision for the joint family which owns less than 10 acres of land. But they pulled through and by 2015, Chopra had joined the national camp. "We are farmers, nobody in the family has a government job and my family has been supporting me with difficulty. But it is a sort of relief now that I am able to support my family financially besides continuing with my training," Chopra had told PTI in an interview after he was made a Junior Commission Officer in the Indian Army in 2017. He is now a Naib Subedar. "A medal in Tokyo Olympics is my target, it's the ultimate for an athlete. I am still young and my best is yet to come," he had said then. In 2013, he took part in the World Youth Championships in Ukraine but returned without any medal. Next year, he won a silver in the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok, his first international medal. Chopra's first medal in a national senior championship came in July 2015 during the Inter-State event in Chennai with a throw of 77.33m. A few months later, he won gold in the National Open Championships in Kolkata. The year 2016 was a breakthrough one for Chopra. After crossing the 80m mark at the fag end of 2015, Chopra won the South Asian Games in Guwahati in February 2016 with a throw of 82.23m. A few months later, under the guidance of late Australian coach Gary Calvert, Chopra created history during the world junior championships and announced the arrival of a truly world-class javelin thrower. There is still a wall-hanging in the drawing room of Chopra's ancestral home which features an oft-repeated motivational quote -- "A single idea can light up your life." The Chopra family's single idea to let him pursue javelin throw on Saturday lit up the country in its golden glow.
251 After bagging the bronze medal in men's freestyle 65kg by beating Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0 on points for his first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, wrestler Bajrang Punia has made India proud. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled the wrestler for his outstanding feat in the olympics. PM Modi spoke to Bajrang Punia and congratulated him on winning the bronze medal. He also lauded Bajrang for his determination and hard work that has led to this accomplishment. President Ram Nath Kovind was also among the millions of Indians who congratulated Bajrang for winning a bronze in dominating style. "A special moment for Indian wrestling! Congratulations to Bajrang Punia for winning the Bronze at #Tokyo2020. You have distinguished yourself as an outstanding wrestler with untiring efforts, consistency and tenacity over the years. Every Indian shares the joy of your success!" wrote the President on Twitter. Cricketers including VVS Laxman were also quick to laud Bajrang's effort. "Super Duper ....And @bajrangpunia does India proud. Absolutely brilliant from #BajrangPunia to win 8-0 and win the #Bronze match," Laxman posted. The 2008 Olympic gold-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra said: "Many Congratulations @BajrangPunia for winning the Bronze medal at #Tokyo2020. Great grit shown ! Brilliantly fought!" Another shooter Heena Sindhu said the manner of his victory was most impressive. "And @BajrangPunia has done it with style and the most comfortable lead possible. Congratulations to him and his team for working very hard for this. All the best for a great future." Sports Minister Anurag Thakur wrote: "BRONZE Third place medal for BAJRANG !!! YOU DID IT. India is thrilled beyond words. I am so proud of you, loved watching your dominating performance and spectacular finish!". Cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar added: "Sheer class & domination on display by @BajrangPunia in #wrestling to win Third place medal for India!. Congratulations on this much deserved victory & leaving us all stunned with your performance." Bajrang's smart attacking moves made him a 8-0 winner against Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in the bronze medal play-off. After medal-favourite Vinesh Phogat's shock quarterfinal exit and Bajrang's below par show in the first three matches, a pall of gloom had descended on Indian wrestling contingent. However, the three-time medallist at world championships rose to the occasion with a comfortable win. With Bajrang's medal, Indian wrestlers have matched their best performance at the Olympic Games by earning two podium finishes. Ravi Dahiya had won an inspiring silver medal in the 57kg category.
252 Olympic silver medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu announced at a public reception in Imphal on Tuesday that she was dedicating her medal to the people of Manipur. Ms. Chanu said, "It is because of your prayers, unwavering support and wishes that I bagged the silver medal in the event. I am so excited that I cannot speak." She said she was taken aback when Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren called her soon after she won the medal. She said, "India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also rang me up to express his happiness for bringing the laurel." Chief Minister N. Biren, who presided over the reception, said, "I am handing over a cheque of ₹1 crore. You have been appointed as the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports)". She was also given the appointment letter by the CM. Later Mr. Biren and others escorted her to the new office in Imphal. Also Read Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu accorded grand reception in New Delhi Earlier, Ms Chanu's parents were joined by a few thousand people, including fans and well wishers, at the Imphal international airport to welcome her with garlands and hugs. Though they were all wearing masks, social distancing was not observed. The Chief Minister said, "In view of the situation I escorted her in my car and whisked her away." Thousands of people lined the seven km road to the City Convention Centre. She waved at her friends, fans and spectators at the airport but she did not get a chance to speak to them. On the way to the reception, she had to change places with Mr. Biren in the car to wave to fans on both sides of the road. The cheering crowds threw garlands and petals at the car. Determined to win Her father Saikhom Kriti said, "She is the youngest baby out of six siblings. From the age of 12 years she indicated that she would want to become an athlete. But we are of a poor family. All we could do was to give ₹5 daily. With this pittance she used to go from our home at Nongpok Kakching to the Khuman Lampak. As bus service was unreliable she used to hitch a ride in trucks transporting sand, stones, etc." Also Read Manipur creates special post for Mirabai Ms Chanu said, "In the Rio 2016 Olympics I could not win any medal. But this did not dishearten me. Instead it firmed me up and as a result I underwent vigorous training for five years." She said that she will prepare for the next Olympic games. Ms Anita, her coach said, "One day Mirabai came to the sports complex saying that she would like to become an athlete. We examined her and found that physically she was okay and we immediately made arrangements for her." Brojen another coach also said, "We are happy over her achievements". Later in the day, another grand reception was held at her village Nongpok Kakching as Ms Chanu and her family returned.
253 At the Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu made Indian proud by winning a silver medal in the 49 kg category. This occurred after 21 years. Following the tournament, Chanu shared she craved pizza. To treat her, Dominos India stepped in with a special announcement. The restaurant chain said they are offering Chanu lifetime free pizza. "@Mirabai_chanu Congratulations on bringing the medal home! You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to FREE Domino's pizza for life. Congratulations again!" Dominos tweeted. @Mirabai_chanu Congratulations on bringing the medal home! You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to FREE Domino's pizza for life Congratulations again!! #DominosPizza #PizzasForLife #Tokyo2020 #MirabaiChanu - dominos_india (@dominos_india) July 24, 2021 The pizza company made the announcement in response to Chanu's interview with NDTV, in which the weightlifter said, "First of all, I will go and have a pizza. It has been a long time since I ate it. I will eat a lot today." Here's how netizens reacted to the announcement: @mirabai_chanu Congratulations on Bringing the medal home. We are not as big #DominosPizza But @amarkothi (insta) we are great full to announce anytime you visit #udaipur your stay in our hotel is free for life time.@my_rajasthan #Tokyo2020 @TajHotels - Prithvi Raj Chauhan (@PRC0027) July 25, 2021 Good offer! But she eats pizza only after winning a medal. Why don't you offer her to become your brand ambassador. A suggestion - mukesh arora (@maroraa) July 25, 2021 Thank you DOMINOS for such a magical gesture @dominos - Milind Bhadsavle (@MilindBhadsavle) July 25, 2021
254 It is, perhaps, India's most successful Olympics ever! With seven medals, India has recorded its best-ever haul at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. India scripted history with athlete Neeraj Chopra's win. The 23-year-old won the Men's Javelin Gold medal. After his historic win, people started congratulating the athlete on social media for his stupendous show. However, there was one Twitter user who wanted a Mahindra XUV700 for Twitter user Ritesh Jain, tagged the Mahindra Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra, and wrote, "Xuv700 for him (sic)." Xuv700 for him. - Ritesh Jain (@ritjain13) saying that it will be his privilege to gift golden boy Neeraj Chopra an XUV700. "Yes indeed. It will be my personal privilege & honour to gift our Golden Athlete an XUV 7OO @rajesh664 @vijaynakra Keep one ready for him please (sic)," he wrote. Read his tweet below: Yes indeed. It will be my personal privilege & honour to gift our Golden Athlete an XUV 7OO Keep one ready for him please. - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) After Neeraj Chopra's win at the Olympics, Anand Mahindra mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur in a tweet and wrote, "The Javelin throw is arguably the most frequently used image for commemorative coins. We need to have one officially released depicting #NeerajChopra @narendramodi @ianuragthakur (sic)." The Javelin throw is arguably the most frequently used image for commemorative coins. We need to have one officially released depicting - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) We're all in your army, Baahubali - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) Neeraj Chopra became the only second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual Olympic Gold medal. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Anand Mahindra's reply to Twitter user demanding XUV700 for golden boy Neeraj Chopra after Olympic win
255 India's Neeraj Chopra started the final with an 87.02-metre throw and bettered it in his next attempt with 87.58 metres and qualified at the top spot. India's Neeraj Chopra started the men's javelin throw final with a stupendous throw of 87.02 metres at the Olympics Stadium. If that wasn't enough, Neeraj soon bettered in his next attempt as he threw the javelin at 87.58 metres and almost confirmed a medal for India with only two throws. While his two 87-plus metre throws ensured that he qualified in the Top 8 at the pole position, however, it wasn't to be for the medal favourite, Germany's Johannes Vetter as after a couple of throws of sub-82, he failed to throw it more than that and remained at No 9. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem after a decent start with 82.40 even after it didn't come out of his hand as he would have liked to, bettered it with 84.62 in his third throw and qualified for the top 8 at fifth position. Following Neeraj, as the second position was Czech Republic'sVtezslav Vesel, the 38-year old threw at 85.44 metres and qualified for Top 8 at the second position. In the Top 8, Germany's Julian Weber presented an opportunity but finished at the fourth position but it was Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who surpassed his countryman with a throw of 86.67 metres in the final round to confirm a second place. But, it was Neeraj Chopra, whose 87.58-metre throw was enough for him to win the Gold medal for India, first in Track and field event for the country.
256 Finally, we have broken the jinx. After a long wait of 49 years, Indian men are in the hockey semi-finals of an Olympic Games. In 1972 in Munich, we had lost to Pakistan 0-2. It's a huge achievement given all the heartbreaks we have had after the 1980 gold medal-winning feat. Indian hockey is replete with so-near- yet-so-far stories - like the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2000 Games in Sydney. But Sunday was a red-letter day. India defeated Great Britain 3-1 to set up a mouth-watering last-four clash with world champions Belgium on Tuesday. What delights me most is that all three were field goals. But at the same time, India should also do some introspection on why they didn't earn a single penalty corner. Dilpreet Singh (seventh minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) were the scorers. Four players stole the show for me. PR Sreejesh, Nilakanta Sharma, captain Manpreet Singh and Hardik. Sreejesh is having the tournament of his life. He is the mainstay in this team. When Great Britain were all over India in the last two quarters and earned a number of penalty corners, Sreejesh held firm. Forget the Australia match where all the players performed miserably, the India goalkeeper was at his best in every other game. Against Belgium, India's fortune will depend a lot on how Sreejesh performs. He has to put up an A-class performance once again. For the first goal, credit should go to Simranjeet Singh. He showed great vision in playing a million dollar pass beating five Great Britain players. All Dilpreet had to do was to push the ball in. The third goal was the icing on the cake. India, playing with a man down, had their backs against the wall when Hardik broke free. He ran and ran and did not lose focus after his first attempt was thwarted by Great Britain. But they had no answer to his rasping hit off the rebound. The cry he let out after the goal was testimony to the relief in the Indian camp. India were brilliant in the first two quarters, but in the last two they were a bit defensive. Great Britain went all out trying to reduce the margin. The umpiring was very disappointing. We lost Manpreet at a crucial time. The umpire showed the yellow card for a challenge on a rival which to me looked very legitimate. Despite the setback, India fought very well. Hats off to them. On Monday, the women will be up against Australia in the last-eight. They have surprised everyone by entering the quarters. Who knows, they may have a few more aces up their sleeves. A former India captain, Gurbux Singh was amember of the 1964 gold medal-winning hockey team India watch: Monday * Athletics - Women's 200m Round 1, heat 4 (7.24am) * Shooting - Men's 50m rifle 3 position qualifications (8am) * Hockey - Women'squarter final, vs Australia (8.30am) * Shooting - Men's 50m rifle 3 position final (1.20pm, subject to qualification) * Equestrian - Eventing jumping, individualqualifier (1.30pm) * Athletics - Women's 200m semi-finals (3.55pm, subject to qualification) Women's discus throwfinal, Kamalpreet Kaur (4.30pm) * Equestrian - Eventing jumping, individual final (5.15pm, subject toqualification) All timings in IST
257 Weighed down by expectations of a legion of fans, 26-year-old Pusarla Venkata Sindhu on Friday became the 4th female shutter to win 2 Olympic medals in singles badminton when she hammered China's He Bingjiao for a bronze medal in just 53 minutes. That makes her also the only Indian woman to bag two back-to-back medals in this mega event. Besides Sindhu, wrestler Sushil Kumar is the only other Indian athlete to win two individual medals at the Olympic Games. Sindhu had her Chinese opponent scrambling around the court and a couple of authoritative shots put the Indian 11-8 ahead at the mid-game interval of the first game. In the end, Sindhu's power and guile proved just too much for Bing Jiao "It makes me feel really happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me - should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final?" said Sandhu after the match. "But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this match and give it my best. I'm really happy and I think I've done really well.'' "It is a fantastic win and we are proud of her," said Gopichand, the national badminton coach while talking to FPJ from Hyderabad. PV Sindhu had been with Gopi at his academy during the lockdown and has been training there before she could board the plane to Tokyo for the games.. Parents Ramana and Vijaya, both former volleyball players, were elated that Sindhu came back to win the bronze after the heart-breaking loss in the semi-final against Tai Tzu of Chinese Taipei on Saturday. Ramana is confident that Sindhu, now 26, will play the next Olympics too. "We have to plan and work out to win as many medals as possible. I am confident because she is focussed, and she has the hunger to go and play," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Sindhu as "one of our most outstanding Olympians". He has promised to have ice-cream wither her on return.
258 In a 1995 research paper, psychologists studying 'counterfactual thinking' analysed video footage of the 1992 Barcelona Games to deduce that the knowledge of 'almost winning a Gold medal' ruined the moment for a silver medallist, while the bronze winner was contented by the thought: 'I at least won a medal'. During a newspaper interview he gave almost 70 years after he clinched a silver medal at the Stockholm Olympics of 1912, mid-distance American runner Abel Kiviat described the race as a "nightmare". His silver medal had come after a photo-finish - a first in Olympic history - in which he had just got past fellow American Norman Taber in the 1500m race. "That race was the biggest disappointment of my life. I never saw Jackson," he said while referring to Great Britain's Arnold Jackson who had secured by the slimmest margin of 0.1 seconds. "I wake up sometimes and say, 'What the heck happened to me?" Kiviat said. Kiviat, who died in 1991, showed that the disappointment of losing out narrowly lingers, but he was no exception in this regard. Most silver medallists end up tormenting themselves by imagining the alternative possibility if they had pushed a little harder. Ravi Kumar Dahiya, the Indian wrestler who secured a silver medal for India in 57 kg freestyle on Thursday in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, voiced a similar disappointment. "What's the point of this?... I had come here with only one target, a gold medal. This (silver medal) is okay, but it's not gold," he had told reporters. A 1995 research paper published by psychologists Victoria Medvec, Thomas Gilovich (both from Cornell), and Scott F Madey (University of Toledo) has an answer to why silver medallists may be feeling the way they are. They studied this phenomenon to conclude that on a happiness scale, silver medallists fair poorly owing to the human tendency to indulge in 'counterfactual thinking' - the propensity to think of alternative circumstances to real-life events, especially those with far-ranging consequences. The study, "When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medallists", deduced that bronze medallists score much better on the happiness scale when compared to silver medallists who had outperformed them in the game. Medvec and colleagues analysed visible expressions of the bronze and silver medal-winning athletes at the 1992 Summer Olympics immediately after the finish of the event when the winners stood at the medal stand. The study aimed to determine how counterfactual thinking and the psychology of "coming close" affects the feeling of satisfaction and the degree of well-being. Medvec et al chose the domain of athletic competition outcomes to study the subject because it throws up results with an unusual precision with competitors finishing first, second, or third with a fractional difference and earning distinctly different rewards of gold, silver, and bronze medals. "We were interested in whether the effects of different counterfactual comparisons are sufficiently strong to cause people who are objectively worse off to sometimes feel better than those in a superior state. Moreover, we were interested not just in documenting isolated episodes in which this might happen, but in identifying a specific situation in which it occurs with regularity and predictability. The domain we chose to investigate was athletic competition," said Medvec and his colleagues in the paper published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. As part of the study, the researchers collated the video footage from the Barcelona Olympic Games held three years ago and edited them in three different master tapes. One showed the medallists' reaction immediately after the results were announced, another showed them receiving the medals at the stand, and a third one comprised of the interviews they gave to media persons about their performance. In the first study, the university students, who were blind to the results, were asked to judge the immediate reaction of 41 athletes on a 10-point 'agony to ecstasy' scale. After assessing athletes' reactions, silver medallists received a mean rating of 4.8 while bronze medallists received a mean rating of 7.1 on the happiness scale. When examining the athletes' reaction on the medal stand, participants assigned the bronze medallists a mean rating of 5.7 and a 4.3 for silver medallists. In the second part of the same study, the participants reviewed television interviews of 22 silver and bronze medallists to see what was the predominant feeling expressed by each athlete: Was he/she happy with what was achieved, or was he/she preoccupied with a feeling of regret. The participants judged the expressed feelings on a 10-point scale which had "At least I..." on one end and "I almost..." on the other. It was found that the silver medallists focused more on "I almost" than bronze medallists who expressed a feeling of achievement and satisfaction for getting a medal. Participants assigned silver medallists' thoughts an average rating of 5.7 and bronze medallists' an average rating of only 4.4 on the 10-point "At least I... " to "I almost..." scale. Explaining the findings, the researchers wrote, "To the silver medallist, the most vivid counterfactual thoughts are often focused on nearly winning the gold. Second place is only one step away from the cherished gold medal and all of its attendant social and financial rewards. Thus, whatever joy the silver medallist may feel is often tempered by tortuous thoughts of what might have been had she only lengthened her stride, adjusted her breathing, pointed her toes, and so on. For the bronze medallist, in contrast, the most compelling counterfactual alternative is often coming in fourth place and being in the showers instead of on the medal stand." Social psychologists have long held that an individual's wellbeing in any given circumstance depends on how these circumstances compare with those with whom he tends to compare them. Such counterfactual thinking also has a functional value as those who ruin their happiness by thinking about the missed opportunity often strive to improve their future performances. "Downward comparisons (i.e., thinking about a worse outcome) are thought to provide comfort, whereas upward comparisons (i.e., thinking about a better outcome) are thought to improve future performance. Indeed, it has been shown that people who expect to perform again in the future are more likely to generate upward counterfactuals than those who expect to move on," said the study. Three other researchers who repeated the experiment in the 2016 Summer Olympic Game, confirmed that counterfactual thoughts were higher among the silver medallists than the bronze winners. They, however, found that the differences in the expressed emotion were trivial or negligible.
259 Neeraj Chopra, 23, was inducted into the Indian Army in the elite sports quota in 2016 at the rank of Naib Subedar. He joined the 4 Rajputana Rifles as his parent unit. Officials and trainers at the Pune-based Army Sports Institute (ASI), where India's Olympics gold medalist, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, received a sizeable amount of his coaching, training and administrative support, believe that Chopra's victory on Saturday won't just be a motivating factor for future athletes of India and Indian Armed Forces, but also a fitting tribute to Milkha Singh, who had also donned the Army uniform. Chopra, 23, was inducted into the Indian Army in the elite sports quota in 2016 at the rank of Naib Subedar. He joined the 4 Rajputana Rifles as his parent unit. Prior to that, his outstanding performance in the junior national tournaments had caught the attention of the athletics world and he was hailed as a rising star from the beginning. ASI's Subedar Kashinath Naik, a 2010 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist in javelin throw, was the coach of the national javelin throw team between 2013 and 2019. He was one of the coaches Chopra trained under over the years. "Neeraj came to us as a teenager in February 2015. But he had so much potential at the time, quite extraordinary for his age. The talent was boosted by his dedication and hard work. I am feeling proud and sentimental at the time. I am lucky to have witnessed the journey of the teenager with raw talent to a seasoned international athlete and now an Olympic gold medalist. It's a golden day for India and Indian Army in particular," said Naik. Chopra was promoted to the rank of Subedar later and also received the prestigious Vishisht Seva Medal for his outstanding contribution to sports. ASI Commandant Colonel Rakesh Yadav said, "His achievement is a motivation for not just the present generation of athletes in general and Indian armed forces in particular, but also a fitting tribute to legendary Mikha Singh." The legendary sprinter had joined the Army in 1951 and was later given the rank of an Honorary Captain. Colonel Yadav added, "While Neeraj's talent and hard work is an inspiration to every sportsman, there is a lot more to learn from his composure, humility and sincerity. While Neeraj received majority of his training at the national camps, he has intermittently been trained and coached at the ASI, and has got the required administrative support from here." A tweet from Indian Army's Southern Command stated, "Lt Gen JS Nain GOC-IN-C and All Ranks of Southern Command, Indian Army congratulate Subedar Neeraj Chopra of Battle Axe Division on winning Nation's first ever Gold Medal in Javelin at Tokyo Olympics. We all are proud of your achievement." In his message, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said, "Neeraj Chopra has proved that when there is a will there's a way. He has done the Armed Forces and the nation proud like many other Olympians who have created history in Tokyo 2020. We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sportspersons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and greater honour to our nation."
260 IndiGo airlines on Saturday announced free unlimited tickets to Neeraj Chopra for a period of one year after the 23-year-old athelete made history by becoming the first Indian to win gold medal in athletics at Olympic Games when he clinched first position at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 87.58 metres in the javelin competition. Ronojoy Dutta, Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, "Neeraj we were all overjoyed to hear about your remarkable achievement. You have made the country proud, and | know all IndiGo employees would be truly honored to welcome you onboard one of our flights. With all humility we would like to offer you free flights on IndiGo for a year". "You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and | am sure you will be a torch bearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj", he added. Chopra has also become only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Chopra now holds gold medals in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and now the Olympics, all at the same time. Chopra's elusive Olympic gold medal in athletics ends a wait of 100 years for gold in the men's javelin throw final here on Saturday.
261 Following the exciting Olympic medal win of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, another win followed closely on its heels. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain assured India of first boxing medal at Tokyo Olympics on July 30. She is set to take on world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the semi-finals on August 4. But until then, get to know the 23-year-old boxing champ. Lovlina is the youngest of three siblings (she has two elder sisters). Hailing from a village called Bormukhia located the town of Barpathar in the Golaghat district, Assam, she belongs to a family who rely on paddy farming. Over the phone, speaking with MetroPlus, her father Tiken Borgohain, bubbling with excitement, says he is elated at her win and confident she will bag an Olympic gold for the country next time. Lovlina first learnt mixed martial arts muay thai and then later graduated to boxing once she was enrolled by Sports Authority of India. Read more | Baromukhia village celebrates its favourite daughter, Lovlina Borgohain Lovlina's success was celebrated with a lot of fervour in their small village. An ardent fan of Manipur's Mary Kom, Lovlina has always been a sports lover since childhood. Even though there is no facility for sports training in the town of Barpathar, seeing her enthusiasm for sports her father decided to enroll the then-12-year-old Lovlina for muay thai classes started by a local group of boys. Speaking at a recent virtual press conference, she stated, "I started thinking that no matter the situation, I would give my best. I want to win even if I am fighting with a broken hand."
262 Lovlina Borgohain loves her 'dark horse' tag. Before the Olympics, many were talking about the other more noted names in the boxing contingent as medal prospects, but the Assam girl stayed under the radar. In the end, it was she who ended up as India's sole boxing medallist at the Tokyo Games. “I am a shy person. I didn't like to be on social media a lot. My main focus was just an Olympic medal. I used to stay away from the limelight because it was distracting,” says Lovlina while speaking to us from Tokyo, a day after her medal win. This shyness comes from a childhood, when her tall frame made it impossible for her to make friends. The 5 feet 10 inches boxer recounts, “I was so tall even as a kid that it used to cause me problems in school. I didn't have many friends. All my classmates were tiny compared to me and people didn't talk to me much.” It was sports that helped her emerge from that. “That all changed when I started playing sports. I suddenly had new friends. That's how sports helped me and I am indebted to it,” she says. The 23-year-old won bronze in the welterweight category at Tokyo Olympics, and she admits she is a little upset at not being able to get a shot at gold. “I am a little sad. Ever since I thought of competing in the Olympics, I have dreamt of winning gold,” she says, adding, “But I did get a medal so relieved at that.” Lovlina comes from Golaghat, a town in Upper Assam and the pugilist tells us celebrations in her village had begun even before she bagged a medal. “There were so many people at my house that I didn't even get to talk to my parents properly. Bas do minute phone par baat ho paayi,” she says with a laugh. But it was her constant interactions with her parents that helped her recover from the disappointment of a semi-final loss. “After the semi-final, I was pretty upset at having lost. But my parents told me that they are proud of me, and that the whole of Assam and India is proud of me. That helped,” says Lovlina. However, the boxer clarifies that she isn't fully satisfied. “Just because I'm not upset doesn't mean I am satisfied. I don't want to be content with a bronze medal. The dream to win gold still exists,” she says. She is only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal; the other two being Vijender Singh and Mary Kom. Does it feel intimidating to be bracketed alongside these legends? “It feels great,” replies Lovlina, adding, “I grew up watching them. When they won at the Olympics, I dreamt of emulating them. Now that I have, I feel honoured that my name is being taken alongside these two legends.” As soon as she was assured a medal after winning her quarter-final bout, there were news reports that the muddy, dilapidated road leading to her village was finally under repair. Lovlina laughs at the idea of an Olympic medal facilitating development in her region. “Not just my village, but in Upper Assam, many roads are pretty bad. I have always travelled through a muddy road to get to my village,” she says. But she feels fortunate at having a chance to do something good for her region. She elaborates, “This time, I have been told I will see a paved road there. It feels good in whatever part I have played to put my village on the map.”
263 Lovlina Borgohain loves her 'dark horse' tag. Before the Olympics, many were talking about the other more noted names in the boxing contingent as medal prospects but the Assam girl stayed under the radar. In the end, it was her who ended up as India's sole boxing medallist at the Tokyo Games. “I am a shy person. I didn't like to be on social media a lot. My main focus was just an Olympic medal. I used to stay away from the limelight because it was distracting,” says Lovlina while speaking to us from Tokyo, a day after her medal win. This shyness comes from a childhood where her tall frame made it impossible for her to make friends. The 5 feet 10 inches boxer recounts, “I was so tall even as a kid that it used to cause me problems in school. I didn't have many friends. All my classmates were tiny compared to me and people didn't talk to me much.” It was sports that helped her emerge from that. “That all changed when I started playing sports. I suddenly had new friends. That's how sports helped me and I am indebted to it,” she says. The 23-year-old won bronze in the welterweight category at Tokyo Olympics, and she admits she is a little upset at not being able to get a shot at gold. “I am a little sad. Ever since I have thought of competing in the Olympics, I have dreamt of winning gold,” she says, adding, “But I did get a medal so relieved at that.” Lovlina comes from Golaghat, a town in Upper Assam and the pugilist tells us celebrations in her village had begun even before she bagged a medal. “There were so many people at my house that I didn't even get to talk to my parents properly. Bas do minute phone par baat ho paayi,” she says with a laugh. But it was her constant interactions with her parents that helped her recover from the disappointment of a semi-final loss. “After the semifinal, I was pretty upset at having lost. But my parents told me that they are proud of me, the whole of Assam and India is proud of me. That helped,” says Lovlina. However, the boxer clarifies that she isn't fully satisfied. “Just because I'm not upset doesn't mean I am satisfied. I don't want to be content with a bronze medal. Sapna gold ka hai aur rahega,” she says. She is only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. The other two being Vijender Singh and Mary Kom. Does it feel intimidating to be bracketed alongside these legends? “It feels great,” replies Lovlina, adding, “I grew up watching them. When they won at the Olympics, I would dream of emulating them. Now that I have, I feel honoured that my name is being taken alongside these two legends.” As soon as she was assured a medal after winning her quarter-final bout, there were news reports that the muddy, dilapidated road leading to her village was finally under repair. Lovlina laughs at the idea of an Olympic medal facilitating development in her region. “Not just my village but in Upper Assam, many roads are pretty bad. I have always travelled through a muddy road to get to my village,” she says. But she feels fortunate at having a chance to do something good for her region, even if accidentally. She elaborates, “This time, I have been told I will see a paved road there. It feels good in whatever part I have played to put my village on the map.”
264 Abhinav Bindra, who won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in shooting finally had a company in Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold in javelin throw. Abhinav Bindra, India's first-ever Olympic gold medallist and only one before Saturday, August 7 brought glory to the nation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics winning gold in the 10-metre air rifle event in shooting. The lonely Bindra has now been joined by the 23-year old Neeraj Chopra from Panipat as the second gold medallist in individual events in the Olympic Games after he won the men's javelin throw final with an 87.58-metre throw. Apart from achieving the glory in the month of August, Bindra going it on August 11, 2008, and Neeraj Chopra getting it on August 7, 2021, there are other things that are common in both the athletes. They may be from different backgrounds and very different people but one common thing that binds them together is the dedication to achieve excellence in whatever they do. Speaking to India Today about the same,Manisha Malhotra, Head of Sports Excellence and Scouting, JSW Sports, who has worked with both Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra said that she knew what it took for these two to become champions and they were ready to put the hard yards. "One common thing between Abhinav and Neeraj is that they did everything they could to work towards that goal - whether it was the diet, the hard work, the exercise, the fitness.. they did whatever it took. They (Bindra and Neeraj) left no stone unturned. When an athlete trains like that, they have that level of confidence they know that they could not have done anything more. "And when you have that satisfaction, then you just are relaxed and you perform to your very best because you know that there is nothing more you could do and then you leave it to the universe and other things that could affect your performance on that day," Manisha told India Today. Bindra penned a heartfelt letter and shared it on Twitter for Neeraj saying, "Welcome to the club" and added that he has waited for a long time for someone else to join him as the gold medallist in individual competitions in the Olympics.
265 New Delhi, July 24: After winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on Saturday said this is a dream come true and also thanked the entire country for praying for her victory. Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally on Saturday as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum. "It's really a dream come true for me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my country and would like to thank the billion prayers of all Indians which were with me during this journey. I like to thank my family especially my mother for a lot of sacrifices and believing in me," said Chanu in a statement posted on her Twitter account. "Also special thanks to our government for supporting me, Ministry of Sports, SAI, I0A, Weightlifting Federation of India, Railways, OGQ, sponsors, and my marketing agency IOS for their continuous support in this journey," she added. Further in her statement, Chanu said: "I would like to give special thanks to my coach Vijay Sharma sir and support staff for their continuous hard work, motivation, and training. Thank you once again entire weightlifting fraternity and all my countrymen." Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time.
266 Haryana Government announced a whopping Rs 6 crore cash reward and a Grade 1 government job for Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra as he became the first Indian to win gold medal in athletics at Olympic Games when he clinched first position at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 87.58 metres in the javelin competition. "We will be building a Centre of Excellence for athletes in Panchkula, where he will be the head if he wants. He will be given a plot with 50% concession, like other players," said Haryana CM ML Khattar. The star athlete from Panipat district in Haryana created histiry after he clinched the gold in javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres, becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Congratulating Chopra for his triumph, Khattar said he not only won the medal, but also won the heart of the whole country. "The country was waiting for this moment for a long time and the whole country is proud of him," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also congratulated Neeraj for his historuc feat in Tokyo. "Gold! Neeraj Chopra... you have created history and made the whole country proud," the Chief Minister tweeted. "Your 87.58 m winning throw today will be part of the legends of the Track and Field arena. India owes you! Jai Hind," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too extended his wishes to he javelin thrower and said "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1 has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold. #Tokyo2020," tweeted PM Modi. Neeraj began his quest for a medal with a massive throw of 87.03 meters and was leading the pack after the end of the first attempt. He bettered it with the second throw of 87.58m. While he wasn't able to improve any further, it was enough to get him the coveted medal. He is now the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win a gold medal in individual events.
267 TOKYO GAMES Indian athletes competing at the Olympics can earn big cash awards by winning Olympic medals this time. The cash awards announced by various state governments along with the Union government's cash award policy will make Indian medal winners the most rewarded athletes in the world. The financial gains Indian medal-winners will garner is far more than what major nations like the United States, hosts Japan, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, Brazil and South Africa have announced for their medal-winning athletes. Besides India, the top-5 nations giving cash bonuses for medals are: Indonesia ($746,000, Rs 5.55cr), Singapore ($735,000, Rs 5.47cr), Hong Kong ($644,000, Rs 4.80cr), Thailand ($309,300, Rs 2.30cr), Kazakhstan ($250,000, Rs 1.86cr). All amounts are for gold medals. The figures for silver and bronze medal winners follow a similar trend. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh (administration) have already announced a cash bonus of Rs 6 crore for athletes from their state who win gold medal at the Olympics. While Haryana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have announced Rs 4 crore and Rs 2.5 crore for their silver and bronze winners, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh will give Rs 4 crore and Rs 2 crore for silver and bronze winners. Besides the individual state government's cash awards, according to the Indian government policy (as of March11, 2020), an Olympics gold winner will get Rs 75 lakh. The silver medallist gets Rs 50 lakh and bronze winner Rs 30 lakh. The Union government's cash award scheme is also more than what the major Olympic nations are giving to their medal-winning athletes. TOI did some number crunching and found out that USA is giving $37,500 (Rs 28 lakh) to its gold winners. Hosts Japan $45,200 (Rs 34 lakh), Russia $61,000 (Rs 45 lakh), France $65,000 (Rs 48 lakh), Germany $22,000 (Rs 16 lakh), Canada $16,000 (Rs 12 lakh), Australia $15,100 (Rs 11 lakh), Netherlands $35,400 (Rs 26 lakh), Brazil $47,500 (Rs 35 lakh) and South Africa $37,000 (Rs 27.5 lakh) to the gold medallists. Only Italy $212,400 (Rs 1.58cr) has a sizeable amount kept for their gold medallists. Great Britain, Norway and Sweden do not pay Olympians for their medals. The government does, however, assign about $160 million of funds per year to Olympic and Paralympic sports, some of which goes to annual athlete training and stipends. Athletes can receive an annual stipend of around $36,000. Britain's view is that financial rewards do not significantly impact the motivation of an athlete to reach the Olympic podium. Among other Indian states, Karnataka and Gujarat have announced a cash amount of Rs 5 crore to their players for winning gold. Players from Delhi will be rewarded Rs 3 crore for winning gold, Rs 2 crore for winning silver and Rs 1 crore for bronze.
268 Both Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are crusing ahead in style. Both tennis superstars produced convincing victories on Monday to reach the last 16 of their respective categories at Ariake Tennis Park. Osaka crushed the 49th-ranked Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland 6-3, 6-2, while Djokovic sent the 48th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany packing 6-4, 6-3. Despite this being her first tournament back from a two-month mental health break, Osaka's strong start is hardly a surprise considering that the Olympic tournament is being played on hard courts - the surface on which she has won all four of her Grand Slam titles. Inspired by Olympic flame honour Osaka was asked in March to handle the cauldron honors but said she didn't feel pressure about the assignment. "I felt more excitement," Osaka said. "It was like a sense of duty, like something I wanted to accomplish." Two more wins and Osaka will be in line for more honors an Olympic medal. "Definitely it would mean a lot for me but I know it's a process," Osaka said of her prospects of winning a medal for the host country. "So I'm trying to take it one match at a time. All in all I'm just really happy that I'm here. I haven't been in Tokyo for like a whole year." This is Osaka's first event since she withdrew from the French Open in May to take a mental health break, revealing that she has dealt with depression. She then sat out Wimbledon.
269 MC Mary Kom's bid for a second Olympic medal ended in a heartbreak on Thursday after she lost a close fight against Colombian Ingrit Valencia in the women's flyweight pre-quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020. Mary Kom, legendary India boxer, took to Twitter to question why she was asked to change her ring dress "just a minute before her pre-quarters" bout against Colombia's Ingrit Valencia on Thursday. Upon her return to India on Saturday, Kom said, "I feel bad coming back with nothing. Wanted to return with a medal. I got support from the nation". Mary Kom, after losing the pre-quarters bout, had said that she had defeated the Colombian in the past and couldn't believe that the decision went in favour of the Rio bornze medallist. She said, "It was manipulated decision and cheating. I won the 1st two rounds, then how can I lose". "I want to apologise to the country", Mary Kom added while speaking to reporters in Delhi Terming the move by Olympic official to ask her to change her jersey as 'mental harassement', she said, "Before the bout, the official came to me and said you can't wear your own jersey. In the first match, I wore the same jersey and nobody complained. They should tell us before and check our playing kit". "That's mental harassment. Why did they only say to us, not to any other country?", questioned Mary Kom. Mary Kom lost by split decision against her Colombian opponent but the six-time world champion was stunned with the final result as 2 judges ruled the bout in favour of Ingrit while two went with the Indian boxing legend.
270 At the recently-concluded Tokyo Games 2020, India has put forth its best campaign not just on the track, but online too. It has emerged as the loudest country to engage about the Games on Facebook and Instagram, says a trends report. According to data from Facebook and Instagram, India has overtaken the United States and Brazil in Olympic-related conversations on the two websites, with Facebook registering the highest engagement about the Games globally on August 7, the day Neeraj Chopra won gold for India in men's javelin throw. Chopra has also emerged as the second most-mentioned athlete on the platform, behind US gymnast Simone Biles who had a tumultuous run at this year's Games. Chopra's performance also catapulted him to the top of the Instagram crowd, earning him a whopping 2.8 million followers over the course of the Games. He is also the most-mentioned athlete on the photo-sharing platform globally. Chopra, whose posts via the verified Instagram handle @neeraj____chopra, often shares behind-the-scenes photos of his match preparations, clips from previous performances and occasional fan art. Bronze medal-winning shuttler P.V. Sindhu and boxer MC Mary Kom are among other Indian athletes who were most followed on Instagram between July 23 and August 8. Other breakout stars on Instagram include Rayssa Leal, the 13-year-old Olympic silver medalist, whose video documenting her journey as a Brazilian skateboarder, titled 'There is no future without a past', raked up over 11 million views. She gained over 5.8 million followers on the platform and topped the list of athletes who drove the most interactions on Instagram during the Games globally.
271 Wrestler Priya Malik defeated her Belarus rival Kseniya Patapovich in the final of the World Cadet Wrestling Championship to clinch a gold medal. While Mirabai Chanu clinched a Silver Medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in weightlifting, wrestler Priya Malik stamped her authority in the World Cadet Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary by winning the gold medal on Sunday. Priya defeated herBelarus opponent Kseniya Patapovich 5-0 in the final in the 73kg category to win the gold medal. Priya has been consistently winning golds since her medal win the 2019 Khelo India Games in Pune in 2019. After which she went on to win the gold in the same year at the 17th School Games in Delhi and won two more gold medals in the subsequent year in 2020. After this win in Hungary, Priya also became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in World Wrestling Championship. Apart from her, Varsha, another Indian wrestler won a bronze medal on Thursday in the 65kg category by beating Turkey's Duygu Gen. While Priya did win a medal, that too gold, however, it wasn't at the ongoing Olympics but fans and many celebrities thought that she did it in Tokyo. Many fans also quoted dialogues from the popular Bollywood film, Dangal, which is a biopic on wrestler Geeta and Babita Phogat. Actor Milind Soman too first thought that India had bagged their first Gold through Priya Malik but later corrected himself.
272 This will be the first Olympic medal for India in boxing in nine years. SurelyLovlina Borgohain (69kg) has assured herself and the Indians of a medal, but it's the gold that is the aim. She will be facingreigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the Tokyo Olympic semifinals. Lovlina has already secured a medal and will be eyeing to create history as she will look to become the first-ever Indian boxer to advance to the Games final. The 23-year-old girl from Assam, who had started her career as a Muay Thai practitioner, is only the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish at the showpiece. Only Vijender Singh (2008) and M C Mary Kom (2012) were the ones to win medals for India. This will also be the first Olympic medal in boxing in nine years. When will Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match start? Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match will begin at 11:00 AM IST on Wednesday, August 4. Where will Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match be played? Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match will be played at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan. Which TV channels will broadcast Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match? Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final matchwill be broadcast on Sony Sports Network in India. How to watch the live streaming of Busenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final match? Fans can catch the live streaming of theBusenaz Surmeneli vs Lovlina Borgohain semi-final matchon the SonyLIV website and SonyLIV app in India.
273 WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo interviewed Mirabai Chanu after her momentous feat. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally at the Olympics on Saturday (July 24) as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo interviewed Mirabai Chanu after her momentous feat, where she said that she has come a long way since the Rio Olympics 2016 where she hadn't won any medal. She was disappointed then but was motivated by her peers to give her best this time and become a world champion. She also said, "It was like a dream when PM Modi called and congratulated me." She also said, "I forgot everything when i stood at the podium after winning." She thanked everyone from her hometown who prayed for her win and also said that she would continue training harder now. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time.
274 With this win, India equalled their best ever Games medal haul of six achieved in the 2012 London edition He did not live up to the sky-high expectations but India's Bajrang Punia will return from Tokyo with a bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the play-off here on Saturday. If his defence let him down in the semifinal against Hazi Aliev, Bajrang's smart attacking moves made him a 8-0 winner against Kazakhstan's Niyazbekov, to whom he had lost in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championship. The medal-winning performance saved 27-year-old Bajrang and the Indian wrestling contingent from embarrassment since the wrestlers had entered Tokyo with high expectations. After medal-favourite Vinesh Phogat's shock quarterfinal exit and Bajrang's below par show in the first three matches, a pall of gloom had descended on Indian wrestling contingent. However, the three-time medallist at world championships rose to the occasion with a comfortable win. With Bajrang's medal, Indian wrestlers have matched their best performance at the Olympic Games by earning two podium finishes. Ravi Dahiya had won an inspiring silver medal in the 57kg category. At the 2012 London Games, Sushil Kumar had won a silver and Yogeshwar Dutt returned with a bronze. Bajrang earned the first point on passivity of Niyazbekov as standing wrestling was on display. The Indian initiated a right-leg attack but Niyazbekov had the Indian in a headlock. Bajrang freed himself from the position and earned another point by pushing out the Kazakhstan wrestler, leading 2-0 at the end of first period. His right-leg attack again did not convert into points with Niyazbekov again stopping him with his headlock. Bajrang kept attacking and finally executed a take-down with a right-leg attack. He repeated the move for a commanding 6-0 lead and took it away from Niyazbekov with another move on the left-leg. Niyazbekov was surprisingly very subdued after coming to the Play-off round with a win in the repechage round. With his podium, India also equalled their best ever Olympic medal haul of six achieved in the 2012 London edition. Bajrang had defeated Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev and Iran's Morteza Cheka Ghiasi before losing to Aliev from Azerbaijan in the semifinals on Friday.
275 Readers write in from Calcutta, Guwahati, Bangalore and Kollam On fire Sir - The clash between the police forces of Assam and Mizoram last month that led to the death of six police officers and a civilian is shameful ("Fault lines", July 29). The incident calls for a thorough investigation by the Centre. The failure of the state governments to diffuse the conflict is a matter of great concern given the sensitive situation in the region. It is in the best interest of both the states to maintain peace and harmony in the disputed area and prevent further escalation of violence. It has been difficult to establish peace in the Northeast. After decades of insurgencies and political instability, the region has now slowly begun to bury the ghosts of the past and move towards development. Assam must strive towards resolving the boundary disputes through consensus, compromise and confidence-building. Other states, too, must work towards finding an amicable solution. Himangka Kaushik, Guwahati Sir - It is alarming that seven people lost their lives and over 60 were injured in an armed conflict between the police personnel of Assam and Mizoram. Interstate border disputes have been festering in the Northeast since colonial times, but an escalation to this extent betrays a complete failure of the law-and-order mechanism. The incapability of the successive chief ministers of the two states to resolve the border issue indicates that there is a lack of effort from both sides. Both Assam and Mizoram have accused the other of encroaching upon their territories. It is unfortunate that the bloody clash took place between the police forces of a state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party and another where the saffron party is part of the ruling alliance. This clearly shows that there are fissures between the BJP and its allies. The Central government must try to resolve this at the earliest. With the Indo-China and Indo-Pakistan border disputes dominating the public discourse, problems in the northeastern states are often overlooked by policymakers. The Union government must find solutions acceptable to all stakeholders before such clashes take place elsewhere in the region. It is not enough for the home minister, Amit Shah, to ask both chief ministers to ensure peace at the border. The Centre must take an active role in settling the matter. S.K. Choudhury, Bangalore Shared glory Sir - In a rare display of sportsmanship, Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim decided to share the gold medal in men's high jump at the Tokyo Olympics instead of going for a jump-off after a tie. The athletes executed the first six jumps up to 2.37 metres; but even after three additional attempts, neither succeeded in matching the Olympic record of 2.39 metres for the sole ownership of the title. Both athletes were exhausted and opted to share the victory. This development has delighted spectators around the world and will certainly be remembered as one of the most heart-warming moments of the Tokyo Olympics. The ultimate goal of the Olympic Games is to cultivate friendship and cooperation among countries through sports. Moments like these enrich the Games. Venu G.S.,Kollam, Kerala Sir - The decision of Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa Barshim to share the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the high jump event has endeared them to all. The athletes have shown that the true spirit of sportsmanship lies in cooperation and mutual respect. Amit Kundu, Calcutta Modelling change Sir - Recently, Mattel unveiled a Barbie modelled after Sarah Gilbert, the co-creator of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, in an effort to inspire young girls to work in STEM subjects. Over the years, Mattel has attempted to launch inclusive toys, but research has shown that playing with Barbie - its portrayal of the female body is problematic - can reinforce cultural stereotypes about women. While the toys may not have the desired impact, financial donations by Mattel to organizations dedicated to the education of women can go a long way in contributing to their welfare. Aishi Sengupta, Calcutta
276 Konwar feels while it is all right to be jubilant when a fellow Indian wins laurels for the country, the same respect should be extended to other people belonging to the northeast part of India. Ankita Konwar has no time for hypocrites. The fitness enthusiast who hails from Assam in the northeast part of India, has called out people who celebrate a northeasterner's victory when they represent Indian and win medals, but otherwise subject them to racism and harassment by calling them names, and even suggesting they move to other countries. Taking to Instagram and Twitter, the 29-year-old wrote: "If you're from Northeast India, you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as 'chinky' 'Chinese' 'Nepali' or a new addition 'corona'. India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience. #Hypocrites" Her statement comes as Indian athletes put up exemplary efforts to win big at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. Recently, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, an Indian weightlifter, won a silver medal at the Games. Chanu, who hails from Manipur, had lifted 87 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk category. Her victory was collectively celebrated by the entire nation, and people did not stop praising her and sharing her winning moment on social media. As explained in her message, Konwar feels that while it is all right to be jubilant when a fellow Indian wins laurels for the country, the same respect should be extended to other people belonging to the northeast part of India. And that one must not have to prove their love for the nation - or feel they are Indian - only by winning medals in international championships. We agree wholeheartedly; what about you?
277 After athlete Neeraj Chopra's gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, people started talking about his biopic. It had triggered a memefest on Twitter. Social media users had a ball suggesting that the actor has already started preparing for Chopra's biopic. The athlete had earlier said that he wants Akshay or Randeep Hooda to play the lead role in his biopic. Akshay has reacted to Chopra's suggestion and said that the Olympic gold-medalist should play the actor in his biopic. AKSHAY KUMAR SAYS NEERAJ CHOPRA SHOULD ACT IN THE ACTOR'S BIOPIC . The Bell Bottom actor reacted to the athlete's suggestion during a media interaction and said that Neeraj Chopra should play the role of the actor in his biopic. He said, "I would say Neeraj Chopra is a very good-looking guy. Agar mera koi biopic karega toh woh kar sakta hai (If a biopic about me is made some day, he should play me in the film)". NEERAJ WANTS AKSHAY OR RANDEEP TO PLAY HIS ROLE IN HIS BIOPIC In an interview with The Quint in 2018 (right after Asian Games), Neeraj mentioned that he wants Randeep Hooda or Akshay Kumar to play his role in his biopic. He had said, "It'll be great if a biopic is made. The people I like are Randeep Hooda from Haryana, and Akshay Kumar in Bollywood." AKSHAY TRENDED ON TWITTER AFTER NEERAJ'S BIG WIN Akshay Kumar's tweet congratulating Neeraj Chopra started a meme-fest and the actor started trending on Twitter right after the athlete's gold medal win at the Olympics. Netizens shared hilarious memes on Akshay, saying that the actor has found his new film. It's a GOLD Heartiest Congratulations on creating history. You're responsible for a billion tears of joy! Well done ! - Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) A Twitter user wrote, "Akshay kumar just found his new movie. #NeerajChopra #Olympicsindia #Gold (sic)." Akshay kumar just found his new movie. - Raj Shamani (@rajshamani) Another Twitter user shared a throwback picture of Akshay and wrote, "Leaked picture of akshay kumar from the sets of #NeerajChopra's biopic (sic)."' Leaked picture of akshay kumar from the sets of 's biopic. . - Rishikesh (@riii_sshi) Akshay Kumar has played a number of roles inspired by real-life characters, in films such as PadMan, Rustom and Kesari. The actor is currently gearing up for the release of the espionage thriller Bell Bottom. In the film, he plays an undercover agent on a mission to rescue hostages from a hijacked plane. The film, which also stars Lara Dutta, Vaani Kapoor and Huma Qureshi, is slated for a theatrical release on August 19. ALSO READ| Graphic Akshay Kumar wants Olympic gold winner Neeraj Chopra to play the actor in his biopic
278 DOWN MEMORY LANE As he watched the opening ceremony Tokyo Olympics at his Benson Town home, former national champion and top sprinter Kenneth Powell's mind travelled back to the days when he was part of the Indian contingent that flew to Tokyo via Hong Kong and waited for more than two hours to enter the stadium for the marchpast at the 1964 Games. “We left 10 days before the start of the Games on September 30. There was no official send-off for the team. Only the Indian Olympic Association president Raja Bhalindra Singh was present,” former Asian Games record holder Powell recalled. Prominent among those in the contingent were Milkha Singh, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa and hockey players, including Shankar Laxman and Harbinder Singh, who beat Pakistan in the final to regain the gold medal. The 99-member contingent had 40 officials including a top athletics federation official who travelled as an aquatics coach. “He couldn't be accommodated in the athletics contingent so he travelled as the coach of the aquatics team,” the 81-year-old Powell recalled. “The opening ceremony was fantastic. We had to wait outside the stadium for the march-past and it took us almost two hours to get in as we were at halfway mark — about 47th among the 99 nations. The main attraction was the formation of the Olympic rings by five airforce jets. GS Randhawa was our flagbearer. The Games Village was massive and the organizers provided us with cycles to move around. Once parked, any other athlete could use it,” said Powell. Powell, who competed in the 100m, recalled his meeting with American Bob Hayes who won the gold with a new world record of 10.0 seconds. “I was in Heat 1 and finished fourth in 10.7 seconds. Japanese Hideo IIjima won in 10.3 seconds and only the top 3 qualified. It turned out to be the fastest heat considering the rainy conditions as we ran on the red cinder track in ankle-deep water,” Powell said. “Most Indian athletes had Patiala-made Roshan spikes but I had a Puma gifted to me by German star Heinz Schumann during the Indo-German meets. In heat 5, a Venezuelan athlete came third in 10.8s. I remember meeting Bob Hayes during warm-up. He was in Heat 8.” Elaborating on the qualification process, Powell said: “It was known as the International Qualifying Standard. In 100m, the mark was 10.4 seconds. I won the trials in 10.5 which could have been a national record. But it was windassisted. My official time was later recalibrated as 10.6s. You had to send the performances over a one-year period prior to the Olympics. I qualified from India as I had won the trials. There were 80 sprinters for 100m at the Games and my ranking could have been around 64. We also qualified for the 4x100m relay. The time of 41.2 was the standard and we did that during the first pre-Olympic trial in June at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru. In the final trials we did a 40.9 at Patiala. “The squad comprising Anthony Francis Coutinho, Makhan Singh, me (I ran the curve) and Rajasekaran did 40.6 in the heats and finished fifth beating Japan. We made the semis and Japan qualified as the fastest loser. In the semis, we clocked 40.5s to finish fifth beating Japan again,” the decorated athlete said. “The atmosphere was great in Tokyo. The Games village had just one track and so we had to make own arrangements and had to train outside Tokyo. We had our own cooks. One of the dining halls, of the nine, was allotted for us. And we had a lot of athletes from other countries coming over to taste Indian food,” Powell said. The return journey saw the Indian contingent, with the hockey gold, getting a break in Hong Kong. ”We got a lot of gifts from the companies. I got a Sanyo transistor radio, a bag from PanAm. We also got a daily allowance of eight dollars from the IOA. One dollar was five rupees then,” the former champion said.
279 Manisha Malhitra has been a guiding force, charting the athlete's path out of a career-threatening injury all the way to an Olympic gold medal "Theek hai Madamji. Second throw me hi sambhal diya" - that was Neeraj Chopra's first comment over the phone from Tokyo on Sunday to his "Madamji," former India tennis star Manisha Malhotra, who is the head of Sports Excellence and Scouting with JSW Sports. Neeraj has been under her mentorship ever since he came under the JSW umbrella and Manisha has been a guiding force, charting his path out of a career-threatening injury all the way to an Olympic gold medal. The fact that she herself is an Olympian, having represented India at the 2000 Sydney Games, and an Asian Games silver medallist, gives more credence to the advice that she gives to those under her care. She also played a key role in the shaping of India's only other individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, while she was with the Mittal Champions Trust. "But today, let's talk about Neeraj. His journey has not been easy. The injury he had was almost career-threatening. It was our job to see to it that he got the best possible care and had all the right people around him. "The Covid-19 pandemic was perhaps the best thing to happen for Neeraj. He got the time to heal and improve. He was already competing with the best in the world and showing his class. Now, there can be no more doubts," she said. Manisha, however, was quick to point out that if Germany's Johannes Vetter, who was the pre-tournament favourite, had a better outing on Saturday, then things might have been different. Even his compatriot Julian Weber finished outside the medals, the Czech Republic duo of Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vitezslav Vesely (85.44m) taking the silver and bronze, respectively. "What is amazing about Neeraj is his self-belief. He has confidence in his abilities. He enjoys the process. I had seen this in Bindra too. They enjoy their work schedule, the process that keeps them at the top of the game. You can be assured that if his coach gives him a schedule he will follow it to a T. There will never be any compromise made, no short cuts taken. That is the very basis of a champion. "Neeraj will never tell you that he will throw this distance on a given day. He will only say if he can go through the mechanics of it flawlessly, he will do well. His first throw really set the tone. He told me he had thought the second throw (87.58, that earned him the gold) would go longer. That is how happy he was with the mechanics of it." He could feel he had done everything right. But then, his later throws were not really up to the mark and he knew it. "He said he was getting a little tired, perhaps a bit of fatigue was creeping in. I was happy that his first two throws were so good that he never had to do any catching up," she added. As the final unfolded, a tense Manisha was glued to the TV. "Once the top eight were fixed, we could see that he was not really under any threat. But in javelin one monstrous throw from anyone can change everything. It was good to see him keep such a level head. It's his personality, how grounded he really is that makes him a champion. "Honestly, did I expect him to win a gold? Absolutely no. We did expect a medal, but he has made the country immensely proud. And the best thing is, at 23, he still has a long way to go."
280 Chopra became the youngest Indian to win an Olympic gold, the first in track-and-field to do so and the only one to do it in his debut Games In April 2019, just before the Asian Athletics Championship, Neeraj Chopra felt excruciating pain in his throwing arm because of three or four bone fragments in his elbow. He had picked up the injury in late 2018. It was decided that he had to be operated upon, which meant he would miss the Asian as well as the World Athletics Championship in Doha in September 2019. Neeraj was ready to do that since his target was the Olympic Games in Tokyo a year later. The event was later postponed by a year in March 2020 owing to the pandemic. Neeraj had an arthroscopy procedure under surgeon Dinshaw Pardiwala in Mumbai in the first week of May 2019. "He was at the crossroads. The real challenge was the rehabilitation programme. It was lengthy but Neeraj was not impatient. His personal physio Ishaan Marwaha did a great job post-surgery and Neeraj followed his instructions to the T. For, he had only one focus. India's first gold medal in the track and field event," a sponsor representative, who has been associated with Neeraj since 2016, told The Telegraph. "Now, all the hard work and sacrifices he made have paid off with Neeraj winning gold. In hindsight, skipping the Doha world meet was a very good decision," he added. Neeraj qualified for Tokyo in January last year with a throw of 87.86 metres at the Athletics Central North East meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa. And then Covid-19 struck, forcing Neeraj, like many athletes, to be locked down at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. Those were tough days. Because of the heat, athletes found it difficult to train. Also, travel restrictions meant Neeraj was out of international competitions for almost two years. In the second week of May this year, during a virtual news conference, Neeraj had sounded disappointed about the lack of competitions. "Training is fine and I am giving my 100 per cent. But what I need now is competition. It's been more than two years that I haven't participated in an international competition. I need those meets badly," he had said, sounding unhappy. "Imagine someone, a gold medal prospect, not getting any competition for two years. He is basically a very simple person. No airs, has his feet firmly on the ground," said the sponsor representative. Neeraj's decision to switch from national javelin coach, the German Uwe Hohns, to bio-mechanical expert Klaus Bartonietz, also from Germany, in 2019 also paid dividends. "Klaus has been much more hands-on when it comes to Neeraj's development as an athlete," one source said. On Saturday, when Neeraj draped himself with the Tricolour, it bore testimony to the good work Klaus has done. The 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana recorded his personal best throw of 88.07m in March this year in Patiala, a national record. His throws also prove that he has improved with every passing year. "People who have seen him at Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary vouch that he has evolved as an athlete in the last five years. Also, as he interacted with international athletes, he became more confident about his own body. He is a keen student but Neeraj has reached a stage where he weighs the pros and cons before following instructions. That's the hallmark of an international athlete," the sponsor representative said.
281 Neeraj Chopra, who won the Olympic gold in the javelin throw at Tokyo Olympics is a Subedar in the Army and enrolled in 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct entry Naib Subedar on May 15, 2016. After joining the Army, he was selected for training at Mission Olympics Wing and Army Sports Institute in Pune. "Neeraj started javelin to reduce weight as he was quite healthy and quickly took a liking for the sport. The rest is now history," an officer said. He came into prominence with his performance at World U-20 Championship, Poland in 2016 where he set a new junior world record with a throw of 86.48m. Sub. Chopra, 23, was born on December 24, 1997 in a family of farmers from a small village of Khandar in Panipat, Haryana. His father Satish Kumar is a farmer and mother Saroj Devi a homemaker. He has two sisters. He won the Asian Championship 2017 in Bhubaneswar with a throw of 85.23m. Thereafter, Sub. Chopra started training under the renowned javelin champion Uwe Hohn of Germany and won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 with a throw of 86.47m. The same year he threw 87.43m in the Doha leg of the Diamond League. He won the Asian Games with a throw of 88.06m. In May 2019, he underwent a major elbow surgery. Also read: Tokyo Olympics | I dedicate my gold medal to Milkha Singh, says Neeraj Chopra Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Twitter that the "golden victory" of Sub. Neeraj Chopra at the Olympics brings laurels for the Indian Army. "He performed like a true soldier at the Olympics. It is indeed a historic and proud moment for the entire country including the Indian Armed Forces! Many congratulations to him!" he said. Mission Olympics Wing of the Army, identifies and trains sportsmen in 11 selected disciplines at five Mission Olympics Nodes to excel in various national and international competitions. Mission Olympics Wing has given two Olympic silver medals in shooting to the nation and is committed for many more, the officer added. Also read: From an athletics gold to fencing debut: India's many firsts at the Tokyo Olympics On Saturday, Sub. Chopra created history by winning the nation's first gold medal with a throw of 87.58m. This was also the first Olympic medal in track and field events. Sub. Chopra joins Abhinav Bindra as only the second Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics. For his excellence in sports, Sub. Chopra was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2020.
282 New Delhi: Indian wrestlers have been highly impressive at the global level in run up to the Tokyo Olympics and at least three of them will be genuine medal contenders at the Games. India will field seven wrestlers, headlined by the spunky Vinesh Phogat and a very strong Bajrang Punia. Then there are youngsters like Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik (eliminated August 3), who sprang a surprise by their rather quick success after moving from the junior to senior circuit. A look at the strengths and weaknesses of remaining wrestlers BAJRANG PUNIA (65kg) Strength: Stamina, power, attack Weakness: Leg defence, conceding points early. Major Result: Three-time World medallist, seven-time Asian medallist Threat: Takuto Otoguro (JPN), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS), Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL), Iszmail Muszukajev (HUN) Bajrang has been a major force at the world stage and has stood on podium in each of his last 10 international tournaments, winning six gold medals, three silver and one bronze. Always thriving on superior stamina, leg defence has been an issue for Bajrang for long. He has worked on this aspect of his game. He is competing in one of the most competitive weight categories that has at least 6-8 wrestlers, who are all medal contenders. The 27-year-old will have to ensure that he does not give away too many early points in a field that features tactically strong rivals. RAVI DAHIYA (57KG) Strength: Ability to launch relentless attacks Weakness: Can be unsettled with early point-scoring moves Major Results: 2019 World bronze medal, Double Asian champion Threat: Zavur Uguev (RUS), Suleyman Atli (TUR), Yuki Takahashi (JPN) If there is one wrestler, who did not hog much limelight but is a genuine medal contender, that is quiet and shy Ravi Dahiya. A product of Chhatarsal stadium, Ravi is a slow starter but begins to dominate the contest as the clock ticks away. He possesses immense strength, stamina and is technically sound. However, he can't afford to leave too much work for the second period as it happened at the Poland Open, where he conceded a 0-8 lead in the final and ran out of time to make up. DEEPAK PUNIA (86KG) Strength: Flexibility, power, stamina, attack Weakness: Defence Major Results: 2019 World silver medal, 2020 Asian bronze medallist Threat: Hasan Yazdani (IRI), David Morris Taylor (USA), Artur Naifonov (RUS). While Deepak was making steady progress from the junior to senior circuit, he is heading to Tokyo under-prepared in terms of competition time. He has not competed since the 2020 World Cup and was nursing a left hand injury before the Poland Open from which he withdrew. Lack of exposure at the senior level means there is an unpredictability around him but at the same time, it could work against him. VINESH PHOGAT (53kg) Strength: Power, tactical acumen Weakness: Losing points on counter-attack Major Results: 2019 World bronze winner, 2021 Asian champion Threat: Mayu Mukaida (JPN) The way Vinesh has dominated the circuit, she is easily a strong gold contender in her category. The change in weight category has worked well for her as she now has more strength in her muscles. She is a tactically superior wrestler, has immense power that makes her one of the favourites. However, she can concede points on counter-attack, the only area of concern in her game. SEEMA BISLA (50kg) Strength: Endurance, ability to make comeback Weakness: Lack of big-stage experience, defence Major Results: 2021 Asian bronze medallist Threat: Mariya Stadnik (AZE), Yui Susaki (JPN) Not many expected Seema to qualify for the Games but she punched her ticket at the World Qualifiers in Bulgaria in a depleted filed. While she is gritty, lack of experience at the big stage is a big drawback. There are at least eight wrestlers in her category against whom she has never competed. ANSHU MALIK (57kg) Strength: Tactically sound, attacking style Weakness: Lack of experience Major Results: 2021 Asian champion Threat: Risako Kawai (JPN), Odunayo Folasade (NGR), Iryna Kurachkina (BLR) By qualifying for the Tokyo Games, Anshu has exceeded the set targets. Anshu is fierce on the mat. Tokyo will largely help her in gaining experience at the biggest stage. She has nothing to lose.
283 Board members of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) met newly appointed Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in New Delhi on Saturday. Key issues, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the broadcast industry, were discussed during the interaction. Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of the India Today Group, NBA president Rajat Sharma, Avinash Pandey, Sudhir Chaudhary, Anuradha Prasad and Sonia Singh were part of the delegation of board members that met Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur. During the meeting, board members of the NBA apprised the minister of the challenges faced by the broadcast industry in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. A policy roadmap for recovery and growth of the broadcast industry in a post-Covid world was also discussed. NEERAJ CHOPRA India's Golden Boy ! India's Olympic History has been scripted! Your superbly soaring throw deserves a Billion Cheers ! Your name will be etched in the history books with golden letters. - Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) Interestingly, the meeting overlapped with athlete Neeraj Chopra bagging India's first gold medal in the Olympics since 2008. Accompanied by Anurag Singh Thakur, who is also Union Sports Minister, board members of the NBA cheered Neeraj Chopra as he scripted history in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Graphic NBA board members meet I&B minister, discuss Covid, cheer Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra
284 The veteran Argentine journalist and author of The Most Incredible Olympic Stories, discusses his latest book, what makes the Olympics special, Argentina's Copa America triumph, and much more In a freewheeling chat with The Telegraph, Luciano Wernicke, a veteran Argentine journalist and author of The Most Incredible Olympic Stories, discusses his latest book, what makes the Olympics special, Argentina's Copa America triumph, and much more!The Most Incredible Olympic Stories is an unconventional documentation of the Olympics because it looks at sporting stories from angles few could have imagined. When and how did you come up with the idea for this book? Before the Olympics book, I had written similar books about incredible stories from the FIFA World Cup and football in general. After my first two books did well and became very popular in Argentina, I received the opportunity to write another, on the Olympics. Through this book, I have told stories that I love. The stories here are not just sporting stories, but political, social, even human stories. This is why I do not see this book as a journalistic one, I see it more as a work of literature, but with true stories.How did you go about researching for this book? (Pointing at the huge bookshelf behind him) This... all this. My research mainly came from books and newspapers. Obviously, I was not around for the first modern Olympics in 1896. So, I had to go through a lot of information, process it, and then sort it. My research was always directed by the idea that I did not want to write about records at the Olympics, because records are broken all the time. My idea was to tell stories that fascinate people. Which edition of the Olympics do you regard as the most incredible and why? It would have to be the 1936 Berlin Olympics, for two different reasons. The first is political. Berlin showed us perhaps the most terrifying example of using sport for political propaganda. Adolf Hitler used the Games to showcase the power of Germany to the rest of Europe and the world. There is a narrative that Jesse Owens winning four gold medals as a black athlete was a proverbial slap on the face for Hitler, but I do not think it is true. Hitler did not really care about what Owens did. At the end of the day, Germany won the most medals in 1936, they were the best country at the Olympics. But even in a sporting context, 1936 stood out. The basketball final, for example, between the United States and Canada was played in pouring rain. Can you imagine that? The gold medal for basketball being contested as the rain belts down!In your book, you describe the Olympics allowing only amateurs to participate (before abolishing the rule in 1992) as "classist and contradictory". Could you explain why you felt so? In the old times, amateurism meant that if my dad had money, I could play sports. But for many athletes who had little money and a family to feed, it was a struggle. They had no time to train. Most amateurs, on the other hand, were extremely privileged. You could be an amateur tennis player with a tennis court at home, and so it becomes far easier for you to become a champion. Amateurism at the Olympics was always an unfair system.Your book has remarkable stories about athletes that are no longer remembered or remain largely undiscovered. Would you consider that to be the book's greatest accomplishment? Yes, definitely. That is one of the things I love about the book. There are stories which prove that if you work hard, really hard, and you have the will, you can do it. Not just at the Olympics, but in life. Think of the Hungarian shooter Kroly Takcs, who won consecutive gold medals in 1948 and 1952, even after his right hand, his shooting hand, got completely shattered by a grenade explosion in 1938. Then there is Elizabeth Robinson, an American runner, who was involved in a plane crash and was momentarily presumed to be dead. She returned from her severe injuries in 1931 to win the gold medal in the relay event at the 1936 Olympics. Stories like these make this book what it is.What is the funniest Olympics story that you can recollect? There is one about a boxer who went to his event having forgotten his boxing gloves at the hotel. Another one about how a swimmer did not know that he had no attire on while competing, so plunged into the pool prematurely. But you will have to read the book in order to find out more!What are the books you are working on right now? I just finished a book on Diego Maradona, a biography written from the point of view of his personal trainer. So much has been written about the story of Maradona, but this will be the story of Diego, if you know what I mean. I am working on another book right now, about how political leaders have co-opted football for their own benefits. It will feature the stories of dictators like Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Augusto Pinochet, Francisco Franco, among others.Finally, as an Argentine and massive football fan yourself, what was your reaction to Lionel Messi's Argentina winning the Copa America last month? I think the Copa America this year saw Messi become a real leader. I have seen Maradona play, he was a real captain, both on and off the field. After Maradona's death last year, something seemed to have changed psychologically for Messi. It is almost as if Messi decided to wake up and be the new leader, he was fantastic. I am really proud of Messi, he is the guy we need for the national team. Favourite Olympic athlete of all time: Elizabeth Robinson Favourite Olympic sports to watch: Football, basketball One sport you wish you could add to the current Olympics: Polo One Argentine city you would like to see host the Olympics: Buenos Aires Most important advice for aspiring sports writers: I would rather have the advice and the ideas for myself! The Telegraphprovides a teaser of the kind of stories you can expect in Wernicke's riveting book: Leonidas of Rhodes was arguably the greatest Olympian of antiquity, winning 12 competitions across four editions of the Games between 164 and 152 BC. For the hurdle races at the 1900 Games in Paris, telephone posts were used as obstacles! The 1936 Berlin Olympics saw American sprinter Helen Stephens gain a powerful admirer, with whom she had a rather uncomfortable first encounter. The name of the admirer was Adolf Hitler. The Palestinian terrorists who infiltrated the Munich Olympics in 1972 received assistance in entering the premises by members of the American Olympics contingent, who mistook the terrorists for participants returning after a night of revelry. The 2000 Sydney Games witnessed the first instance of a married couple facing off against each other at the Olympics when handball players Camilla Andersen (from Denmark) and Mia Hundvin (from Norway) went toe-to-toe. Before facing Novak Djokovic in the 2016 Rio Games, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro found himself locked in a dysfunctional elevator for close to 40 minutes. He was eventually rescued by members of Argentina's handball team. Following the unnerving experience, Del Potro took to court and beat Djokovic in straight sets.
285 Celebrities like Daler Mehndi, Guru Randhawa, Sai Dharam Tej, Randeep Hooda and others have praised the discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur, whose feat has ignited hopes among Indians for a second medal. Celebrities across India have lauded discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur for her stunning performance as she made it to the finals in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Her feat has ignited hopes among Indians for a second medal. Telugu actor Sai Dharam Tej highlighted how it's the women who are finding success in Olympics. He tweeted, " Woah! This Olympics is Full of WOMEN POWER. Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 @LovlinaBorgohai #KamalpreetKaur. Yet to witness more. India is with you. Go for it. #Tokyo2020 #Olympics." Singer Daler Mehndi posted on Twitter, "What a throw #KamalpreetKaur. 64 Metres In #discussthrow! Kya baat hai! All the best for your finals, Rab Rakha! #Tokyo2020." What a throw #KamalpreetKaur 64 Metres In #discussthrow! Kya baat hai! All the best for your finals, Rab Rakha! #Tokyo2020 - Daler Mehndi (@dalermehndi) July 31, 2021 Actor Randeep Hooda wrote on Twitter, "Throwing the Discus further than 2 previous Gold Medal #Olympics best #KamalpreetKaur can get India its first medal ever in #Athletics at the #OlympicGames @WeAreTeamIndia." Eyes on the prize. Will be cheering for #kamalpreetkaur on 2nd August. Lets get it home Waheguru bless you #Olympics - Guru Randhawa (@GuruOfficial) July 31, 2021 Singer Guru Randhawa shared on Twitter, "Eyes on the prize. Will be cheering for #kamalpreetkaur on 2nd August. Let's get it home Waheguru bless you #Olympics." Actor Neetu Chandra tweeted, "Woah! What a performance! #KamalPreetKaur is the First Indian to touch 64.00M in discus throw at the #Tokyo2020 games. So happy to see our girls shining! #Cheer4India #Olympics #TeamIndia." Actor Kabir Duhan Singh took to Twitter and wrote, "KAMAAL kar diya aapne #KamalpreetKaur. Two more days to go and you gonna create history !! Chak de fatteee ,,, bruuuaaaabhaa."
286 The 23-year-old will next face 50th-ranked Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland; The Australian's singles defeat came 15 days after she won Wimbledon for her second Grand Slam title Naomi Osaka is back and still winning. The Japanese superstar who lit the Olympic cauldron defeated 52nd-ranked Zheng Saisai of China 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday in her first match in nearly two months. Osaka hadn't played since she withdrew from the French Open in May to take a mental health break, revealing that she has dealt with depression. She then sat out Wimbledon. The second-ranked Osaka was sharp from the start, serving an ace down the T on the opening point of the match and and racing out to a 5-0 lead. Wearing a bright red dress and a red visor and with her hair styled in red-and-white braids to match the colors of the Japanese flag stitched onto the left side of her chest, Osaka served six aces in all and produced 25 winners to Zheng's 10. Osaka's match was originally scheduled to open the tournament on Saturday but then was pushed back a day before her starring role in Friday's opening ceremony. Osaka will next face 50th-ranked Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland. Barty crashes out For other top players in the tennis tournament at the Tokyo Games, it wasn't so straightforward. Top-ranked Ash Barty was upset by 48th-ranked Spanish opponent Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-3 and two-time defending gold medalist Andy Murray withdrew from singles because of a right quad strain. Both still remain in the doubles competition. Barty won with Australian partner Storm Sanders on Saturday while Murray and British partner Joe Salisbury beat the second-seeded French team of Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. Barty's singles defeat came 15 days after she won Wimbledon for her second Grand Slam title. She struggled with a whopping 55 unforced errors to Sorribes Tormo's 13 and got in only 54% of her first serves compared to her opponent's 83%. Murray pulled out shortly ahead of his scheduled opener against ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Center Court. "I am really disappointed at having to withdraw but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events, so I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe," Murray said. It's the latest setback for the 34-year-old Murray after only recently returning to the tour from a three-month absence because of a groin problem. He has also had serious issues with a bad hip that wound up requiring two operations.
287 "You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to free Domino's pizza for life." This timely tweet from the quick service restaurant brand came after Mirabai Chanu – who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics — said in a TV interview that one of the first few things she wanted to do following the podium finish was to eat a pizza. Chanu's performance has set a flurry of brands wanting to associate with the 26-year-old weightlifter ever since she made history on Saturday. Nearly a dozen brands have sent feelers to Chanu's management company IOS Sports & Entertainment over the weekend, said Neerav Tomar, its managing director. "We are getting queries from not only nutrition and sports-related brands, but also personal care, beverage and regional brands. These are for endorsements, appearances or digital associations," Tomar said. "Her medal has changed things overnight." IOS plans to formalise two-three deals in the coming weeks once the champion in the women's 49-kg weightlifting category returns. So far, Chanu has had endorsement deals with Adidas and Mobil oil. Now, her endorsement fee is expected to double, albeit from a very low base. Over the last couple of days, brands ranging from Domino's, Britannia, Thums Up, Swiggy, Amul and VLCC have been making a beeline to associate with her win. "Even as we prepare to give #Mirabai-Chanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family," Pratik Pota, chief executive at Jubilant FoodWorks, said in a tweet. Jubilant operates Domino's Pizza in India. The Twitter post from Domino's official handle tagging Chanu went viral and generated a string of comments, including by some consumers who said they would only buy Domino's Pizza from now on. Coca-Cola-owned Thums Up, which has a worldwide partnership with the Olympic Games, linked her win to its ad tagline 'PalatDe' across its social media messages.
288 Neeraj Chopra on Saturday made history by becoming the first Indian to win gold medal in athletics at Olympic Games when he clinched first position at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 87.58 metres in the javelin competition. Chopra has also become only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Chopra now holds gold medals in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and now the Olympics, all at the same time. A look at the javelin thrower's stunning performances 2016 - Junior World Championships GOLD 2017 - Asian Championships GOLD 2018 - Commonwealth Games GOLD 2018 - Asian Games GOLD 2021 - TOKYO OLYMPICS GOLD Chopra's elusive Olympic gold medal in athletics ends a wait of 100 years for gold in the men's javelin throw final here on Saturday. Three track and field athletes were part of the five-member Indian team at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium -- the other two being wrestlers. Since then, no Indian has won a medal in athletics. The International Olympic Committee still credits Norman Pritchard's 200m and 200m hurdles silver medals in the 1900 Paris Olympics to India though various research, including the records of then IAAF (now World Athletics), showed that he had competed for Great Britain.
289 As the Tokyo Olympics got under way Friday, one sports fan in Mumbai brought out his prized collection of Olympic memorabilia that is the envy of fellow collectors. Through the year, the artefacts are kept in a special room with proper temperature control, and brought out periodically to be dusted and cleaned. Nikunj Shah, a businessman based in Santacruz, owns an assortment of eleven Olympic relay torches, a rare gold medal won by our Indian hockey team in Melbourne in 1956, its booklet, a bib and baton used by Usain Bolt and participant medals of most Olympic ceremonies. His most cherished possession is the gold medal India won under Balbir Singh's hockey team in 1956. “I bought it at an auction. I cannot divulge who put it on the market because the player or his family may feel jeopardised,” Shah says. Shah became interested in badminton and table tennis during his student years in MMK College. “But it was only when I visited the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 that I developed an interest in memorabilia. Since then I have gone in 2008 and 2012 as well. I have sourced numerous artefacts by cultivating a network of professional and amateur collectors,” says Shah. The collector's portfolio extends to a treasure trove of items commemorating man's first landing on the moon, the Apollo mission. “I wish I could have attended the Olympic Games as a spectator this time too. But it is closed to the viewing gallery, and is a TV-only event. I am hoping to at least source some collector's items. So far no announcements have been made,” he says. Shah has spent approximately Rs 1 crore in building this hoard which is sourced from his network of friends, relatives and other collectors. He says he plans to install the items in a gallery in his new home in Khar. “My wife is supportive of my hobby and it is our dream that sports lovers get to see our treasure,” he says.
290 Neeraj Chopra, who made history on Saturday with his javelin at the Tokyo Olympics, can be seen bending backwards fully in the video, before throwing a heavy ball. Actor Samantha Akkineni is rather speechless after seeing gold medalist Neeraj Chopra's flexibility in a video that's going viral. Neeraj, who made history on Saturday by clinching gold with his javelin at the Tokyo Olympics, can be seen bending backwards fully in the video, before throwing a heavy ball. Samantha shared the video on her Instagram account with the caption, "Crazy!" 23-year-old Neeraj from Panipat set a new record as he won the Men's Javelin Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Asian man to win the competition at the Olympics, as well as the first Indian track, field athlete to become an Olympic champion. He landed his spear at 86.65m, acing the qualifying round. On August 7, his final throw landed at 87.58m, scripting history for India. A post shared by F I L M Y G Y A N (@filmygyan) After his win, Indian celebrities took to social media and celebrated his victory, including Ajay Devgn, Richa Chadha, Kapil Sharma, Taapsee Pannu, Nivin Pauly, Neha Dhupia, Sudhir Mishra, Aishwarya Rajesh and Vikram Prabhu. They hailed it as a 'watershed moment' and noted it as an incredible achievement. It has been a series of euphoric moments for India at the Tokyo Olympics, as PV Sindhu won bronze. Samantha Akkineni said she respects PV Sindhu's "hardwork" and called her "special." On Instagram stories, she mentioned, "And she does it again. I can't imagine what this takes. We absolutely love you and respect your hardwork and dedication. You are so special." Samantha has been following the Olympics closely, and after Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the weightlifting category, the actor was inspired and decided to train harder in her workouts. She shared a workout video on Instagram and tagged the Olympian. "Sunday inspiration," she wrote.Samantha's trainer Arunava Bhattacharyya also reposted the video and wrote, "Yeah!! We killed it on a Sunday as well." On the work front, Samantha was last seen in The Family Man, Season 2, where she played the main antagonist.
291 Last week, Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's account. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift. Scores of film stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mahesh Babu, Taapsee Pannu and Varun Dhawan, among others celebrated Mirabai Chanu's win saying that the weightlifter has ensured the country is off to a "flying start." Actor Abhimanyu Dassani, however, has called out those trying to hop on the bandwagon by cheering for those winning Olympic games. Abhimanyu Dassani tweeted, "To all the bandwagon clout chasing sports fans that come out of their holes to be 'proud' of athletes when they win. Here is the meaning of proud. feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is CLOSELY associated." "If you weren't cheering for them when they were grinding blood sweat and tears on their fields or in their gyms You don't have the right to be proud of them, you can be happy for them. Start investing directly/indirectly into their journeys to earn that right. Be a real fan," he added. When a user commented, "So if a person is a tax payer in this country his tax goes to union govt. the union government is running the TOPS scheme for Olympic podium finishes... and the money used there comes from the tax payers in the country ..so they have the right to feel proud of their nations players," Abhimanyu replied, "You clearly haven't been a competitive level athlete anywhere. And with that arrogant thinking I don't expect you to understand what sportsmen/women go through. Carefully read the definition of proud, again." Another user wrote, "We are connected to her as an Indian and it's a proud moment for our country," to which the actor responded, "Sure but instead of being an active supporter you still won't cheer for the athlete until they win something prestigious. That's sad." Meanwhile on work front, Abhimanyu will be seen opposite Sanya Malhotra in "Meenakshi Sundareshwar". Besides that he also has "Nikamma" alongside Shilpa Shetty Kundra.
292 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated on Saturday after the javeline thrower scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win gold medal in track and field category at Olympic Games. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote, "Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on historic first-ever track and field Gold medal for India in #Javelin throw at #Tokyo2020. The country is so proud of you. With this, you took India to its highest ever medal tally at the Olympics. You will inspire generations." A golden throw! Congratulations on historic first-ever track & field medal for India in throw at . The country is so proud of you. With this, you took India to its highest ever medal tally at the . You will inspire generations. - Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also congratulated Neeraj Chopra on his win. Take a bow for striking at . A first-ever in a track & field event for India in the history of , 23-year-old Neeraj's golden debut at the 'games of hope' has made every Indian proud. I join the nation in congratulating him. - Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) in the final of the men's javelin throw event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Following the win, Odisha recalled the Olympic medalist's special connection with the state. Notably, Neeraj Chopra trained in Odisha ahead of his Olympic quest. ALSO READ: Odisha had hosted the preparatory camp for Olympics earlier this year, where Neeraj Chopra, along with his fellow javelin throwers, trained at the Kalinga stadium for over two months. During their camp and their departure, the athletes had heaped praises on the world-class infrastructure and facilities at the stadium complex, and thanked the Odisha government for its hospitality and support. Apart from this, in 2017, Neeraj Chopra had bagged his gold at the Asian Athletics Championships held at the Kalinga Stadium. ALSO READ: Graphic A golden throw! Odisha CM congratulates Neeraj Chopra as state recalls special connection with athlete
293 Neeraj Chopra's feat came with an 87.58-meter javelin throw in his second attempt What next for javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, whose name has been engraved in history for becoming the first-ever Indian to win a gold medal in athletics in Olympics? His feat came with an 87.58-meter javelin throw in his second attempt. Neeraj Chopra's next target is breaching the 90m mark in the coming weeks as the 23-year-old's target on Saturday was to break the Games record (90.57m) but he could not achieve it. The gold medallist said, "Javelin throw is a very technical event and a lot depends on the day's form. Anything can happen. So, my next target is to breach the 90m (mark)," quoted news agency PTI. "I was just focusing on Olympics this year. Now that I have won the gold, I will plan ahead for the upcoming competitions. After coming to India, I will again look for a foreign visa to take part in international events," the javelin thrower added, news agency PTI quoted. Neeraj Chopra had pulled out the Gateshead Diamond League on July 13. He said after Tokyo Olympics, he could participate in the remaining legs of the one-day meeting series Lausanne and Paris legs, which will be held on August 26 and 28 respectively, and the Zurich final on September 9 will have men's javelin throw events, in which Neeraj can participate. Neeraj Chopra's win at the Olympics brought an end to India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Games on Sunday. Olympics is the biggest stage for any athlete but Chopra said he did not take any pressure and was doing his job as he would have done at any other international event.
294 Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit and chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday greeted Neeraj Chopra for winning gold in javelin throw at Tokyo Olympics and ending the country's 120-year wait for the medal in athletics. They also greeted wrestler Bajrang Punia for winning bronze medal in 65kg freestyle wrestling. “My hearty congratulations and best wishes to Neeraj Chopra for having won the gold medal and Bajrang Punia for winning bronze. We are really proud of them,” Purohit said in a statement. He stated that Neeraj Chopra had created history as the first-ever Indian sportsman to win a medal in the track and field event at the Olympics. He congratulated Neeraj Chopra and Punia's coaches. “A remarkable day in the history of Indian sports. My heartiest congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for ending the 120-year wait of India to win an #Athletics #Gold medal at #Olympics. You've instilled a new sense of hope in a billion hearts. You are truly a #NationalHero,” Stalin tweeted from his official handle. He also tweeted his wishes to Punia for winning bronze at Olympics debut through 'a clinical and dominating performance.' MNM leader and actor Kamal Haasan and PMK leader S Ramadoss also tweeted their wishes for Chopra. TNN
295 When India's latest boxing sensation Lovlina Borgohain takes to the Olympic boxing ring on Wednesday, the country will be praying for the 23-year-old. But a hospital in Kolkata will be giving a special shout-out to the Assamese pugilist who had visited it in February, without letting anyone know she was training for the Olympics. Lovlina's 45-year-old mother Mamoni had undergone kidney transplant at RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) on February 15. The boxer had flown down to Kolkata to be by her mother's side, taking two days off from her training. On Friday, when the news of Lovlina's win over Chinese Taipei's Nein-Chin Chen in the fight for the bronze medal came through, something rang in the mind of RTIICS's nephrology head Deepak Shankar Ray — The boxer's surname and native place sounded familiar. Ray ran through the transplant record and zeroed in on Mamoni Borgohain, who, he realized, was the boxer's mother. He then dialled Tiken, the patient's husband, and congratulated the proud parents. “We see a lot of patients from the northeast. They don't show off. That is why we had no inkling that we were actually treating the mother of a potential Olympic medal winner. We will be cheering for Lovlina as she takes her next bout on Wednesday,” said Ray, who had led the transplant team. Mamoni had visited the hospital in October last year and doctors found both her kidneys were failing. Transplant surgery was the best option, but she had to wait on dialysis till a matching donor was found. Though the patient was discharged after the transplant, she stayed in Kolkata till May 3 for regular follow-ups. “Lovlina was in Kolkata for two days in February. She flew back for her training only after her mother regained consciousness post surgery. Now she calls home every day from Tokyo to enquire about her mother, who is now doing very well,” Lovlina's father Tiken told TOI from Assam. The phone has not stopped ringing at the Borgohains' place after Lovlina's win. However, the 23-year-old is not the only boxer in the family. Her elder twin sisters are medal winners in kickboxing at the national level. While Licha is posted at the BSF training centre in Siliguri, Lima, works for CISF at Jodhpur airport. “Two of my daughters are in the nation's security service, the third has earned a medal for the country. We are proud,” said Tiken. The Borgohains will come to Kolkata in mid-August for a follow-up after six months of the transplant.
296 Celebrities took to social media to congratulate Lovlina Borgohain, who assured India's second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Bollywood celebrities took to social media to congratulate Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain on her astounding victory at the ongoing Olympics. She assured India of its first boxing medal when she upstaged former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei to enter the semifinals on Friday. The 23-year-old Assam boxer prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four where she will square off against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. Farhan Akhtar, who played a boxer in his latest film Toofaan, was one of the first celebrities to congratulate Lovlina Borgohain. Well fought @MangteC .. #boxing You're a champion in more ways than a medal can attest to. #respect - Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 29, 2021 Anushka Sharma took to her Instagram stories to congratulate Lovlina. Sharing a picture of the boxer, she wrote, "Congratulations @lovlina_borgohain on qualifying for the semi finals in women's welterweight category in boxing. Making India proud." Randeep Hooda too shared a heartfelt note for Lovlina Borgohain on her big win and gave a shout out to Northeast India. He wrote, "A new dawn on the North East horizon." A new dawn on the North East horizon #LovlinaBorgohain - Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) July 30, 2021 Sona Mohapatra posted on Twitter, "Big BADA HURRAH for @LovlinaBorgohai!! #Olympics #India Woman #women leading the charge." Lovlina Borgohain will be the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal after Mary Kom at the 2012 London Olympics and Vijender Singh at 2008 Beijing Olympics.
297 The Olympics bubble didn't burst. And the Games did happen. The strangest Olympic Games ended the same way they began: in front of empty stands, in a state of emergency, and with hundreds filling the streets, imagining what it must feel like to be inside the giant cauldron that Tokyo's National Stadium is. There was one slight difference, though. Compared to the sombre, downcast opening, the closing ceremony was peppier, with a lot more razzmatazz, reaching a crescendo that is usually associated with Olympics ceremonies. But then, the organisers had reasons to feel good. The Covid Games, after all, didn't turn out to be a super spreader event - not yet. There were only 430 cases related to the Olympics since the start of July, with the positivity rate within the bio-bubble, where 624,000 screening tests were conducted, at 0.02 percent. The relief was palpable in the voice of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, when he said: "We did it". There weren't any grand remarks of these being the "most successful" Games as it is usually done after every Olympics. Bach, however, did call it the "most challenging". It wasn't just the pandemic. The athletes had to deal with the brutal summer heat, sidestep the thunderstorm warnings and, amidst all this, focus on what they were here for: be the best at what they do. But the Tokyo Olympics went much beyond merely going faster, higher and stronger. These Games served another reminder that even during tense, highly competitive moments, there is space for spirit and solidarity. Tai Tzu Ying was reduced to tears when P V Sindhu, in a touching gesture, consoled the rival who beat her in the semifinal but went on to lose in the gold medal match - a feeling the Indian shuttler can very well relate to. The story of Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Qatar's Mutaz Barshim, who chose to share the high jump gold instead of forcing a playoff, is sure to go down as one of The Olympics stories. These Games will also be remembered for the women taking centre stage. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan completed her journey from a refugee to one of the greatest athletes of all time, becoming the first to win medals in 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m. The USA's Allyson Felix lived up to the lofty expectations, becoming the most successful sprinter at the age of 35. And, gymnast Simone Biles and tennis star Naomi Osaka didn't even have to be on the field of play to leave a mark, telling the rest of the sporting world that it is okay to say 'no' if you aren't up for the challenge psychologically. Woman power was reflected in India's best-ever medals tally, too. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Sindhu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain set the stage for a grand finish, before Neeraj Chopra became the country's first athletics gold medalist. India's tally of seven medals, which placed them 48th, is still glaringly low when one looks at the 113 medals, including 39 gold, won by table-toppers USA and second-placed China's tally of 88 (38 gold). But it was Japan's march that really changed the mood around these Olympics. As the host nation's athletes raked in the medals - 27 gold to finish third - the public began to lap up the event. Barred from entering the venues, Tokyoites started lining up outside the stadiums to support their athletes. Inside the empty arenas, the polite volunteers doubled up as cheerleaders. They were the only link to the local population for the thousands of athletes who were not allowed to step outside the Olympic Village and their venues. In the closing ceremony, the organisers tried to give the competitors a taste of the city that they never got to experience. They recreated the famous Yoyogi Park - a massive green space in the city's centre - complete with fake grass and everyday scenes: dance troupes, joggers, freestyle footballers, yogis and picnickers. And for the first time, a confident Tokyo was prepared to show what it really was. They showcased the Ainu culture, and set the feet tapping with a dose of Japanese song and dance before handing over the stage to Paris, who will host the next Olympics, for 10 minutes. But it was again a reminder of these strange times that just as the organisers spoke about the "hope" these Games brought, the trailer for the Paris Olympics was remotely done due to the pandemic. So remote that they went as far as outer space, from where French astronaut Thomas Pesquet helped perform the national anthem on his saxophone from the International Space Station. It was all very unusual, but then what isn't about these Games? Paris tried to charm with a video of the city's romantic sights, packed rooftops, jets painting the skies around Eiffel Tower in the country's colours and a little bit of break dancing, which will make its debut as an Olympic sport in 2024. The scene cut back to Tokyo, where the flame was extinguished, and the athletes sauntered off the field to feel-good music. Then, the volunteers, the real heroes of these Games, took centre stage. They posed for selfies, ran mock races on the track and shed a tear when the word 'Arigato' (Thank you) appeared on the big screen. The Games that few thought could take place, and the build-up for which went on forever, were finally closed. Arigato Tokyo. Bonjour Paris.
298 RED HERRING The game is up. The Games, to be precise. The spotlight on the sporting life, the vita corporalis — not the corporate, but the physical life — will revert to its usual imbalance in which only 'sporty' people will continue to treat the human body as a temple, laud sporting achievements beyond thwacking a ball out of the boundary, or guiding it into a net. Schools will not suddenly have physical well-being, never mind physical excellence, at par with honing mental, CVlian skills. The morning walk, the bouts of yoga and the healthy diet will return to the 'lifestyle and wellness' category, seemingly unconnected with contests and displays of stretching the body to its limits. Khel will retain only its leela-like frivolity, in a world where, to quote the Corinthians (the chapter in the Bible, not the Brazilian football club), adults put away such childish things. The surge of advice and opinion from patriots about how Neeraj Chopra actually hurled a javelin along the flattest and farthest of parabolas to win Olympic gold ('The secret's in the wrist, bhai'), the best way to take a penalty corner, how to conduct a seamless snatch and clean, not to mention a jerk, grapple or grip, or even perform a Yurchenko double pike vault will subside. I, for one, have returned to the sofa, not just in body from Olympian curiosity and heights, but also in soul. (Too?) Much has been spoken about athletes at the highest level finally breaking the taboo of speaking about 'mental issues'. The phenomenon of 'nerves' in the world of competitive sports was always recognised — as a problem. Just read the Gita where a world-class archer is wracked with his version of the 'twisties,' and his coachcharioteer tells him to 'man up'. Leaving the field because of one's mental state after the death of one's dear friend, rather than because of a torn tendon, was also an issue during Achilles' time. In fact, the 'great runner Achilles [who] wept and wailed for Patroclus' refused to return to battle. It was only the bribe of fancy hi-tech weapons from the gods — and the desire to avenge his friend's death — that finally got the Greeks' star athlete-warrior out of his heebie-jeebies. Like physical injury, mental frailty, is an impediment. But to go on and on about it is to, ironically, turn what is actually ESPN101 into Oprah satsang fodder. My post-Olympics question is quite the opposite: do the brightest minds tackle physical problems affecting their mental prowess with the seriousness they also deserve? Or is 'psychosomatic' a throwaway word for the physical 'twisties' one encounters and is supposed to stiff upper nip and tuck? Jenever, a Dutch gin, was used by English soldiers to warm their bodies in the cold battlefields of the Thirty Years' War in 17 century Europe. This 'Dutch courage' with its physical properties calmed the nerves of those understandablyterrified of losing (read: dying). Earlier, in the 10 century, Viking warriors would get themselves 'in the mood' by wearing bearskins — 'ber-serk', from which the word, '(going) berserk' is derived — and consuming the plant henbane to invoke 'berserker rage'. The few occasions I have engaged in the sport of being a public spectacle, especially on TV, I have calmed my nerves — a physical act akin to warming up before entering a pitch —by preparing mybodyto reach optimum conditions via my own version of jenever and henbane. Stretching out on my sofa, I return to neurologist Antonio Damasio's lines in Descartes' Error: 'The net result of having the brain detect danger (or any similarly exciting situation) is a profound departure from business as usual… Most importantly, the changes occur in both brain and body proper.' So, while the sporty folks have discovered the 'mental issues' athletes have to encounter — and are now increasingly candid about — I will my body with a Shoaib Akhtar-level backache to behave so I can be in top form while engaging in amateur level mind games. Even as Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett, emphasising that a song can't be separated by its music and lyrics, tell me on the stereo (bit.ly/3ixw4Ln), 'I'd gladly surrender, myself to you, body and soul.'
299 Indian boxing legend Mary Kom's Tokyo Olympics campaign came to an end after losing to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia in Round of 16. "Some sports have legends... some have Mary Kom," the commentators said after Boxing legend bowed out of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Never a sentiment of a whole country has been summed up in better words than these. Six-time world champion, five-time Asian champion, a medal in Commonwealth Games, twice in Asian Games, once in Olympics on London 2012, Mary Kom has brought a medal from anything and everything she has participated in. However, her dream of a second Olympic medal was cut short on Wednesday and her journey in the Olympics came to an end after losing to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia on a split decision as the latter won the bout 3-2 to advance to the quarter-finals. The match was as nail-biting as it gets. Valencia won the first round but Mary Kom staged a comeback in the second with a flurry of punches to bag the second. But despite her efforts in the third round, the Colombian boxer was just too good on the day and Mary Kom was not enough. Playing in her last Olympics, Mary Kom shed a tear after the loss and was as gracious as a sportsperson can be that many Indians would have become emotional after watching the same. No one knows if the 38-year old will come back to the ring again, but she not only has put India's name on the Boxing map but with her consistency and sheer hard work and passion throughout her elaborate career, she has provided it the glory, it should be in. Fans, experts, senior journalists gave a fitting tribute to Mary Kom after her loss. Here are some of the reactions:
300 New Delhi: Olympics boxing bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain's father is all set to take a flight from Guwahati to Delhi to receive his daughter on arrival from Tokyo on August 9. The Borgohain family is overjoyed that Lovlina, the lone sportsperson from Assam in India's 127-member Olympic contingent, got Assam its first medal in Olympics. Lovlina, who made her debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic bronze medal in boxing after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). Tiken Borgohain, a 52-year-old cultivator in a small village in Baro Mukhia in Golaghat district in central Assam, told this correspondent over phone that he will reach Delhi on Monday afternoon and will be accompanied by a senior office-bearer of BFI (Boxing Federation of India). Tiken is delighted that his daughter was able to fulfil her dream of winning an Olympics medal for India. "We, her mother Mamoni and I, want her to focus on preparation for the Paris Olympics in 2024. She left home for preparations a year back. We last met Lovlina six months ago when she came to see her mother in Kolkata. I have not bought anything for her as a token of appreciation for her extraordinary accomplishment but am happy to give her anything she asks for. She has been away for almost a year and we are looking forward to a family reunion. We are eagerly waiting for her to have traditional Assamese meal together again. Lovlina is very fond of eating fish,'' he said. Tiken added that the one thing that he really likes about his daughter is her environment friendly initiatives. "Lovlina plants saplings of trees wherever she goes. She obviously follows protocol when she goes to play but if she had a choice, she would plant a sapling in Tokyo. This has been her hobby since childhood. In fact, all my three daughters are very fond of gardening." He recalled Lovlina's emotional state after she had Covid in September last year and during her mother's treatment. "It upset her but she remained determined. Now, my wife has to go to Kolkata again this month for a check up.'' Neither Borgohain nor his wife watched Lovlina's matches as they feel very nervous. "We like to watch the recording later. Our neighbours came and told us of her winning the bronze medal. We have not really had a celebration so far but yes, we had rasgullas. I spoke to Lovlina when she lost in the semi-finals. She sounded sad about not being able to execute what she had planned. I tried to encourage her.''
301 PV Sindhu won her second straight consecutive medal in the Olympics after she beat China's He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match. Indian star shuttler Pusarla V Sindhu created history on Sunday, August 1 after winning the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics as she became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, following her silver medal victory in the Rio Olympics 2016. By the virtue of this win, India has confirmed three medals in the ongoing Games, and have already overtaken their medal tally in the previous games. After weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver medal and boxer Lovlina Borgohain's medal confirmation after qualification in the semi-final, this is India's third medal in the ongoing games. Sindhu beat Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15 in a match that lasted 52 minutes and became only the second Indian athlete after Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic 2008 and a silver medal at the London Olympics 2012. The 26-year old was dominant from the start as she didn't give her opponent any chance. He Bingjiao was a little slow in her movement and Sindhu used it to her full effect. She used her height and the fact that Bingjiao is a southpaw and she attacked her right side of the court. Sindhu continued from where she left off in the first set and overcame a few close moments to keep her relentless pursuit and finished the game 21-15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricketers, fans all poured in wishes for the star player. Here are some of the reactions:
302 Scores of Bollywood celebs celebrated Mirabai Chanu's silver medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, saying that the weightlifter has ensured the country is off to a "flying start." Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win silver medal in Olympics. Her win at the Tokyo Olympics ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics in the 49kg category. Naturally, a biopic is what can be expected in the near future. However, it is the casting that will be an interesting element to look out for. Actor Adil Hussain told Hindustan Times that unlike Mary Kom, which starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the titular role instead of an artist from Manipur, said its high time Bollywood makes up for the lost opportunity. He said, "I'd have definitely preferred someone from North East. This isn't at all a judgement on Priyanka, she's a very accomplished artiste." "If someone makes a movie on Mirabai Chanu, I'm sure they'd be more imaginative and cast someone from the Northeast," he added. Mirabai Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. Tokyo Olympics were supposed to be held last year but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "I was able to win this medal because of the prayers and love of the people of India. I wish all young people especially girls who have entered sports to make the country proud. I dedicate my medal to the people of the country. I thank the Prime Minister and Sports Minister for encouraging me," said Chanu after returning to India. Meanwhile Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw felicitated Mirabai and announced a reward of Rs 2 crore and a promotion in her job in the Northeast Frontier Railway.
303 Tokyo 2020 is entering its final week of competitions, but the Indian wrestlers haven't yet started their journey to Olympic glory. Their quest for medals begins on Tuesday when the gutsy, unassuming Sonam Malik takes to the mat in women's 62kg category. The 19-year-old from Haryana's Madina village in Sonepat will be the sole Indian wrestler in action on the opening day of freestyle events at the Games. She has a tough draw, her path riddled with Olympic and world champions. Sonam will have to be at her aggressivebest to find her way past these champions from Europe and Central Asia. She will be first up against Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu — an Asian Championships silver medallist — in the opener. A victory will pit her against former World champion, Bulgaria's Taybe Mustafa Yusein, in the quarters. Sonam, who has dethroned Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik as the country's numero uno grappler in her preferred weight category, will be wary of her recurring knee injury which has troubled her in the months leading up to the Games. India's real challenge in wrestling is expected to come from Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, and a dark horse in Ravi Dahiya. Vinesh, who will be competing in her second Olympics. She made a painful, injury-forced exit from Rio 2016, but is now entering the competition as the World No.1 and top seed in the women's 53kg category. Vinesh has been unbeatable this year, having participated in four tournaments and winning the gold in all. She is the first woman wrestler to win gold medals at the 2018 CWG and Asian Games and has seamlessly transitioned from 48kg division to 53kg for the Olympics. Having crisscrossed Europe — Poland, Estonia and Hungary — to prepare for the Olympics, the 2019 Nur-Sultan World Championships bronze medallist will be looking to put behind Rio's disappointment with a gold-winning effort at the Games. Vinesh's weight category boasts of a world-class field, but it's her big-ticket match-up with Japan's two-time World champion Mayu Mukaida which everyone will be waiting for. The two are unlikely to meet before the final. Bajrang (men's freestyle 65kg), on the other hand, will be heading into his debut Olympic Games as the World No. 2, seeded second behind Russia's Rashidov Gadzhimurad. Bajrang, who along with Ravi (57kg)and Deepak Punia (86kg), was training in Russia's Vladikavkaz city for the Olympics, will have to hit the ground running against a battery of heavyweights in the form of World champion Rashidov, Kazakhstan's twotime Worlds medallist Daulet Niyazbekov and Azerbaijan's Olympic medallist and three-time World champion Haji Aliyev, among others. While Bajrang has been one of the most consistent performers since becoming the CWG and Asian Games champion in 2018, his recent knee injury, suffered during the Ali Aliyev invitational tournament in Russia in June, has raised a question mark over his Olympic campaign. Rivals would certainly be looking to get hold of Bajrang's injured knee and go for an all-out leg attack against him. But, a champion wrestler like Bajrang knows how to tame his hunters. Ravi, a technically and tactically-sound grappler, has shone bright on the world stage with back-to-back Asian titles in 2020 and 2021. A product of Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, Ravi would fancy himself winning a bronze through the repechage route. Deepak has been seeded second in the competition but his build-up to the Olympics hasn't been as smooth as he would have liked. He suffered a left elbow injury which forced him to miss the Poland Open, the last tournament before the Olympics. In the women's, Seema Bisla (50kg) and Anshu Malik (57kg) are expected to create a couple of upsets but their lack of big-event experience could work against them.
304 The world number one had won a hat-trick of medals at the World Cup Stage 3 in Paris last month Jharkhand archer Deepika Kumari lost a golden opportunity to end India's medal drought in Olympics with her exit from the Tokyo Games on Friday. Deepika lost her quarterfinal match 0-6 to top seed An San of South Korea in the women's individual event at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field. The 27-year-old world number one archer's former mentors at the elite Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur Purnima Mahto and Dharmendra Tiwary feel that anxiety and pressure cost Deepika a medal. Moreover, she could not focus on her current form. Both Mahto and Tiwary went to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 as coach of the national squad. "I think Deepika lacked the mental strength and also lost focus on her current form. Anxiety and pressure to win the elusive medal could have put an extra load on her. We have lost yet another opportunity to win a medal in the Olympics," said Mahto, a Dronacharya awardee. According to her, Deepika should have concentrated on improving her poor shooting. "Deepika, instead of trying to improve her shooting, remained focussed on scoring 10. This, I think, put more pressure on her which only compounded the problem and made her lose focus," Mahto, who was the coach of Indian team at the World Cup Stage 3 in Paris last month, said. Deepika won a hat-trick of medals -- women's individual, team and mixed team -- in Paris to become the world number one archer. She won the mixed team gold with her husband Atanu Das, who also lost his pre-quarterfinal 4-6 to Takaharu Furukawa of Japan on Saturday. Tiwary, also a Dronacharya awardee, said pressure in Olympics is much more than other international events. "So, mental strength holds the key when it comes to performance. Deepika looked bogged down by the pressure even though her opponent was not in great form. Deepika also seemed to lose focus on her form. We cannot win medals in the Olympics if our archers lack mental strength," he pointed out. Tiwary said he was optimistic that Deepika will not disappoint this time. "It was her form which had made me optimistic of a medal. But failings in mental strength put paid to all hopes. Deepika also failed to win a medal in London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016). Archery is more mental than physical," he stressed. The seasoned coach has always laid stress on mental strength when it came to Deepika when she trained at the Tata cradle in Jamshedpur. He had helped Deepika overcome bouts of nervousness in the run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
305 Frankly, I am at a loss for words. So many things have jumbled up my mind that I do not know where to start from. An Olympic medal from Tokyo after being in the wilderness for 41 years, our gold medal-winning feat in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, the unbridled euphoria that the nation has indulged in... It's making me so emotional. I am not cooking up any stories here. With the scoreline reading 5-4 in favour of India against Germany in the bronze-medal play-off match on Thursday morning, and the Europeans were attacking in numbers, I thought of switching off the television. When the final whistle was blown, my two daughters, who stay in the US and are now holidaying in Hawaii with their respective families, called me to say 'India have won. Congratulations.' I just managed to murmur 'thank you'. Sometime around late 2019, friend Ashok Manaktala and myself had planned to travel to Tokyo. I wanted to see the city, relive those memories of 1964 - my only Olympic gold medal - and root for India. As luck would have it, Covid-19 created havoc, the Olympic Games got postponed by a year and we had to shelve our plan. In the last 41 years, it's been only stories of disappointments. First, we could not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games, then we had the ignominy of finishing last at the London Olympics. All those ghosts have been banished with this 5-4 victory. Now that India have raised the bar, expectations will be high every time the hockey team will take the field. It will be a long road. It's the beginning of a new journey, a defining moment. Everyone has had a role to play in this success story. The players, coach Graham Reid and other members of the support staff, Hockey India, Sports Authority of India and of course the Odisha government, who sponsor the men's, women's and junior national teams. In this Olympic Games, India have lost to just two teams, Australia and Belgium, the finalists. While Belgium went on to win their maiden gold beating the Aussies 3-2 in a shootout after being tied 1-1 in regulation time, the standard of hockey was nothing compared to what we witnessed in the India versus Germany match. The bronze-medal match was probably the best of this Olympic Games. India did fantastically well to score four goals after being 1-3 down and held firm when the scoreboard read 5-4. Simranjeet Singh (17th and 34th minutes) once again proved his mettle. It was also nice to see Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) getting their names on the scoresheet. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh once again excelled under the bar and justifiably sat on top of the horizontal, celebrating the memorable victory. But let's not take away any credit from two brave players, Amit Rohidas and Sumit. It takes a lot of courage to take on the bullet-like flicks from penalty corners head-on. They did their job perfectly and that helped Sreejesh. Progress report * 2008 Beijing Did not qualify * 2012 London Finished 12th * 2016 Rio Finished 8th * 2020 Tokyo Bronze medal
306 AFTER BEST SHOW EVER AT THE OLYMPICS... Indian brands and the government are rolling out the red carpet for gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and other medal winners after the country's sportspersons put on their best show ever at the Olympics in the past two weeks in Tokyo. Industry executives called for deals to be inked in a way that they are longer-term, for two-three years, running through to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chopra, 23, who has thus far endorsed a few brands such as Gillette and Exxon Mobile and charged a modest Rs 20-30 lakh per deal, has been flooded with offers overnight. JSW Group's Parth Jindal, whose company represents Chopra, told ET: "If initial interest from brands is anything to go by, I think India has found its next big superstar in Neeraj. While cricket has been the leading sport all long, as a country of 1.4 billion, we have much more space for new sports stars to emerge." Jindal is founder of Inspire Institute of Sport, JSW Group-owned talent management company that represents Chopra among other athletes. Chopra's annual endorsement fee has soared to Rs 2-2.5 crore per year, executives directly aware of developments said. The government plans to engage the athletes as influencers for multiple campaigns. "Our sportsmen have brought pride to the nation and they would be very effective in promoting nationalist campaigns, some of which would include motivating more Indians to sing the national anthem and upload the same online," said Abhishek Singh, chief executive of citizen engagement platform MyGov, part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and president of the National e-Governance division. Chopra made history by becoming only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold. Other medal winners including PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia are in the process of finalising deals, their representatives said. "We already have a couple of endorsements sealed for our athletes, and some more are in process of being finalised," said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Chanu, Borgohain and hockey team captains Rani Rampal and Manpreet Singh. He declined to mention names, citing confidentiality, and said these would be announced shortly.
307 THE Olympics opening parade of nations comes with a crisp synopsis about the sporting identity of each country. For years now, India has said hello to the world with the MC parroting that familiar line: "A country that has won eight hockey golds". That the last one was in 1980 is an embarrassing rider left unsaid. Subsequently, India has got Olympics medals in shooting, wrestling, badminton but it hasn't excelled in any of the Olympics mother sports: athletics, swimming, gymnastics. That changed Saturday. Neeraj Chopra's javelin gold made sure India will leave Tokyo with a record medal haul - the one gold, two silver and four bronze overtaking the previous-best tally of six at the London Olympics. But then seven is just one more than six. What's history-making is that never ever, since the Dhyan Chand era, has India dominated an Olympics discipline the way 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra did on Saturday. For India, Tokyo 2020's biggest takeaway came on Saturday - the gold in a mainstream mass-sport. Each one of the Tokyo Seven, and some who came within touching distance of a medal, has a unique story but a common thread runs through all. The Class of 2021 is far too different from past athletes for whom just being at the Olympics was the destination - this bunch is even picky about the colour of the medal. No one encapsulated this better than silver-medal winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who was so distraught at not winning the gold that at one point, he offered, half-jokingly, his medal to a reporter who merely requested to see it. "I have to live with the fact that I have silver," he said. It wasn't just him. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain shed a tear for winning "only" a bronze. PV Sindhu, the only woman to win two Olympic medals, said as much: she didn't know whether she should be sad at missing out on another Olympic final or be happy that she had one more shot at a medal. Another enduring image, perhaps, would be that of goalkeeper Savita Punia who sobbed on the pitch after losing the bronze medal playoff to Britain. It didn't matter to her that the hockey team had already overachieved by reaching that far despite being one of the most underprepared. Indeed, heading into Tokyo, her hockey team hadn't played a competitive match since November 2019 and half-a-dozen players had got infected with Covid-19 during the second wave. And they weren't alone. The second wave had wrecked the preparations of almost the entire Indian contingent. But the government, federations and private not-for-profit companies made sure the elite medal prospects did not suffer a lot. Sample this: * Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu was sent to the USA almost overnight just as the second wave was starting to wreak havoc. She stayed there until the Olympics. * Wrestler Bajrang Punia, too, stayed in Russia to prepare for the Games. * The entire shooting team was airlifted to Croatia to ensure their preparations weren't affected. Some, who were infected with Covid, battled it out in their own ways. Aditi Ashok, the golfer who fell agonisingly short of a podium finish, noticed her strength getting considerably sapped post-Covid, which affected the range of her shots, especially from the tee. Still, through sheer grit, she challenged the world's best golfers. Even Chopra was a desperate man just four months ago. An injury had robbed India's newest Olympic gold medalist of competition for the whole of 2019. When he recovered last year, the pandemic struck and another year had gone waste, a situation that persisted until the middle of this year following the second wave. So, he made an appeal. "Mujhe competitions ki bahut zyada zaroorat hai (I desperately need competitions)," he had said. Once again the demand was met - before moving to Tokyo, he got to train and compete in France, Sweden and Finland. On Saturday, Chopra looked in perfect shape. He won the gold when javelin throw is considered to be at its peak given the competition. His field included one of the best throwers of all time, Germany's Johannes Vetter, but Chopra remained unfazed. It was the same with the hockey team that ended the 41-year wait for an Olympic medal in some style to beat the mighty Germans and win the bronze. Sentimental factors aside, this medal means a lot more to the players as it comes when any of the top eight teams is capable of beating another. The same was the case with Sindhu, who acknowledged that the Tokyo bronze was tougher than the silver in Rio for two reasons: the expectations placed upon her, and to fight against what is largely considered the golden generation of women's singles badminton. Sindhu was virtually in a self-imposed exile since the Covid second wave hit - a plight shared by most Indian athletes. This makes the record medal haul even more significant. Chopra did what he did without a proper competition for two years. Imagine how good he could be when Paris comes along in three years. And imagine how hard Dahiya and Lovlina will be training to change the colour of their medals. Tokyo made it slightly easier for a nation to imagine.
308 Mary Kom was fidgety but her face was blank, sweat dripping following a gruelling duel. She was perhaps expecting the announcer at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena to announce her name as the winner. But, it was not to be.After realising that her dream of winning another Olympic medal had ended, Mary embraced her opponent Ingrit Valencia and lifted the Colombian's arms. A moment to savour, indeed — the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist (Valencia) hugging the 2012 London Olympics bronze winner (Mary). A heart-to-heart after the bout.“Some sports have legends, boxing has Mary Kom,” the commentator said as emotions ran high. The motley crowd at the arena cheered for Mary, 38, as she left the hall. Thursday's last-16 bout was her last at the Olympics as the International Boxing Association (AIBA) doesn't allow boxers above the age of 40 to compete at the Games. It was Mary's dream to win another medal at the Olympics, especially a gold. “I have all the medals in my hand. It's not easy to count them. What is left is the Olympic gold medal. That is driving me and pushing me to carry on,” she had said after winning the first round. That dream was shattered by the tiniest of margins. The 38-year-old was visibly tired in the last few moments of the third and final round. The mind was goading her to go for the jugular but the body wasn't willing. Her punches, jabs, crosses seemed to touch thin air. In the last 90 seconds, Mary was mostly evading, trying not to get hit. She had chosen the safer route, hoping that her body of work in the second round and the start of the third would help her. But you can't leave anything to chance at the Olympics. It is about remaining steadfast for three rounds, over nine minutes – a total of 540 seconds – where each and every second matters. One clean punch, one aggressive combination, one spurt of energy, and Mary would have landed in the quarterfinals of the 51kg category. The scoreline – 3-2 in Valencia's favour – was all about what could've been had the Argentinian or the Kazakh judge awarded one point to Mary instead of the Colombian. What will also rankle Mary is that she won two out of the three rounds but still lost the bout. At any rate, the bitter-sweet loss doesn't take away the sheen from Mary's six World Championship, five Asian Championship, 2014 Asiad, and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medals. The Olympic bronze in London still retains its lustre. “Only admiration and respect for Mary Kom,” the country's only Olympic individual gold medallist Abhinav Bindra summed it well. “Amazing effort by the living legend. Mary Kom is forever,” Mahesh Bhupathi echoed the thoughts of most Indians. “I thought I'll come back with a medal. I can't believe that I lost the match,” a distraught Mary said, while interacting with the media after the pre-quarterfinal bout. There are many things that don't go according to plan all the time – even for the great ones. Don Bradman couldn't finish with a Test career average of 100 when he was dismissed for zero in his final innings. Andre Agassi lost to Benjamin Becker in the third round of the 2006 US Open as he headed into retirement. Mary, however, is in no mood to retire. “I will take a break after coming back (to India), spend time with family. But I am not quitting. If there is any competition, I will continue and try my luck,” she said. Whatever the future beholds for her, she will always remain India's Magnificent Mary.
309 At 26, PV Sindhu is being hailed as the greatest individual athlete ever produced by India. The star shuttler won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics a few days ago – her second Olympic medal, making herthe first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. And she says this one was slightly sweeter than her silver five years ago because of the weight of expectations she had going into the tournament. Speaking to us upon her return to India, Sindhu says, “I went into the Rio Olympics (2016) as a novice. Here, the pressure was higher because there were expectations. But then, there is always pressure. If I keep thinking about that, I wouldn't be able to perform. So, this feels extra special.” Sindhu's bronze medal win came after an emotional day where she lost her semi-final and shot at the elusive gold. The Hyderabad girl admits it was tough to recover from the disappointment of the loss and play again. She tells us, “It was pretty tough because when I lost the semi-final, I was really sad. There were mixed emotions because I didn't know whether to be sad that I lost a shot at the gold or be happy that I would be getting another chance at a medal. Getting a gold at the Olympics is not easy and it is a dream for every athlete.” It was only after being spurred on by her coach – Park Tae-sang – that Sindhu got into the right mindset for the game.
310 Unlike the gods on TV, his son uses bows and arrows made of something heavier and far more expensive than wood. But construction labourer Ramesh Jadhav (50) does not know it's called fibreglass. The father of two who earns Rs 300 a day and has never ventured outside Satara's Phaltan taluka also doesn't know much about Tokyo apart from the fact that his army man son, the one he could never afford shoes for, is now aiming for an Olympic medal there. “I hope he inspires other boys from the village to come back with an Olympic,” the unlettered Jadhav of drought-ridden Sarade village said to PM Modi in Marathi recently on a televised video call meant to encourage 24-year-old Pravin, the undernourished-child-turnedbarefooted-sprinter-turned-international-archery-champion who is the first from the state to qualify for the Olympics in men's recurve. Implied in the rustic father's hope was the word 'medal'— the thing that used to collect in a gunny sack in his hut. It took more than a village to send Satara's Pravin Jadhav to Tokyo where he will not only be teaming up with Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai in the men's recurve (curved bow) team, but also competing in an individual capacity. Behind the rise of Pravin--a naik subedar in Pune-based Army Sports Institute's '83 Armed' unit--was an invisible battalion: rustic teachers who fed him, local and foreign coaches who honed his talent, college faculty who crowdfunded his Rs15,000-apop arrows, a government scheme and grants that made Rs3-lakh fibreglass bows accessible. Pravin was a sheer 22-kg 10-year-old who nearly dropped out of school to help his family make ends meet when the sports teacher at his Zilla Parishad School, Vikas Bhujbal, asked him to try athletics for better prospects. “He did try for district-level, but he was physically too weak to compete with 13-year-olds,” recalls Bhujbal, who, along with his teacher wife, took the pre-teen along with three other such students under his wing. Bhujbal served Pravin eight eggs and chicken dishes daily. Soon, a fleshed-out Pravin qualified for the under-14 athletics events at the district level which meant that by age 13, he could apply for Krida Prabodhini, a government scheme meant to level the playing ground for rural students. With free diet and improved training, Pravin was running an enviable 800 metres in under four minutes at Pune-based sports school Balewadi. Archery happened by chance when various tests at the sports school that considered the length of Pravin's arms and his trademark composure showed him better suited to the mindful sport. He was later sent to Krida Prabodhini in Amravati where archery coach Praful Dange would watch the shy boy quietly cycle 6km from his college hostel every day for training. “We started his training with wooden bows and arrows for a year before moving on to recurve, the finger-release category of equipment,” says Dange. “He would often travel ticketless from Satara to Amravati as he could not afford even the Rs200-odd fare for the general compartment,” recalls Dange about the boy who grew up in a washroom-less mud hut that would collapse every monsoon.
311 After wishing Mirabai Chanu on Twitter for clinching silver medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in weightlighting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the athelete and congratulated her and wished her for her future endeavours. Prime Minister's office in a tweet wrote, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the remarkable Mirabai Chanu and congratulated her on winning the silver medal at Tokyo Olympics. He wished her the very best for her future endeavours." Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's account here on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift. Earlier in the day, the PM in a tweet praised the weightlifter and wrote, Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020 ! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu 's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. President of India, Ramnath Kovind and VP M Venkaiah Naidu too showered praise on Mirabai Chanu. Mr Kovind on Twitter wrote, "Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting." While Venkaiah Naidu congratulating the weightlifter wrote, "Hearty congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for winning a silver medal in 49 kg weightlifting competition and giving #TeamIndia a fantastic start at the #TokyoOlympics2020. The nation is very proud of her achievement. My best wishes for her future endeavours." Meanwhile, the gold went to China's Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg) , while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg). Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell. She lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year.
312 Tokyo 2020 is entering its final week of competitions, but the Indian wrestlers haven't yet started their journey to Olympic glory. Their quest for medals begins on Tuesday when the gutsy, unassuming Sonam Malik takes to the mat in women's 62kg category. The 19-year-old from Haryana's Madina village in Sonepat will be the sole Indian wrestler in action on the opening day of freestyle events at the Games. She has a tough draw, her path riddled with Olympic and world champions. Sonam will have to be at her aggressivebest to find her way past these champions from Europe and Central Asia. She will be first up against Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu — an Asian Championships silver medallist — in the opener. A victory will pit her against former World champion, Bulgaria's Taybe Mustafa Yusein, in the quarters. Sonam, who has dethroned Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik as the country's numero uno grappler in her preferred weight category, will be wary of her recurring knee injury which has troubled her in the months leading up to the Games. India's real challenge in wrestling is expected to come from Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, and a dark horse in Ravi Dahiya. Vinesh, who will be competing in her second Olympics. She made a painful, injury-forced exit from Rio 2016, but is now entering the competition as the World No.1 and top seed in the women's 53kg category. Vinesh has been unbeatable this year, having participated in four tournaments and winning the gold in all. She is the first woman wrestler to win gold medals at the 2018 CWG and Asian Games and has seamlessly transitioned from 48kg division to 53kg for the Olympics. Having crisscrossed Europe — Poland, Estonia and Hungary — to prepare for the Olympics, the 2019 Nur-Sultan World Championships bronze medallist will be looking to put behind Rio's disappointment with a gold-winning effort at the Games. Vinesh's weight category boasts of a world-class field, but it's her big-ticket match-up with Japan's two-time World champion Mayu Mukaida which everyone will be waiting for. The two are unlikely to meet before the final. Bajrang (men's freestyle 65kg), on the other hand, will be heading into his debut Olympic Games as the World No. 2, seeded second behind Russia's Rashidov Gadzhimurad. Bajrang, who along with Ravi (57kg)and Deepak Punia (86kg), was training in Russia's Vladikavkaz city for the Olympics, will have to hit the ground running against a battery of heavyweights in the form of World champion Rashidov, Kazakhstan's twotime Worlds medallist Daulet Niyazbekov and Azerbaijan's Olympic medallist and threetime World champion Haji Aliyev, among others. While Bajrang has been one of the most consistent performers since becoming the CWG and Asian Games champion in 2018, his recent knee injury, suffered during the Ali Aliyev invitational tournament in Russia in June, has raised a question mark over his Olympic campaign. Rivals would certainly be looking to get hold of Bajrang's injured knee and go for an all-out leg attack against him. But, a champion wrestler like Bajrang knows how to tame his hunters. Ravi, a technically and tactically-sound grappler, has shone bright on the world stage with back-to-back Asian titles in 2020 and 2021. A product of Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, Ravi would fancy himself winning a bronze through the repechage route.
313 It was a disappointing morning for India as the dreams of an Olympic medal in archery were shattered with Atanu Das losing 4-6 to Japan's Takaharu Furukawa, a silver winner in the 2012 edition, in a five-set men's individual pre-quarterfinal clash in Tokyo on Saturday. For Das, the last Indian archer standing at the Yumenoshima Park, it was the second successive last-16 exit from the Games. At the Rio Games five years ago, he had lost by an identical margin to former Korean world champion Lee Seungyun. It appeared that Das had played his best hand in knocking out London Olympics gold medallist Korea's Oh Jin Hyek in the last-32 clash on Thursday, as the Kolkata archer put up a rather ordinary show on Saturday. He seemed to be looking for a divine intervention as he looked up toward the sky after hitting a nine with his last arrow in the deciding fifth set. However, that was not coming as Furukawa hit a nine to win the set 27-26 and seal the match too. The 29-year-old lost the first set 25-27 hitting two 8s. He recovered in the second to put up a score of 28 but his rival matched it arrow by arrow to tie the set. Das shot his best in the third finding two10s to win 28-27 and level the scores at 3-3, But another tied set where both the archers shot an identical 9-10-9 took the game to the deciding fifth set. “I struggled a bit today, but I tried my best,” Das said after the loss. Looking back on yet another failed Olympic campaign, the Arjuna award winner felt “perhaps we take the Olympics a bit too seriously and forget to enjoy the shooting.” Das later apologized for his show by tweeting “Sorry INDIA, I couldn't bring glory in this Olympics.”. He accepted that the archers got all the help in the run-up to the Games, but yet questioned the federation's decision. “Immediately after the Olympics, you are called for a selection trial. How is it that in between a tournament you are told that you have to appear for selection trials? Nobody listens to us, the orders come only from above,” he said. The archers will directly report at Sonepat on return where they will take part in the selection trials for the World championship on August 4-5.
314 Vandana Katariya couldn't attend her father's funeral three months ago, but a stellar show against South Africa in the Tokyo Olympics will be some consolation. Growing up in Haridwar, there were many in her neighbourhood who didn't want Vandana Katariya to play hockey. But her father Nahar Singh took on those who were against girls pursuing sports seriously. Three months ago, Vandana, 29, couldn't attend her father's funeral. Confined inside the bio-bubble in Bengaluru while training for the Olympics, she couldn't make the emotional trip home. Instead, she had to deal with the pain of the loss all alone, with the time spent on the field being her only distraction. On Saturday, the hard yards that Vandana had put in paid off. She became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. Her three goals helped India record a 4-3 win over South Africa in their final pool match. India, who have been profligate in front of goal throughout their campaign, had to rely on Vandana's speed and opportunism. And if not for her father, Vandana might not have been a hockey player, forget making it to Tokyo. The forward started playing in Roshanabad, Haridwar's district headquarters, when she was 11. But her family faced hostility from neighbours, most of whom believed that young girls needed to be trained to do household work. Initially, fearing backlash, Vandana's family would buckle under societal pressure. But Nahar, unable to see her daughter's misery when not allowed to play, stood up against the pressure and ensured she continued to play at coach Krishna Kumar's academy in Roshanabad. Now, with 245 international appearances and 67 goals, Vandana is one of India's finest forwards of all time. Her goals have helped India win a junior World Cup bronze, an Asian Champions Trophy gold and an Asian Games silver - all of them historic medals for a team that has been on a continuous upward trajectory. But none of the goals she's scored before would be as important as the three she put past South Africa goalkeeper Phumelela Mbande on Saturday, including the winner in the 49th minute from a penalty corner. "It feels nice to score three but all those goals were team efforts. It wouldn't have been possible if my teammates hadn't assisted me," Vandana said. Upward surge She might have downplayed her role but Vandana's goals gave India their second win of the campaign, after they defeated Ireland 1-0 on Friday. It's their best-ever performance since the 1980 Olympics, where they won two games as well. But Saturday's result proved how far they've come since the Rio Olympics, where the team lost four of its five matches and drew against Japan, finishing last in the 12-team tournament. To put it in perspective, Vandana scored the same number of goals in one match as India did in their entire campaign at the Rio Games. Bouncing back India's tournament in Tokyo began poorly, with heavy defeats to the Netherlands, Germany and Britain - the podium finishers of the previous Games. But the team, coached by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne, recovered from the losses to win the two games in which they had a realistic chance. Seven players in the team were Covid-19 positive during the second wave but at the Olympics, they have shown high levels of fitness and understanding. However, there have been traces of individualistic play which have resulted in the team letting their advantage slip. It was visible against Britain, Ireland and also South Africa, where individual mistakes allowed their opponents to hurt them. Vandana, however, was there to make sure the team crossed the line. Just three months before the team left for Tokyo, when the squad assembled in Bengaluru for their final stretch of preparations, Vandana was informed of her father's demise. "The news left her shattered. Because of the travel restrictions and the increasing number of (Covid) cases, she didn't even go for his funeral. She wouldn't have been here if her father had not stood by her. So it was a big sacrifice," a teammate had recently said.
315 Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren on Thursday said a suitable State government job and a cash reward of ₹75 lakh would be given to hockey player Nilakanta Sharma from the State, who was part of the Olympics bronze winning Indian team. Mr. Biren congratulated Mr. Sharma soon after the match in Tokyo. When asked by the Chief Minister, Mr. Sharma said he is working in the Railways as ticket collector. Mr. Biren told him that he need not have to work as ticket collector any more. Asked what kind of job he would prefer, the hockey player said he would accept any post given to him by the State government. His fans and friends said a post of Deputy Superintendent of Police should be given to Mr. Sharma. People in his home village in Imphal celebrated the victory by singing, dancing and beating drums on the streets. It may be mentioned that Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu has also been working as train ticket collector. But after winning the silver medal, she was appointed Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports). Besides, she was given ₹1 crore. The Indian Railways also gave her ₹2 crore in cash and promised to offer her promotion. But Ms. Chanu said she would stay in Manipur which had better facilities for training for the next Olympics games. Family elated Mr. Sharma's mother Kunjarani was elated. She said, "My son told me that if he does not perform well at Tokyo he will not come back home. I learn that the team will be back to India on August 9. I am sure he will shine in all future games." Mr. Sharma's father Inaocha said his son had done exceedingly well. "I am sure the Indian team will win gold in the next Olympics games," he said.
316 At 26, PV Sindhu is being hailed as the greatest individual athlete ever produced by India. The star shuttler won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics a few days ago – her second Olympic medal, making her the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. And she says this one was slightly sweeter than her silver five years ago because of the weight of expectations she had going into the tournament. Speaking to us upon her return to India, Sindhu says, “I went into the Rio Olympics (2016) as a novice. Here, the pressure was higher, because there were expectations. But then, there is always pressure. If I keep thinking about that, I wouldn't be able to perform. So, this feels extra special.” Sindhu's bronze medal win came after an emotional day where she lost her semi-final and shot at the elusive gold. The Hyderabad girl admits it was tough to recover from the disappointment of the loss and play again. She tells us, “It was pretty tough because when I lost the semi-final, I was really sad. There were mixed emotions because I didn't know whether to be sad that I lost a shot at the gold or be happy that I would be getting another chance at a medal. Getting a gold at the Olympics is not easy and it is a dream for every athlete.” It was only after being spurred on by her coach – Park Tae-sang – that Sindhu got into the right mindset for the game. She recounts, “It was something that my coach said that really motivated me. He said there is a difference between winning a bronze and going home emptyhanded. That hit me. I was like, I need to do this. Of course, it was tough to play another game a day after losing. I just mentally prepared myself and told myself – I will give my best no matter what the result is.” Now that she is a two-time Olympic medallist, Sindhu says it's hard to put the feeling into words. “It's not sunk in yet but I'm just enjoying the moment,” she says beaming, “I'm happy to be back in India. It's a dream come true. Getting backto-back medals is different. It's a unique experience.” Of course, now people are expecting her to make it three in a row and win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, preferably a gold. She laughs at the suggestion and says, “Of course that is the goal. But it is too soon to think about it. I am not focussed on that for now. Right now, I just want to savour this win and enjoy this moment.” A part of her plans to enjoy this win was to have her favourite food – ice cream – with Prime Minister Modi. Due to her hectic schedule post-Tokyo, that is on hold. “Ice cream hasn't happened yet. But hopefully, soon I'll be meeting PM sir. So maybe then,” she says. The lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics has been unusual and uncertain. The pandemic first delayed the Games by a year and then even threatened cancellation. Sindhu says that those days were challenging but she tried to take it as positively as she could. “Personally, I tried to make the most of it and utilise it in a good way. I tried to focus on my technique and work on my game,” says Sindhu. When she became the World Champion in 2019, Sonu Sood announced a biopic on her. With another big medal under her belt now, does she think it is now the perfect climax of her story? A confident Sindhu responds, “You never know. There may be something even better in store. I mean, I am still playing and I plan to play for many more years. Just hoping for the best.”
317 Here's a list of interesting reads that you shouldn't miss this Sunday! How PV Sindhu forgets her losses and moves on to the next medal PV Sindhu makes history by clearing browser caches of her competitive life. Her secret to succeeding on a badminton court is remembering, unfailingly, to forget. Win or lose; rinse, don't remember, don't repeat. There was the BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Championships gold medal she won in 2019, by forgetting the two stinging losses for silvers of 2017 and 2018. This time at Tokyo, Sindhu carefully erased all thoughts of gold or silver to nail a bronze, making this her back-to-back medalling in the Olympic Games. The disappointment of going down in the semifinals was scrubbed clean after the initial tears. It is how Sindhu is staggeringly successful, in obliterating landscapes of losses that would leave most others wandering and lost. Finding perfect friends and feeding them love daily July 30 was Friendship Day. Friends I fondly remember thought of me with caring affection, but my closest friends didn't pause to pay heed to the day's pageantry. What does it say about Friendship Day that many of us, who count our friendships as our most precious treasures, were unmoved by the day or totally lost to its happening? I have never looked at friendship as my gateway to popularity. I was not the least popular guy in school, but not the most popular either. In fact, my friendships in school, bar a couple, were rather superficial and meaningless. My classmates were friends of utility for the most part. We had to study and play together; we had to socialise and make peace with one another. When patients need empathy more than medicines One eventful evening in mid-April 2021, after holding back for a while, I posted my contact details on a few online social platforms and circulated them widely on social-media groups, indicating my availability for COVID-19-related telephonic medical consultations. This may appear insignificant; however, it was a major personal decision. Fourteen years ago, I had made a conscious choice to practise public health and policy and stopped attending patients. However, this was not just another April in India. A ferocious second wave of COVID-19 pandemic had stormed the country and people were in frantic search of medical advice and health services. 'I create between the worlds of fiction and non-fiction' Tamil filmmaker Pa Ranjith's latest outing, Sarpatta Parambarai (released in July on Amazon Prime) has actor Arya as Kabilan, a boxer from Black Town in old Madras. The film is set in the '70s, in north Chennai, a working-class region which had been, for decades, supplying labourers to the city. It tells the story of a socially-backward community, who loved the boxing game. Excerpts from a telephonic interview with Ranjith (38): How much of the film is fictional? I'm not a historian or researcher, neither am I an academic nor are my movies documentaries. I experiment and create between the worlds of fiction and non-fiction. I have certain responsibilities as an artist, and my focus lies there. I ensure that I'm not distorting the facts when I use my creative freedom. How Payal Kapadia 'found' her documentary film which won the L'Oeil d'Or at Cannes There is something fundamentally deliberate about letters, the way its words allow for journeys never taken before. Mumbai-based filmmaker Payal Kapadia uses the tenderness and vulnerability of the written word as the main filament of her latest film, A Night of Knowing Nothing - a fleeting glimpse into the world of its anonymous protagonist, L, while cataloguing her love letters to her beloved, K. Why transplanting trees is a bad idea They are undoubtedly the most unglamorous parts of a plant, but without them no plant - tree, bush or grass - can survive. The taller the tree is the deeper will its root go. Its underground spread can be as much as three times the diameter of the tree's canopy. Roots also serve as repositories of nutrients (which is why some roots, like sweet potato and beet, are so nutritious!), especially in winters when the tree above shuts down food-producing operations. When a maharaja gifted the Jaipur Column to the new British capital As you drive on Rajpath, up Raisina Hill towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a tall column in the skyline comes into view. The pillar, known as the Jaipur Column, was intended to serve as a testimony to the invincibility of the British Raj. Perhaps, those who built the Viceroy House did not envisage the possibility of an end to British imperialism. The Jaipur Column along with four other columns in the adjoining North and South Blocks tell an interesting story of how the twists and turns of history are not hostage to the rulers' perception of the future.
318 Tokyo 2020 is entering its final week of competitions, but the Indian wrestlers haven't yet started their journey to Olympic glory. Their quest for medals begins on Tuesday when the gutsy, unassuming Sonam Malik takes to the mat in women's 62kg category. The 19-year-old from Haryana's Madina village in Sonepat will be the sole Indian wrestler in action on the opening day of freestyle events at the Games. She has a tough draw, her path riddled with Olympic and world champions. Sonam will have to be at her aggressive-best to find her way past these champions from Europe and Central Asia. She will be first up against Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu — an Asian Championships silver medallist — in the opener. A victory will pit her against former World champion, Bulgaria's Taybe Mustafa Yusein, in the quarters. India's real challenge in wrestling is expected to come from Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, and a dark horse in Ravi Dahiya. Vinesh will be competing in her second Olympics. She made a painful, injury-forced exit from Rio 2016, but is now entering the competition as the World No.1 and top seed in the women's 53kg category. Vinesh has been unbeatable this year, having participated in four tournaments and winning the gold in all. She is the first woman wrestler to win gold medals at the 2018 CWG and Asian Games and has seamlessly transitioned from 48kg division to 53kg for the Olympics. Having crisscrossed Europe —Poland, Estonia and Hungary — to prepare for the Olympics, the 2019 Nur-Sultan World Championships bronze medallist will be looking to put behind Rio's disappointment with a gold-winning effort at the Games. Vinesh's weight category boasts of a world-class field, but it's her big-ticket match-up with Japan's two-time World champion Mayu Mukaida which everyone will be waiting for. The two are unlikely to meet before the final. Bajrang (men's freestyle 65kg), on the other hand, will be heading into his debut Olympic Games as the World No. 2, seeded second behind Russia's Rashidov Gadzhimurad. Bajrang, who along with Ravi (57kg)and Deepak Punia (86kg), was training in Russia's Vladikavkaz city for the Olympics, will have to hit the ground running against a battery of heavyweights in the form of World champion Rashidov, Kazakhstan's two-time Worlds medallist Daulet Niyazbekov and Azerbaijan's Olympic medallist and threetime World champion Haji Aliyev, among others. While Bajrang has been one of the most consistent performers since becoming the CWG and Asian Games champion in 2018, his recent knee injury, suffered during the Ali Aliyev invitational tournament in Russia in June, has raised a question mark over his Olympic campaign. Rivals would certainly be looking to get hold of Bajrang's injured knee and go for an all-out leg attack against him. But, a champion wrestler like Bajrang knows how to tame his hunters. Ravi, a technically and tacticallysound grappler, has shone bright on the world stage with back-to-back Asian titles in 2020 and 2021. A product of Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, Ravi would fancy himself winning a bronze through the repechage route.
319 Ravi Dahiya on Wednesday became only the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the title clash at the Olympic Games, when he sensationally turned around the 57kg semifinal bout by pinning Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev. Before Dahiya, the son of a farmer from Haryana, Sushil Kumar was the only Indian to make the gold medal bout at the 2012 Olympics in London where he won a silver. The fourth-seeded Dahiya trailed 2-9 after Sanayev effected a few fitley (leg lace) but as the clocked ticked away, Dahiya regrouped and got hold of his rival with a double leg attack that resulted in a 'victory by fall'. "I had no business conceding that much lead against Sanayev. I am not happy about it," Dahiya said later. His comments just show the kind of standards the Indian from Nahri village in Haryana has set for himself. "I have beaten Sanayev twice, so I knew I can pull it off despite trailing by a huge margin. I was assured inside, but I should not have conceded lead and made it a close fight. That was pretty bad of me," he said. "I still have some unfinished business to do. I came with a target here and that is not complete yet," he said. In the final on Thursday, Dahiya will face reigning world champion Russian Zavur Uguev to whom he had lost in the 2019 World Championship semifinals. Strap: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain bags bronze on Olympic debut Boxer Lovlina Borgohain became the third Indian athlete at the Tokyo Olympics after weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and shuttler PV Sindhu to clinch a medal -- a bronze -- after she lost her welterweight semifinal bout to Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli on Wednesday. India have now bettered their 2016 Rio Olympic Games tally by clinching a silver and two bronze in Tokyo. The 23-year-old from Golaghat district of Assam lost her 64/69kg category last-four bout in a unanimous decision to Busenaz, who is ranked No. 1. Lovlina also became the third boxer to win a medal at the Olympics for India after Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom's bronze at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics respectively. "Accha to nahi lag raha hai. I worked hard for a gold medal so it is a bit disappointing," Lovlina said after the bout, in which she was docked a point for not paying attention to the referee's instructions. "I could not execute my strategy, she was strong, I thought if I play on the backfoot, I would get hit, so I went on the offensive but it didn't work out as I had thought," she explained. "I wanted to hit her confidence, par hua nahi. She was relentless and that was the problem," she said. "I always wanted to compete in the Olympics and win a medal. I am glad I got a medal but I could have got more," she said. Strap: Neeraj Chopra tops qualification with 86.65m effort Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra raised India's hopes of a track and field medal when he qualified for the final at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday, sealing a top place from his group, and finishing ahead of Germany's Johannes Vetter, who is the favourite for gold at the quadrennial showpiece. At the Olympic Stadium, the 23-year-old Chopra, the junior world champion, cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 83.50 metres with his first attempt of 86.65 metres in Group A to emerge a strong contender for a medal in the final to be held on Saturday. Vetter qualified second from Group A with a throw of 85.64 metres. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who shared the podium with Chopra at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, was overall third with his best throw of 85.16 metres after he topped Group B. All eyes will be on Chopra in Saturday's final as he is on a roll this season and is the owner of the national record -- 88.07m -- which he achieved at the Indian Grand Prix in March. Germany's Vetter -- the 28-year-old who hurled the spear to a distance of 97.76 metres in an event in Poland last September and threatened Czech Republic's Jan Zelezny's world record of 98.48 metres (1996) -- was below-par on Wednesday, managing a best of 85.64 and taking all three attempts before he could make the grade. In contrast, Chopra made only a single attempt. And a big round of applause to the Indian women hockey team, who gave Argentina a scare in the semis and who will now play for bronze.
320 On Friday night, when a fan on Twitter wrote to Abhinav Bindra that Saurabh Chaudhary was going to win a gold on Saturday, the Olympic gold medallist replied: “Can't wait.” But it will continue to be lonely at the top for Bindra, as the Meerut lad, India's biggest medal hope in shooting, finished 7th in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Tokyo Olympics. While Saurabh, 19, faltered in the medal round, his compatriot Abhishek Verma (17th) failed to enter the 8-man final. Women 10m air rifle shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela too could not make the final. After a shaky start and 95 in the first of the six series, Saurabh fought back brilliantly to top the qualifications with 586/600 and reach the final. Abhishek shot 575, his lowest qualification score at the international level. Saurabh has participated in five World Cups since 2019 and has never returned without a medal. His two gold, one silver and two bronze have come against the same shooters who made it to the final in Tokyo on Saturday. In his debut at the World Cup at New Delhi in 2019, Saurabh had outscored Mikec Damir (Serbia), Christian Reitz (Germany), Zhang Bowen, Pang Wei (both China) and Javad Foroughi (Iran), all finalists on Saturday, to win gold with a world record score. On Saturday, Foroughi (244.8 OR), Damir (237.9) and Wei (217.6) won gold, silver and bronze, respectively even as Saurabh looked the weakest shooter among the eight finalists for the first time in the last four years. Saurabh's 48.7 after the first five shots, 96.8 after 10 shots and 137.4 after 14 rounds were his lowest in a final. A slip-up like this at the Olympics is suicidal. Saurabh started with a 10.1 in the final and was troubled by 9.4, 9.0, 9.5 and 9.7. In a 24-shot final, where eliminations start after the 12th shot, it is never easy to recover after such shots. To make things worse, an 8.8 and 9.9 in his eight and ninth shots made his comeback impossible. While Saurabh's rare fall in the final looked like a poor show, it needs to be acknowledged that the Youth Olympics Games gold medallist became India's youngest finalist at the Olympics across all sports. Earlier, Elavenil shot 626.5 to finish 16th and Apurvi could score only 621.9 for a forgettable show at the Games.
321 On Friday night, when a fan on Twitter wrote to Abhinav Bindra that Saurabh Chaudhary was going to win a gold on Saturday, the Olympic gold medallist replied: “Can't wait.” But it will continue to be lonely at the top for Bindra, as the Meerut lad, India's biggest medal hope in shooting, finished 7th in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Tokyo Olympics. While Saurabh, 19, faltered in the medal round, his compatriot Abhishek Verma (17th) failed to enter the 8-man final. Women 10m air rifle shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela too could not make the final. After a shaky start and 95 in the first of the six series, Saurabh fought back brilliantly to top the qualifications with 586/600 and reach the final. Abhishek shot 575, his lowest qualification score at the international level. Saurabh has participated in five World Cups since 2019 and has never returned without a medal. His two gold, one silver and two bronze have come against the same shooters who made it to the final in Tokyo on Saturday. In his debut at the World Cup at New Delhi in 2019, Saurabh had outscored Mikec Damir (Serbia), Christian Reitz (Germany), Zhang Bowen, Pang Wei (both China) and Javad Foroughi (Iran), all finalists on Saturday, to win gold with a world record score. On Saturday, Foroughi (244.8 OR), Damir (237.9) and Wei (217.6) won gold, silver and bronze, respectively even as Saurabh looked the weakest shooter among the eight finalists for the first time in the last four years. Saurabh's 48.7 after the first five shots, 96.8 after 10 shots and 137.4 after 14 rounds were his lowest in a final. A slip-up like this at the Olympics is suicidal. Saurabh started with a 10.1 in the final and was troubled by 9.4, 9.0, 9.5 and 9.7. In a 24-shot final, where eliminations start after the 12th shot, it is never easy to recover after such shots. To make things worse, an 8.8 and 9.9 in his eight and ninth shots made his comeback impossible. While Saurabh's rare fall in the final looked like a poor show, it needs to be acknowledged that the Youth Olympics Games gold medallist became India's youngest finalist at the Olympics across all sports. Earlier, Elavenil shot 626.5 to finish 16th and Apurvi could score only 621.9 for a forgettable show at the Games.
322 Lovlina Borgohain loves her 'dark horse' tag. Before the Olympics, many were talking about the other more noted names in the boxing contingent as medal prospects but the Assam girl stayed under the radar. In the end, it was her who ended up as India's sole boxing medallist at the Tokyo Games. “I am a shy person. I didn't like to be on social media a lot. My main focus was just an Olympic medal. I used to stay away from the limelight because it was distracting,” says Lovlina while speaking to us from Tokyo, a day after her medal win. This shyness comes from a childhood where her tall frame made it impossible for her to make friends. The 5 feet 10 inches boxer recounts, “I was so tall even as a kid that it used to cause me problems in school. I didn't have many friends. All my classmates were tiny compared to me and people didn't talk to me much.” It was sports that helped her emerge from that. “That all changed when I started playing sports. I suddenly had new friends. That's how sports helped me and I am indebted to it,” she says. The 23-year-old won bronze in the welterweight category at Tokyo Olympics, and she admits she is a little upset at not being able to get a shot at gold. “I am a little sad. Ever since I have thought of competing in the Olympics, I have dreamt of winning gold,” she says, adding, “But I did get a medal so relieved at that.” Lovlina comes from Golaghat, a town in Upper Assam and the pugilist tells us celebrations in her village had begun even before she bagged a medal. “There were so many people at my house that I didn't even get to talk to my parents properly. Bas do minute phone par baat ho paayi,” she says with a laugh. But it was her constant interactions with her parents that helped her recover from the disappointment of a semi-final loss. “After the semi-final, I was pretty upset at having lost. But my parents told me that they are proud of me, the whole of Assam and India is proud of me. That helped,” says Lovlina. However, the boxer clarifies that she isn't fully satisfied. “Just because I'm not upset doesn't mean I am satisfied. I don't want to be content with a bronze medal. Sapna gold ka hai aur rahega,” she says. She is only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. The other two being Vijender Singh and Mary Kom. Does it feel intimidating to be bracketed alongside these legends? “It feels great,” replies Lovlina, adding, “I grew up watching them. When they won at the Olympics, I would dream of emulating them. Now that I have, I feel honoured that my name is being taken alongside these two legends.” As soon as she was assured a medal after winning her quarter-final bout, there were news reports that the muddy, dilapidated road leading to her village was finally under repair. Lovlina laughs at the idea of an Olympic medal facilitating development in her region. “Not just my village but in Upper Assam, many roads are pretty bad. I have always travelled through a muddy road to get to my village,” she says. But she feels fortunate at having a chance to do something good for her region, even if accidentally. She elaborates, “This time, I have been told I will see a paved road there. It feels good in whatever part I have played to put my village on the map.”
323 The 23-year old Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win a medal in Track and Field in the Olympics and that too a Gold. It has been unreal last 24 hours of Neeraj Chopra, India's first-ever medal winner in Track and Field in the Olympics and that too a Gold with a throw of 87.58 metres in the men's javelin throw final at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Saturday. Neeraj Chopra, who is a Subedar in the Indian Army has become an overnight sensation and with his win, he helped India achieve its best-ever medal tally - seven, became only the second individual gold medallist for his country after Abhinav Bindra and also broke the jinx of 120 years, which the likes of Milkha Singh, PT Usha, Anju Bobby George came very close to doing in their prime. After his gold medal win, the Panipat-born lad has not just been showered with praises from people across various fields from politicians to leaders to sportspersons, actors, fans but also rewards and awards from businessmen, associations, governments and even the airlines. Here is the full list of awards and rewards announced for Neeraj Chopra: 1. Haryana Government has announced a Rs 6 crore cash prize along with a class I category government job, even though he already holds a rank in the military. 2. The Punjab government has announced a cash reward of Rs 2 crore. 3. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced cash rewards for all medal winners, including Rs 1 crore cash price for Neeraj. 4. Manipur cabinet has also extended their support with a Rs 1 crore cash reward. 5. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore and will be creating a special jersey with number 8758 commemorating Neeraj's throw distance that won him the gold medal. 6. Businessman Anand Mahindra has announced a gift of SUV XUV 700 for Neeraj. 7. Indian airline IndiGo has announced unlimited free travel for Neeraj for one year. 8. Indian online education app BYJUs has announced a cash prize of Rs 2 crore for Neeraj Chopra.
324 Lovlina Borgohain loves her 'dark horse' tag. Before the Olympics, many were talking about the other more noted names in the boxing contingent as medal prospects but the Assam girl stayed under the radar. In the end, it was her who ended up as India's sole boxing medallist at the Tokyo Games. “I am a shy person. I didn't like to be on social media a lot. My main focus was just an Olympic medal. I used to stay away from the limelight because it was distracting,” says Lovlina while speaking to us from Tokyo, a day after her medal win. This shyness comes from a childhood where her tall frame made it impossible for her to make friends. The 5 feet 10 inches boxer recounts, “I was so tall even as a kid that it used to cause me problems in school. I didn't have many friends. All my classmates were tiny compared to me and people didn't talk to me much.” It was sports that helped her emerge from that. “That all changed when I started playing sports. I suddenly had new friends. That's how sports helped me and I am indebted to it,” she says. The 23-year-old won bronze in the welterweight category at Tokyo Olympics, and she admits she is a little upset at not being able to get a shot at gold. “I am a little sad. Ever since I have thought of competing in the Olympics, I have dreamt of winning gold,” she says, adding, “But I did get a medal so relieved at that.” Lovlina comes from Golaghat, a town in Upper Assam and the pugilist tells us celebrations in her village had begun even before she bagged a medal. “There were so many people at my house that I didn't even get to talk to my parents properly. Bas do minute phone par baat ho paayi,” she says with a laugh. But it was her constant interactions with her parents that helped her recover from the disappointment of a semi-final loss. “After the semi-final, I was pretty upset at having lost.” She adds, “But my parents told me that they are proud of me, the whole of Assam and India is proud of me. That helped,” says Lovlina. However, the boxer clarifies that she isn't fully satisfied. “Just because I'm not upset doesn't mean I am satisfied. I don't want to be content with a bronze medal. Sapna gold ka hai aur rahega,” she says. She is only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. The other two being Vijender Singh and Mary Kom. Does it feel intimidating to be bracketed alongside these legends? “It feels great,” replies Lovlina, adding, “I grew up watching them. When they won at the Olympics, I would dream of emulating them. Now that I have, I feel honoured that my name is being taken alongside these two legends.” As soon as she was assured a medal after winning her quarter-final bout, there were news reports that the muddy, dilapidated road leading to her village was finally under repair. Lovlina laughs at the idea of an Olympic medal facilitating development in her region. “Not just my village but in Upper Assam, many roads are pretty bad. I have always travelled through a muddy road to get to my village,” she says. But she feels fortunate at having a chance to do something good for her region, even if accidentally. She elaborates, “This time, I have been told I will see a paved road there. It feels good in whatever part I have played to put my village on the map.”
325 Just two days before leaving for the Tokyo Olympics, P V Sindhu beat three young men who are up-and-coming players on the national badminton circuit. That was the first time she had beaten all three after losing practice games to them for an entire year. The wins gave her the belief that she would come back with a medal from Tokyo. Jagadeesh Kalaga (20), Aditya Bapineedu (21) and Abhyansh Singh (20) were Sindhu's sparring partners and they toughened her for the bigger battle. “She told me, now that I have defeated them I am confident of winning gold at Tokyo. It is always advantageous to play against boys,” said Pradeep Raju, chief coach and founder of Suchitra Badminton Academy where the three men train. All three belong to different states and have different styles, forcing Sindhu to adopt different strategies during practice games. Jagadeesh, who hails from Visakhapatnam, plays just like South Korean shuttler An Se Young, while Abhyansh plays a fast-paced game like Tai Tzu-Ying, according to Sindhu's team. Abhyansh, who hails from Varanasi, focussed on the front court, a style similar to Tai's game at the net. “I would take a lot of points from Sindhu akka at the net. I beat her for an entire year. But just before she left for the Olympics she beat me convincingly. That was when we knew she would win an Olympic medal,” said Abhyansh. Those who watched Sindhu's game at Tokyo were impressed with how she tackled Akane Yamaguchi and He Bing Jiao at the net. That was not Sindhu's strength before the Tokyo Olympics and coach Park Tae-Sang concentrated on this area with the help of the sparring partners. Jagadeesh is very good at round the head attack. “All three of us are happy about what we have done for her preparation,” Jagadeesh told TOI. Aditya, who won all his matches to help his team win the Khelo India University games in 2019, has a very strong forehand attack. “I am an attacking player. I used to attack her on the forehand corner. She is an inspiration for generations to come,” said Aditya, who is from Khammam.
326 Anand Mahindra took to Twitter to laud the residents of wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya's village in Haryana for a very special reason. Ravi Kumar Dahiya lost to two-time defending world champion Zavur Uguev in the men's freestyle 57kg final today (August 5) at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He might not have won the gold medal but the hearts of his countrymen and especially residents of his village are brimming with pride. The Mahindra Group Chairman took to Twitter to share a resident's reaction to They did not appear upset about the fact that India missed an opportunity to secure gold. They were happy and content with his performance and were eager to give the wrestler a grand welcome. "We enjoyed the match. It's okay if he (Ravi Kumar Dahiya) didn't get gold. He has achieved a silver medal without resources. This is more than gold for us. We'll give him grand welcome on his arrival, said a resident of Ravi Dahiya's village on his silver medal victory (sic)," Anand Mahindra shared a tweet with a resident's reaction. Haryana | We enjoyed the match. It's okay if he (Ravi Kumar Dahiya) didn't get gold. He has achieved silver medal without resources. This is more than gold for us. We'll give him grand welcome on his arrival, said a resident of Ravi Dahiya's village on his silver medal victory - ANI (@ANI) While China is trolling their athletes for winning bronze/silver medals, Anand Mahindra is proud that his countrymen are "true to the real Olympic spirit". "Chinese athletes securing 'only' silver/bronze are being trolled by their fellow citizens. We may be lightweights in terms of medal performance but I'm so proud we're true to the real Olympic spirit where 'taking part' is more important. I applaud the residents of Ravi's village (sic)," Anand Mahindra wrote sharing the tweet. Ravi Kumar Dahiya had reached the finals after pinning Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev in the semi-final match. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Proud Indian Anand Mahindra thanks wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya's village for a special reason
327 Just after the Indian hockey team clinched bronze at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, a video of triple Olympian N Mukesh Kumar dancing went viral. The 41-year wait for a medal ended and his joy was understandable. The Hyderabad right-winger formed a formidable partnership with forward Dhanraj Pillay in his heyday. But they are part of a different generation. Mukesh's strike in the 32nd second against Australia in Sydney 2000 was an Olympic record for the fastest goal. “It's a dream come true,” the 51-year-old told TOI after India defeated Germany 5-4 in the playoff. “It was a wonderful team effort,” said Mukesh, who represented the country in 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics. “All credit to goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for his brilliant performance. Coach Graham Reid blended Asian and European styles to good effect. Skipper Manpreet Singh, drag-flickers Harmanpreet (Singh), Rupinderpal (Singh) and Amit Ruidas were consistent. Players like Simranjeet Singh also contributed well. In fact,” he said and thanked the Odisha government for sponsoring hockey in the last five-six years. This medal, he hoped, would revive the game in the country. “This should change the scenario for hockey in India. I hope corporates will come forward to sponsor hockey tournaments and players again,” said the Hyderabadi who represented India in 307 internationals. Edward Alloysius is another international from Hyderabad. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics goalkeeper was overjoyed. “This brought back memories of my playing days. Hockey has come back. I thank the Indian team including coach Reid for the fantastic team effort.” Being a goalie, Alloysius was impressed by Sreejesh's excellent show in the goal. “The Indian team saved their best for the final moments of the game. The last 5-10 minutes are very crucial in any match. Indian teams used to succumb to pressure in these crucial moments. This team was different,” said Edwards, who represented India in 147 internationals between 1989 and 2000, including the 1994 World Cup. Edwards can take credit for getting Sreejesh into the Indian junior team in 2004 before the Australian tour. “The then Indian hockey chief KPS Gill wanted Harjot Singh in the team. But I insisted on Sreejesh as he is tall and has the skill to play for the country,” said Alloysius, who was the goalkeeping coach of the Indian team in 2008-09.
328 It was a completely different Lovlina Borgohain from the one India witnessed on July 30 – the day she won her quarterfinal bout against Chinese Taipei's Chen Nienchin to book a bronze medal for herself and the country. In the 69kg semifinal, the 23-year-old from Assam was up against top seed and reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. Lovlina was a shadow of herself against Surmeneli and lost 0-5 at Tokyo's Kokugikan arena on Wednesday. Surmeneli was the much-superior boxer on the day and the Indian was completely outpunched. Despite the loss, Lovlina, on the back of her bronze medalwinning performance, emulated Vijender Singh (bronze at 2008 Beijing Olympics) and Mary Kom (bronze at 2012 London Olympics) to become only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. Lovlina's bronze is India's first Olympic medal in boxing in nine years. “I don't know what to say. I could not execute what I had planned. I could have done better,” Lovlina said after her bout. “It has been a wonderful journey to the Tokyo Olympics and also at the Games. Finally, my years of preparations yielded me an Olympic medal. Although I was aiming for the gold medal, there is always a next time. I dedicate this to my country,” she added. Lovlina began the bout on a cautious note, as she took some time to settle in. The circumspect start by the Indian gave Surmeneli enough chances to attack. And that she did, landing a couple of left hooks on Lovlina. Although Lovlina retaliated with uppercuts and rained body blows on the Turkish girl, her punches lacked force. Surmeneli then went all out and was relentless with her punches, landing most of them on target. She gave the Indian no room to breathe. It was no surprise when the first round went unanimously to the world champion. Surmeneli stormed out of the blocks in the second round and landed controlled punches on Lovlina. The Indian kept her guard open for much of the second round, which the Turkish girl took advantage of. All Lovlina managed were some body blows and a couple of left jabs towards the end of the round. She also faced penalty for landing a punch after being called to stop by the referee. As a result, a point was deducted. The judges unanimously went with Surmeneli. In the third round, the flamboyant Turkish boxer didn't just outpunch her rival, but also taunted Lovlina with some showboating, including dropping her guard to dare the Indian.
329 PM Narendra Modi spoke to javelin gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, congratulating him for his achievement and persevering with tough training schedules despite the year-long delay caused by the Covid pandemic. “You have made the nation proud as the Olympics was coming to an end ... you have given the best possible finish for the country,” the PM told Chopra over phone. He said the success at the Tokyo games was due to the hard work and self belief. Chopra thanked the PM for his encouragement. In 2019, when Chopra was recovering from an injury, Modi had wished him well and said he would soon be back in the field. “History has been scripted in Tokyo! What Neeraj Chopra has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold,” Modi tweeted soon after Chopra ascended the central podium to take the honours. Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Chopra, tweeting, “The Golden victory of Subedar Neeraj Chopra at the Olympics brings laurels for the Indian Army. He performed like a true soldier at the Olympics. It is indeed a historic and proud moment for the entire country, including the Indian Armed Forces! Many congratulations to him!” In 2019, when election results were out, and Modi became PM again, Chopra had congratulated the PM. “My heartiest congratulations to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi sir on this historic win. May our country achieve new heights under your leadership,” Chopra had tweeted. While thanking the javelin thrower, the PM had once again inquired about his injury and wished him a fast recovery. Home minister Amit Shah was equally elated and said, “Proud and historic moment! Every Indian is proud of the honour you have brought to the country with your hard work and dedication. The whole of India is delighted with this extraordinary achievement of yours.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Chopra has finally given the golden moment to India for which everybody was waiting. “His gold medal in the javelin throw reflects the capability of our youth who make the impossible possible through Sankalp Se Siddhi,” he said. BJP president J P Nadda said 1.3 billion people are going to cherish this glorious moment for a long time. The PM invited Chopra to August 15 Independence Day celebrations. The Indian Olympic contingent will be special invitees at Red Fort, followed by a dinner hosted by the PM at his residence.
330 Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the first track and field athlete to bag an Olympic gold for India. Social media got flooded with congratulatory messages for Neeraj as soon as he won the medal. Now, an old interview of the athlete is doing the rounds where he revealed the names of the Bollywood actors he would want to play his role in his biopic. NEERAJ CHOPRA WANTS AKSHAY OR RANDEEP TO PLAY HIS ROLE IN HIS BIOPIC . In an interview with The Quint in 2018 (right after Asian Games), Neeraj mentioned that he wants Randeep Hooda or Akshay Kumar to play his role in his biopic. He said, "It'll be great if a biopic is made. The people I like are Randeep Hooda from Haryana, and Akshay Kumar in Bollywood." AKSHAY KUMAR CONGRATULATES NEERAJ Akshay Kumar had congratulated Neeraj after his gold win. The actor wrote, "It's a GOLD. Heartiest Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on creating history. You're responsible for a billion tears of joy! Well done #NeerajChopra! #Tokyo2020 (sic)." It's a GOLD Heartiest Congratulations on creating history. You're responsible for a billion tears of joy! Well done ! - Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) AKSHAY TRENDED ON TWITTER AFTER NEERAJ'S BIG WIN Akshay's tweet started a meme-fest and the actor started trending on Twitter right after Neeraj won the gold medal at the Olympics. Netizens shared hilarious memes on Akshay, saying that the actor has found his new movie. Akshay played the lead role of Tapan Das, the man who won India its first gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics, in the 2018 film Gold. A Twitter user wrote, "Akshay kumar just found his new movie. #NeerajChopra #Olympicsindia #Gold (sic)." Akshay kumar just found his new movie. - Raj Shamani (@rajshamani) Another Twitter user shared a throwback picture of Akshay and wrote, "Leaked picture of akshay kumar from the sets of #NeerajChopra's biopic (sic)." Leaked picture of akshay kumar from the sets of 's biopic. . - Rishikesh (@rishi01jee) Hailing from Panipat's Khandra village, Neeraj Chopra scripted history with a best throw of 87.58 metres, winning a historic first Olympic gold in athletics for India. ALSO READ| ALSO READ | Graphic Neeraj Chopra wants Akshay Kumar or Randeep Hooda to play his role in biopic
331 Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist PV Sindhu arrived here to a rousing welcome on Wednesday. Telangana sports minister V Srinivas Goud felicitated Sindhu at the airport. The minister hailed the reigning world champion as the “pride of two Telugu states,” and wished that she would go all the way to clinch gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. “Sindhu has made the country and the Telugu states proud with her achievements,” he said. “Sindhu was born in Hyderabad. She studied here and trains here,” he added. The minister said the state government would soon come out with a sports policy to provide all help to sportspersons, coaches and fitness trainers. He also thanked Sindhu's personal coach Park Tae-Sang for his support. Sindhu thanked the minister and the state government for the support extended to her. “Even during the pandemic when I requested him to allow me to train at the Gachibowli Stadium, he readily agreed. My thanks also to the Telangana State Sports Authority (SATS) for its support. I will continue to work hard to win more laurels for the country and the two Telugu states,” she said. SATS chairman Allipuram Venkateshwara Reddy, Cyberabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar, Telangana Badminton Association vice-president V Chamundeswaranath were also present.
332 The nondescript Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat district erupted into celebrations when the news flashed that its talented son, Subedar Neeraj Chopra, VSM, had become the first Indian track and field athlete to win a medal (that too a gold) at the Olympics. Friends and fans started gathering around the golden boy's family home, where 19 members of his extended family live; his family said the entire village and even people from neighbouring villages had been glued to television sets installed at public places. Villagers thronged his residence, distributed sweets and danced to the tunes of Punjabi songs. 'Chak de India, nap de killi' slogans rent the village air; just the right metaphor for the Spear Man. His emotional father Satish Kumar, a farmer, said, "I feel elated that my son has brought glory to the country." He then added, brimming over with fatherly pride: "Yes, we were confident from day one that he will bring a gold medal for the country." Chopra's elated mother, Saroj Devi, said the entire village would extend a grand welcome to her son on his return. Neeraj's uncle Bhim Chopra said not just the family but the entire village watched his marvellous performance to reach the podium. Interestingly, India's two gold medal-winning Olympians have a Chandigarh connection -- Neeraj Chopra and shooter Abhinav Bindra. The shooter, who won the gold in Beijing in 2008, grew up in the Chandigarh suburb Zirakpur and Chopra studied at the DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh. Congratulating Chopra on his triumph, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and a Grade A government job for Chopra. He said: "The country was waiting for this moment for a long time." Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also congratulated Neeraj for his historic feat. "Gold! Neeraj Chopra ... you have created history and made the whole country proud," the Chief Minister tweeted. "Your 87.58m winning throw today will be a part of the legends of the Track and Field arena. India owes you! Jai Hind," Singh added. In a rare gesture, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, who's normally seen to be letting his hair down, was seen dancing and distributing sweets among his staff when Neeraj scripted history. Vij was articulating the sentiment of the nation.
333 A father's fervent plea for a gift on the eve of her bronze medal playoff against China's He Bing Jiao seemed to have worked wonders on PV Sindhu. The silver medallist at the Rio Games won an Olympic medal for the second time running and her bronze in Tokyo on Sunday made her the only Indian woman with two Olympic medals. The semifinal defeat to Tai Tzu-Ying on Saturday weighed her down but PV Ramana said he convinced Sindhu to give it her best. “I told her not to ponder over the semis loss. It was painful but she came back strongly. I told her to think it was a gift for me and play her best game,” said the former volleyball international and Arjuna awardee. Ramana has been a huge influence on her daughter's career and it was no different in Tokyo. “I had told her to focus on the game and show the right body language. Yesterday, I told her that Bing Jiao had played three-setters in her earlier games and it is not easy for her to continue with the same rhythm. I also sent her a video of Bing Jiao's match in Delhi. Her coach and Sindhu analysed it and came up with a good strategy,” he said. The colour of the medal doesn't matter, Ramana said. “We had expected a gold but it's not so easy to achieve it,” he said. He expressed confidence that Sindhu will play the next Olympics. It is significant that she has won a medal and the colour doesn't really matter. I am positive that she will also play the next Olympics. We have to plan and win as many medals as we can win for the country at the next Olympics. I am confident about her as she has the hunger to play and she enjoys the game,” Ramana added. While thanking coach Park Tae-Sang, the government, BAI and Suchitra Academy, Ramana also used the opportunity to drive home a point. “Girls are winning medals for the country. I am not criticising the male child, but only want to stress that girls should be given equal opportunities to realise their dreams,” he said. Sindhu's mother Vijaya, also a volleyball player, was delighted too. “I am very happy. We are very proud of her. I was a bit tense in the last match but my husband spoke to her before this match and she played very well,” she said and added “I'll make her whatever she wants to eat after she comes back home.”
334 When India's biggest hopes for a medal at Tokyo – Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary – failed to enter the 10m air pistol mixed final on Tuesday, social media went into a tizzy, calling the Tokyo Games a repeat of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The meltdown in Tokyo is somewhat similar to Rio, however, unlike last time when the shooters copped most of the blame, this time it is more of an administrative failure – on part of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) – that has led to this poor performance. In the pistol shooters' case, it was the poor handling of coach-shooter tussles by NRAI. On Tuesday, the NRAI chief Raninder Singh agreed that Manu and pistol coach Jaspal Rana had their differences and blamed Rana for spreading negativity in the Indian camp. However, it was never about only one shooter or a single coach. In 2018, after the Youth Olympic Games, shooter Saurabh Chaudhary had written a mail to NRAI saying he did not want to continue training under the junior team national coach Jaspal Rana. The NRAI replied saying Saurabh had to train under Rana if he wished to participate in the junior category. Saurabh then decided to participate only in the senior tournaments, despite being eligible to shoot in junior age-group for three more years. Later that year, another junior, 25m rapid fire specialist Anish Bhanwala, went to NRAI with the same request. The NRAI maintained its stand that these requests did not warrant an investigation. In 2021, during the New Delhi World Cup, just three months before the Olympics, Rana went for Manu Bhaker's 25m pistol match wearing a white t-shirt with a hand-written personal message sent by Manu to him. He proudly strutted around the range when Manu lost the gold to Chinki Yadav, a shooter Rana had been training at the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy in Bhopal in personal capacity. The shooting body yet again failed to take disciplinary action against Rana; rather, the NRAI president asked Manu, her parents and Rana to meet him. However, the patch-up didn't happen. When the team was sent to Zagreb for pre-Olympics training, three pistol coaches —Ronak Pandit, Jaspal Rana and Samaresh Jung —refused to attend the camp. Pandit and Jung later agreed to join the team after 15 days, while Rana took more than a month to reach Croatia. It has been learned that he missed two appointments for visa. Meanwhile, Abhishek Verma, who was training under Rana, preferred to train alone, despite help being offered by Pandit and Jung. Rana went to Zagreb and trained Abhishek only for a week. Another issue that NRAI failed to deal with was conflict of interest of national coaches and handling the personal coaches in case of rifle shooters. Not a single shooter preferred to train under foreign rifle coach Oleg Mikhailov and pistol coach Pavel Smirnov. While they were there at the national camps, they had absolutely no role to play in preparing the shooters ahead of the Games. The federation renewed Pavel's contract after the 2016 Games failure, despite the review committee suggesting otherwise. There are many national coaches who are on the Sports Authority of India's payrolls, get paid by the NRAI and take private coaching at their academies as well as at the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy. NRAI never objected to these coaches spending more time with their 'personal' shooters at the national camps, nor did they stop them from training shooters at other academies. The federation instead paid these coaches in full. The situation in the shotgun camp is no different. While Mairaj Khan trained under Ennio Falco and Angad Bajwa took training from his personal coach Tore Brovold remotely, the NRAI sent trap coach Mansher Singh to Italy with them. The national federation may have been active in getting facilities arranged for its shooters, but when it came to cleaning its own mess, it failed miserably. The meltdown in Tokyo is just a reflection of the system that was not ready for a stage like the Olympics. TIMES VIEW: Success and failure are two sides of sports. One has to accept either with poise. But it is definitely a matter of concern when an entire bunch of world-class shooters underperforms collectively on the big stage. The matter deserves a closer scrutiny.
335 While Tiger Shroff is known to motivate others with his fitness level, it was Mirabai Chanu, the winner of a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, who inspired him to go beyond limits. The actor recently shared a workout video, wherein he can be seen lifting heavy weights. He thanked silver medallist Mirabai Chanu for inspiring him to do the same in his recent social media post. MIRABAI CHANU MOTIVATES TIGER SHROFF . He has been sharing various updates and workout videos on social media. The actor has now dropped another clip, wherein he can be seen lifting 140 kg in the gym while working out. Tiger Shroff got inspiration from She brought a silver medal in 49kg weightlifting with a total lift of 202 kg. Praising the star weightlifter, Tiger wrote, "140 kgs and counting... So so inspired to get stronger and go beyond my limits thanks to #mirabaichanu what a performance! Go team India! #tokyoolympics @mmamatrixgym @mirabai_chanu (sic)." Watch the video here: KRISHNA SHROFF AND RITEISH DESHMUKH REACT TO TIGER'S POST Tiger Shroff's sister, Krishna Shroff and Riteish Deshmukh praised the actor in the comments section. While Krishna Shroff wrote, "Makhann (butter) (sic)," Riteish said, "Unbelievable-more power to you brother (sic)." WHAT'S ON THE WORK FRONT? Besides Heropanti 2, Tiger also has Ganapath, which is scheduled for release in 2022. The actor also has Baaghi 4 and Rambo in the pipeline. Tiger Shroff was last seen in Baaghi 3, which released in 2020. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Tiger Shroff lifts 140 kg in workout clip, thanks silver medallist Mirabai Chanu for inspiration
336 Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday felicitated ace shuttler P.V. Sindhu for winning a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Ms. Sindhu, along with her family members, called on Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Secretariat and thanked him for his support and blessings. The Chief Minister asked Ms. Sindhu to start the proposed badminton academy in Visakhapatnam soon and train youngsters. Later, Sports Minister M. Srinivasa Rao, Special Secretary Rajat Bhargava and Commissioner of Information and Public Relations T. Vijay Kumar Reddy handed over a cheque for ₹30 lakh to Ms. Sindu for winning the medal at the global sporting event. Later, addressing the media, Ms. Sindhu said she was happy to bring an Olympic medal home as the Chief Minister had wished when she met him before leaving for Tokyo. "I will soon give a tangible shape to the badminton academy," she said. "The 2% sports quota for job-seekers and the YSR Awards being given by the Andhra Pradesh government will encourage talented sportspersons to win laurels for the country," Ms. Sindhu said. 'Will win a gold in 2024' Later in the day, Ms. Sindhu, along with her family members, offered prayers at the Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri here. The temple authorities accorded her a traditional welcome with 'poorna kumbham'. Executive Officer Bhramaramba presented her a photograph of Goddess Kanaka Durga, prasadam and silk vastrams. Later, addressing the media, she said, "I need to play in the 2024 Olympics and bag a gold medal."
337 It's raining rewards for javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after he won India's second individual gold medal at Olympics on Saturday. The other individual medal winners Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia are also in for a windfall as the Tokyo Olympics concluded on Sunday. Haryana govt said that Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs 6 crore while Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced a cash reward of Rs 2 crore. The Manipur government has decided to award Chopra Rs 1 crore. The corporate world and other private organisations too rewarded Chopra and other medal winners. Edtech major Byju's announced a cash award of Rs 2 cr for Neeraj Chopra and Rs 1 cr each for other individual medal winners while Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, has announced to give a brand new XUV 700 to Chopra. While IndiGo, a national airliner, has announced unlimited free travel for a year for Chopra, GoFirst Airways has offered free travel for five years to all medal winners. Realty firm Elan Group has also promised a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Chopra. BCCI has also announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore for Neeraj Chopra and also set aside an award of Rs 1.25 crore for the hockey team which won bronze. The BCCI also announced cash awards of Rs 50 lakh to silvermedallists and Rs 25 lakh for individual bronze medallists. Chennai Super Kings too declared a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for Chopra. TNN
338 Silk Stalkings When we learnt that my father had been named as the new ambassador to Romania, my first thought was not 'Land of Dracula' but 'Land of Nadia Comaneci'. After all, the tiny powerhouse had wowed the Montreal Olympics just two years prior by scoring the first (of seven) perfect 10s on her way to three gold medals in gymnastics, aged just 14. I could turn a few (laboured) cartwheels myself and felt ridiculously excited about the 'connection'. We never did get to meet Nadia in our three years there—during which she won more golds at the Moscow Olympics—but it was clear that a whole nation hung on her every move. It was like she was their only light in a gloomy world of isolation and socialist deprivation as she was one of the few Romanians allowed to travel the world back in the day. The only other Romanian sportsperson with a similar following was the mercurial tennis player Ilie Nastase. But before her Moscow encore, Nadia inexplicably went AWOL. Even though there was no social media to amplify individual voices, it was clear that a whole nation was on tenterhooks about her. Reports emerged much later—which she initially denied—that she had tried to kill herself by swallowing bleach in1977. But there was undeniable evidence that she was troubled, as she had gained a huge amount of weight, purportedly binging on chocolates. At that time, the Communist regime's sports bosses found her and returned Nadia to her former coach—who had been pushed aside in favour of state-sponsored ones—and got her back in shape for the Moscow Olympics in1980. She had to put her evident depression aside and focus on bringing glory to her country. And she ended up striking gold again there for two routines—beam and floor—and also bagged two silvers. All this when she was still a teen. Mental health was not mentioned in sports circles back then, and kids barely into double digits regularly competed in high pressure events, where injuries were a constant possibility. In fact the Communist countries of eastern Europe seemed to have an endless supply of tiny (practically) tots doing near-impossible manoeuvres in gymnastics with almost robotic precision, ending their routines with cute grins that belied their heaving, bony diaphragms. Their biggest advantage—if it can be called one—back then was their relative isolation as the gymnasts spent their waking hours training in special schools and hardly ever ventured into the outside world. While it made them into performing ponies in a way, it also insulated them from the glare of public interest and, worse still, expectation. Their training schedules were inhuman, and the kids had to often put up with actual cruelty and abuse from their coaches. But there was no question of the children pulling out. And certainly not during the actual event, as happened this week with the veteran US gymnast Simone Biles, who at 24 is no stranger to the pressures of top competitions. What stands out in Biles' action is not merely her encoring the issue after the 23-year-old US tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May but the fact that these two girls reached the end of their tether so publicly. Public opinion is often neither informed nor fair, patient or understanding. And thanks to social media, cutting comments which sportspeople would never hear are now there for all to see, “like”, and add their own “expert” opinion. Social media quite clearly does not believe in the adage, “It's not about winning or losing but about how you play the game.” So the dark side of top level sport today is not about the cruelty of coaches but that of the relentless public. Mental strength needed to win in a sport now has to be boosted to take on public opinion and sponsors' demands too. Neither Biles' nor Osaka's family, coaches and doctors seemed to realise they were strung out and struggling till their public meltdowns. Were their retinues so focused on victory—and retaining public adulation—that they did not see the fragile human beings behind the two sports prodigies? That does not sound very sporting at all. Nadia defected to the US in 1989 and is now married to a fellow gymnast Bart Connor. She first met him at that landmark Montreal Olympics but she has no recollection of it; imagine the tumult in that14 year old's mind. The pressure to win is a thousand times more now, with billions of us focused on stars at the Tokyo Olympics. From our armchairs, we—especially on social media—must be more mindful of the humans behind the phenomena.
339 Since the crack of dawn, the Raveendran household was a beehive of activity and its members a bundle of nerves. Friends and relatives had gathered at the house in Kizhakkambalam, a village in Kerala's Ernakulam district. It's not often that they get to see one among their own fighting to win a medal for the country in hockey. As PR Sreejesh padded the ball away and the hooter went off, his father Raveendran patted his heart. The match wasn't for the faint-hearted, and Raveendran had already survived a heart attack during the 2018 World Cup. Sreejesh's journey, one of hard work and sacrifice, began in early 2000, when he, as a gawky youngster in his trademark netted vest and lungi, watched the senior Indian players go through their paces. As a junior India camper, his dreams were big. But he couldn't express them as language was a barrier for the Malayalamspeaking teenager. But over time, Sreejesh broke free to emerge as the most dependable goalkeeper in recent years. Sreejesh is not just a talented goalkeeper. In time, he graduated to being the chief motivator of the team, shouting instructions and taking time for a quick pep talk to his teammates on the field. In the build-up to the Olympics, Sreejesh's message to his teammates was, “Playing in the Olympics is important, but that is not your goal. Your goal is to win a medal and it is important for us to focus on it. This time we are good enough to win a medal.” Off the field, he spent hours watching videos on goalkeeping and analysing his game. When he wasn't watching videos, he pored over books ranging from fiction to biographies to self-help tomes. In books he found a friend which helped him through tough times, including a phase in 2016 when he was recuperating from a knee injury. The three-time Olympian told TOI recently, “Books changed my perception about the sacrifices we make as athletes. “Now if I go back home with an Olympic medal, the reaction of my family will give me immense satisfaction. My son Sriansh is four years old and my daughter Anusree is nine. They know their father is representing the country and I'm sure they will be cheering for the team. I know they miss their father and if I can go home with a medal, they will know why their father was away from them. Their father was on the field, making the country and them proud.” On August 14, 2016, as India made their quarterfinal exit at the Rio Olympics, Sreejesh, who captained the team then, tweeted, “Rio over.. pain remains. Sorry for letting you down.” On Thursday, after bowing in reverence to his citadel, he climbed on to the goalpost to find how it felt to be on top. Later, he shared pictures and tweeted, “Let me smile now.” India not just smiled but celebrated with the champion keeper of their hopes.
340 Over the centuries, Panipat has witnessed three battles that altered the course of Indian history. Exactly a decade ago, a chance encounter between an obese local boy trying to lose kilos and a young javelin thrower in the same medieval Haryana town led to a tectonic event of similar proportions in the history of Indian athletics on Saturday: a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the first ever athletics gold in Olympics and the first medal in athletics in postindependence India. That obese boy was Neeraj Chopra. And the athlete-mentor was Jai Choudhary aka Jaiveer, then an aspiring javelin thrower himself and now a coach at the NIS, Patiala. At 13, Neeraj, a farmer's son, weighed more than 80 kilos. Fattened by dollops of malai (fresh cream) and choorma, a calorie-friendly blend of roti, ghee and sugar fed by an adoring granny, he was subjected to bullying by kids of his age. Sensing his discomfort, his uncle, Bhim Chopra, took him to the Panipat Sports Stadium gymnasium in 2011 and instructed the trainers there to get Neeraj back into shape. Little did the family know that after completing his gym sessions, he would spend hours at the SAI centre in Panipat. “He used to come to the track every day. One day I casually asked him, bhala phekega? (Do you want to try your hand at javelin?). He nodded. When he threw his first javelin, I looked at my fellow athletes and the first word that came from my mouth was 'ye to natural hai' (He is a natural talent),” said Jaiveer, under whom Neeraj started training in 2011.
341 Over the centuries Panipat has witnessed three battles that altered the course of Indian history. Exactly a decade ago, a chance encounter between an obese local boy trying to lose kilos and a young javelin thrower in the same medieval Haryana town led to a tectonic event of similar proportions in the history of Indian athletics on Saturday: a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the first ever athletics gold in Olympics and the first medal in athletics in postindependence India. That obese boy was Neeraj Chopra. And the athlete-mentor was Jai Choudhary aka Jaiveer, then an aspiring javelin thrower himself and now a coach at the NIS, Patiala. At 13, Neeraj, a farmer's son, weighed more than 80 kilos. Fattened by dollops of malai (fresh cream) and choorma, a calorie-friendly blend of roti, ghee and sugar fed by an adoring granny, he was subjected to bullying by kids of his age. Sensing his discomfort, his uncle, Bhim Chopra, took him to the Panipat Sports Stadium gymnasium in 2011 and instructed the trainers there to get Neeraj back into shape. Little did the family know that after completing his gym sessions, he would spend hours at the SAI centre in Panipat. “He used to come to the track every day. One day I casually asked him, bhala phekega? (Do you want to try your hand at javelin?). He nodded. When he threw his first javelin, I looked at my fellow athletes and the first word that came from my mouth was 'ye to natural hai' (He is a natural talent),” said Jaiveer, under whom Neeraj started training in 2011.
342 It's raining rewards for javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after he won India's second individual gold medal at Olympics on Saturday. The other individual medal winners — Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia — are also in for a windfall as the Tokyo Olympics concluded on Sunday. Haryana chief minister ML Khattar said that Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs 6 crore while Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh announced a reward of Rs 2 crore. The Manipur government will give Rs 1 crore to Chopra. Edtech major Byju's announced a cash award of Rs 2 cr for Neeraj Chopra and Rs1cr each for other individual medal winners while Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, has announced to give a brand new XUV 700 to Chopra when he returns to India. While IndiGo, a national airliner, has announced unlimited free travel for a year for Chopra, GoFirst Airways has offered free travel for five years to the gold medallist and other medal winners. Realty firm Elan Group has also promised a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Chopra. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has also announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore for Chopra and also set aside an award of Rs 1.25 crore for the Indian hockey team which won the bronze medal. The BCCI also announced cash awards of Rs 50 lakh to silvermedallists – wrestler Ravi Dahiya and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu – and Rs 25 lakh for individual bronze medal winners. IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings too declared a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for Chopra.
343 Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya has added to India's medal tally as he won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Dahiya lost the men's freestyle 57kg title clash 4-7 to Zavur Uguev. While his cheering squad was hoping for gold, Ravi's silver win has brought a smile to everyone's faces. Celebrities like Anil Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Suniel Shetty, Randeep Hooda, Nivin Pauly, Varun Tej among others expressed their joy at Ravi's silver medal. Anil Kapoor shared on Twitter, "Another one coming home! Congratulations on the Silver! #RaviKumarDahiya." Another one coming home! Congratulations on the Silver! #RaviKumarDahiya - Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) August 5, 2021 Tappsee Pannu took to Twitter and shared, "It's a silver for our Ravi Dahiya !" It's a silver for our Ravi Dahiya ! - taapsee pannu (@taapsee) August 5, 2021 Nivin Pauly wrote on Twitter, "What a bout #RaviKumarDahiya! You have made us all proud! One billion hearts beat for you!" What a bout #RaviKumarDahiya! You have made us all proud! One billion hearts beat for you! #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #Olympics2020 #Wrestling #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/vcqqyqhu6p - Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) August 5, 2021 Varun Tej posted on Twitter, "We are super proud of you #KumarRavi Such a valiant effort!" Suniel Shetty tweeted, "If what I see is true, then you have already won gold in our hearts! You are the true symbol of the Indian Sporting Spirit. #RaviKumarDahiya we are so proud of you!!"
344 Bajrang Punia had reached Tokyo Olympics with an injured right knee heavily strapped. His opponents in the men's freestyle 65kg category – counted among the toughest in wrestling – knew that this was one opening which they should exploit to get the better of their continental rival. A susceptible leg defence has often led to Bajrang's downfall in crucial bouts. But here he was, competing with a dodgy knee. So when the Indian, World No. 2 and seeded second, walked out at the Makuhari Messe arena to launch his gold medal bid in his debut Olympics on Friday, all three the Indian met during his journey to the semis targeted his right knee for leg-attacks. His last-four stage opponent, Azerbaijan's three-time world champion (in 61kg) Haji Aliyev, even dared to perform a successful fitele on him, a twirling technique mastered by Bajrang's mentor Yogeshwar Dutt during his competitive days. Aliyev, the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist (in 57kg), ended Bajrang's bid for a gold-silver from Tokyo after comprehensively defeating him 12-5, executing four impressive takedowns on the reigning CWG and Asian Games champion. The loss left Bajrang fighting for bronze through the repechage round on Saturday. He is likely to meet Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov, whom Bajrang had lost to in the semis of the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan. But for that to happen, the Kazakh will first have to beat Senegal's Adama Diatta. In his opening round, Bajrang struggled to close out the bout against Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev after leading 3-1 with seconds left on the clock. It was a gripping contest with the Kyrgyz looking to get hold of his injured knee and Bajrang doing just enough to stave off the challenge. However, Akmataliev levelled the score at 3-3 with two late 'out of bounds' and looked for a last-gasp takedown. But Bajrang survived owing to his highest-scoring move in the first period – a two-point takedown compared to Akmataliev's single-point pushouts -- to win his pre-quarters. In the quarters against Iranian Morteza Ghiasi, Bajrang was left defending his right knee from the beginning of the bout, as his rival went on the offensive to effect a takedown. Bajrang knew that more than brawn, it would take tactical acumen to sail past the relentless attacks of his Iranian opponent. After trailing 1-2, Bajrang waited for the opening to arrive and, with one swift takedown of Ghiasi, pinned him down full stretch to score a 'victory by fall. Going by the results of his early bouts, it was always going to be tough against Aliyev. The Azerbaijani found his scoring zone in Bajrang's injured knee and stepped up the offensive with four takedowns. Aliyev led 8-1 as the time ticked away in the second and final period. Bajrang did try to make a comeback but Aliyev didn't let the opportunity slip away, scripting a dominating 12-5 win. Earlier, Seema Bisla's Olympic journey ended in a 3-1 first-round defeat to Tunisia's Sarra Hamdi in the women's 50kg pre-quarterfinal. The Tunisian then lost her quarterfinal match to three-time Olympic medalist, Mariya Stadnik from Azerbaijan ending Seema's repechage hopes.
345 In recognition of the stupendous achievement of , who has won India's first ever Olympic gold medal in athletics, Punjab Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced a special cash reward of Rs 2 crore on Saturday for his award-winning 87.58 metres javelin throw in Tokyo. The chief minister said it was a proud moment for India and all Punjabis, since the family of , a serving soldier of Indian Army, traces its roots to Punjab. Sharing a video of the victory ceremony on Twitter, Amarinder Singh said, "Neeraj Chopra, who is serving the @adgpi has brought glory to the nation & scripted his name in history by winning India's first Olympic Gold in athletics. It's our honour to announce a special cash reward of Rs. 2 Cr for him. A proud moment for all Indians & our Armed Forces." Neeraj Chopra, who is serving the has brought glory to the nation & scripted his name in history by winning India's first Olympic Gold in athletics. It's our honour to announce a special cash reward of Rs. 2 Cr for him. A proud moment for all Indians & our Armed Forces. - Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) Neeraj Chopra, studied at DAV College Chandigarh and joined the Indian army in 2016. ALSO READ: Notably, Neeraj Chopra practiced most of the time at NIS Patiala. He had earlier won Gold medal in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2018 and was Current National Record Holder with 88.07 Metres throw. He had also won Gold medal in Junior World Championship and set U-20 World Record with 86.48 metres throw. It is the second Gold Medal by an Indian in individual category of Olympic Games after , hailing from Punjab, won Gold medal in 2008 Beijing Olympics. ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Graphic CM Amarinder Singh announces Rs 2 crore reward for Neeraj Chopra, highlights Punjab link
346 When PV Sindhu qualified for the final at the Rio Games, Abhinav Bindra wanted her to win gold and had expressed how 'lonely' he felt at the top. He finally has company now. “I am ecstatic,” Bindra told TOI. Abhinav won India's first-ever individual gold on August 11, 2008, and it has been a long wait for the country to hear the national anthem play at the Olympics again. Four days before the 13th anniversary of his gold medal, Abhinav is no longer the only individual gold medallist in the country. And nobody is happier than the champion shooter himself. “For me personally, it is so liberating not to be the only one,” he added. It was evident from his social media posts, as Abhinav expressed his joy by writing a series of tweets and a letter to Neeraj Chopra. In a video posted on Twitter, Abhinav said: “Dearest Neeraj, I know how much effort and belief has gone into your quest to be the best, to win that gold medal at your first Olympics. It was such an emotional moment for me as it was for every Indian. The world is your playground and your achievement will be a symbol of excellence, which we will always treasure. My sincerest congratulations and all my respect.” In his letter, Abhinav wrote how difficult it is to win the top prize at the quadrennial event as the burden of expectations makes it even more tough. “To win gold at the grandest sporting event in the world, which is held once every four years, is in itself so improbable that less than 3% of the 11,707 athletes competing in Tokyo will end up with one. Add to it the weight of expectations from an extremely proud nation starved of Olympic success, and your achievement becomes even more memorable,” he wrote in his letter.
347 Following the exciting Olympic medal win of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, another win followed closely on its heels. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain assured India of first boxing medal at Tokyo Olympics on July 30. She is set to take on world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the semi-finals on August 4. But until then, get to know the 23-year-old boxing champ. Lovlina is the youngest of three siblings (she has two elder sisters). Hailing from a village called Bormukhia located the town of Barpathar in the Golaghat district, Assam, she belongs to a family who rely on paddy farming. Over the phone, speaking with MetroPlus, her father Tiken Borgohain, bubbling with excitement, says he is elated at her win and confident she will bag an Olympic gold for the country next time. Lovlina first learnt mixed martial arts muay thai and then later graduated to boxing once she was enrolled by Sports Authority of India. Read more | Baromukhia village celebrates its favourite daughter, Lovlina Borgohain Lovlina's success was celebrated with a lot of fervour in their small village. An ardent fan of Manipur's Mary Kom, Lovlina has always been a sports lover since childhood. Even though there is no facility for sports training in the town of Barpathar, seeing her enthusiasm for sports her father decided to enroll the then-12-year-old Lovlina for muay thai classes started by a local group of boys. Speaking at a recent virtual press conference, she stated, "I started thinking that no matter the situation, I would give my best. I want to win even if I am fighting with a broken hand."
348 Indian athletes competing at the Olympics can earn big cash awards by winning Olympic medals this time. The cash awards announced by various state governments along with the Union government's cash award policy will make Indian medal winners the most rewarded athletes in the world. The financial gains Indian medalwinners will garner is far more than what major nations like the United States, hosts Japan, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, Brazil and South Africa have announced for their medal-winning athletes. Besides India, the top-5 nations giving cash bonuses for medals are: Indonesia ($746,000, Rs 5.55cr), Singapore ($735,000, Rs 5.47cr), Hong Kong ($644,000, Rs 4.80cr), Thailand ($309,300, Rs 2.30cr), Kazakhstan ($250,000, Rs 1.86cr). All amounts are for gold medals. The figures for silver and bronze medal winners follow a similar trend. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh (administration) have already announced a cash bonus of Rs 6 crore for athletes from their state who win gold medal at the Olympics. While Haryana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have announced Rs 4 crore and Rs 2.5 crore for their silver and bronze winners, Chandigarh and UP are will give Rs 4 crore and Rs 2 crore for silver and bronze. Besides the individual state government's cash awards, according to the Indian government policy (as of March11, 2020), an Olympics gold winner will get Rs 75 lakh. The silver medallist gets Rs 50 lakh and bronze winner Rs 30 lakh. The Union government's cash award scheme is also more than what the major Olympic nations are giving to their medal-winning athletes. TOI did some number crunching and found out that USA is giving $37,500 (Rs 28 lakh) to its gold winners. Hosts Japan $45,200 (Rs 34 lakh), Russia $61,000 (Rs 45 lakh), France $65,000 (Rs 48 lakh), Germany $22,000 (Rs 16 lakh), Canada $16,000 (Rs 12 lakh), Australia $15,100 (Rs 11 lakh), Netherlands $35,400 (Rs 26 lakh), Brazil $47,500 (Rs 35 lakh) and South Africa $37,000 (Rs 27.5 lakh) to the gold medallists. Only Italy $212,400 (Rs 1.58cr) has a sizeable amount kept for their gold medallists. Great Britain, Norway and Sweden do not pay Olympians for their medals. The government does, however, assign about $160 million of funds per year to Olympic and Paralympic sports, some of which goes to annual athlete training and stipends. Athletes can receive an annual stipend of around $36,000. Britain's view is that financial rewards do not significantly impact the motivation of an athlete to reach the Olympic podium. Among other Indian states, Karnataka and Gujarat have announced a cash amount of Rs 5 crore to their players for winning gold. Players from Delhi will be rewarded Rs 3 crore for winning gold, Rs 2 crore for winning silver and Rs 1 crore for bronze.
349 PV Sindhu said that coach Park Tae-Sang was the calming influence she needed during her bronze medal outing in Tokyo Olympics. “He never showed nerves. He motivated me a lot. We had eye-to-contact on court. As we practised a lot together, I knew what he is saying,” Sindhu said. The Korean was seen frequently giving technical inputs during Sindhu's matches. “I used to shout during the rallies, 'Sindhu please don't do that, I told you but why you did it.' I used to tell her to stay calm. I used to say 'Sindhu, please aaram se, rally hasn't finished, so aaram se.' That's the only Hindi word I learnt,” Park said and added that he now wants to go home and play with his daughter. “I really miss my family. My daughter is three-years-old. Since last February, I've spent only 13 days with my family. So, I badly want to go back. But Covid cases are rising in Korea, it's a concern,” he said. Park was not sure when he'd return, but Sindhu was keen to have him back. “Park is a very sweet person. As a coach the communication between us is honest. I would love to continue with him,” Sindhu said. The Korean said though Sindhu was a big name before he started training her in 2019, he had identified some areas to focus on. “She was very strong. Her opponents know that she has a good attack. Defence was one area that I worked on. We also worked on other strokes. You saw how she played at the Olympics. As a player I did not win a Olympic medal. I wanted Sindhu to win gold but I am happy that we have a bronze,” Park said. Park was also surprised to see so many congratulatory messages from Indian fans.
350 PV Sindhu was happy with her bronze-medal effort but said that she was overcome with emotion after her semifinal defeat to Tai Tzu Ying on Saturday. “It makes me happy because I've worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me — should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best. I'm really happy that I've done really well,” Sindhu told the BWF website. The world champion said that she wanted to enjoy the moment. “It's a proud moment, getting a medal for my country. A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I'm very thankful to each and every one of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses.” Sindhu said that she had to be patient in the playoff as there were long rallies. “It was a fresh game altogether. For us, it was very important that we get a medal for the country at the Olympics. It's a big thing. There were long rallies. I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax,” said Sindhu. She added that she wants to compete in the next Olympics: “Definitely, yes. I will be there in Paris 2024.” Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand lauded Sindhu's victory. “Congrats to our awesome Sindhu on her second successive Olympic medal. While it is all due to the hard work by her and the team of coaches and support staff, I also want to express my gratitude to the support by sports ministry, government, SAI and BAI. I also thank the Telangana government for allowing the stadium for players and great to see badminton win medals in three successive games,” Gopichand said.
351 Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown bagged a Gold medal in the women's 100m backstroke event at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday. Sometimes, the excitement of a win in an Olympic event overpowers everything and you may not realise what you have said in the spur of the moment and where you have said it. Something similar transpired on Tuesday with the Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown after she won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke event in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020. The 20-year old swimmer won the event by completing the race in 57.47 seconds leaving behind Canada's Kylie Masse and America's Regan Smith with a margin of 0.25 seconds and 0.58 seconds respectively. Ecstatic McKeown was asked by Australia's Channel 7 if she would like to say something to her mother and sister, after clinching the gold medal, as her family has gone through a tough time lately with the death of her father from brain cancer last year, she replied by saying 'F*** yeah!" followed by 'Oh s**t', after she realised immediately that she used a cuss word on Live Television. While McKeown couldn't control her emotions, her mother, Sharon ensured that she will keep her in check. Talking to Australian media later, she said, "Swearing on TV! I will have to have a word to her later." McKeown, however, wasn't much bothered about her mother's response when she got to know what Sharon said saying that she might be her mother's favourite for a little while after the gold medal win.
352 Mirabai Chanu's weightlifting silver medal in the 49 kg category at Tokyo 2020 was a rare Olympic triumph. Disregarding the weight of expectations on her shoulders, ignoring the chasing pack of champion lifters, Mirabai serenely soared to a height occupied by only a handful of Indians. The gold medal winner, China's Hou Zhihui, was a cut above the rest but Mirabai was the clear second. Unlike a majority of India's other Tokyo 2020 medal prospects who froze close to the finish, Mirabai wasn't just good on paper or among the favourites in the form book. She was great on the day it mattered the most. A day before the event, Mirabai's coach Vijay Sharma had put in place a plan that would factor in his ward's strength and the opposition. The gloriously gifted lifter has always been talented, but had faced an enormous setback in her first Olympics followed by periods of debilitating depression, stage fright and self-doubt. After fluffing three lifts at the last Olympics in Rio, Mirabai endured five silent years of quietly putting together a technique which would get her the Tokyo medal. This involved putting her head down, clenching her fists around the lifting bar and seeking immaculate balance preparing for the spotlight. She would barely go home - spending months on end in training camps. And she would deny herself the pizza she loved. She would bring to the fore the Manipuri athlete's determination to hold steady onto a sporting dream, without seeking constant validation for her capability. The soft-spoken lifter was rarely seen or heard in the lead-up to the Tokyo Games. She was sweating it out in the company of weights, preparing to do the heavy lifting for a nation on edge.
353 The Maharaja of Air India is in the Olympics mood and is seen in action cheering the Indian athletes in various poses. One of them is javelin throw and it mirrors the focus of the whole nation in search of its first athletics medal at the Olympics as the showpiece event begins in Tokyo on Friday. If India opened with a high, celebrating Mirabai Chanu's silver medal, the end can be equally exciting with CWG and Asian Games champion Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in action in men's javelin throw which will begin with the qualifying round on August 4. The final is scheduled on the penultimate day, August 7. Armyman Avinash Sable will kick-start India's campaign, lining up in the second heat of men's 3000m steeplechase in a field that is led by Kenya's world No. 3 Abraham Kibiwot who has a season's best of 8 minutes, 07.81s. The Indian, ranked 20 in the world, needs to better his career-best time (8:20.20s) to harbour any hopes. The first three in each of the three heats, plus the six fastest will advance to the final. India's best bet in the women's section is Kamalpreet Kaur in discus throw. The national champion battled back from lockdown fatigue and is high on confidence, preferring to ignore the last-minute controversy amplified by her teammates. “I expect her to make the final and from then on it depends on the day. There are at least 5-6 throwers who are in the same range so you can't predict anything,” Kamalpreet's coach Rakhi Tyagi told TOI.
354 Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who returned to India after a sensational show in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, was facilitated by Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Kiren Rijiju, GK Reddy, Sarbananda Sonowal and Nisith Pramanik on Monday evening. For the unversed, Chanu opened India's medals tally on Saturday as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at the Tokyo Olympics. She lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari bagged bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting arena was opened to women for the first time. Meanwhile, Chanu dedicated her medal to the people of the country. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for encouraging her. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said this is a proud moment for India. "Everybody is celebrating, we are hoping that this victory will encourage the other athletes to do well in the games ahead," he added. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratualted Mirabai Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma for the win. "Today every Indian is feeling proud," he added. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated the silver medalist on behalf of 135 crore Indians and the Parliament. "A historic decision taken to establish National Sports University in Manipur was another big achievement for the northeast region," he added.
355 Bollywood actor Abhimanyu Dassani took to Twitter to express his stand on those who are claiming to be "proud" of the medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics. Mirabai Chanu's Olympic win has many saying that they are proud of the athlete from Manipur who has won a silver medal at Tokyo 2020 but Bollywood actor Abhimanyu Dassani has pointed out that those who are trying to proclaim they are "proud" must check their stand. Abhimanyu points out that one can be "happy" for them but should not claim that they are "proud." The Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota actor said that if those people "weren't cheering for them when they were grinding blood sweat and tears on their fields or in their gyms," they don't have the right to be proud. Abhimanyu added that one should start investing in the sportsperson's careers from an early stage to "earn that right." Abhimanyu took to Twitter and shared, "To all the bandwagon clout chasing sports fans that come out of their holes to be "proud" of athletes when they win. Here is the meaning of proud." If you werent cheering for them when they were grinding blood sweat and tears on their fields or in their gyms You dont have the right to be proud of them, you can be happy for them. Start investing directly/indirectly into thier journeys to earn that right. Be a real fan. - Abhimanyu Dassani (@Abhimannyu_D) July 27, 2021 His next tweet read, "feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is CLOSELY associated." He concluded his thread by explaining the difference between being proud and being happy. "If you weren't cheering for them when they were grinding blood sweat and tears on their fields or in their gyms You don't have the right to be proud of them, you can be happy for them. Start investing directly/indirectly into their journeys to earn that right. Be a real fan," he wrote. His tweets were met with a reply from actor Gulshan Devaiah who shared, "It's difficult for everyone to invest in someone's journey if they don't know them to begin with...but I support your views about "pride" For me pride is strictly reserved for personal choices and achievements only." I meant ... Just watch their games maybe tweet about them before they win. Don't have to literally put down money or infrastructure to help them grow. Even a few nice words go a long way when you're down. Specially by strangers appreciating you. - Abhimanyu Dassani (@Abhimannyu_D) July 27, 2021 To this, Abhimanyu explained that by investment, he does not necessarily mean investing money. He wrote, "I meant ... Just watch their games maybe tweet about them before they win. Don't have to literally put down money or infrastructure to help them grow. Even a few nice words go a long way when you're down. Especially by strangers appreciating you," he shared. On the work front, Abhimanyu's upcoming films include Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Aankh Micholi and Nikamma.
356 A beaming Neeraj Chopra showed off his glittering gold before he started answering the questions from media persons. Chopra said he hoped that his victory would inspire more kids to take up athletics. “We have won a gold in shooting and many medals in hockey but today was the first gold for India in athletics. Some of our legendary athletes like Milkha Singh and PT Usha came very close, but they missed out by a whisker. So this was important for Indian athletics. “I hope this gold will make things different from now on, especially for athletics and javelin throw. I'm sure there is a lot of talent in our country and I hope our federation will do the needful to help in the growth of javelin. There were a lot of questions till now why Indians don't do well in international meets. But now that I have won, I feel that we can win anything.” The Olympic champion thanked all those who have supported him from the start, from current SAI coach Jaiveer, who spotted his talent, to German coach Dr Kalus Bartoneitz, who helped him out after he was down with injury in 2019. “They are the people who supported me when I knew nothing. I will never forget them. He (Javeer) is so dedicated to javelin and two of his trainees, Sahil and Sanjana, are both doing well. He is very happy whenever I win a medal. “The first thing (after the Covid-19 disruption) was to take part in competitions. Eventually, I managed to compete in 2-3 international meets, thanks to AFI, SAI, and that was very important,” Chopra said. Surprisingly, after he led from start to finish to win Inda's first gold medal in athletics, Neeraj said he never felt any pressure. “Though I was competing in the Olympics, I didn't feel it was anything new. I had no pressure in competing. I was like, I've competed against these top throwers before, and I was concentrating on my throws. That's the reason why I could do well after coming back from injury,” Chopra said. “Thanks to all the help I got I came back strongly after undergoing surgery in 2019 . I was gunning for the 2019 Worlds but I couldn't do that, so all my focus was on Tokyo,” he added. “There was a time when I desperately wanted to compete in the 2019 Open Nationals. But the AFI president said no and they wanted me to focus on the Olympics.” Chopra said he was looking for a good start to put pressure on his rivals. “I knew that I could get a good throw that would put some pressure on the rest. Hence, it was very important that I get a good first throw. It came good and it was over 87 metres. “This year it was Vetter who dominated all through. Maybe because he took part in many competitions or some other pressure, I don't know, but he couldn't get into the top eight. Then my second throw was also a good one. I was thinking about my own personal best and the Olympic records. In javelin, if you get a good throw, it can even go three-four meters more and I went all out on the third throw. I put full power and got speed but it didn't work. Now, I want to work more and go past the 90m mark,” the champion said. Asked about Vetter's earlier remark that Chopra wouldn't be able to beat him, he said: “I heard but I didn't want to respond. He is such a great thrower and I'm sad that today such a great athlete couldn't make the top eight. But Olympics is one event where rankings don't matter. It depends on the day's performance. Sometimes the best can't perform.”
357 Jaipur: Rajasthan government plans to hold rural games in 44,795 revenue villages and 11341-gram panchayats but with a big caveat-- the COVID-19 cases should be in control. The panchayats and blocks, which will win the games, will get stadiums built by the government in their region. The government plans to spend Rs 30 crores on this event. The state sports minister Ashok Chandna said that event will have the games like Hockey, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Tennis ball Cricket and Shooting boll, The sports kits will be provided to every player by the government. "The theme of the sporting event is 'Fit Rajasthan, Hit Rajasthan' and we are expecting that around 20 lakh people will participate in these games. It will be the first of its kind of event in the country. We are hopeful that it will not only encourage the youth to participate in sports but we will be able to find good talent for the country," said Chandna. The games will be organized at the village, gram panchayat, block, district and state levels. Teams will be selected at the village level and there will be no age limit for the players to participate. Rajasthan government had held state games in January last year and got a good response and CM Ashok Gehlot had announced rural games in this year's budget after taking the response into consideration. It is to be noted that Rajasthan has only one Olympic medal winner Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who won a silver medal in Shooting in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Four players namely Apoorvi Chandela in Shooting, Divyansh Pawar in rifle shooting, Bhawan Jat in 20km race walk and Arjun in Rowing lightweight double sculls are participating in Tokyo Olympics this year. But Rajasthan has fared well in ParaOlympics. Devendra Jhanjariya had won the gold medal in Javelin Throw in the last ParaOlympics and he is contesting this year also along with Surendra Gurjar, while Avni Lakhera will participate in Rifle Shooting and Krishna Nagar in Badminton.
358 Rajasthan-based athletes, who had earned name, fame and glory in various events nationally and internationally, were elated to see Neeraj Chopra clinch the elusive gold medal in athletics for the first time in Olympics. While congratulating Chopra, most of the players said his achievement will certainly boost the morale of aspiring athletes and urged the government and corporates to do their best for improving facilities and infrastructure. TOI on Saturday spoke to the athletes who represented the country in various track and field events. “It is a proud moments for every Indian. I believe the way cricket got popular and became a household game after Kapil Dev's team won the world cup, we would see many Neeraj Chopras in future. It will also encourage more parents to further their children in the field of athletics,” said Devendra Jhajharia, from Churu in Rajasthan, and had won two gold medals in javelin throw in the 2004 and 2016 summer paralympics. He added that for any sports, support of the government, corporates and fellow sportsmen is important. “Since we have the first-ever gold in athletics, I hope the government will make a result oriented strategy to improve facilities and infrastructure in India,” Jhajharia added. On the other hand, Arjuna Awardee Rajkumar Ahlawat, who had won name and fame in athletics and is presently working as a sports officer with North Western Railway (NWR) said, “I must congratulate Neeraj Chopra as he has given us a ray of hope in athletics. In the next Olympics we will bag more medals in athletics especially in javelin and discus throws,” Ahlawat added. Paramjeet Choudhary, who represented India in 4x400 metre relay race in 2000 and had won gold in Asian junior athletics championships said, “For events like 100 metre race and other similar events, we are far behind the European countries. But I must say that in track and field events like javelin and discus throws, we are surely going to dominate the world,” Paramjeet added.
359 Ankita also wrote, "we are known as "chinky" "Chinese" "Nepali" or a new addition "corona". India is not just infested with casteism but racism too." Fitness enthusiast Ankita Konwar had quite a comeback ready when she was called 'Mrs Milind' on Instagram by a user. She was reacting to her tweet on how people from the Northeast face racism in India and are only celebrated when they achieve something on an international podium. Her tweet came days after Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in weightlifting. Chanu hails from Manipur. Ankita, who comes from Guwahati, Assam, wrote "If you are from Northeast India you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country." Chanu had lifted 87 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk category. If you're from Northeast India, you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as "chinky" "Chinese" "Nepali" or a new addition "corona". India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience. #Hypocrites - Ankita Konwar (@5Earthy) July 27, 2021 She further wrote, "Otherwise we are known as "chinky" "Chinese" "Nepali" or a new addition "corona".India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience. #Hypocrites." Reacting to Konwar's tweet, one Twitter user wrote, "Very negative approach........ at least not expected from mrs milind." Very negative approach........ atleasr not expected from mrs milind. - Ashu Mathur (@ashumat1710) July 27, 2021 Ankita's tweet received several reactions from the Twitterati. One user said, "Not sure if I should like this message as I am ashamed of this fact, discrimination is part of our culture," to which Ankita said, "Realising it actually covers the basics." "Yes in general, you are right. But there are lot of us here who think everyone from Nagaland to Mumbai & from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is a proud Indian irrespective of their religion, caste & colour. Cheers," another user said. "And that's how we become a country!" she replied. I'm Ankita Konwar - Ankita Konwar (@5Earthy) July 27, 2021 Ankita, who is a fitness enthusiast, has often called out racism against people from Northeast. In an earlier note, she had written, "I have personally experienced these little "differences" that certain people or situations make you feel. But do we give in or keep fighting? I haven't given up the hope that one day, we will be accepted and loved exactly the way we are by our brothers and sisters. One day, we have more representations to look up to. One day, we have equal opportunities when it comes to infrastructures and accessibility. One day, we are no longer sidelined. One day, we are all equally Indians." Ankita and Milind Soman tied the knot in 2018 in an intimate wedding ceremony in Alibaug, on April 22, 2018. In April, the couple, who enjoy running together, celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Sharing a picture of them together, Milind had captioned the post, "3 years!!! Happy anniversary @ankita_earthy Still seems like yesterday this is the smile that warms my heart, this is the sweet heart that makes me smile.."
360 Silk Stalkings When we learnt that my father had been named as the new ambassador to Romania, my first thought was not 'Land of Dracula' but 'Land of Nadia Comaneci'. After all, the tiny powerhouse had wowed the Montreal Olympics just two years prior by scoring the first (of seven) perfect 10s on her way to three gold medals in gymnastics, aged just 14. I could turn a few (laboured) cartwheels myself and felt ridiculously excited about the 'connection'. We never did get to meet Nadia in our three years there—during which she won more golds attheMoscowOlympics—but itwasclearthat a whole nation hung on her every move. It was like she was their only light in a gloomy world of isolation and socialist deprivation as she was one of the few Romanians allowed to travel the world back in the day. The only other Romanian sportsperson with a similar following was the mercurial tennis player Ilie Nastase. But before her Moscow encore, Nadia inexplicably went AWOL. Even though there was no social mediato amplifyindividual voices, it was clear that a whole nation was on tenterhooks about her. Reports emerged much later—which she initially denied—that she had tried to kill herself by swallowing bleach in 1977. But there was undeniable evidence that she was troubled, as she had gained a huge amount of weight, purportedly binging on chocolates. At that time, the Communist regime's sports bosses found her and returned Nadia to her former coach—who had been pushed aside in favour of state-sponsored ones—and got her back in shape for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. She had to put her evident depression aside and focus on bringing glory to her country. And she ended up striking gold again there for two routines—beam and floor—and also bagged two silvers. All this when she was still a teen. Mental health was not mentioned in sports circles back then, and kids barely into double digits regularly competed in high pressure events, where injuries were a constant possibility. In fact the Communist countries of eastern Europe seemed to have an endless supply of tiny (practically) tots doing near-impossible manoeuvres in gymnastics with almost robotic precision, ending their routines with cute grins that belied their heaving, bony diaphragms. Their biggest advantage—if it can be called one—back then was their relative isolation as the gymnasts spent their waking hours training in special schools and hardly ever ventured into the outside world. While it made them into performing ponies in a way, it also insulated them from the glare of public interest and, worse still, expectation. Their training schedules were inhuman, and the kids had to often put up with actual cruelty and abuse from their coaches. But there was no question of the children pulling out. And certainly not during the actual event, as happened this week with the veteran US gymnast Simone Biles, who at 24 is no stranger to the pressures of top competitions. What stands out in Biles' action is not merely her encoring the issue after the 23-year-old US tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May but the fact that these two girls reached the end of their tether so publicly. Public opinion is often neither informed nor fair, patient or understanding. And thanks to social media, cutting comments which sportspeople would never hear are now there for all to see, “like”, and add their own “expert” opinion. Social media quite clearly does not believe in the adage, “It's not about winning or losing but about how you play the game.” So the dark side of top level sport today is not about the cruelty of coaches but that of the relentless public. Mental strength needed to win in a sport now has to be boosted to take on public opinion and sponsors' demands too. Neither Biles' nor Osaka's family, coaches and doctors seemed to realisethey werestrungout andstrugglingtilltheir public meltdowns. Were their retinues so focused on victory—and retaining public adulation—that they did not see the fragile human beings behind the two sports prodigies? That does not sound very sporting at all. Nadia defected to the US in 1989 and is now married to a fellow gymnast Bart Connor. She first met him at that landmark Montreal Olympics but she has no recollection of it; imagine the tumult in that 14 year old's mind. The pressure to win is a thousand times more now, with billions of us focused on stars at the Tokyo Olympics. From our armchairs, we—especially on social media—must be more mindful of the humans behind the phenomena.
361 As the 32nd edition of the Olympiad in the form of Tokyo 2020 wraps up today, The Telegraph recaps the unforgettable moments from the latest Olympic Games TENNIS' NEXT GEN GRABS CENTRE STAGE Novak Djokovic marched into the Japanese capital with the hopes of keeping his Golden Slam dream alive for 2021. However, the Serb was in for a shock as he missed out on the podium altogether and Germany's Alexander Zverev seized his opportunity to strike gold. On the women's side, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic upset the apple cart to take home the gold medal, helped no doubt by some pre-final pep talk from fellow Swiss Roger Federer. THE FIRST EVER GOLD MEDAL FOR THE PHILIPPINES After 22 editions and 10 silver and bronze medals combined, the Philippines won their inaugural gold medal at the Olympic Games thanks to a once-in-a-lifetime effort by Hidilyn Diaz. The 30-year-old weightlifter, who grew up wanting to be a banker, set new Olympic weightlifting records by lifting 127kg in the Clean and Jerk and a staggering weight of 224kg in total. The mixture of relief and joy that animated Diaz's face after she clinched gold spoke volumes of the pain that her country has had to undergo in its 97-year-wait for an Olympic gold medal. DRESSEL TAKES OVER FROM PHELPS How do you replace the most successful Olympian ever? The answer: You do not. Having said that, parallels with Michael Phelps were inevitable after American swimmer Caeleb Dressel enjoyed a sensational Games, taking home five gold medals, including one in swimming's premier Olympic event, the 100m freestyle. Dressel, who had won a couple of events at Rio 2016, also anchored a comeback win for the United States in the 4x100m medley relay, and will return to America as only the fifth swimmer to have his name etched on five golds at a single Olympics. SKATEBOARDING'S THRILLING DEBUT Alongside surfing, karate, and sport climbing, skateboarding made its first appearance at an Olympics at Tokyo 2020. The results, as always in the topsy-turvy world of skating, proved to be anything but predictable. Nyjah Huston, a five-time champion and the planet's most popular skateboarder, finished a disappointing seventh, as Japan's Yuto Horigome emerged first to take the gold. In an even more astounding outcome, three teenagers came out on top in the women's street skateboarding event, with a combined age of 42. Japan's Momiji Nishiya, 13, and Fauna Nakayama, 16, won gold and bronze, respectively, while the silver medal went to 13-year-old Brazilian Rayssa Leal. DALEY DELIVERS MORE THAN GOLD British diver Tom Daley won his first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo but may just be remembered more fondly for what he did afterwards. Speaking to the press, with adrenaline still pumping from his victory, Daley gave a heart-wrenching interview about the struggles he had to face throughout his life on account of being an LGBTIQ+ athlete. As Daley spoke with passion and grace, the symbolism of being flanked by Chinese and Russian athletes (same-sex marriage is illegal in both Russia and China) could not be starker. Encouraging fellow LGBTIQ+ athletes to never give up on their goals, Daley urged them that "no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone. You can achieve anything." BILES STEPS BACK, THE WORLD SITS UP For decades, the psychological well-being of athletes has been one of the most neglected and least discussed aspects of professional sport. But a watershed moment may have emerged at Tokyo 2020 with Simone Biles, possibly the greatest gymnast of all time, backing out of multiple events at the Olympics citing mental health issues. Biles explained her withdrawal by saying that she experienced "twisties", a case of athletes losing their spatial awareness in mid-air while executing a high-risk manoeuvre. While support for Biles's decision poured in from all corners, the gymnast also faced a lot of social media flak for "letting her country down" and being a "quitter". In spite of the unprecedented scrutiny on her, Biles secured another medal for her illustrious career, as she captured bronze in the beam final to draw level with Shannon Miller as the most decorated American female gymnast in history. ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH'S DOUBLE DOUBLE Usain Bolt had predicted that she would dominate the Tokyo Games and so she did, in some style. Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah earned the distinction of being the first woman at the Olympics to win back-to-back gold medals in the 100m and 200 m races, following on from her phenomenal showings in Rio. In defending her gold medal for the women's 200m, Thompson-Herah ran one of the most outstanding races in recent memory, finishing with a barely believable time of 21.53 seconds to become the second fastest woman in the history of the event. SUNISA LEE'S TIME TO SHINE For the fifth time in succession an American woman was anointed as the best all-round performer at the artistic gymnasts' showdown. This time the name of the woman was Sunisa Lee. Only 18, Lee had a narrow lead over Brazil's Rebeca Andrade heading into the climax, but nailed her moves on the uneven bars as Andrade went out of bounds on two tumbling passes. In the end, Lee's total of 57.433 was just 0.135 greater than that of Andrade, but good enough to give her a first Olympic gold medal and extend America's dominance in an event they have come to make their own. EARLY EXITS FOR LOCAL FAVOURITES Few would have been stunned to see Naomi Osaka and Kento Momota with gold medals around their necks at the end of their respective competitions in Tokyo. However, the two Japanese fan-favourites could not live up to the billing and were eliminated prematurely in women's tennis and men's badminton, respectively. Appearing somewhat rattled, an exhausted Osaka bowed out in the third round after losing in straight sets to Czech Markta Vondrousov. Momota succumbed to unseeded Heo Kwang-hee from South Korea 15-21, 19-21 to bid goodbye to his gold medal chances on home soil. RINER MEETS HIS NADIR French judo star and double Olympic champion Teddy Riner seemed destined to sweep his way through the field and claim another gold in Tokyo. Until he did not. The man who had lost once in 11 years to a man who was not even at the Games (Japan's Kokoro Kageura) went down to ROC's Tamerlan Bashaev in the quarter-finals.
362 Over the centuries Panipat has witnessed three battles that altered the course of Indian history. Exactly a decade ago, a chance encounter between an obese teenager trying to lose kilos and a young javelin thrower in the same Haryana town led to a tectonic event of similar proportions in the history of Indian athletics on Saturday: a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the first ever athletic gold in Olympics and the first medal in athletics in post-independent India. That obese boy was Neeraj Chopra. And the athlete-mentor was Jai Choudhary aka Jaiveer, then an aspiring javelin thrower himself and now a coach at the NIS, Patiala. At 13, Neeraj weighed more than 80 kilos. Fattened by dollops of malai (fresh cream) and choorma, a calorie-friendly blend of roti, ghee and sugar fed by an adoring granny, he was subjected to bullying by kids of his age. Sensing his discomfort, his uncle, Bhim Chopra, took him to the Panipat Sports Stadium gymnasium in 2011 and instructed the trainers there to get Neeraj back into shape. “We were a bit worried about him gaining weight rapidly, because of which kids of his age started bullying him. So I decided to take him to the gym so that he could become fit and strong,” Bhim Chopra told TOI. Little did the family know that after completing his gym sessions, he would spend hours at the SAI centre in Panipat. “Hume toh pata bhi nahi chala isne kab bhala fekne start kar diya (We had no clue when he started throwing the javelin). One day when his photo appeared in the local newspaper for winning an inter-district competition, we realised he had become an athlete,” recalled his uncle. “He used to come to the track every day. One day I casually asked him, bhala phekega? (Do you want to try your hand at javelin?). He nodded. When he threw his first javelin, I looked at my fellow athletes and the first word that came from my mouth was 'ye to natural hai' (He is a natural talent),” said Jaiveer, under whom Neeraj started training in 2011. When Jai convinced his family that Neeraj had potential and should dedicate himself to the sport, raising resources was a challenge. Neeraj's joint family owned a combined eight acres of farmland at Khandra village. “We wanted to reconstruct our ancestral house. We put that idea on pause. Instead we focused our resources on Neeraj,” another uncle, Surendra, had said in 2018. A group of four athletes, including Neeraj and Jai, later shifted base to the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula and trained there till he got a call for the national camp in 2015. An important role in his early career was played by a coach, Naseem Ahmad. In the next few years, Neeraj flourished as an athlete making a clutch of podium finishes home and abroad. Merely 12 days past the qualification deadline for 2016 Rio Olympics ended, he shot into limelight winning a gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland with a record throw of 86.48m. At Gold Coast in the Commonwealth Games 2018, the javelin landed one centimeter short, 86.47m. A similar throw would have earned him bronze in 2016 Rio. Tokyo was different. Neeraj led the field all along. No one even came close. Commentators were awash with praise and social media ecstatic about the man with the golden arm. “God has finally heard our prayers, this is unbelievable, I spoke to him last night, and he appeared confident for the gold medal, he has done it,” said a delighted Satish, still in awe of his son's feat. A quote hangs on the wall in Neeraj's family home: 'A single idea can light up your life. Sometimes, it is just a chance encounter.'
363 Silk Stalkings When we learnt that my father had been named as the new ambassador to Romania, my first thought was not 'Land of Dracula' but 'Land of Nadia Comaneci'. After all, the tiny powerhouse had wowed the Montreal Olympics just two years prior by scoring the first (of seven) perfect 10s on her way to three gold medals in gymnastics, aged just 14. I could turn a few (laboured) cartwheels myself and felt ridiculously excited about the 'connection'. We never did get to meet Nadia in our three years there—during which she won more golds attheMoscowOlympics—but itwasclearthat a whole nation hung on her every move. It was like she was their only light in a gloomy world of isolation and socialist deprivation as she was one of the few Romanians allowed to travel the world back in the day. The only other Romanian sportsperson with a similar following was the mercurial tennis player Ilie Nastase. But before her Moscow encore, Nadia inexplicably went AWOL. Even though there was no social mediato amplifyindividual voices, it was clear that a whole nation was on tenterhooks about her. Reports emerged much later—which she initially denied—that she had tried to kill herself by swallowing bleach in 1977. But there was undeniable evidence that she was troubled, as she had gained a huge amount of weight, purportedly binging on chocolates. At that time, the Communist regime's sports bosses found her and returned Nadia to her former coach—who had been pushed aside in favour of state-sponsored ones—and got her back in shape for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. She had to put her evident depression aside and focus on bringing glory to her country. And she ended up striking gold again there for two routines—beam and floor—and also bagged two silvers. All this when she was still a teen. Mental health was not mentioned in sports circles back then, and kids barely into double digits regularly competed in high pressure events, where injuries were a constant possibility. In fact the Communist countries of eastern Europe seemed to have an endless supply of tiny (practically) tots doing near-impossible manoeuvres in gymnastics with almost robotic precision, ending their routines with cute grins that belied their heaving, bony diaphragms. Their biggest advantage—if it can be called one—back then was their relative isolation as the gymnasts spent their waking hours training in special schools and hardly ever ventured into the outside world. While it made them into performing ponies in a way, it also insulated them from the glare of public interest and, worse still, expectation. Their training schedules were inhuman, and the kids had to often put up with actual cruelty and abuse from their coaches. But there was no question of the children pulling out. And certainly not during the actual event, as happened this week with the veteran US gymnast Simone Biles, who at 24 is no stranger to the pressures of top competitions. What stands out in Biles' action is not merely her encoring the issue after the 23-year-old US tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May but the fact that these two girls reached the end of their tether so publicly. Public opinion is often neither informed nor fair, patient or understanding. And thanks to social media, cutting comments which sportspeople would never hear are now there for all to see, “like”, and add their own “expert” opinion. Social media quite clearly does not believe in the adage, “It's not about winning or losing but about how you play the game.” So the dark side of top level sport today is not about the cruelty of coaches but that of the relentless public. Mental strength needed to win in a sport now has to be boosted to take on public opinion and sponsors' demands too. Neither Biles' nor Osaka's family, coaches and doctors seemed to realisethey werestrungout andstrugglingtilltheir public meltdowns. Were their retinues so focused on victory—and retaining public adulation—that they did not see the fragile human beings behind the two sports prodigies? That does not sound very sporting at all. Nadia defected to the US in 1989 and is now married to a fellow gymnast Bart Connor. She first met him at that landmark Montreal Olympics but she has no recollection of it; imagine the tumult in that 14 year old's mind. The pressure to win is a thousand times more now, with billions of us focused on stars at the Tokyo Olympics. From our armchairs, we—especially on social media—must be more mindful of the humans behind the phenomena.
364 Silk Stalkings When we learnt that my father had been named as the new ambassador to Romania, my first thought was not 'Land of Dracula' but 'Land of Nadia Comaneci'. After all, the tiny powerhouse had wowed the Montreal Olympics just two years prior by scoring the first (of seven) perfect 10s on her way to three gold medals in gymnastics, aged just 14. I could turn a few (laboured) cartwheels myself and felt ridiculously excited about the 'connection'. We never did get to meet Nadia in our three years there—during which she won more golds attheMoscowOlympics—but itwasclearthat a whole nation hung on her every move. It was like she was their only light in a gloomy world of isolation and socialist deprivation as she was one of the few Romanians allowed to travel the world back in the day. The only other Romanian sportsperson with a similar following was the mercurial tennis player Ilie Nastase. But before her Moscow encore, Nadia inexplicably went AWOL. Even though there was no social mediato amplifyindividual voices, it was clear that a whole nation was on tenterhooks about her. Reports emerged much later—which she initially denied—that she had tried to kill herself by swallowing bleach in 1977. But there was undeniable evidence that she was troubled, as she had gained a huge amount of weight, purportedly binging on chocolates. At that time, the Communist regime's sports bosses found her and returned Nadia to her former coach—who had been pushed aside in favour of state-sponsored ones—and got her back in shape for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. She had to put her evident depression aside and focus on bringing glory to her country. And she ended up striking gold again there for two routines—beam and floor—and also bagged two silvers. All this when she was still a teen. Mental health was not mentioned in sports circles back then, and kids barely into double digits regularly competed in high pressure events, where injuries were a constant possibility. In fact the Communist countries of eastern Europe seemed to have an endless supply of tiny (practically) tots doing near-impossible manoeuvres in gymnastics with almost robotic precision, ending their routines with cute grins that belied their heaving, bony diaphragms. Their biggest advantage—if it can be called one—back then was their relative isolation as the gymnasts spent their waking hours training in special schools and hardly ever ventured into the outside world. While it made them into performing ponies in a way, it also insulated them from the glare of public interest and, worse still, expectation. Their training schedules were inhuman, and the kids had to often put up with actual cruelty and abuse from their coaches. But there was no question of the children pulling out. And certainly not during the actual event, as happened this week with the veteran US gymnast Simone Biles, who at 24 is no stranger to the pressures of top competitions. What stands out in Biles' action is not merely her encoring the issue after the 23-year-old US tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May but the fact that these two girls reached the end of their tether so publicly. Public opinion is often neither informed nor fair, patient or understanding. And thanks to social media, cutting comments which sportspeople would never hear are now there for all to see, “like”, and add their own “expert” opinion. Social media quite clearly does not believe in the adage, “It's not about winning or losing but about how you play the game.” So the dark side of top level sport today is not about the cruelty of coaches but that of the relentless public. Mental strength needed to win in a sport now has to be boosted to take on public opinion and sponsors' demands too. Neither Biles' nor Osaka's family, coaches and doctors seemed to realisethey werestrungout andstrugglingtilltheir public meltdowns. Were their retinues so focused on victory—and retaining public adulation—that they did not see the fragile human beings behind the two sports prodigies? That does not sound very sporting at all. Nadia defected to the US in 1989 and is now married to a fellow gymnast Bart Connor. She first met him at that landmark Montreal Olympics but she has no recollection of it; imagine the tumult in that 14 year old's mind. The pressure to win is a thousand times more now, with billions of us focused on stars at the Tokyo Olympics. From our armchairs, we—especially on social media—must be more mindful of the humans behind the phenomena.
365 ovak Djokovic may have exited the Tokyo Games without a medal, but he doesn't regret leaving it all out there. The world No.1 went down 4-6, 7-6 (6) 3-6 to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in the near threehour bronze medal match and then withdrew from his mixed doubles playoff game, where he was partnered with Nina Stojanovic, citing a left shoulder injury. “I regret not winning a medal for my country, opportunities missed both in mixed doubles and singles. I didn't deliver yesterday and today,” Djokovic said after his singles loss, where he was lucky not to have drawn a penalty for first tossing his racket into the stands and then smashing it when trailing in the decider. “The level of tennis dropped also due to exhaustion, mental and physical.” “I don't regret coming to the Olympics at all,” he added in a philosophical note, “I believe there is no coincidence in life. Everything happens for a reason.” Djokovic, who was looking to become the first man to win all four majors and an Olympic gold medal in a calendar year, was beaten by fifth-ranked German Alexander Zverev in Friday's semifinal. “I've had some heartbreaking losses at the Olympic Games and some big tournaments in my career,” he said. “I know that those losses have usually made me stronger in every aspect.” With a calendar Grand Slam still a possibility, Djokovic turns his attention to Flushing Meadows. “The consequences hopefully will not create a problem for me for the US Open,” he said of playing the Olympics. Bencic claims first gold, in line for 2nd Belinda Bencic edged out Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in a match of many turns to become the first Swiss woman to win an Olympic tennis gold. On Sunday, Benic and Viktorija Golubic will play French Open champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova for the doubles gold. “I will play like it's the last match of my career. It's the freakin Olympic Games!” Bencic said. “For me it's the biggest thing ever for an athlete. I cannot believe I have two medals and one of them is gold and one to be decided.” Marc Rosset was the first Swiss to win a singles gold, 1992 Barcelona. Earlier, Elina Svitolina won the bronze medal playoff.
366 Novak Djokovic may have exited the Tokyo Games without a medal, but he doesn't regret leaving it all out there. The world No.1 went down 4-6, 7-6 (6) 3-6 to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in the near threehour bronze medal match and then withdrew from his mixed doubles playoff game, where he was partnered with Nina Stojanovic, citing a left shoulder injury. “I regret not winning a medal for my country, opportunities missed both in mixed doubles and singles. I didn't deliver yesterday and today,” Djokovic said after his singles loss, where he was lucky not to have drawn a penalty for first tossing his racket into the stands and then smashing it when trailing in the decider. “The level of tennis dropped also due to exhaustion, mental and physical.” “I don't regret coming to the Olympics at all,” he added in a philosophical note, “I believe there is no coincidence in life. Everything happens for a reason.” Djokovic, who was looking to become the first man to win all four majors and an Olympic gold medal in a calendar year, was beaten by fifth-ranked German Alexander Zverev in Friday's semifinal. “I've had some heartbreaking losses at the Olympic Games and some big tournaments in my career,” he said. “I know that those losses have usually made me stronger in every aspect.” With a calendar Grand Slam still a possibility, Djokovic turns his attention to Flushing Meadows. “The consequences hopefully will not create a problem for me for the US Open,” he said of playing the Olympics. Bencic claims first gold, in line for 2nd Belinda Bencic edged out Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in a match of many turns to become the first Swiss woman to win an Olympic tennis gold. On Sunday, Benic and Viktorija Golubic will play French Open champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova for the doubles gold. “I will play like it's the last match of my career. It's the freakin Olympic Games!” Bencic said. “For me it's the biggest thing ever for an athlete. I cannot believe I have two medals and one of them is gold and one to be decided.” Marc Rosset was the first Swiss to win a singles gold, 1992 Barcelona. Earlier, Elina Svitolina won the bronze medal playoff.
367 “All my three sons have won,” Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh's mother, Manjit Kaur, told him when he called home minutes after beating Germany to win the Olympic bronze. She summed up the emotions of the entire Mithapur village, which sent three players to Tokyo. After individual celebrations, the families of Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar reached Manpreet's house for a village gala complete with dhol and bhangra. They then paid a thanksgiving visit to the village gurdwara. A picture of anxiety in the last minutes of the match, Manjit Kaur raised her arms as soon as it was over and let out the Sikh war cry: “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!” Soon, her voice choked and her eyes welled up. She and Manpreet's wife, Illi Najwa Saddique, hugged each other and greeted those around them. “God has protected the honour of my son. Guru Gobind Singh heard my prayers and blessed my son and his team with glory,” said Manjeet Kaur. Minutes later, Manpreet made a video call and she asked him: “Where are the others? You played well. All my three sons have won.” Manpreet's father had died in April 2016 during the Azlan Shah Cup. His mother has followed his game closely. When Mandeep rang up his parents, Ravinder Singh and Davinder Kaur, their voices were choked. “It was clear in our heads and hearts that we'll return with some medal. We chinned up one another. In the dying minutes, our mindset was of do or die and our synchronisation was perfect. We were determined to deny Germany a last-minute equaliser,” said Mandeep. Varun's neighbours gathered at his house after the final whistle. His father, Brahmanand, said that bringing him up in Mithapur had changed the course of their lives. The truck driver from Himachal Pradesh moved to Punjab when Varun was still a child. In the village, hockey caught his imagination and that of other children. All three players started training in Mithapur's hockey school before moving to Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. Manpreet is Mithapur's second Indian hockey captain in the Olympics after Pargat Singh, who is world's only player to have led his country twice on the grand stage. Like Pargat, Manpreet also was a flag-bearer at the Olympics. He shared the honour with boxing legend Mary Kom in Tokyo.
368 AFTER BEST SHOW EVER AT TOKYO 2020... Indian brands and the government are rolling out the red carpet for gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and other medal winners after the country's sportspersons put on their best show ever at the Olympics in the past two weeks in Tokyo. Industry executives called for deals to be inked in a way that they are longerterm, for two-three years, running through to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chopra, 23, who has thus far endorsed a few brands such as Gillette and Exxon Mobile and charged a modest ?20-30 lakh per deal, has been flooded with offers overnight. JSW Group's Parth Jindal, whose company represents Chopra, told ET: "If initial interest from brands is anything to go by, I think India has found its next big superstar in Neeraj. While cricket has been the leading sport all long, as a country of 1.4 billion, we have much more space for new sports stars to emerge.” Jindal is founder of Inspire Institute of Sport, JSW Group-owned talent management company that represents Chopra among others. Chopra's annual endorsement fee has soared to ?2-2.5 crore a year, executives directly aware of developments said. “We are confident that Neeraj's on-field performance, coupled with his off-field persona will make him a very popular brand in India and across the world," Jindal said. The government plans to engage the athletes as influencers for multiple campaigns. “Our sportsmen have brought pride to the nation and they would be very effective in promoting public service campaigns, some of which would include motivating more Indians to follow Covid appropriate behaviour and also to take part in campaigns like singing the national anthem and upload the same online,” said Abhishek Singh, chief executive of citizen engagement platform MyGov, under ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), and president of the national e-Governance division. Chopra made history by becoming only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold. Other medal winners including PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia are in the process of finalising deals, their representatives said. “We already have a couple of endorsements sealed for our athletes, and some more are in process of being finalised,” said Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which represents Chanu, Borgohain and hockey team captains Rani Rampal and Manpreet Singh. He declined to mention names, citing confidentiality, and said these would be announced shortly.
369 In the land of the rising sun, Indian hockey has moved from darkness to light with an Olympic bronze that has the glimmer of gold. Medal-less for 41 years in that one sport that they had so overwhelmingly dominated once, India finally drew a line from the past to the present. Since the last Olympics hockey medal in 1980, the country's second-most popular sport, with a strong emotional connection with the masses, has been about wistful memories. For decades, hockey has been about bragging of past glory, and exaggerated tales woven around crumpled black and white pictures of wiry men in oversized cloth jerseys clutching medals or trophies. In the digital era, Indian hockey's glory was a relic. All that changed in Tokyo as a nervous nation that had woken up early with a prayer on its lips was swept up by a wave of euphoria. Like Brazil, when they won the football World Cup in 1994 after a drought of 24 years. Or like West Indies, if it were to re-scale the peak of Test cricket. Or Roger Federer, if he were to conquer Wimbledon again. For the hockey fraternity, years of so-near-yet-so-far torments could find a release. Failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics was the nadir, equally harrowing was the demolition it endured in the 1984 and 1988 editions, emerging fifth and sixth in that order. Or the heartbreaks - the 1-0 defeat to Australia in the final pool game in 1992, or the goal-less draw against Pakistan that blocked their entry to the knockouts in the subsequent edition. In Sydney, Poland's 69th-minute equaliser in the last pool game snuffed out their medal hopes. The last-minute nervousness was to be a recurring theme. Sydney, London and Rio all reinforced the harsh reality that the best days of Indian hockey could never be recreated. There was fear that they could forever remain frozen in frames of the past. Tokyo can provide a fresh start to the game that has had its share of false dawns. Multiple junior world titles promised that the sleeping giant was about to wake up but it would soon roll over into another slumber. A robust system, a global hockey league, state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class support staff were in place but still the senior team lacked spark and success. The constant chopping and changing of coaches denied it continuity and consistency. The Class of 2021 can provide the template for the future. India, the financial capital of world hockey, can now proudly display an Olympic medal and a skilful young team with unflinching temperament. The hockey superpower of the Grass Era now can aspire to be the best on astro-turf as well. Tokyo could be the beginning of a dream, rather than a destination.
370 Assured of a bronze medal, boxer Lovlina Borgohain will enter the ring at Tokyo's Kokugikan arena on Wednesday seeking a medal upgrade. In her way is reigning world champion and top seed in the 69kg category, Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. If Lovlina wins the semifinal encounter, she will become the first-ever Indian boxer to advance to the final at the Olympics. Vijender Singh (2008 Beijing) and Mary Kom (2012 London) had both lost in the last-4 stage. Surmeneli thrashed Poland's Karolina Koszewska 5-0 in her pre-quarterfinal bout and then pummelled Anna Lysenko of Ukraine by a similar margin in the quarterfinal. Displaying spunk and attitude, Lovlina had won her quarterfinal against the fancied former world champion Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei. In the pre-quarterfinal, the 23-year-old from Assam had beaten Nadine Apetz of Germany. Lovlina and Surmeneli have never faced each other, so there isn't a head-to-head record between the two. Lovlina is a good two inches taller than Surmeneli and will look to use the height to her advantage. “Since the bout is in the afternoon (Tokyo time), we have been training in the afternoon for the past two days,” said chief national women's coach Mohammed Ali Qamar. “As for Lovlina, all that needs to be conveyed in terms of strategy has been done and she is ready. These two (Lovlina and Surmeneli) have never faced each other before so it is an uncharted territory for both of them,” he added. “Lovlina is upbeat and confident about a good performance and I am sure she will deliver.” “Medal to bas gold hota hai (Gold medal is the only medal), let me get that first,” Lovlina had said after winning her quarterfinal bout. Against the Turkish pugilist, she needs to show the same confidence that helped her beat Chen. Surmeneli is also 23 and has collected two gold medals this year internationally. She has a career record of 25 wins and six defeats. Coached by Olympian Cahit Sume, Surmeneli won gold at the 2019 World Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia, where she beat Yang Liu of China 4-0 in the final. Lovlina won the bronze in the same competition. Back in 2015 itself, Surmeneli had promised Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan of an Olympic medal. “I would first present my medal to him (Erdogan), that word is still in my mind. I am an athlete who keeps my promises. After that, I would like to present the medal to all my fans,” Surmeneli was quoted by the Olympics website.
371 OLY ATHLETICS The Maharaja of Air India is in the Olympics mood and is seen in action cheering the Indian athletes in various poses. One of them is javelin throw and it mirrors the focus of the whole nation in search of its first athletics medal at the Olympics as the showpiece event begins in Tokyo on Friday. If India opened with a high, celebrating Mirabai Chanu's silver medal, the end can be equally exciting with CWG and Asian Games champion Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in action in men's javelin throw which will begin with the qualifying round on August 4. The final is scheduled on the penultimate day of the Games, August 7. Armyman Avinash Sable will kick-start India's campaign, lining up in the second heat of men's 3000m steeplechase in a field that is led by Kenya's world No. 3 Abraham Kibiwot who has a season's best of 8 minutes, 07.81s. The Indian, ranked 20 in the world, needs to better his careerbest time (8:20.20s) to harbour any hopes. The first three in each of the three heats, plus the six fastest will advance to the final. India's best bet in the women's section is Kamalpreet Kaur in discus throw. The national champion battled back from lockdown fatigue and is high on confidence, preferring to ignore the last-minute controversy amplified by her teammates. “I expect her to make the final and from then on it depends on the day. There are at least 5-6 throwers who are in the same range so you can't predict anything,” Kamalpreet's coach Rakhi Tyagi told TOI. “She is feeling a bit lonely out there but I'm trying to motivate her by talking to her over the phone,” added Tyagi who is helping out from Patiala. Despite the pressure to perform or the threat of punishment from the federation, the Tokyo Games would be valuable experience for national record holders M Sreeshankar (men's long jump), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (men's shot put) and Priyanka Goswami (women's 20km walk). The race-walking events will be held in Sapporo, more than a 1,000 km away from Tokyo, where six Indians will be in action. One of Milkha Singh's biggest wishes was to see an Indian standing on the podium in athletics and 2016 World junior champion Neeraj and Shivpal are both capable of fulfilling the wish of the 'Flying Sikh,' who passed away recently.
372 PV Sindhu makes history by clearing browser caches of her competitive life. Her secret to succeeding on a badminton court is remembering, unfailingly, to forget. Win or lose; rinse, don't remember, don't repeat. There was the BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Championships gold medal she won in 2019, by forgetting the two stinging losses for silvers of 2017 and 2018. This time at Tokyo, Sindhu carefully erased all thoughts of gold or silver to nail a bronze, making this her back-to-back medalling in the Olympic Games. The disappointment of going down in the semifinals was scrubbed clean after the initial tears. It is how Sindhu is staggeringly successful, in obliterating landscapes of losses that would leave most others wandering and lost. Badminton revels in its disappointments. It nurses regrets and carefully curates every despondency. Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei never won the Olympics or World Championships titles. Indonesian Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat just couldn't crack the All England Open championships. Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying, who is the closest a muggle can come to Wingardium Leviosa, controlling a feather with a wizard's wand, risked being told she was altogether inadequate had she not made it to the badminton podium this time. Sindhu, too, was told she can't winthe finals, the perennial doubts tarnishing all her silvers. Sindhu herself barely ever publicly indulged in these long, meandering post-mortems. Ask her about her second match at Tokyo where she faced Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi, who had dragged her into an 87-minute wringer at the 2017 Glasgow World Championships, where she was on all fours, panting heavy, and could barely stand up. Memories like that - an almighty plod even before Japan's Nozomi Okuhara tested her in the famous final - can leave bruises that can jump up at a nervy stage like the Olympics. Not for Sindhu, who has a sketchy recall of that match. "But every time we get onto the court, it's a fresh match and I don't think about what has happened before. We, of course, make strategies from the earlier games, but every time you come on the court, you don't think about past matches. You just come with a mindset where you need to give your best present," she says, after winning her bronze. "Best present" is Sindhu's own invention - an original tense that means living only in that moment, which is an unburdened, untangled, isolated few minutes before a rally. She didn't know whether to be sad about the lost gold or be happy about the second chance. Her Korean coach Park Tae-Sang wasn't quite spouting Nietzsche that evening after she lost the semifinals, by telling her "Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders". He did pithily tell her though that the fourth place would leave her wretched. Ice bath, recovery massage, dinner, sleep...and memory of the semifinal brushed aside. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind; the prayer of a bronze accepted, the wish for gold, resign'd. Sindhu is the reigning world champion; she has won a bigger medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. The bronze is only the third step on the podium. But Sindhu saw the next 24 hours with algorithmic ease: one medal, two countries gunning for it, and a Chinese southpaw with suspect backhand, "Hulk, Smash". Sindhu has enjoyed an upbringing of a First World athlete. That is not to say her family didn't face financial struggles or that she didn't go through the uncomplaining repetitions during practice to keep her body fit. But marked as a special talent, not shy of working hard, she didn't struggle for facilities. She had it all - top-notch academy, high-performance coaches, shuttles, international tournaments, and seamless funding from the establishment. Sindhu's athletic, rangy game was meant to succeed if she could keep herself uninjured and agile. It needed fine chiselling like the Bidri metal craft and not a dramatic DIY store makeover. Getting on the Forbes list of highest-paid women athletes in 2019, showered by sponsors, Sindhu never had to claw at the basics or build a pucca house, like some others who won at Tokyo. She earned her privilege and preserved it, and stayed within the comfortable straight and narrow on tricky issues, non-committal on anything that could nudge her away from the pleasant and polite. India remained an indulgent country, but Sindhu was only one dip away from facing the proverbial cold shoulder. Yet, this was badminton, and she lost plenty on either side of her five medals at the World Championships and two at the Olympics, of which one was gold. In the absence of any major turbulence that ails Indian athletes, her struggles in her snugly cloistered universe were of the elite First World variety: How to forget a stinging loss and move on to the next medal. Around this New Year's at the UK, after a happy snowy Christmas enjoying her freedom from minute-to-minute monitoring, Sindhu would post an emoji-bookended message: "Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming." It was the first of these motivational "for self" Post-its that you realised she buys into: ignore expectations, remember actions. Athletes lead fishbowl lives, but in the absence of square-meal struggles or rancour, they tend to keep their life hacks simple. When the Olympics draws came out, it was evident that players strewn across her path from the quarters onwards could trip her up. The preparations had been to her satisfaction and she would get down to shedding old, damaged statistics by declaring every opponent as tough. Not everything went as planned. But she shrugged off both the snub to her wish of being a flagbearer and the snapping at her heels by Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarters with the same nonchalance. Resentments, reputations, reversals, railroading by opponents leave her completely unperturbed. If it's all the same, she'd rather sit back with some bubble tea and look to the next match. Landing in Tokyo, Sindhu enjoyed being in her terrain. "Olympics is everybody's dream come true. The Athletes Village itself is a nice place. There are lots of athletes who do really well and get those medals," she says. Though all she remembers is settling in nicely at her sophomore Games. Ask her about routines of medal-chasing athletes, and she forgets she's one among them, talking in third person. "Those top shuttlers get into a routine. I noticed how they do things and how every athlete has a different exercise workout," she recalls. There's a kaleidoscope of movements as she revs up the engine for the knockouts. Like the forced perspective filmmakers have in movies such as The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland or King Kong, where objects look larger by playing with space and distance, for Sindhu, opponents appear in sharp focus. Yamaguchi fetches up, life-sized in the quarters. Cue: Forget just how endlessly the Japanese can retrieve. "There were long rallies. There are no easy or short matches against her. So, I have to be patient and put the shuttle in the court and use my attack, even though she retrieves," she says. Getting bogged down by the prospect of a tough grind isn't Sindhu's style. But nothing went right in the semifinals against Tai. A dream of a gold ended, just like that. The Taiwanese dictated points, unveiled trickery and packed the Indian off. The lost semifinal meant Sindhu could miss out on a medal at the Major League for the first time in five years. She cried, then stopped, and erased the thought for first and second place. And then, it began, the slashing at the prospect of a dreaded fourth finish. Looking back, while Tai has dominated completely, Sindhu latched on to a safety that helped her cope. Ask her if she mulled over lost points and she waves it away with a long "Noooo". "I played my best. Sometimes, it happens that it might just not be your day. So, yeah, if I might have won the first set, it would have been different. Perhaps, the net-cord was the difference," she muses. This happened at the 18-18 stage in the first set. A net-cord is considered poor luck when the shuttle nicks the net and can fall on either side. Thin margins are bonafide blemishes, and a scaffolding comes up around her confidence, where she will not, for the moment, admit and analyse how strong Tai was. Scratch the match, move on. Day of the bronze match, breakfast is bread, egg, bacon sausage and some milk. The match is scheduled for the late evening. Lunch is katsu curry and rice, and other Japanese food. "More than that, since our match was in the evening it was like 'When will I play...when will I play...and, when will I get onto the court?' That was the only thing going on in my mind," she says. Fade the expectations, focus on actions. When she was younger, Sindhu would bite her nails before a nervy match. Then nail-art happened. Polish and glitter didn't taste good. Her opponent that day, China's He Bingjiao, was a compact player and technically proficient, but Sindhu would have none of it. She figured the bronze was the most coveted thing, that moment, for the two nations. "Everybody was aiming for that medal to make their country proud. He Bingjiao has really good wrists so her deception also was very good. But, again, it was important that I am in every point, even if she was covering leads. I made sure even though I'm leading, I don't give her easy points. I maintained that and got the medal," she says simply. The bronze morphed into a sympathetic pat on Tai's back as the Taiwanese waited for the award ceremony, dealing with her loss of a gold. "I congratulated (China's) Chen Yufei. Of course, Tai was feeling bad so I just told her everything will be fine," she recalls. "Silver's a good medal," the bronze winner told Tai. It was the warmest of exchanges, where Sindhu forgot her own disappointment and got into the shoes of the silver medallist. At Rio, she had realised she was the only one on the court to lead Spain's Carolina Marin through her early moments with the gold. She might have become India's biggest female Olympian, but Sindhu has a healthy relationship with a loss. And the bronze. At the 2013 World Championships, when she won her first, she knew the enormity of it. "I was super, super happy. I wasn't very experienced then. So, getting something new was exciting," she recalls. A year later, again at the World Championships, the medal shape-shifted into the "first time for a second successive bronze." She makes her peace with bronze, then she forgets about it. In December this year is the World Championships at Huelva, Spain, Marin's hometown, where she'll defend her title. "It's the first time I'll be defending my title; it'll be exciting," she says. Spotless sunshine. Eternal Mind. Same Sindhu.
373 Calcutta: India golfer Aditi Ashok is in sight of an Olympics medal as she carded three-under 68 (a total of 12under 201) and is three shots behind world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who shot two-under 69 for a total of 12-under 198. Nelly, daughter of former tennis star Petr Korda, and Aditi could well have their medals sewn up already given the uncertain weather. As the threat of a tropical storm is brewing over Japan, the organizers have brought tee times forward on Saturday morning in the hope of completing the final round. Aditi tees off at 4.48 am IST. If the round cannot be completed, the tournament will revert to the 54-hole results. That means the 23-year-old from Bangalore will give India its third silver medal of these Games. But Aditi is not thinking about a podium finish. "I think one more day of golf and a lot happens on the final day. Although it's just one round, it feels long mentally, so definitely staying patient and hoping we have good weather and hope I play good," she was quoted as saying by the International Golf Federation. Aditi's mother Maheswari is caddying in Saitama, where golf is being played. Aditi is aware that her exploits till Friday have generated a lot of interest in India. "I think nobody really follows golf as much. Whenever the Olympics come around, the interest is always because we had a lot of sports where we were actually really good, like hockey, where we used to win gold medals all the time. I think with golf being included for the second time, people are a lot more educated and trying to follow it a lot more," she said. "For sure (there will be pressure) but I'm not thinking about it that much. I think no matter how I do this week, people have heard about golf and they will continue to tune in because I'm in the top three. I think that's good itself." Unlike her previous two rounds, Aditi's putting was not that perfect on Friday. She had three birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes. After two bogeys on the ninth and 11th pegged her back, she recovered well with two more birdies on the 15th and 17th. "Aditi is not physically strong, her focus has always been on the short game. Inside 100 yards, she is real champ," her childhood coach Tarun Sardesai told The Telegraph from Bangalore. "Aditi was with me till she was 14 at the Karnataka Golf Association and even at such a nascent age Aditi showed amazing talent," Sardesai added. "She is in top form now and I hope she brings a medal. I have seen her during the Rio Olympic Games and at 18 she looked very calm and focused," Olympian SSP Chowrasia said from St Andrews, Scotland, where he is participating in the Hero Open. Aditi, a regular face on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and Ladies European Tour, said she was yet to recover fully after contracting the coronavirus in May.
374 It was a bronze heartbreak for India's Deepak Punia in the 86kg category repechage round, as the Haryana wrestler couldn't stave off a ferocious takedown by San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine in the last six seconds of the contest to go down 2-3 in a low-scoring bout. Punia just needed to stand there and defend his 2-1 lead as the bout entered its dying moments. But a visibly tired Punia handed Amine, who comes from a nation with a population of 33,860, an offering to turn the tables on him and become the first athlete in his country's sporting history to win an Olympic medal. Amine had grabbed the Indian's right leg and converted it into a takedown for the momentous victory. Vinesh makes shock exit The time was ticking away for Vinesh Phogat, Indian wrestling's big medal hope at the Tokyo Olympics. The clock showed 35 seconds remaining before the quarterfinal contest between World No.1, top seed and title contender Vinesh and Belarusian twotime World Champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya concluded at the Makuhari Messe wrestling arena, with the reigning CWG and Asian Games champion Indian trailing 3-7 on points. The sight of Vinesh playing catchup game to salvage her Olympic campaign wasn't entirely thought about by people tracking her journey since the famous Phogat's splendid run of form in the build up to the Games. In the four tournaments she participated this year beginning January, Vinesh was both unstoppable and unbeatable, winning four gold medals on the trot in Ukraine, Italy, Kazakhstan and Poland. However, it was not meant to unfold this embarrassing way. So, when Vanesa led the Indian 7-3, it had become apparent that Vinesh had lost her way to make a comeback and had surrendered herself to the might of the Belarusian. Vanesa executed a twopoint takedown to lead 7-3 and then finished off the contest with a 'victory by fall' (VFO) by pinning Vinesh to the mat with both of the Indian's shoulders fixed on the mat. Later, Vinesh's outside hopes of entering the repechage round for a bronze were dashed when Vanesa lost (2-2) in the semis to Chinese Pang Qianyu. Anshu loses in repechage India's 57kg woman wrestler, Anshu Malik, put up a spirited fight before bowing out of the competition, losing her repechage round 1-5 to Russia's Valeria Koblova, the Rio Olympics silver medallist. Anshu was in the lead at one stage and looked to create an upset, but Valeria performed a two-pointer to surge ahead. Bajrang gets easy draw India's another strong medal contender, Bajrang Punia, has been handed a relatively easier draw in the men's freestyle 65kg category. Bajrang will open his Tokyo campaign on Friday morning with his firstround bout against Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev. If the World No.2 Indian wins, he would face Iran's Ghiasi Cheka in the quarters. His real challenge will, however, come in the semifinals when he shows up against World Championships silver medallist Daulet Niyazbekov from Kazakhstan. Bajrang's main rival, Japan's Takuto Otoguro, whom he has never defeated, is in the other half of the draw.
375 Medal-less for 41 years in that one sport that they had so overwhelmingly dominated once, India finally drew a line from the past to the present. Tokyo can provide a fresh start to the game that has had its share of false dawns. In the land of the rising sun, Indian hockey has moved from darkness to light with an Olympic bronze that has the glimmer of gold. Medal-less for 41 years in that one sport that they had so overwhelmingly dominated once, India finally drew a line from the past to the present. Since the last Olympics hockey medal in 1980, the country's second-most popular sport, with a strong emotional connection with the masses, has been about wistful memories. For decades, hockey has been about bragging of past glory, and exaggerated tales woven around crumpled black and white pictures of wiry men in oversized cloth jerseys clutching medals or trophies. In the digital era, Indian hockey's glory was a relic. All that changed in Tokyo as a nervous nation that had woken up early with a prayer on its lips was swept up by a wave of euphoria. Like Brazil, when they won the football World Cup in 1994 after a drought of 24 years. Or like West Indies, if it were to re-scale the peak of Test cricket. Or Roger Federer, if he were to conquer Wimbledon again. For the hockey fraternity, years of so-near-yet-so-far torments could find a release. Failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics was the nadir, equally harrowing was the demolition it endured in the 1984 and 1988 editions, emerging fifth and sixth in that order. Or the heartbreaks - the 1-0 defeat to Australia in the final pool game in 1992, or the goal-less draw against Pakistan that blocked their entry to the knockouts in the subsequent edition. In Sydney, Poland's 69th-minute equaliser in the last pool game snuffed out their medal hopes. The last-minute nervousness was to be a recurring theme. Sydney, London and Rio all reinforced the harsh reality that the best days of Indian hockey could never be recreated. There was fear that they could forever remain frozen in frames of the past. Tokyo can provide a fresh start to the game that has had its share of false dawns. Multiple junior world titles promised that the sleeping giant was about to wake up but it would soon roll over into another slumber. A robust system, a global hockey league, state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class support staff were in place but still the senior team lacked spark and success. The constant chopping and changing of coaches denied it continuity and consistency. The Class of 2021 can provide the template for the future. India, the financial capital of world hockey, can now proudly display an Olympic medal and a skilful young team with unflinching temperament. The hockey superpower of the Grass Era now can aspire to be the best on astro-turf as well. Tokyo could be the beginning of a dream, rather than a destination. This editorial first appeared in the print edition on August 6, 2021 under the title 'Golden bronze'.
376 It was a bronze heartbreak for India's Deepak Punia in the 86kg category repechage round, as the Haryana wrestler couldn't stave off a ferocious takedown by San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine in the last six seconds of the contest to go down 2-3 in a low-scoring bout. Punia just needed to stand there and defend his 2-1 lead as the bout entered its dying moments. But a visibly tired Punia handed Amine, who comes from a nation with a population of 33,860, an offering to turn the tables on him and become the first athlete in his country's sporting history to win an Olympic medal. Amine had grabbed the Indian's right leg and converted it into a takedown for the momentous victory. The time was ticking away for Vinesh Phogat, Indian wrestling's big medal hope at the Tokyo Olympics. The clock showed 35 seconds remaining before the quarterfinal contest between World No.1, top seed and title contender Vinesh and Belarusian twotime World Champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya concluded at the Makuhari Messe wrestling arena, with the reigning CWG and Asian Games champion Indian trailing 3-7 on points. The sight of Vinesh playing catchup game to salvage her Olympic campaign wasn't entirely thought about by people tracking her journey since the famous Phogat's splendid run of form in the build up to the Games. In the four tournaments she participated this year beginning January, Vinesh was both unstoppable and unbeatable, winning four gold medals on the trot in Ukraine, Italy, Kazakhstan and Poland. However, it was not meant to unfold this embarrassing way. So, when Vanesa led the Indian 7-3, it had become apparent that Vinesh had lost her way to make a comeback and had surrendered herself to the might of the Belarusian. Vanesa executed a twopoint takedown to lead 7-3 and then finished off the contest with a 'victory by fall' (VFO) by pinning Vinesh to the mat with both of the Indian's shoulders fixed on the mat. Later, Vinesh's outside hopes of entering the repechage round for a bronze were dashed when Vanesa lost (2-2) in the semis to Chinese Pang Qianyu. India's 57kg woman wrestler, Anshu Malik, put up a spirited fight before bowing out of the competition, losing her repechage round 1-5 to Russia's Valeria Koblova, the Rio Olympics silver medallist. Anshu was in the lead at one stage and looked to create an upset, but Valeria performed a two-pointer to surge ahead. India's another strong medal contender, Bajrang Punia, has been handed a relatively easier draw in the men's freestyle 65kg category. Bajrang will open his Tokyo campaign on Friday morning with his firstround bout against Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev. If the World No.2 Indian wins, he would face Iran's Ghiasi Cheka in the quarters. His real challenge will, however, come in the semifinals when he shows up against World Championships silver medallist Daulet Niyazbekov from Kazakhstan. Bajrang's main rival, Japan's Takuto Otoguro, whom he has never defeated, is in the other half of the draw.
377 PV Sindhu's resolute quest for a second successive Olympic medal has paid off. Having shed the pain and disappointment of coming up short against Tai-Tzu Ying in the semifinals on Saturday, Sindhu unleashed her aggressive best on the court on Sunday, decimating the challenge of China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 in the bronzemedal playoff. In doing so, the Rio silver medallist became the first Indian woman to win back-toback Olympic medals. Wrestler Sushil Kumar is the only other Indian with two Olympic medals. That she had lost six of the last nine encounters against Bing Jiao did not stop Sindhu from asserting her superiority. She was hungry, animated, pumping her fists and looking to move in for the kill at the slightest opportunity. Sindhu's team told TOI that she was very upset after losing the semifinals. However, a few hours after working with the physio, Sindhu was fully charged and determined to give her best in the bronze-medal playoff. She slept early and was ready for the big match. It showed on court. Sindhu has always delivered on the big stage. Her five medals at the World championships — including a gold and silver — apart from her show at the Olympics is testimony to her dedication. The lead-up to Tokyo, however, was not smooth. She had parted ways with long-time coach Pullela Gopichand and relied on Korean Park Tae Sang and the Suchitra Badminton Academy. She then shifted base to the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, got some sparring partners and worked on her fitness with trainer Srikant Verma. When she returned from England, she was not at her best but the hard work she had put in was on display in Tokyo. She looked fully fit and it helped in the way she moved around the court against Bing Jiao. Known for her tactical acumen, the Chinese girl kept Sindhu moving all over the court with her deft touches at the net and deceitful pushes. Sindhu, however, was up to the challenge, stretching forward and rushing back to the centre of the court to keep the shuttle in play. Sindhu dictated the pace for most part of the match. Whenever Bing Jiao looked like staging a comeback, India's star shuttler would shut her out with power-packed smashes. So dominant was Sindhu that there were at least a dozen smash winners in the second game. Up 5-2 after a confident start in the first game, Sindhu was ahead 11-8 at the break, then enhanced the lead to 14-8 before clinically finishing off the game. Sindhu was more aggressive in the second. Some of her down-the-line smashes were a delight to watch. The manner in which she ended a rally by packing more power in her drives unnerved Bing Jiao. Though Bing Jiao kept up with Sindhu till 14-16, the eventual winner took the game away with some sharp returns and quickly put the issue beyond doubt.
378 Telugu Desam Party MP from Vijayawada Kesineni Srinivas on Saturday felicitated Olympic medal winner P.V. Sindhu. Calling her the pride of India and Telugu people, he said honouring the international player at her native land Vijayawada was a matter of great pride. The MP honoured Sindhu and her parents Ramana and Vijaya and her sister Divya. Attributing a major part of her success to her supportive parents, the MP said every parent wanted their children to achieve name and fame but not everybody puts them out of their comfort zone. Knowing that her career would involve gruelling practice sessions with an unflinching commitment and determination, Sindhu's parents encouraged her to go ahead. The MP urged students to take her as their inspiration and follow their passion with commitment and hard work and expressed hope that the ace player would bring home a gold medal in the next year Olympics at Paris. Former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Mandali Budha Prasad said it was heart warming to see sportspersons from the Telugu States winning international acclaim. Chief selector of Indian cricket team MSK Prasad said this Olympic medal was the beginning of Sindhu's successful story as she would bring home many more medals in future. CPI secretary K. Ramakrishna, management consultant M.C. Das, Krishnaji and others lavished praise on the international shuttler.
379 India is celebrating Neeraj Chopra and his golden spear, which scripted history for the country in javelin throwing at Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. But sadly, the country has forgotten all about another golden spear that dominated track athletics at both national and international-level games around four decades ago. Today, that spearholder, Gujarati athlete from Vadodara, Razia Sheikh, is living an obscure life, fighting an existential battle to meet her daily needs. “I was in tears when I heard that Chopra won a gold in javelin throwing – a sport that is so close to my heart,” said 62-year-old Sheikh, who was the first woman from India to cross the 50-metre barrier in javelin throwing in 1987 South Asian Federation Games. Her performance in national javelin throwing tournaments too was stunning. Sheikh, who now survives on railways pension, told TOI, that it is heartening to see all the appreciation and cash awards he (Chopra) is getting and I hope this inspires many more youngsters to take up athletics professionally. “The Haryana government is extending him all the support too. Sadly, our state government doesn't recognize its sporting heroes much,” she said. Razia Sheikh said that she had been given the Sardar Patel award, but didn't get much support beyond it. Ideally, the government should not just look after its sportspersons but also engage veterans to prepare the next generation of athletes, said Sheikh, who nurtured hopes of becoming a sportsperson since childhood despite her humble origins. “In 1979, I participated in my first national javelin throwing tournament and won a silver medal. I didn't look back then,” said the veteran athlete who went on to win 25 gold medals and 12 silver medals in national tournaments. Sheikh started playing cricket at YSC club at the age of 15 and used to be a dreaded fast bowler on field. But after she was kept as an extra player in the Gujarat team in 1978, Sheikh started exploring athletics and carved a niche in track athletics. In 1982, Sheikh played her first international tournament at Asian Games in Delhi. “I won my first gold in the 1987 South Asian Games in Kolkata and became the first Indian woman to cross the 50-metre barrier,” recalled the feisty player. Sheikh broke a 19-yearold national record of Indian female javelin thrower at the Playmakers Athletics Meet in Delhi in 1986. She won nine medals including two golds in international games. “I was offered a job by the railways but I quit in 2003 due to work politics. I had to make my ends meet so I started doing part time jobs in schools but life was tough for several years before my pension amount increased,” she added. “It's unfortunate that medal-winning sportspersons don't get their due in our country. I hope the performance of our athletes in the Tokyo Olympics brings a positive change in people's attitude towards sportspersons,” she added. Razia Sheikh has also run alongside P T Usha in a 400-metre relay race in World Railways Tournament at Czechoslovakia in 1985. “It was a memorable experience as I got to meet one of our legendary athletes,” said Sheikh, who has also played cricket alongside Nayan Mongia and Atul Bedade in Vadodara.
380 As the referee lifted her arm and the announcement of her win reverberated in the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, India's star boxer MC Mary Kom wasn't leaping with joy or exulting in jubilation. She was quite calm and composed. There was gravitas in her demeanour. For Mary, the first-round win in the 51kg category against Miguelina Hernandez of Dominican Republic was just the beginning of her pursuit for another Olympic medal. Magnificent Mary, as she is addressed as by her numerous fans across the world, had won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. “I am just getting started,” were the first words of the six-time world champion after defeating her opponent, 15 years younger . “I have all the medals in my hand. Olympic medal (bronze) from 2012, Commonwealth Games gold, six-time gold at World Championships. It's not easy to count them, but the difficult part is continuously winning and performing,” she said. “What is left is the Olympic gold medal. That is driving me and pushing me to carry on. I am trying my best. If I am able to get it then I will be so grateful, but if not then I will still be happy for all the medals I have won.” The win came via a 4-1 split decision, taking Mary to the pre-quarters where she will face 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist and third seed Ingrit Valencia of Colombia. Mary has beaten the Colombian both times the two have faced, including the 2019 World Championships quarterfinals. Mary started the bout against Hernandez with caution and held back for a while to get a good measure of her rival. The youngster had the stomach for a fight, but was not able to land her punches cleanly. Towards the end of the first round, Mary unleashed a combination of punches and hooks to earn some vital points. Three judges gave Mary 10 points and two judges recorded 9 for her show in the first round. The Indian boxer brought her vast experience in play during the second round. She defended well and got points for that too. Hernandez upped the ante at the fag end of Round 2 and landed some punches, but couldn't prevent Mary from garnering three 10s. With the match slightly in the balance, Mary went all out in the third and final round. As the bell rang to mark the start of the round, the 38-year-old unleashed a flurry of punches, jabs and cuts. Mary was so aggressive in the final round that, at one point, it looked like she would soon land a knockout blow. The Indian cornered Hernandez and landed four-five clean combinations on her opponent. The final round was a lopsided affair, as Mary impressed the five judges and earned 10 points from all of them. Manish Kaushik went down fighting to Great Britain's Luke McCormack in a 63kg first-round encounter. Making his Olympic debut, Manish fought gallantly but lost an edge-of-the-seat clash 1-4 through split decision.
381 It began with Mirabai Chanu's comment after winning a weightlifting silver at the Tokyo Olympics that she would love some pizza. That spawned a tweet which went viral and has eventually led to a commercial deal. Domino's, India's largest organised food services brand, has inked a digital activation pact with Chanu. It's the first brand deal the 26-year-old weightlifter has signed after getting on the podium at Tokyo. It will involve Chanu associating with the brand on social and digital media platforms such as Twitter, where she now has about 190,000 followers. Domino's had offered the Manipurbased athlete free lifetime pizza through a tweet after she said last Saturday that the first thing she wanted to do was have pizza after winning the medal. Hundreds of Twitter users noted that Domino's latched on to Chanu's comment with alacrity, and then wondered whether the athlete had benefitted in any way. “We have entered into a commercial engagement with Domino's, for associations with Mirabai Chanu on digital platforms. It is a digital activation deal,” said IOS Sports & Entertainment managing director Neerav Tomar. IOS represents Chanu's commercial and endorsement businesses. Jubilant FoodWorks, the India franchisee for Domino's, didn't respond to queries. “Being an athlete, she didn't want to sign a regular endorsement deal with a pizza brand, because it isn't considered healthy. However, Domino's will most certainly benefit from the association with Chanu, even if this is not a conventional endorsement deal,” said another executive aware of the development. Given cricket's dominance, any deals with those pursuing other sports should be supported. “As far as non-cricket athletes are concerned, they usually have a small window of commercial opportunities such as these,” said brand specialist and social commentator Santosh Desai. “More brands need to come up and support athletes like Chanu, who come from humble backgrounds and prove themselves." Industry executives said there is an increasing trend for large brands to sign popular talent or influencers for digital-only, tactical endorsements, given the traction platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have, especially among younger consumers. “Digital-only associations are absolutely here to stay. These neither need to be very long term, nor have to involve expensive shoots, and can get immediate short-term traction,” said Vinita Bangard, founder of Krossover Entertainment, which has worked on deals with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, among others. “While the conventional endorsements with the big celebs continue to have their place, there is a rapidly increasing parallel trend among brands, specially those with a youth-focus, startups and direct-toconsumer ones, to sign deals for digital and social-only engagement,” Bangard said. Tomar said talks are on with other brands for endorsements, appearances or digital associations as well, but declined to mention specifics since these are still being finalised. Before the Tokyo Olympics, Chanu has had endorsement deals with Adidas and Mobil Oil.
382 Mumbai: It was first day, great show by Indians, especially by weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who ended India's two-decade-long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. She clinched the 49kg category silver medal, in Tokyo on Saturday. Incidentally, it was five years after leaving the same platform in tears, following a disastrous debut, at the Rio Games in the year 2016. Resident of Nongpok Kakching, Imphal East from Manipur, Mirabai Chanu, for this historic triumph, she ensured that India was second on the medals tally for a brief while, a feat that has never been achieved by the country. It was also the first time that India managed to win a medal on the opening day of the Games. The diminutive iron lady from Manipur lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered. "A medal on the opening day sets the momentum for us," said Gagan Narang, the bronze medallist at 2012, London Games in the men's 10m Air Rifle event, while talking to Free Press Journal from Hyderabad soon after Mirabhai won the silver medal. "And the win will boost the morale of the Indian contingent," said Gagan, who is also an Arjuna Awardee. "I am sure the whole contingent gets charged up and is ready to give their best. This has set the ball rolling and will inspire others in the team," said the Chennai born Narang, who now runs the shooting academy, Guns of Glory, in Hyderabad and Pune. However, it has not been good beginning for the shooters, especially, Gagan Narang's pet event, the men 10m air rifle. Indian medal hope Saurabh Chaudhary could not replicate the form he displayed in the qualifications to finish a disappointing seventh in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Games later in the day. "The Games has just begun, and I am sure the shooters have a lot in store. And with Mirabai Chanu feat, we can expect medals in shooting also," said Narang. The Indian ace Saurabnh shot 137.4 to be eliminated in the seventh place, an hour after topping the qualifications with a mind-blowing performance at the Asaka Range. Chaudhary did not get off to the best start and, with a score of 47.7, was placed eighth in the standings after the first five shots. "Going by the pre-Games performance, despite the pandemic, our sportsmen and women have done well, and this edition of the Games we will return with more medals than than we have been doing in the past," said the Indian ace shooter, who is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest.
383 Mumbai: It has not been a good day out in the office for the Indian shooters on day one of the Games, as they endured multiple heartbreaks, with the biggest disappointment being Saurabh Chaudhary's failure to win a medal after topping the qualifications, at the at the Akasa Range. Chaudhary who did so well in the qualification could not come with the same when it mattered the most as he finished seventh in the men's 10m air pistol final. Whie, his roommate and friend Abhishek Verma could not make the eight-man finals, settling for the 17th place with 575 in the event that was considered one of India's best bets for a podium finish. It was a same story with the women as Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela failed to qualify in the 10m air rifle event. The Indian duo finished 16th and 36th respectively. Following his sensational entry into the finals, a lot of hope were pinned on Chaudhary after a dismal show by the women. But the script did not pan out the way the country's shooting team would have wanted it to. The Indian ace shot 137.4 to be eliminated in the seventh place. Chaudhary did not get off to the best of starts and, with a score of 47.7, was placed eighth in the standings after the first five shots. The Asian Games and Youth Olympics gold-medallist was positioned sixth after the 12th shot, with a score of 117.2. He managed to survive the first elimination round but could not sustain that for long. Things were different in the qualifications though, with Chaudhary shooting 586 to finish ahead of a world-class field, thanks to a perfect 100 in the fourth series after back-to-back 98. Verma was also in contention to make the cut after staging an excellent rally, but two 8s in the final series dashed his hopes. Chaudhary started in an excellent fashion, shooting 10 out of 10 before slipping in the second part of the first series. Appearing in his maiden Olympics, the 19-year-old multiple World Cup gold-medallist then rallied from the 19th place, in a field of 36, to inch closer to the top eight qualifying spots. Earlier in the day, world number one Elavenil finished 16th in the qualifications after shooting 626.5 over six series of 10 shots each, while the more experienced Apurvi, who is also the finals world record holder in the event, settled for the 36th place after aggregating 621.9. Incidentally, the 10m air rifle was the first event in which India clinched quotas for the Tokyo Games with Apurvi and Anjum Moudgil claiming them at the 2018 World Championship in Changwon, Korea. But the same was given to Elavenil on the basis of the latter's excellent run of form through the Olympic selection cycle.But that back fired as the shooters in 10m air rifle returned empty handed on the opening day of the championship.
384 He suggested that Chopra had developed a new blocking technique which could have helped the Indian in coming up with big throws Germany's javelin superstar Johannes Vetter, who had predicted in 2018 that Neeraj Chopra would be the next big thing in the sport, said he was happy for the Indian athlete. "He (Neeraj) is a really talented guy, always really friendly. I am happy for him," Vetter said after his shock exit from the event on Saturday. He also suggested that Chopra had developed a new blocking technique which could have helped the Indian in coming up with big throws. "He (Neeraj) has another blocking technique as he showed in the qualification. He did a great job," said Vetter, who had predicted three years ago that Chopra would be one of the stars in the world arena and will throw 90m plus in the near future. The feat by the newest sultan of the spear was hailed by Indian athletes with shooter Abhinav Bindra, the first individual gold winner for the country, saying javelin would now hog the limelight. Bindra, who won a shooting gold in Beijing 2008, tweeted: "And Gold it is for @Neeraj_chopra1.Take a bow, young man ! You have fulfilled a nation's dream. Thank you! Also, welcome to the club - a much needed addition! Extremely proud. I am so delighted for you." The 38-year-old also posted a letter to Neeraj as one Olympic gold medallist to another: "Javelin throw might not be the most followed sporting discipline in India but your historic achievement has brought it to the limelight, capturing the imagination of billions watching at home. The impact your victory will create on promoting your sport amongst the country's youth is immeasurable." And Gold it is for @Neeraj_chopra1 .Take a bow, young man ! You have fulfilled a nation's dream. Thank you!Also,welcome to the club - a much needed addition! Extremely proud. I am so delighted for you. Long jumper Anju Bobby George, who won bronze in the 2003 World Championships, wrote on Twitter: "We are all smiling and crying. Thank you for giving us this wonderful moment." We all are smiling and crying. Thank you for giving us this wonderful moment @Neeraj_chopra1 #TeamIndia@afiindia #Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/txIFddmKsP Leander Paes, the only Indian to win an Olympic tennis medal (bronze from Atlanta 1996), hailed Neeraj's performance while speaking to The Telegraph. "This was an excellent way to sign off from the Tokyo Games," the tennis ace said. "What a fantastic performance by the young Neeraj. You know nothing can match that feeling of winning a gold for the country and seeing the Tricolour being hoisted." An emotional Jeev Milkha Singh, the golfer son of sprint legend Milkha Singh, who narrowly missed a medal in the 1960 Games, tweeted "what a show", saying: "Dad waited so many years for this to happen. His dream has finally come true with India's first athletic gold. I am crying as I tweet this. And I am sure dad is crying up above." What a show @Neeraj_chopra1! Dad waited so many years for this to happen. His dream has finally come true with India's first athletic gold. I am crying as I tweet this. And I am sure dad is crying up above. Thank you for making this happen.#Olympicsindia #Cheers4India Later, he also wrote: "Not only did you win us a first-ever athletics gold medal in the #OlympicGames, you even dedicated it to my father. The Milkha family is eternally grateful for this honour." Not only did you win us a first-ever athletics gold medal in the #OlympicGames, you even dedicated it to my father.The Milkha family is eternally grateful for this honour. pic.twitter.com/0gxgF8mmNQ Neeraj's fellow medallists Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu also congratulated him. Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on winning first ever gold medal in Athletics for our country. Really a proud moment for our nation. A historic and iconic way to win GOLD! Congratulations @neeraj_chopra1, on this amazing feat! #olympics #javelinthrow #TeamIndia
385 The Javelin throw is a rare event where the IAAF intervened to change rules to force throw distances to be reduced, as changes (based on physics!) such as hollow, designer cross-section, the surface texture made javelins more aerodynamic, Dr Arnab Bhattacharya explains. While India took in the glory of Neeraj Chopra's win in men's javelin at the Tokyo Olympics last week, not many would know what drove the metal spear thrown from the man from Panipat to fly over 87.58m to claim the first athletics gold medal for independent India. Dr Arnab Bhattacharya, Professor at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics & Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, took to Twitter to explain the physics and history of the sport. Though high school physics says that for max range, a projectile should be launched at a 45-degree angle, it is true only when the launch and the target are at the same height, he tweeted. He explained that in javelin throwing the launch is ~2m above ground and the target is at the ground and there are many aspects of aerodynamics involved. This makes the optimal angle is ~36 degrees. The key concept is that the Centre of Gravity has to be ahead (4cm) of the Centre of Pressure. "This is already inbuilt in the design of a modern javelin. The shape and weight distribution of the javelin are such that the centre of gravity is ahead of the centre of pressure. The player holds it around the centre of gravity when throwing," Prof Bhattacharya explained in an email to indianexpress.com. The size, shape, minimum weight, center of gravity of the javelin, surface finish (no rough paint, dimples etc), and allowed throwing techniques are all regulated by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the professor highlighted. The javelin must dip at all times in flight and the tip must hit the ground first. Other variables that determine the trajectory and final distance thrown are the initial run-up, angular momentum, release dynamics (speed, height, angle). According to an article in conversation.com, the average maximum run-up speed of an elite thrower ranges from 5-6m/s (20km/h), and elite throwers release the javelin at 28-30m/s (100km/h). Prof Bhattacharya adds that the angle of attack, wind direction and speed, air temperature, and density also play important roles. "Looking purely at the physics of the throw - for the javelin, lift from the air is an important factor. Lower air temperature means slightly denser air, which gives slightly more lift that enables a slightly more distance covered. These effects will be small, but remember that in the Olympics you can break a record or miss a medal by just a few mm," he explained. The Javelin throw is a rare event where the IAAF intervened to change rules to force throw distances to be reduced, as changes (based on physics!) such as hollow, designer cross-section, the surface texture made javelins more aerodynamic, he tweeted. Asked if there are any more changes that can be made based on physics, he explained that the IAAF has taken care to avoid "high tech gimmicks" that can boost performance - "which would be available only to people who could afford to put in the resources to do all kinds of aerodynamic simulations and make "better" javelins..." "I'd really love to see if someone can figure out a different way to throw it which makes the javelin go further. Of course, in today's world, given that you have access to powerful computation and all sorts of sensors, it would again be easier for well-resourced participants to play around with different throwing styles and see what might work better, while still being within the extant rules," he added.
386 He is widely considered to be the greatest sports climber in the world, but Adam Ondra of Czech Republic will be an absolute underdog for the inaugural sport climbing event on Thursday. While most events at the Olympics are hyper-specific and require a particular set of skills, the inaugural sport climbing competition is being contested under a controversial format. The medals will go to athletes who fare well in a hybrid of speed, bouldering and lead climbing; three disciplines vastly different with their own separate world championships. Think of a cricket team playing T20s, ODIs and Tests for a world title and not allowed to change the eleven. And Ondra, a proponent of lead and bouldering with limited experience of speed climbing, is a topper expected to ace the exam without knowing one third of the syllabus. Why is Adam Ondra considered the greatest climber? A trailblazer in climbing, Ondra is compared to Olympic gold medallists pole vaulter Sergei Bubka and sprinter Usain Bolt. Climbing Magazine, the bible of the sport, described Ondra in action: "...it's easy to see a level of mastery that only two or three people on the planet possess, like watching Michael Jordan play basketball or Einstein do math." The 28-year-old has attempted more of the world's most difficult climbs than anyone and has won four world championships and finished in the top three seven other times. Born in 1993 to recreational rock climbers, Ondra's childhood was spent scaling rugged cliffs outside hometown Brno, and the walls and ceilings in his house. At 8, he climbed his first 7b+ and at 13 his first 9th - difficulty ratings achieved only by elite climbers with significant experience and strength. He has conquered three of the four toughest sports routes in the world, including 45m long curving Norwegian cave walls and 50m high Spanish limestone cliffs. In indoor competition climbing, Ondra had won World Cup season titles in both lead and bouldering by the age of 17. What are the three disciplines of Olympic sport climbing? Under the umbrella of 'sport climbing', athletes are competing in lead climbing, bouldering and speed climbing. There's only one set of medals each for the men and women, with 20 participants competing on each side. Lead is the classic, methodical discipline in which athletes get one try to climb a 15-metre high wall in six minutes, clipping their rope to carabiners and plan the move ahead. Whoever gets closest to the top gets the most points. The discipline is the closest to outdoor climbing and the competitors get six minutes to study the wall and plan their route - Ondra memorises up to 40 moves in the prep time. Bouldering is an acrobatic scramble up overhanging, lower 4.5m walls without a rope. The routes, known as 'problems', are first mapped out mentally before beginning the climb. The climbers get five minutes to study, plan and solve a problem and points are awarded according to the number of obstacles climbed in 4 minutes. Speed climbing is simply an all-out vertical sprint to the top of a 50ft wall. Top male and female climbers usually record a timing of 6 and 7-8 seconds, respectively. How did Ondra do in the qualification? An athlete's final score depends on the position in each discipline. The three positions are multiplied and the lowest score is the winner. The qualification on Wednesday began with speed climbing, Ondra's least favourite discipline. He finished 18th out of 20 participants, with a best time of 7.46. He finished 3rd in bouldering and fourth in lead. The final score thus was 216 (18x3x4) and he finished fifth among the eight who qualified for the final. How did Ondra do in the qualification? Two-time bouldering world champion Shauna Coxsey summed up the format best. "It's a bit like asking Usain Bolt to run a marathon and then do the hurdles," Coxsey told Olympics.com in an interview. "No one has really transitioned before. No boulderer has transitioned to speed and lead, and no speed climber has done it to bouldering and lead." "You have to tap into different skills for each discipline," Ccile Avezou, coach of the French lead climbing team, told FRANCE 24. "For the speed event it's about explosive power. For bouldering, it's strength, imagination and creativity. Lead climbing requires a more sustained effort, so it involves adaptation, information gathering and control." Fascinatingly, if the International Olympic Committee had its way, there would only be speed climbing at the Games. The vertical sprint to the top originated as a ratings booster for television. The International Federation of Sport Climbing, however, pushed back since speed climbing is the firm odd discipline out. Unlike lead and bouldering, speed climbing has a standardised route of identical 20 holds. Ondra has likened the format to a "circus" and said, "I think speed climbing is kind of an artificial discipline, climbers compete on the same holds and train on the same holds, which doesn't have much in common with the climbing philosophy, in my opinion. Anything would be better than this combination." What are his medal chances on Thursday? The four climbers ahead of Ondra finished with the combined scores of 33, 56, 60 and 84. Ondra, the slowest in the field, is expected to finish 8th in speed climbing, which puts tremendous pressure on him to finish top in the top two of the other disciplines for a low multiplied score overall. Whatever happens on Thursday, the outrage over the format hasn't gone unnoticed. Last December, the IOC announced that sport climbing at Paris 2024 will be expanded to four medal events, featuring combined boulder and lead and a separate speed event. Ondra, however, hopes for three separate events in the future. "I really, really hope that in the future, there will be three sets of medals for three single disciplines," he told The Indian Express. "Because I think what you should display at the Olympics should be the best climbers doing their thing on the very, very best level. And that's what the three single disciplines will provide."
387 The Indian Railways has given ₹2 crore to Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, apart from an assurance of a promotion from her role as a ticket inspector. The Manipur government has also given the weightlifter ₹1 crore. From early in the morning, politicians and other well-wishers wait in long queues outside her home to give her money, bouquets and words of encouragement for her next Olympic games. Her win at the Olympics was a dream for the weightlifter, whose parents could hardly afford to give her ₹5 a day for her training. A grateful Ms. Chanu on Thursday said, "Truck drivers transporting sand, stone and other construction material used to help me by giving me a lift to the training venue. The drivers would blow their horns from a distance away to inform me that they were nearby and that I should get ready." The drivers were helpful because they saw her enthusiasm and the fact that she could not afford to travel to the training venue. "I could eat something during my training hours because they did not take a fare." There are no regular bus services from her Nongpok Kakching, her village. "If the truck drivers did not help me, I would have never reached the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal, which is about 30 km from my house. The drivers picked me up and dropped me home after training. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. I would like to give them something as a token of love and appreciation," she added. Although she did not announce the amount she would pay the drivers, sources said it might be around ₹2 lakh each. Though the Railways has assured the weightlifter a suitable promotion, Ms. Chanu will continue her role as the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports).
388 MIRROR, MIRROR Tennis fans will recognise these words from Andre Agassi's powerful autobiography, Open: 'I tell myself that tonight will be an exam for which I've been studying 29 years. Whatever happens tonight, I've already been through it at least once before. If it's a physical test, if it's mental, it's nothing new. Please let this be over. I don't want it to be over. I start to cry. I lean against the wall of the shower and let go.' Despite his raw emotional state, Agassi soldiered on at the 2006 US Open, going on to play a classic match against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. Fifteen years down, Agassi's compatriot Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics after a bout of 'twisties', which have been described as a sort of mental block that causes a gymnast to lose their sense of space and dimension as they are up in the air. 'For anyone saying I quit. I didn't quit. My mind and body are simply not in sync…' said Biles in an Instagram post. 'Nor do I have to explain why I put my health first. Physical health is mental health.' Unlike artists — think Francesco Goya, Vincent Van Gogh, or Edvard Munch whose expression of anxiety in his painting Scream is so resonant in the modern world that it's become an emoji — athletes never had the permission to discuss their mental state except ever in positive terms. In the high-octane world of professional sport, mental toughness is requisite. By opening up about their battles with mental health, and in prioritising it over a championship or a medal, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have initiated a long-needed conversation in professional sport. If a Rafael Nadal can decide to miss the Wimbledon 'after listening' to his body, equally, a Simone Biles can sit out the Olympics after listening to her body and mind. If anything, the pandemic has taught all of us the value of pause. Those who think the world will go back to its frenetic, high testosteronedriven idea of work and achievement are out of step with Gen Z. As any recruiter will vouch, the urban young are reluctant to embrace a 24/7 switched-on work culture. In China, they have even gone a step further with the Tang Ping movement, which literally means lying flat (and doing little). The movement that's been described as 'spiritual' is an antidote to China's culture of overwork and constant hustle. In a piece (bit.ly/3ykQFbe) on Tang Ping, AFP's Beiyi Seow quoted a young Chinese as saying, 'You're beaten up by society and just want a more relaxed life…'lying flat' is not waiting to die. I still work, but just don't overstretch.' In China, where posts endorsing Tang Ping are being taken down, an editorial in the Chinese government's publication, Global Times, reflects the panic: 'China is at one of the most important stages of its long road to national rejuvenation. Young people are the hope of this country, and neither their personal situation nor the situation of this country will allow them to 'collectively lie flat'.' Stentorian editorials in propaganda papers notwithstanding, the young are showing up the rat race in all its ugliness. What kind of a world will be refashioned with the emergence of this new mindset? Organisations that imaginatively put the individual's mental and physical well-being at the heart of their culture will attract the best talent over those that offer bigger money for punishing working hours. The transparency that Zoom enables has already reduced some of the toxicity that physical workspaces can create, and hierarchies are likely to be flattened, creating more equitable work spaces. More importantly, for those truly talented, opting out of the rat race and prioritising their well-being will lead to longer career graphs and multiple reinventions. Simone Biles may be down now, but she will soon be somersaulting, defying gravity and carping critics.
389 A DAY after the Twitter account of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was temporarily locked over a photograph he posted with the family of the nine-year-old Dalit rape victim, several of his party leaders Sunday tweeted the same photograph and a photograph posted by the National Commission of Scheduled Castes of its members meeting the victim's family members. They called it a double standard by Twitter and asked how fearful it is of the Narendra Modi government that it is singling out Rahul's account when government bodies did the same thing. The party also fielded four women spokespersons - Supriya Shrinate, Ragini Nayak, Alka Lamba and Amrita Dhawan - to target the government and question the silence of the women ministers in the government on the issue. The Nudge CENTRAL GOVERNMENT employees are not participating well enough in the government's campaign to set a record of maximum people singing the national anthem ahead of Independence Day. People are supposed to participate by uploading individual videos of themselves singing the anthem on Rashtragaan.in and get a certificate of participation. The Culture Ministry has now sent out a communication to all ministries that the participation by employees is "below expectation" and that a mechanism of accountability needs to be devised so officials upload their videos and WhatsApp their certificates to a person of responsibility in their respective departments. Panipat Pride NEERAJ CHOPRA'S Olympics achievement has found an admirer in another "Panipat boy" - US acting envoy Atul Keshap. Soon after Chopra won the gold in javelin throw, Keshap tweeted a video clip of Chopra on the podium with the national anthem playing in the background. The accompanying message said: "Olympic GOLD for India! From Roosevelt House in New Delhi, this Panipat boy bursts with joy and pride for a sporting hero from Panipat, Neeraj Chopra!" Keshap's grandparents used to live in Panipat, and he used to visit them with his NRI father in his teens in the 70s till the early 80s.
390 It's hard to imagine what PV Sindhu has achieved at 26. The shuttler is not only tall, but stands tall with her achievements not easy to escape attention even in a cricket-mad country. Five medals in the World championships and two from the Olympics — the latest just a week old in Tokyo — and she's not had enough. Not just yet. Sindhu defeated China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 in the bronze medal playoff to become the first Indian woman to win medals in two successive editions of the Olympic Games. “Definitely, it's a special one because we've always aimed for that (Olympic medal) and we dreamt of it. I'm very, very happy that we did it. I still have a lot to learn from this,” she told media at her residence on Wednesday. She hopes to be a third time lucky in Paris 2024 and a gold there will make it a full set of Olympic medals. “This (Tokyo bronze) gives me a lot of motivation and encouragement. A lot of people supported me in this. It's not just me, it's the whole eco-system I would say. Getting these medals, I'm very proud and happy. But I will be playing in Paris, so I will do and give my best there.” The road to Tokyo was rocky and the pandemic nearly put a spanner in the works. It not only called for hard work, but smart work. Strength-conditioning was as important as recovery sessions so that Sindhu could withstand the rigours of Olympic competition. “The journey had lots of ups and downs. I've learnt a lot, experienced a lot — game wise, personally and professionally. My parents sacrificed a lot. The whole team has been very supportive. But for them I wouldn't have come so far,” she said. Training at the Gachibowli stadium was an excellent move, she reckoned and said she would continue to train there. “I've been playing there since February. It's really good. The atmosphere, conditions and drift control. All of it came in very handy. It was just like it was in Tokyo. Controlling the drift is a very important factor and it was very helpful for me.
391 “You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to free Domino's pizza for life.” This timely tweet from the quick service restaurant brand came after Mirabai Chanu – who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics — said in a TV interview that one of the first few things she wanted to do following the podium finish was to eat a pizza. Chanu's performance has set a flurry of brands wanting to associate with the 26-year-old weightlifter ever since she made history on Saturday. Nearly a dozen brands have sent feelers to Chanu's management company IOS Sports & Entertainment over the weekend, said Neerav Tomar, its managing director. “We are getting queries from not only nutrition and sports-related brands, but also personal care, beverage and regional brands. These are for endorsements, appearances or digital associations,” Tomar said. “Her medal has changed things overnight.” IOS plans to formalise two-three deals in the coming weeks once the champion in the women's 49-kg weightlifting category returns. So far, Chanu has had endorsement deals with Adidas and Mobil oil. Now, her endorsement fee is expected to double, albeit from a very low base. Over the last couple of days, brands such as Domino's, Britannia, Thums Up, Swiggy, Amul and VLCC have been making a beeline to associate with her win. “Even as we prepare to give #Mirabai-Chanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family,” Pratik Pota, chief executive at Jubilant Food-Works, said in a tweet. Jubilant operates Domino's Pizza in India. The Twitter post from Domino's official handle tagging Chanu went viral and generated a string of comments, including by some consumers who said they would only buy Domino's Pizza from now on. Coca-Cola-owned Thums Up, which has a worldwide partnership with the Olympic Games, linked her win to its ad tagline 'PalatDe' across its social media messages. It is the longer-term associations, not momentary tie-ups, that will benefit both brands and the athlete, industry observers said. “Brands look at any opportunity to stay relevant and, in a country traditionally starved of sports beyond cricket, anyone who wins becomes a star overnight,” said Lloyd Mathias, an angel investor and business strategist. “So, it's a fairly positive thing to do, as long as the brand can find ways to associate for a slightly longer term instead of just that moment.” Dairy brand Amul, which is supporting the Indian Olympic Association, has also felicitated Chanu's family, chairman RS Sodhi said. “We encourage sports persons and celebrate moments of national pride like this,” he said. Industry experts said it would be difficult to bridge the wide gap between noncricket athletes and cricketers for brand associations and that comparisons may not be fair. Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, for example, is learnt to charge ?4.5-5 crore a day for brand-related promotions – be it for the filming of TV commercials, appearances, or for meeting fans. In comparison, non-cricketing athletes charge anywhere between ?30 lakh and ?1.5 crore, depending on their popularity and visibility. “Brand associations are a function of the exposure the athlete gets on a continuous level, consistent performance, and visibility,” said Tuhin Mishra, managing director at sports marketing company Baseline Ventures, which represents badminton player PV Sindhu. Biscuit maker Britannia posted congratulations on its Instagram account, thanking Chanu for “lifting our spirits with the taste of sweet victory.” Personal care brand VLCC put up a picture of the sportsperson with a caption, “Silver is beautiful. Congratulations on the historic win.” Food delivery platform Swiggy also leveraged Chanu's historic win to drive more orders by tweeting: “It's time for mithai, barfi and lots of pedhas.” A mid-sized hotel in Udaipur tweeted that it would offer her free lifetime stay at the property. With other athletes including Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Manika Batra also keeping India's medal hopes alive, many more brand deals would be in the offing, said a sports marketing executive. Coca-Cola, Hero Motocorp, Amul, Mobile Premier League (MPL), Visa and Byju's are among the brands that have onboarded broadcast rights holder Sony Pictures Sports Network as sponsors for the Olympics.
392 Mirabai Chanu landed home successfully and even had pizza with the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and got pizza delivered at home as well. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu who won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics got smiles on the faces of millions of Indian fans with her victory. Not just that, she has now become an inspiration to many young athletes who will be looking to becomes sports stars in the future. One among them was Indian weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam's daughter. He shared a video of his daughter mimicking Chanu's silver medal lift. In the video shared on his official Twitter handle, the little girl is seen doing the exact thing, Chanu does before lifting the weights. She even went a step ahead and celebrated the silver medal similar to how the Olympian did. Sathish Sivalingam called his daughter 'junior Mirabai Chanu' and lauded the silver medallist as a 'true inspiration.' Chanu who watched the video called her 'cute' and said she loved it. As for Chahu, on July 24, she opened India's medal tally after she bagged a silver medal in the women's 49kg category. During her four successful attempts, the weightlifter lifted a total of 202 kg, including 87 kg in a snatch and 115 in clean and jerk. She has landed home successfully and even had pizza with the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and got pizza delivered at home as well.
393 PV Sindhu, the ace shuttler who created history earlier this week by becoming the first Indian women to win two Olympic medals, is exploring legal options against brands and companies including Happydent-maker Perfetti Van Melle, Vicks-maker P&G, Pan Bahar, Apollo Hospitals, Aditya Birla Group and others for unauthorised use of her name and pictures for marketing purposes. Baseline Ventures, the sports marketing agency that manages all commercial deals of Sindhu, will be sending legal notices on her behalf, seeking damages worth ?5 crore from each of these companies. “We are surprised that such leading Indian and global firms are resorting to such forms of communication to associate with our athletes, which is in complete breach of their IPR and privacy,” Tuhin Mishra, MD, Baseline Ventures, told ET. While many fans and companies put out congratulatory posts on social media, these brands used their own logos and brand name along with the athlete. As per marketing experts, this is called 'moment marketing'. Brands insert themselves in the ongoing conversation to take advantage of ongoing events by creating communications and marketing collateral around such events. Amul has been doing it successfully for many years, and last month Domino's did the same when they announced free pizza for life for silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu. Only in her case, the pizza brand inked a digital activation pact with the 26-year-old weightlifter later. It was her first deal, post her podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics. However, in Sindhu's case, who already has many brand associations, these kinds of posts come at a cost. “In a way, these tactics are also unfair to genuine firms who have supported the athlete round the year. Would these very firms try the same gimmicks with some of our leading cricketers? I doubt it. It's time we all stand up to such unethical practices and we will do everything possible to protect our athletes and their rights,” Mishra added.
394 Leander Paes and Kim Sharma have been making headlines for dating each other. They are often spotted together in Mumbai. Today (August 4), the two were spotted at Lilavati hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, along with Kim's mother Pia. LEANDER PAES ACCOMPANIES KIM SHARMA AND HER MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL Recently, The two were now spotted together at Lilavati hospital. Leander Paes was accompanying Kim Sharma and her mother, Pia to the hospital. On their way out, the former tennis player was seen holding his car door for Kim's mother. Watch the video here: Video Credit: Yogen Shah KIM SHARMA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF LEANDER PAES' OLYMPIC WIN While Leander Paes and Kim Sharma have not made their relationship official yet, they have been rooting for each other on social media. On Tuesday, Kim Sharma took to her Instagram stories to celebrate 25 years of the former tennis player's bronze medal-win at the Olympics. Sharing a throwback picture, Kim wrote, "Congratulations on 25 years of your Olympic medal champ @leanderpaes #flyingman (sic)." Leander Paes reshared the post on his Instagram stories. LEANDER PAES AND KIM SHARMA TAKE A STROLL IN MUMBAI In the video, Kim was seen wearing a pink dress, Leander kept it casual with a white T-shirt and shorts. Here is the video of Leander and Kim taking a walk in Mumbai: Kim made her Bollywood debut in 2000 with the Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Mohabbatein. She was next seen in Fida and Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story. Leander Paes is a renowned tennis player, who will soon reunite with another tennis star, Mahesh Bhupathi, for an OTT project. ALSO READ| ALSO READ| Graphic Kim Sharma spotted with Leander Paes and her mother at Lilavati hospital
395 Early in the morning in India, there was an unexpected, shocking news from Tokyo. What transpired in the men's 52kg pre-quarterfinal bout between India's medal hope Amit Panghal and Colombia's Martinez Rivas, a silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was nothing short of a nightmare. The Indian boxer just froze after the first round, in which he dominated his rival. His hands didn't move, as if someone had chained them. His movement inside the ring was sluggish, as if his feet were stuck in concrete. Most importantly, it seemed, his mind wasn't willing. Agreed, he was up against the Rio silver-medal winner, but Amit too was the World No. 1 in his category. He knew beforehand that he was in scrap, a fight that would challenge him. What was disappointing for Indian boxing fans was the sheer lack of intent in the second and third rounds. Bluntly put, he backed away. It resulted in a 1-4 defeat to Colombia's Martinez Rivas at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena and snuffed out the chance of a medal for the country. As soon as the bell rang, there was a furious exchange of punches between the two boxers. Amit began aggressively with his back hand but Martinez upped the ante soon after, landing some quick blows. The Colombian showed bigmatch intensity, but Amit was intelligent with his defending and also connected better to earn points. The Indian's performance saw four judges voting in his favour. Unfortunately for Amit, he seemed to have used up all his energy in the first round and had nothing left in his tank for the remainder of the bout.
396 The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice on Friday owing to protests by the Opposition parties on various issues, including Pegasus. As proceedings began, Deputy Chairman Harivansh congratulated wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for winning Silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. After the papers and statements were laid on the table of the House, Zero Hour was to be taken up when Congress leader Anand Sharma said Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat was not in the House when his statement was listed in the business. "...there was a Statement by Minister, at serial No. 3, by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. You called the name, but, the Minister is not here. When 21 Ministers' statements can be laid by one Minister...I want to know, because this is disrespect to the House, whether specific permission was taken and granted. If not, why is the Minister absent, when the papers are listed against his name?," said Mr. Sharma. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal responded: "I certainly respect what hon. Anand Sharma ji has said. We will make enquiries and I will get back to you." Ahead of Zero Hour, Mr. Harivansh said that nine notices had been received for suspension of rules under Rule 267 on two subjects, farmers agitation and the Pegasus issue. "I want to inform the members that the hon. Chairman has already admitted notices for Calling Attention and Short Duration Discussion on different subjects, including the farmers' agitation. I will request the Leader of the Opposition, leaders of parties, the Leader of the House and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs to sit together to finalise the dates on which discussion on these important matters could be taken up in the House," he stated. Several Opposition members then gathered in the well of the House, shouting slogans. Amid the din, Zero Hour continued for some time before the House was adjourned till noon. Post-lunch also, due to protests, the proceedings were adjourned for the day.
397 Tokyo 2020 was Bajrang Punia's maiden Olympic appearance but he'd been preparing for the big moment since 2013 when he had burst on to the international scene with a bronze at the World Championships. Bajrang has been one of the most consistent performers in the Indian wrestling circuit and had qualified for Tokyo at the 2019 World Championships. Throughout the four-year Olympic cycle beginning Rio 2016, the 27-year-old from Haryana's Jhajjar has been among the medals at every multi-sport event and international competitions, including gold at the CWG and Asian Games in 2018. The hallmark of Bajrang's game is his tactical brilliance, speed and stamina. He can quickly read his opponent's moves and change his gameplan according to the match situation. For Tokyo, he even worked on two glaring weaknesses in his game which, according to Bajrang, had often led to his downfall in crunch situations. He had a habit of starting off slowly, offering his opponents crucial time to ratchet up points. Also, his susceptibility to leg attacks were exploited by rivals. Unfortunately, an injury to his right knee just over a month ago in Russia somewhat derailed his journey for a gold medal finish in Tokyo. Still, Bajrang did well in a decorated field of world-class wrestlers to finish with a bronze. Bajrang had waited for this opportunity since Rio 2016. He was all prepped up for the Games but made way for his guruji (mentor) Yogeshwar Dutt, the London 2012 bronze medallist (men's 61kg), to go for one last hurrah. Bajrang allowed his senior pro to go and secure an Olympic quota for India in the men's 65kg freestyle event from the Asian Olympic qualification tournament in Astana. Yogeshwar obliged and booked his berth for the Rio Games. Bajrang didn't cross paths with guruji and it was his way of repaying the faith. He knew that his time would come. Bajrang was captivated by wrestling at a young age of seven, when he would flunk classes to attend dangals (mud wrestling) in the local akharas of Khudan village. It helped that his father, Balwan Singh, was also a grappler and held considerable sway in Jhajjar's wrestling circuits. Seeing his child's love for the sport, Balwan enrolled him at a wrestling academy in the early 2000s. Bajrang, who would compete in men's freestyle 60kg in his initial days, announced his arrival on the big stage after winning bronze at the Asian and World Championships in 2013. The following year, he brought silver medals from the Asian, CWG and Asian Games, competing in the 61kg category. Bajrang rose in stature after securing medals in all major international tournaments, but his big-ticket moment came in 2018 when he cornered four medals.
398 Throughout the four-year Olympic cycle beginning Rio 2016, Bajrang Punia, the 27-year-old from Haryana's Jhajjar, has been among the medals at every multi-sport event and international competitions, including gold at the CWG and Asian Games in 2018. The hallmark of Bajrang's game is his tactical brilliance, speed and stamina. He can quickly read his opponent's moves and change his game-plan according to the match situation. For Tokyo, he even worked on two glaring weaknesses in his game which, according to Bajrang, had often led to his downfall in crunch situations. He had a habit of starting off slowly, offering his opponents crucial time to ratchet up points. Also, his susceptibility to leg attacks were exploited by rivals. Unfortunately, an injury to his right knee just over a month ago in Russia somewhat derailed his journey for a gold medal finish in Tokyo. Still, Bajrang did well in a decorated field of world-class wrestlers to finish with a bronze. Bajrang had waited for this opportunity since Rio 2016. He was all prepped up for the Games but made way for his guruji (mentor) Yogeshwar Dutt, the London 2012 bronze medallist (men's 61kg), to go for one last hurrah. Bajrang allowed his senior pro to go and secure an Olympic quota for India in the men's 65kg freestyle event from the Asian Olympic qualification tournament in Astana. Yogeshwar obliged and booked his berth for the Rio Games. Bajrang didn't cross paths with guruji and it was his way of repaying the faith. He knew that his time would come. In fact, in 2016, Yogeshwar had hailed Bajrang as his rightful successor in the 65kg category. Bajrang was captivated by wrestling at a young age of seven, when he would flunk classes to attend dangals (mud wrestling) in the local akharas of Khudan village. It helped that his father, Balwan Singh, was also a grappler and held considerable sway in Jhajjar's wrestling circuits. Seeing his child's love for the sport, Balwan enrolled him at a wrestling academy in the early 2000s. Bajrang, who would compete in men's freestyle 60kg in his initial days, announced his arrival on the big stage after winning bronze at the Asian and World Championships in 2013. The following year, he brought silver medals from the Asian, CWG and Asian Games, competing in the 61kg category. Bajrang secured medals in all major international events, but his big-ticket moment came in 2018 when he won four medals in 2018, including the CWG and Asiad gold. After qualifying for Tokyo in 2019 following his bronze-winning effort at the Worlds in Nur-Sultan, Bajrang kept his tryst with Olympic glory with a podium finish on Saturday.
399 An overjoyed Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren assured weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu that on her return the government will give her a job suitable to her as a token of gratitude. Talking to her on Sunday through video conferencing, Mr. Biren said, "You no longer have to be a ticket checking inspector in the railways". The weightlifter had been working as a tickets inspector in the Indian Railways. Ms. Chanu profusely thanked the Chief Minister for this kind gesture. Mr. Biren said, "₹1 crore is set aside for you. You will get it on arrival in Imphal. Besides the plum job will be of an officer's rank". Other government departments and prominent citizens including politicians have started announcing cash rewards for Ms. Chanu. On Sunday, Education Minister S. Rajen announced that his department will give ₹3 lakh to the weightlifter. Thanking the Chief Minister and people for their unwavering support, Ms. Chanu said that she will soon return home and meet all her well-wishers. Mr. Biren also exuded confidence that international boxer Mary Kom will surely win a gold medal. She had bagged six medals in different events. However, Mr. Biren did not promise any government job to her. She was appointed sometime back in the police department to the rank of police superintendent. Meanwhile, Sushila Likmabam who had bowed out of the Judo bout in Tokyo said, "I am not disheartened by the defeat. I will work hard so that I do better in the next Olympics. I am happy that my friend Mirabai could open the medal account for India".
400 Following her victory, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu expressed her craving for pizza and the fast-food chain wished her with a special announcement. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened the account in the medal tally for Team India in the ongoing Olympics on Saturday as she won a silver in the 49kg category and fell just short of the gold medal limit. This ended the wait of 21 years for a medal in weightlifting. Following her win, speaking to NDTV, Mirabai Chanu expressed her craving for pizza saying that was the first thing she wanted to have after the win. "First of all, I will go and have a pizza. It has been a long time since I ate it. I will eat a lot today," she said. Seeing her crave for pizza, the fast-food chain Domino's Pizza congratulated her on the win and wished her with a special announcement of a gift to her of lifetime free pizza. "@Mirabai_chanu Congratulations on bringing the medal home! You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to FREE Domino's pizza for life. Congratulations again!" Domino's India tweeted. The moment Domino's made the announcement the fans and the users on Twitter appreciated the pizza chain for their noble gesture. Many said that they will eat pizza from Domino's only from now on while many were inspired by the free pizza announcement.
401 One of the most extraordinary aspects of sports is that it brings everyone to the same level. No matter where you are from or what happened to your leg after that car accident, you can take your passion for sports and show it to the entire world as long as you believe in yourself. So many people feel frustrated and sad after a serious personal injury with long-life physical consequences. It's what everyone would feel like, too. And this may be even worse for those who used to practice sports or were athletes at the Olympics. That's where sports come to help those injured athletes who have to abandon their role in the team: the Paralympic Games are designed to give everyone the same right and possibility to perform a soccer game, a tennis match, or a race. How Did India Perform At The 2016 Games? Every country that took part in the Paralympic Games in 2016 had several very good teams for different sports. India competed at the Games from 7th to 18th September. India is one of the countries that have been appearing at the Paralympics since 1968, except for 1976 and 1980. For the 2016 Paralympics, India sent its best 19 athletes, of which 16 men and 3 women, to Rio (Brazil). This was India's largest delegation of participants at the Games in history and, as many Indian followers predicted, this summer Paralympics event translated into a great success for the country. It practically marked history in India's sports industry as its athletes won 4 medals out of 5 different sports in total. India's Best Medalist Ever Gaining 4 medals on only 5 sports is a pretty high result and all Indians who placed a bet on their favorite athletes can be pretty proud of their performance. The medalists of the 2016 Paralympics were: Mariyappan Thangavelu who won the gold medal at the men's High Jump on 9th September. Mariyappan Thangavelu who won the gold medal at the men's High Jump on 9th September. Mariyappan Thangavelu who won the gold medal at the men's High Jump on 9th September. Mariyappan Thangavelu who won the gold medal at the men's High Jump on 9th September. Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics Due to the virus issue, the Summer Paralympics 2020 has been postponed to 2021. So, the Games are being held at the present day. The majestic landscape of Japan will offer its best background in Tokyo, which was chosen as the city to host this sports event. For those who don't want to miss a thing, know that both the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the New National Stadium in the Heritage Zone of the city, the same location as the Olympics in 1964. The main sports venues in this area that will also host the various games include the Nippon Budokan, the Tokyo Equestrian Park, the Tokyo International Forum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and the Yoyogi National Stadium. Other important sports venues that will also be important for the actual Paralympics are located in the Bay Zone of Tokyo and they are the Aomi Urban Sports Venue, the famous Ariake Arena, Ariake Tennis Park, the Dream Island Archery Park, another relevant venue is Makuhari Messe, the Odaiba Marine Park, the Olympic Aquatics Centre, the Olympic Gymnastics Centre, and the Sea Forest Waterway. Sports Games To Follow As you can see, Tokyo has plenty of significant locations to host any sports event which is fundamental because this year's Paralympics will include two new sports: badminton and taekwondo. So, in total we will follow a lot of games: archery, athletics (3 disciplines: running, throwing, and jumping), badminton (this year's new addition), boccia, cycling, equestrian, 5-a-side football, goalball, judo, para canoe, para-triathlon, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo (the other addition of 2020 Paralympics), wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis. India will also take part in this important sports competition with 24 athletes (20 men and 4 women). Thus, the number of participants is increasing at each new Paralympic event. Take into consideration that India is one of the 83 countries that will be competing for a total of 4,400 athletes. Predictive Tips For Indian Sports Bettors Although every one of the selected athletes is hope-raising for India's reputation, sports bettors will be pleased to know that a few of them are predicted to medal. If you want to support your favorite athlete and place a bet on them, consider Javelin Thrower Devendra Jhajharia and Sandeep Chaudhary, who already performed greatly and set new world records. Another well-promising athlete is Mariyappan Thangavelu who is going to participate in this new edition of the Paralympics. Bettors around the world prefer to use safe and high quality live streaming sport betting websites. This website has a high security system and Indian bettors can watch and bet on the Paralympics live at the same time.
402 Priya Malik has made India after she won a gold medal in wrestling at the World Cadet Wrestling Championship in Hungary on Sunday, July 25. Netizens are excited and after her remarkable feat, many congratulated her on and by posting a supposedly of the wrestler Priya Malik. India Today Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that though Priya Malik won the gold medal at the World Cadet Wrestling Championship in Hungary, the picture in the viral post is of Sonam Malik, another wrestler from Haryana. The viral posts are saved , , , and . With the help of reverse image search, we have the viral in several articles published on news websites. As per these articles, the athlete is Sonam Malik, a young woman wrestler from Haryana who has made her mark in the international wrestling by winning several medals in tournaments like Cadet World Wrestling Championship and Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship. This 19-year-old young wrestler came into after she beat Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik twice. We found that Sonam Malik has recently tweeted an article published on about her wrestling career with the same picture of her posted on the viral claim. From a village in Haryana to global games in Tokyo, wrestler Sonam Malik is eyeing big dreams at the age of 19. She is the youngest ever Indian woman wrestler to qualify for Olympics. Here is her story. - SheThePeople (@SheThePeople) Sonam Malik and Priya Malik both belong to Haryana. Priya Malik has recently secured the gold medal at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships after beating Belarus rival Kseniya Patapovich 5-0 in the 73 kg weight category. Hence, it is clear that the viral post applauding Priya Malik shows the picture of another wrestler Sonam Malik. Graphic Fact Check: Netizens congratulate Priya Malik but post wrestler Sonam Malik's picture
403 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok followed up her first-round 67 with another brilliant, blemish-free five-under 66 to stay in contention for an Olympic medal on Thursday. The 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, took her two-day total to nine-under 133 to be tied second with the Danish duo of Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63). The trio was four shots behind the world No.1, American Nelly Korda, who shot a stunning nine-under 62 on another brilliant day for scoring at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Diksha Dagar (72), the other Indian in the 60-player field, was tied 53rd on six-over 148. With the threat of thunderstorms over the weekend, the 72-hole competition could be reduced to a 54-hole affair, and Aditi knows that she needs to start attacking the pin from the get-go on the third day to be on the podium. “Whether it's 54 or 72 holes, I'm not going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be aggressive and make more birdies,” Aditi said. Although the birdies were hard to come by after she picked up shots on the second and sixth holes, the Bengalurean was solid right through. “I played well today and scrambled fewer times compared to the opening round,” she said. The 23-year-old hit a purple patch on the home stretch, picking up birdies on three of the last four holes – 15th, 17th and18th to stay within striking distance of the leader. She could have had another birdie on the par-3, 16th hole but missed a tough 15-foot putt. “The last three holes, I had a couple shots that were just a good number for me, and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day,” said Aditi, who hit within 7-8 feet of the flag on the closing holes. “I could have definitely created more birdie opportunities today, but I'm happy that I played bogey-free and stayed consistent with my game plan,” said Aditi, who was solid with her hitting and didn't give herself any long putts. The youngster knows she is on the cusp of winning a medal. “It's definitely at the back of my mind, but on the course, I'm not thinking much about it. I'm just trying to hit the best shot I can hit,” said Aditi.
404 Tiken Borgohain couldn't have been happier on Friday. He has has faced a lot problems over the past few months. However, with daughter Lovlina assuring herself of an Olympic medal, he couldn't have asked for a better balm. “I have no words to express my happiness,” Tiken said over phone from his native village Baromukhia in Assam, his voice almost drowned in the squeals of joy within the house. “She has always dreamt of winning a medal at the Olympics. So, this is not only a dream come true for her, but all of us.” However, neither he nor his wife watched her match. “I can't watch the game live. My heart starts pounding loudly, so I just watch the highlights later,” he said. While it is a proud moment, it is also a redemption of sorts for him. Being a father of three girls, Tiken has had to endure a lot taunts in his village. “All those people who used to speak bad of my daughters, are now coming to my house and congratulating me,” he added. It was one of the reasons, Tiken says, that the daughters started learning Muay Thai so as to show the villagers that they are not inferior to any one. Lovlina's elder sisters — Licha and Lima — gave up the game to start working and support the family. “They did a lot for the family and also supported Lovlina whenever possible,” he said. Tiken now just can't wait for the semifinal bout to take place, but like the earlier times, they didn't speak a word about boxing when he finally had a chance to talk to his daughter on Friday. “It was just normal talk. 'Did you eat your food? What did you eat? How is mother?'” he revealed. While Lovlina's father was as proud as one can be, her coaches were also over the moon. “When she won the first round 3-2 and started the second well, we knew she would win. Despite a tough draw, she has performed well and it's a tremendous achievement,” Boxing Federation of India's high performance director Santiago Nieva said.
405 PV Sindhu, the ace shuttler who created history earlier this week by becoming the first Indian women to win two Olympic medals, is exploring legal options against brands and companies including Happydent-maker Perfetti Van Melle, Vicks-maker P&G, Pan Bahar, Apollo Hospitals, Aditya Birla Group and others for unauthorised use of her name and pictures for marketing purposes. Baseline Ventures, the sports marketing agency that manages all commercial deals of Sindhu, will be sending legal notices on her behalf, seeking damages worth ?5 crore from each of these companies. “We are surprised that such leading Indian and global firms are resorting to such forms of communication to associate with our athletes, which is in complete breach of their IPR and privacy,” Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra told ET. While many fans and companies put out congratulatory posts on social media, these brands used their logos and brand name along with the athlete. As per marketing experts, this is called 'moment marketing'. Brands insert themselves in the ongoing conversation to take advantage of ongoing events by creating communications and marketing collateral around such events. Amul has been doing it successfully for many years, and last month Domino's did the same when they announced free pizza for life for silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu. Only in her case, the pizza brand inked a digital activation pact with the 26-year-old weightlifter later. It was her first deal, post her podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics. However, inSindhu's case, who already has many brand associations, these kinds of posts come at a cost. “In a way, these tactics are also unfair to genuine firms who have supported the athlete round the year. Would these very firms try the same gimmicks with some of our leading cricketers? I doubt it. It's time we all stand up to such unethical practices and we will do everything possible to protect our athletes and their rights,” Mishra added. Perfetti Van Malle, P&G and Apollo Hospitals refused to comment. This is not the first time when brands have been sued for using celebrities or sports athletes. Many brand experts call such practices gimmicky, as they seek to latch on the popularity of the celebrity, without getting into a commercial deal with them. FOR FULL REPORT, GO TO
406 PV Sindhu, the ace shuttler who created history earlier this week by becoming the first Indian women to win two Olympic medals, is exploring legal options against brands and companies including Happydent-maker Perfetti Van Melle, Vicks-maker P&G, Pan Bahar, Apollo Hospitals, Aditya Birla Group and others for unauthorised use of her name and pictures for marketing purposes. Baseline Ventures, the sports marketing agency that manages all commercial deals of Sindhu, will be sending legal notices on her behalf, seeking damages worth ?5 crore from each of these companies. “We are surprised that such leading Indian and global firms are resorting to such forms of communication to associate with our athletes, which is in complete breach of their IPR and privacy,” Tuhin Mishra, MD, Baseline Ventures, told ET. While many fans and companies put out congratulatory posts on social media, these brands used their own logos and brand name along with the athlete. As per marketing experts, this is called 'moment marketing'. Brands insert themselves in the ongoing conversation to take advantage of ongoing events by creating communications and marketing collateral around such events. Amul has been doing it successfully for many years, and last month Domino's did the same when they announced free pizza for life for silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu. Only in her case, the pizza brand inked a digital activation pact with the 26-year-old weightlifter later. It was her first deal, post her podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics. However, in Sindhu's case, who already has many brand associations, these kinds of posts come at a cost. “In a way, these tactics are also unfair to genuine firms who have supported the athlete round the year. Would these very firms try the same gimmicks with some of our leading cricketers? I doubt it. It's time we all stand up to such unethical practices and we will do everything possible to protect our athletes and their rights,” Mishra added. Perfetti Van Malle, P&G and Apollo Hospitals refused to comment. This is not the first time when brands have been sued for using celebrities or sports athletes. Many brand experts call such practices gimmicky, as they seek to latch on the popularity of the celebrity, without getting into a commercial deal with them.
407 Manipur's Mirabai Chanu won a in the 49kg weightlifting category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on July 24. She is the first Indian weightlifter to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games. After she returned to India to a grand welcome and was felicitated by union ministers, an image from the ceremony is viral on social media. The viral post shows a banner, purportedly thanking PM Narendra Modi for awarding an Olympic medal to Mirabai. We can also see the images of PM Modi and Mirabai on the banner. The Hindi text on the banner translates to, "Thank you Modi ji for giving a medal to Mirabai Chanu." The is circulated on social media with the caption in Hindi that translates to, "Look at the background of the photo and read what's written. Meera Bai Chanu has brought the medal by hard work, or Modi ji has given it? If so, then Modiji should give medals to the entire team!" The archived versions of similar posts can be seen , , and . India Today Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the image in circulation is morphed. While the original banner has the image of PM Modi, there was no Hindi text on it "thanking" him for Mirabai's Olympic medal. AFWA probe With the help of appropriate keywords, we found the original version of the image in question carried in a by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on July 27. Comparing the banner in this image to the one in question, we can clearly understand that the line "Thank you Modi ji for getting Mirabai Chanu a medal" was not present on the original banner. According to the ministry's press release, the image was part of the felicitation ceremony held by Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence for Mirabai and her coach Vijay Sharma on July 27. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Kishan Reddy, and Sarbananda were also present at the event. Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also shared videos and images from the event on its Twitter, and handles. A historic decision taken to establish National Sports University in Manipur was another big achievement for the northeast region. I congratulate on behalf of 135 crore Indians and the Parliament, for her achievement - Union Minister - PIB India (@PIB_India) It is hence clear that the image in question is morphed and the original banner by the ministry does not thank PM Modi for Mirabai's silver medal. Graphic Fact Check: Banner thanking PM Modi at Mirabai's felicitation ceremony for her silver medal is morphed
408 A day after 6 Trinamool MPs were suspended from Rajya Sabha for a day, a row broke out on Thursday when Deputy chairman Harivansh called a suspended member's conduct “highly deplorable and condemnable” while alleging that the MP, during the adjournment of the House on Wednesday, had broken the glass of a door, injuring a woman member of the security staff. However, the opposition accused the deputy chairman for “supporting the wrong narrative” of the incident. Union minister Piyush Goyal said the chamber was closed for sanitisation and the MPs were trying to enter the chamber during that time. TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the suspended MPs had returned to collect their belongings and “in the commotion, the glass pane was broken”. As the TMC and other MPs opposed the remarks, the House was adjourned. But despite the continued impasse over the Pegasus row and several other issues, Rajya Sabha managed to pass three important bills—the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order (Amendment) Bill, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill and the Essential Defence Services Bill. On the defence services bill, defence minister Rajnath Singh assured that House that it was not going to come in the way of anybody's right to protest peacefully. Congress accused the government of using the commotion to rush through the bill. Even while speaking on the bills, the opposition MPs kept raising issues related to snooping, farm laws and fuel price hike. Earlier in the House, leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge blamed the Centre for the stalemate and claimed that he had got a call from Rajnath Singh saying that he would resolve the issue once back from abroad, but no member of the opposition had got any official invite for any meeting. Singh said he had not given any assurance and had only said that the House should hold proper discussion and the pandemonium should stop. Proceedings in Lok Sabha were also marred by opposition protests. After repeated adjournments when the House met at 5 pm, FM Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The bill seeks to amend the Income Tax Act of 1961 and the Finance Act of 2021. Earlier amid the din, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 202, that seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 for establishment of a university in the Union Territory of Ladakh. When the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla congratulated the Indian hockey team for its Olympic medal after 41 years as well as women who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
409 Naresh Tumda was a member of India's blind cricket team that beat Pakistan to win the World Cup in 2018, but these days his survival depends on his daily innings as a casual labourer. Every day, Tumda leaves his house in Khatamba village in Vansda taluka of Navsari district early in the morning to take guard at the kadia naka, the gathering point to find casual labour. His struggles are being played out at a time when the nation is celebrating India's sportspersons at the Tokyo Olympics. Tumda had in August last year started selling vegetables in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad. But the curfews and the curbs imposed by the government to control Covid forced him to exit that business. Tumda had no money to start another business, so lining up for daily wage was his only option. He is the sole earning member of his family. His father had to stop working after undergoing a cancer surgery. “I was in the playing 11 of India's cricket team that lifted the Blind World Cup on March 20, 2018, after chasing the challenging target of 308 set by Pakistan in Sharjah,” Tumda said. “Now, I have to lift bricks and sand to run my house.” He said that after India's blind cricket team won the World Cup, several ministers and politicians from New Delhi and Gandhinagar had promised him a job. It appears that they have turned a blind eye to him. “Earlier, my father used to work as a casual labourer so I did not have to think much about family income,” Tumda said. “But two years ago, he underwent a surgery for oral cancer. Skin from his hand was grafted on to his mouth. He was told not to do strenuous tasks.” Tumda said he can no longer invest in perishable commodities such as vegetables. “But even as a casual labourer, I face uncertainty,” he said. “I wish government authorities consider my plight and give me a job or financial aid.”
410 Ace Indian golfer Aditi Ashok followed up her first-round 67 with another brilliant, blemish-free five-under 66 to stay in contention for an Olympic medal on Thursday. The 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, took her two-day total to nine-under 133 to be tied second with the Danish duo of Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63). The trio was four shots behind the world No. 1, American Nelly Korda, who shot a stunning nine-under 62 on another brilliant day for scoring at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Diksha Dagar (72), the other Indian in the 60-player field, was tied 53rd on six-over 148. With the threat of thunderstorms over the weekend, the 72-hole competition could be reduced to a 54-hole affair, and Aditi knows that she needs to start attacking the pin from the get-go on the third day to be on the podium. “Whether it's 54 or 72 holes, I'm not going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be aggressive and make more birdies,” Aditi said. Although the birdies were hard to come by after she picked up shots on the second and sixth holes, the Bengalurean was solid right through. “I played well today and scrambled fewer times compared to the opening round,” she said. The 23-year-old hit a purple patch on the home stretch, picking up birdies on three of the last four holes – 15th, 17th and 18th to stay within striking distance of the leader. She could have had another birdie on the par-3, 16th hole but missed a tough 15-foot putt. “The last three holes, I had a couple shots that were just a good number for me, and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day,” said Aditi, who hit within 7-8 feet of the flag on the closing holes. “I could have definitely created more birdie opportunities today, but I'm happy that I played bogey-free and stayed consistent with my game plan,” said Aditi, who was solid with her hitting and didn't give herself any long putts. The youngster knows she is on the cusp of winning a medal, but isn't getting ahead of herself. “It's definitely at the back of my mind, but on the course, I'm not thinking much about it. I'm just trying to hit the best shot I can hit,” said Aditi, who is coming off a career-best thirdplace finish on the LPGA.
411 It's very interesting to note our public reactions when some of our sports people do well, on the international stage - whether it is the Olympics, the World Cup or anything else. We win a few matches. The whole nation is over the moon. And then comes the agony. Our sports people can rarely clinch the gold, and they have to settle for a bronze. Of course, bronze is also good. The fact that we competed internationally is good enough. Still, there is collective disappointment on the social media and our mainstream media. The politicians offer cash, gifts etc. The game goes on. The whole nation wants us to do well in sports. But if we look at what the parents tell the children, it's always about studying and not wasting time on sports or games, as they would call it. This seems to be a hangover from the pre-independence and the immediate post-independence days. Then a college degree ensured you got a clerical job with the government so that you had some security. Later on, engineering and medicine were the aspirational fields with accountancy and law coming a close second. The world has changed. There are a variety of options, which may not include much of academics. I agree that basic education is necessary. There's no dearth of talent. We can nurture both sports and brilliance in academics. Once we build up this culture of sports, only then Indians will do internationally. Twenty years ago I used to joke that a mother will get her child who is interested in sports to me and I will ask 'Beta, what do you play?', and he will, with a huge grin on his face, say, 'Computer games'. It was a joke then but sadly a reality now. I am not decrying computer games, but we can learn valuable life lessons from sports - the value of teamwork, the value of leadership, the value of communication, mind over matter, etc. These life lessons will stand us in good stead in a corporate career and even in our spiritual growth. (The writer is the founder of Aarsha Vidya Foundation. You can write to him at )
412 Milind Soman's wife Ankita Konwar recently took to social media and talked about racism in India. She also slammed 'hypocrites' who celebrate a northeasterner's victory when they represent Indian and win medals, but otherwise subject them to racism and harassment. Ankita, who hails from Assam, has also called out people discriminating against North-East Indians. "If you're from Northeast India, you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as ''Chinky' 'Chinese' 'Nepali' or a new addition 'corona'," she wrote. "India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience. #Hypocrites," she added. India has won a silver medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in weightlifting, all thanks to Mirabai Chanu, who hails from North-East India's Manipur. Not the one to shy away, Ankita often speaks her mind on social media platforms. A couple of weeks back, Ankita she made headlines after she gave a befitting reply to a netizen who questioned her about having kids and also addressed the age gap between her and Milind. A user had asked, "How did you tackle/ manage this Indian stereotype of 'Don't marry an older man'?" Ankita responded, "Anything that's not common in a society, people usually like to talk about it. And it's not just limited to India. We as a species, have a tendency to get weird about the unknown, the unexplored AKA fear." Replying to a user asking her about having kids. "It has been years of your marriage, what do you think about family planning?" the user asked. To this, Ankita's epic response was, "We are a planned family." Milind and Ankita had tied the knot in Alibaug on April 22, 2018. The private ceremony was attended by the couple's close family and friends. They once again exchanged wedding vows in Spain in a barefoot wedding in July 2018.
413 Biles posted a video to her Instagram story talking about the extent of the condition called twisties which she said is occurring during every event. The four-time Olympic gold medalist, US gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020 due to a medical condition ahead of the finals. After Simone received her lowest Olympic score on the vault due to an awkward landing in the women's artistic all-around team final against Russia, she decided to pull out of the gamesciting her mental health issue. Since then there is a lot of buzz created around mental health and depression,especially of athletes, on the international stage. From the celebrities to the common man, all pitching in with their comments on the issue.Simone Biles received a lot of applause and support for her brave decisionfrom many fellow athletes and fans online. However, she also had to face some criticism, some even going to the extent of calling her a coward. On Tuesday, while interacting with journalists,Simone Biles opened up about her condition saying she was 'having a little bit of the twisties', which is a mental health condition that specifically affects gymnasts. Imagine you are defying the laws of gravity andsoaring in the air, but when you want to land the mind does not take your orders? This mental condition occurs when the body and mind become disconnected, posing a danger to athletes.Simone Biles went undefeated for eight years ingymnastics but now her body seems to give in to this mental health condition. After the decision, Simoneposteda video toher Instagram story talking about the extent of the condition, which she said is occurring during every event. The video, however, has been deleted now. The gymnast is the first woman since 1992 to qualify for all four event finals, but it is unclear whether she will compete this weekend. Understanding 'twisties' that affectgymnasts 'Twisties'gets its name from the aerial twisting skills gymnasts perform, a phenomenon that needs further study for understanding. Itis described as a mental block by gymnasts, which causes them to lose spatial awareness while performing, thereby losing control of their body. There is a disconnect between the body and mind in this condition and leads to disorientation. The condition can either be caused on a mental level by stress and anxiety or on a physical level by focal dystonia. As per experts, focal dystonia causes 'involuntary muscle spasms' if muscles are overused. For gymnasts, who rely on muscle memory while twisting through the air at high speeds and heights, loss of control threatens their ability to fall back to the ground safely. According to Simone,they are not just affecting her on vault and floor exercise, as in the past but are also affecting her bars and beam moves now.
414 Indian golfer Aditi Ashok followed up her first-round 67 with another brilliant, blemish-free five-under 66 to stay in contention for an Olympic medal on Thursday. The 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, took her two-day total to nineunder 133 to be tied second with the Danish duo of Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63). The trio was four shots behind the world No. 1, American Nelly Korda, who shot a stunning nine-under 62 on another brilliant day for scoring at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Diksha Dagar (72), the other Indian in the 60-player field, was tied 53 on six-over 148. With the threat of thunderstorms over the weekend, the 72-hole competition could be reduced to a 54-hole affair, and Aditi knows that she needs to start attacking the pin from the get-go on the third day to be on the podium. “Whether it's 54 or 72 holes, I'm not going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be aggressive and make more birdies,” Aditi said. Although the birdies were hard to come by after she picked up shots on the second and sixth holes, the Bengalurean was solid right through. “I played well today and scrambled fewer times compared to the opening round,” she said. The 23-year-old hit a purple patch on the home stretch, picking up birdies on three of the last four holes – 15th, 17th and 18th to stay within striking distance of the leader. She could have had another birdie on the par-3, 16 hole but missed a tough 15-foot putt. “The last three holes, I had a couple shots that were just a good number for me, and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day,” said Aditi, who hit within 7-8 feet of the flag on the closing holes. “I could have definitely created more birdie opportunities today, but I'm happy that I played bogey-free and stayed consistent with my game plan,” said Aditi, who was solid with her hitting and didn't give herself any long putts. The youngster knows she is on the cusp of winning a medal, but isn't getting ahead of herself. “It's definitely at the back of my mind, but on the course, I'm not thinking much about it. I'm just trying to hit the best shot I can hit,” said Aditi, who is coming off a career-best third-place finish on the LPGA. Leading scores (after 36 holes): 129: Nelly Korda (US, 67, 62); 133: Aditi Ashok (Ind, 67, 66), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Den, 69, 64), Emily Kristine Pedersen (Den, 70, 73); 134: Madelene Sagstrom (Swe, 66, 68); 135: Mone Inami (Jpn, 70, 65), Ko Jin-Young (Kor, 68, 67).
415 The hockey rivalry between India and Great Britain is steeped in history. On August 12, 1948, almost a year after India gained independence from the British rule, the Balbir Singh Sr led-team blanked the hosts 4-0 at a packed Wembley stadium in London to claim independent India's maiden Olympic gold. Less than two weeks from the 73rd anniversary of the landmark day, the two teams face off in the quarterfinals at the Oi stadium. Great Britain, the three-time champions, are eyeing a gold and podium which has eluded them since their triumph at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Manpreet Singh & co on the other hand, are looking to end a 41-year old drought. India won their eighth and last gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Games. For over three decades now, both teams have struggled to regain glory and the journey towards that starts on Sunday. The teams have taken contrasting paths to the knockouts. India have put up their best showing since 1980, winning four of their five league engagements. Their only blemish was the 1-7 drubbing handed by the Australians. Great Britain booked their last-8 berth with a 2-2 draw against Belgium in the last pool match on Friday, finishing third in Pool B. The Adam Dixon marshalled team returned a mixed bag in the league stage, winning and losing two matches each, while their last match ended in a draw. Having stumbled at this stage in Rio five years ago, India are looking to make amends and will be tough opponents for Great Britain. Although there are still holes to be plugged in their game, India have shown allround improvement. In their last league match against hosts Japan, their forwardline and the midfielders showed spunk and worked as a cohesive unit. The defenders too have shown improvement, although they can be more efficient while defending inside the circle considering the penalty corners they have handed on a platter to their opponents. They ought to be wary of Britain and the brand of hockey they play. Their game is soaked in aggression and man-to-man marking is the team's USP. In the Pool matches, Britain conceded 11 goals but scored 11. Against India, they will come prepared to break the midfield in which India play an attacker and defender. India also have some scores to settle, having gone down 1-2 in the bronze medal match at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to Britain.
416 The world woke up to the shocking news that Lionel Messi won't be a part of FC Barcelona anymore on Friday, August 6. The six-time world player of the year, Argentina striker Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona parted ways after they couldn't formalise a contract due to financial and structural obstacles. Actress and politician Smriti Irani took to Instagram to share a meme of herself as Tulsi that is going viral to summarise the situation. SMRITI IRANI SUMMARISES LIONEL MESSI LEAVING BARCELONA WITH A MEME Smriti Irani, , took to Instagram to share a viral meme with fans. In the meme, Smriti Irani can be seen as Tulsi from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. In the show, she always kept the diya lit up for her husband, Mihir. But after his death, the diya too, was extinguished. Coming back to footballer Lionel Messi, till he was a part of FC Barcelona, the club was happy as Messi is known as the player to have scored the most goals in FC Barcelona while breaking a host of other records. Now that Messi is leaving Barcelona, the fate of the club hangs in the balance. Here's the meme: , it read, "Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations)." "As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled," it added. LATEST NEWS | Leo will not continue with FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) Smriti Irani is the Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women and Child Development. Long before her political career, Smriti Irani became a household name when she played the role of Tulsi in Ekta Kapoor's TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The hit television show ran for eight years. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Smriti Irani summarises Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona with viral meme. Don't miss it
417 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Dawn broke on the horizon with a thirst-quenching freshness for the family members of Vivek Sagar Prasad. It was the thirst that they wanted to quench with a win for the nation. As the Hoshangabad lad, who made entire nation proud, wore a bronze medal miles away, his near and dear ones erupted into jubilation back home despite incessant rain. "Bhaiya, I can't render my feelings into words right now," said Shiv Nagar Chandoun's Vivek Sagar, sitting in Tokyo, immediately after his brother, Vidhya Sagar, picked up the call he made after India's historic win. Vivek was trying to contain his emotions. Yet, all he could hear in the background were the rolls of drumbeat. That was how his people were expressing their emotions on his achievement. "I'm a part of the team that has broken the 41-year-long medal jinx," he said. The entire village gathered outside his house soon after the team defeated 11-time-medallist Germany on Thursday morning. "My little brother has scripted history with the win," exclaimed Vidhya Sagar, the elder brother and software engineer in Pune. "The scenario wasn't very different from the day we sat down early in the morning to watch the semifinals," he said. "Still, the difference is - India won. We jumped from our seats. Our happiness knew no bounds. The drums were ready and so were all the villagers. Some of the villagers who had come to our home to watch the match ran out to burst firecrackers. We knew this was our day. Everyone came prepared," said Vidhya. His parents reached Mata Mandir in the neighbourhood along with the villagers. Vivek's mother, Kamala Devi, said she had known that he would never fall short of her expectations and would get a medal. Gold or bronze, she didn't care! His father, Rohit Prasad, says he prides himself on the performance of Team India, as well as on his son's. "I can never forget that my son's part of the team that has quenched the thirst of four long decades. I now wait for him to return," said Prasad. The mirth and merriment was not confined to his locality. The members of the district hockey association, hockey lovers and the close ones of Vivek took out a procession throughout the city. Hundreds of people went from Dhyanchand Square to Jai Stambha Square, dancing to the drumbeats. Every resident of Itarsi was seen distributing sweets as if their own son had won the medal in Tokyo. The merry-making went on and on, although evening slipped into night. And why not? After all, Vivek has returned MP her lost glory. PM congratulates Vivek Sagar on Twitter Prime Minister took to Twitter to congratulate every member of the winning team on Thursday evening. He wrote, "Young @VivekSagarpras1 brings a lot of energy and skills to the mid-field. He scored a vital goal in India's Olympic journey. He is an important talent for the future of Indian hockey. #Tokyo2020" Modi had earlier spoken to the captain, Manpreet Singh, and the coaches to congratulate them and the team on the historic win.
418 CASE OF UNAUTHORISED USE PV Sindhu, the ace shuttler who created history earlier this week by becoming the first Indian women to win two Olympic medals, is exploring legal options against brands and companies including Happydent-maker Perfetti Van Melle, Vicks-maker P&G, Pan Bahar, Apollo Hospitals, Aditya Birla Group and others for unauthorised use of her name and pictures for marketing purposes. Baseline Ventures, the sports marketing agency that manages all commercial deals of Sindhu, will be sending legal notices on her behalf, seeking damages worth ?5 crore from each of these companies. “We are surprised that such leading Indian and global firms are resorting to such forms of communication to associate with our athletes, which is in complete breach of their IPR and privacy,” Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra told ET. While many fans and companies put out congratulatory posts on social media, these brands used their logos and brand name along with the athlete. As per marketing experts, this is called 'moment marketing'. Brands insert themselves in the ongoing conversation to take advantage of ongoing events by creating communications and marketing collateral around such events. Amul has been doing it successfully for many years, and last month Domino's did the same when they announced free pizza for life for silver medal winner Mirabai Chanu. Only in her case, the pizza brand inked a digital activation pact with the 26-year-old weightlifter later. It was her first deal, post her podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics. However, in Sindhu's case, who already has many brand associations, these kinds of posts come at a cost. “In a way, these tactics are also unfair to genuine firms who have supported the athlete round the year. Would these very firms try the same gimmicks with some of our leading cricketers? I doubt it. It's time we all stand up to such unethical practices and we will do everything possible to protect our athletes and their rights,” Mishra added. Perfetti Van Malle, P&G and Apollo Hospitals refused to comment. This is not the first time when brands have been sued for using celebrities or sports athletes. Many brand experts call such practices gimmicky, as they seek to latch on the popularity of the celebrity, without getting into a commercial deal with them. Offering legal opinion, Kaushik Moitra, partner at law firm Bharucha & Partners, said, “The right of publicity has also evolved from the right of privacy, which is a fundamental right in India. Additionally, a celebrity holds a copyright in their performance and is entitled to restrain others from exploiting their intellectual property for commercial purposes. Thus, a celebrity's name, voice, image, or other personal attributes cannot be exploited without their permission.”
419 It began with Mirabai Chanu's comment after winning a weightlifting silver at the Tokyo Olympics that she would love some pizza. That spawned a tweet which went viral and has eventually led to a commercial deal. Domino's, India's largest organised food services brand, has inked a digital activation pact with Chanu. It's the first brand deal the 26-year-old weightlifter has signed after getting on the podium at Tokyo. It will involve Chanu associating with the brand on social and digital media platforms such as Twitter, where she now has about185,000 followers. Domino's had offered the Manipur-based athlete free lifetime pizza through a tweet after she said last Saturday in an interview that the first thing she wanted to do was have pizza after winning the medal. Hundreds of Twitter users noted that Domino's latched on to Chanu's comment with alacrity, and then wondered whether the athlete had benefitted in any away. “We have entered into a commercial engagement with Domino's, for associations with Mirabai Chanu on digital platforms. It is a digital activation deal,” said IOS Sports & Entertainment managing director Neerav Tomar. IOS represents Chanu's commercial and endorsement businesses. Jubilant FoodWorks, the India franchisee for Domino's, didn't respond to queries. “Being an athlete, she didn't want to sign a regular endorsement deal with a pizza brand, because it isn't considered healthy. However, Domino's will most certainly benefit from the association with Chanu, even if this is not a conventional endorsement deal,” said another executive aware of the development. Given cricket's dominance, any deals with those pursuing other sports should be supported. “As far as non-cricket athletes are concerned, they usually have a small window of commercial opportunities such as these,” said brand specialist and social commentator Santosh Desai. “More brands need to come up and support athletes like Chanu, who come from humble backgrounds and prove themselves." Industry executives said there is an increasing trend for large brands to sign popular talent or influencers for digital-only, tactical endorsements, given the traction platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have, especially among younger consumers. “Digital-only associations are absolutely here to stay. These neither need to be very long term, nor have to involve expensive shoots, and can get immediate short-term traction,” said Vinita Bangard, founder of Krossover Entertainment, which has worked on deals with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, among others.
420 She was seen hugging her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei as security guards formed a ring around her When she last visited her home at Nongpok Sekmai village in Manipur, it was with a regret and with a dream. The regret of the debacle of Rio and the dream of exorcising that ghost and winning a medal for the country. On Tuesday, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu came home. The ghost had been exorcised. The dream fulfilled. The silver-medal winning weightlifter touched down at Imphal's Tulihal International Airport on Tuesday morning to a tumultuous welcome from hundreds of people who had gathered notwithstanding the restrictions imposed owing to the pandemic. A stringent training regimen after the 2016 Rio Games had limited Mirabai's visits to her home over the past five years. The 26-year-old was seen hugging her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei with tears rolling down her face as security guards formed a ring around her. Before Chanu could speak, she was whisked away by chief minister N. Biren Singh and her family members, who had come to the airport to receive her. She was driven to the City Convention Centre at Imphal East where a reception function had been organised in her honour. As assured by the state government, Chanu was handed her letter of appointment to the post of deputy superintendent of police (sports) by chief minister Biren Singh along with a cash award of Rs 1 crore. She was also gifted an additional Rs 25 lakh as participation fees in the Olympics. Chanu herself was overcome with emotion. "Words cannot express how I feel at the moment. But I have to give credit to my family members, especially to my father and mother, who brought to me the world and supported me through thick and thin. My respect to my teacher L. Anita Chanu and Brojendro Singh and others who went through lots of trouble to help me reach where I am today. I dedicate my medal to my family members. I have performed today but I have many miles to go for further glory."
421 Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned three times in the first half of Monday, as the Opposition continued raising slogans and protesting against the government on the Pegasus issue. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the persistent disruptions by a few had cost many MPs their opportunity to raise issues of public importance. While the Opposition MPs continued their protests during Zero Hour, Mr. Naidu said important matters about COVID-19 vaccines, the alleged attacks on press freedom and even the chance to seek clarifications from the government on the Pegasus issue were denied due to the disruptions. He said 57 matters raised by 63 MPs had been permitted during the four sittings last week but none of them could be taken up due to the disruptions. On Monday, too, there were 12 matters admitted for Zero Hour. "We are becoming helpless day by day," Mr. Naidu said, before adjourning the House within eight minutes of it being convened. 'Big brother is watching' When the House reconvened at noon, the Opposition protests continued, with a placard saying "big brother is watching" being held up in front of the Chair. Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked the protesting MPs to return to their seats and allow Question Hour to be held, before adjourning the proceedings till 2 p.m. Once again, when the House reconvened, the protests continued as the discussion on the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 was on. Amid the protests, the House agreed to withdraw the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2012 as moved by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani. The proceedings were adjourned within minutes each time the House reconvened - first at 3 p.m., then 4 p.m. and then 5 p.m., when the House was adjourned till 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Before the last adjournment for the day, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said there was no consensus among parties to discuss important issues despite repeated requests. Earlier in the day, the House observed a moment of silence for the soldiers who lost their lives in the Kargil War, as Monday marked the 22nd Kargil Vijay Diwas. The House also congratulated Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for winning a Silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
422 The moment boxer Lovlina Borgohain, 23, secured the second medal for India at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Friday, the sleepy little village of Baromukhia erupted into celebrations. Exuberant firecrackers broke the silence of this otherwise quaint forest reserve village, with a population of around 1,000 people, in Barpathar town, Golaghat district, Assam. Lovlina out-punched Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen to win the women's Welter 64-69 kilograms. With her win, Lovlina is now assured of at least a bronze medal. Next Wednesday, she is set to face-off against Busenaz Surmeneli from Turkey. The youngest of three siblings (she has two elder sisters), Lovlina is from a family of farmers. Over the phone, her father Tiken Borgohain, bubbling with excitement, says he is elated at her win and confident she will bag an Olympic gold for the country next time. Borgohain tells The Hindu, "She is the first sports person in our family. We are more than happy and have been busy answering calls and greeting well wishers. I still haven't got a chance to speak to Lovlina but I am sure she spoke to Mamoni (her mother)." With the family unable to control the number of visitors, all intent on celebrating Lovlina's success with them, the village headmen have made arrangements for them to meet at the local high school. Amid the celebrations, Borgohain reminisces about Lovlina's journey. He says she first got interested in muay thai boxing classes when a team from Guwahati visited Baromukhia for a demo. She enrolled in classes, and began practising at a local sports club with a coach. "When she showed an interest in muay thai boxing, we didn't stop her. We thought it would be a good sport for her to stay fit and healthy. Once she enrolled in the club she began actively taking part in muay thai boxing matches locally." He adds that in 2012, when the Sports Authority of India came to the village for selection, Lovlina participated and got in immediately. "Once she began training with SAI, she shifted her focus to boxing and participated in many regional and State-level championship initially. After a few years she was selected in the National and International category and won medals continuously. In 2020, Lovlina won the Arjuna Award, presented to her by President Ram Nath Kovind, for her contributions to India's boxing scene," says the proud father, adding that her inspirations include boxers Mary Kom and Muhammed Ali. Is the family planning a grand reception for her when she returns from Tokyo? "Whenever she is home, we feel happy. As a family, we will shower her with love and thank her for making our country win a medal," says her father, adding that the welcome will of course include her favourite celebratory meal: pork fry cooked over firewood.
423 “You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to free Domino's pizza for life.” This timely tweet from the quick service restaurant brand came after Mirabai Chanu – who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics — said in a TV interview that one of the first few things she wanted to do following the podium finish was to eat a pizza. Chanu's performance has set a flurry of brands wanting to associate with the 26-year-old weightlifter ever since she made history on Saturday. Nearly a dozen brands have sent feelers to Chanu's management company IOS Sports & Entertainment over the weekend, said Neerav Tomar, its managing director. “We are getting queries from not only nutrition and sports-related brands, but also personal care, beverage and regional brands. These are for endorsements, appearances or digital associations,” Tomar said. “Her medal has changed things overnight.” IOS plans to formalise two-three deals in the coming weeks once the champion in the women's 49-kg weightlifting category returns. So far, Chanu has had endorsement deals with Adidas and Mobil oil. Now, her endorsement fee is expected to double, albeit from a very low base. Over the last couple of days, brands such as Domino's, Britannia, Thums Up, Swiggy, Amul and VLCC have been making a beeline to associate with her win. "Even as we prepare to give #MirabaiChanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family," Pratik Pota, chief executive at Jubilant FoodWorks, said in a tweet. Jubilant operates Domino's Pizza in India. The Twitter post from Domino's official handle tagging Chanu went viral and generated a string of comments, including by some consumers who said they would only buy Domino's Pizza from now on. Coca-Cola-owned Thums Up, which has a worldwide partnership with the Olympic Games, linked her win to its ad tagline 'PalatDe' across its social media messages. It is the longer-term associations, not momentary tie-ups, that will benefit both brands and the athlete, industry observers said. "Brands look at any opportunity to stay relevant and, in a country traditionally starved of sports beyond cricket, anyone who wins becomes a star overnight," said Lloyd Mathias, an angel investor and business strategist. "So, it's a fairly positive thing to do, as long as the brand can find ways to associate for a slightly longer term instead of just that moment." Dairy brand Amul, which is supporting the Indian Olympic Association, has also felicitated Chanu's family, chairman RS Sodhi said. "We encourage sports persons and celebrate moments of national pride like this," he said. Industry experts said it would be difficult to bridge the wide gap between non-cricket athletes and cricketers for brand associations and that comparisons may not be fair. Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, for example, is learnt to charge ?4.5-5 crore a day for brand-related promotions – be it for the filming of TV commercials, appearances, or for meeting fans. In comparison, non-cricketing athletes charge anywhere between ?30 lakh and ?1.5 crore, depending on their popularity and visibility. For full report, go to
424 Scheduled to end August 13, Parliament's monsoon session has been disrupted by the row over alleged surveillance through the use of the Pegasus spyware. Accusing Lok Sabha TV of shutting it out, the Opposition, which has been seeking a discussion on the Pegasus issue and farm laws that triggered the farmer agitation, says its protests are only shown on screens inside the House, and not beamed across the country. On Friday, when Lok Sabha last met, LSTV showed Opposition protests for all of 72 seconds - House proceedings lasted a total of 45 minutes over two sittings that day. Opposition MPs, however, were not in their seats, except during the first few minutes when Speaker Om Birla paid tribute to the victims of the 1945 Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings and congratulated India's wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Members of the Congress, DMK, Left parties and TMC were in the well of the House, protesting during the proceedings which lasted from 11 am to 11.21 am. When the House met again at noon, the government passed two key Bills - The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to do away with the policy of retrospective taxation and The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to provide for the establishment of a university in the Union Territory of Ladakh - amidst slogan shouting by Opposition MPs. The live telecast of the proceedings did not really reveal what exactly happened inside Lok Sabha. Sources in LSTV said the TV screens in the House are part of the CCTV system, while the camera feed used by the channel is different. "LSTV is responsible for only what is telecast. CCTVs or its cameras are not under our control," sources said. Manoj K Arora, Editor-in-Chief cum Chief Executive of LSTV, said the channel follows rules laid down for it. "The LSTV transmission is as per the rules which say it should be a true reflection of what's happening inside the House," Arora told The Indian Express. The channel, sources said, is expected to provide an overall view, but when the Speaker or the Chair speaks or the Prime Minister speaks, it has to focus on them. The rules also say the focus should be on the member who is speaking, be it for question-answer, matters of public importance or participation in a debate. On Friday, The Indian Express tracked proceedings, minute by minute, from the press gallery inside Lok Sabha and the telecast on LSTV. This is what really happened: * 11 am: Speaker Om Birla enters the House. He recalls the destruction when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed 76 years ago. He calls for a pledge to live in peace and harmony. * 11.02: Speaker congratulates wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for winning a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics. MPs join him by thumping the desk. * 11.03: Speaker starts Question Hour. Starts with a question relating to institutional deliveries by states during the pandemic. Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Pralhad Joshi, Smriti Irani are present. Opposition MPs leave their seats. Congress MP Manickam Tagore is the first to walk towards the treasury benches, shouting slogans. He is followed by TMC's Aparupa Poddar, Abu Taher Khan and Mahua Moitra, Congress's Jasbir Singh Gill, Benny Behanan, Hibi Eden, T N Prathapan and Dean Kuriakose. * 11.04: Mahua Moitra raises a placard and the slogan of "Pegasus pe jaanch karo (investigate Pegasus)". * 11.05: DMK's T R Baalu, NC MP Hasnain Masoodi rise from their seats. Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and Ravneet Singh Bittu shout slogans against the government. * 11.06: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says his junior minister Dr Bharati Pawar is going to answer a question. Urges the Opposition to listen to "a tribal" woman minister. Opposition continues to protest. * 11.07: Pawar starts her reply. Opposition MPs try to block her. Prathapan holds a placard, seeking a SC-monitored probe into Pegasus, before her. DMK's Veeraswamy Kalanidhi holds another placard. * 11.12: Speaker takes up another question. More Opposition MPs join the protest in the well. SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur carries a placard, seeking justice for farmers, and a wheat flower bunch. BJP's Jamyang Tsering Namgyal has a question on environmental issues in the Himalayan region. Bhupender Yadav replies. * 11.13: Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla leads sloganeering against the government. * 11: 14: Opposition MPs are now standing around the desk of reporters in the well of the House. * 11.15: As Bhupender Yadav replies, Prathapan and Kalanidhi try to block him with placards. The minister's face is not visible on the screens inside. * 11.17: Hibi Eden takes the lead in slogan shouting, says the government is scared. * 11.18: Minister Jitender Singh replies to a question on exploration of ocean resources. * 11.19: Speaker calls for three questions. * 11.20: Sukhbir Singh Badal on his feet with a placard in support of farmers. Smriti Irani replies to BJD's Sarmistha Sethi's query on the national nutrition mission. Opposition intensifies slogan shouting. * 11.21: Speaker asks MPs to return to their seats and hold a discussion. Adjourns proceedings till noon. * Noon: BJP's Rajendra Agrawal takes the Chair. Mahua Moitra leads TMC MPs to the well of the House. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury rises to say: "It has been three weeks... the House has not been running properly. No work is done." At this, Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal protest. * 12.01 pm: Chowdhury says: "I want to give a warning to the government.. Mann ki Baat... What you are doing is not right. You cannot be intoxicated with power." * 12.02: Meghwal: "It's wrong. We are ready for discussion. We have listed Covid management to discuss." * 12.03: The Chair calls for tabling the papers as listed in the agenda. Meghwal tables the papers. Ministers table action taken reports and other statements. * 12.04: Gogoi leads the sloganeering. Opposition MPs surround the Secretary General's table and raise slogans. The Chair asks them to return to their seats. * 12.07: Opposition MPs raise slogans in Bangla: "Khela hobe, khela hobe." Congress MP Vishnu Pramod leads them. * 12.09: Opposition chants slogans in Tamil, seeking a debate. * 12.11: Meghwal presents the Business Advisory Committee report for next week. * 12.12: Mahua Moitra leads slogans against the government. * 12.13: Chair calls Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to move the Taxation Amendment Bill. She moves the Bill for consideration and passage, and makes an opening remark. * 12.14: Mahua Moitra and Aparupa Poddar start booing. Other Opposition MPs join them. Some try to block Sitharaman's face from being visible on the screen. Posters are visible on screens inside the House. * 12.17: The Chair puts the Bill to voice vote. BJP MPs say aye. The Chair puts the Bill to vote, clause by clause, and it is passed. * 12.19: The Chair calls Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to move the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill 2021. * 12.20: Pradhan moves the Bill for consideration and passage. He makes opening remarks. Opposition intensifies its slogan shouting. * 12.24: Pradhan takes his seat. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says: "We have raised a genuine demand to roll back the farmers' Bills." Meghwal says: "You are responsible for not having a debate." The Bill is put to vote and passed. Opposition MPs shout: "Jawab do, jawab do (give us a reply)". House adjourns for the day to meet again on Monday.
425 The 23-year-old prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four where she will take on reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey on August 4 Overnight the mood changed. Thursday was a day of heartbreak for India as six-time world champion MC Mary Kom's pursuit of a second boxing Olympic medal ended in the pre-quarter finals of the Tokyo Games. Friday heralded a new dawn. Olympic debutant Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) upstaged former world champion Chen Nien-chin of Taiwan to enter the semi-finals and assure India of their first boxing medal of the ongoing Games. It was, as if, the baton had passed. The 23-year-old - the first woman athlete from Assam to have qualified for the Olympics and the second Assam boxer, after Shiva Thapa, to have done so - prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four where she will take on reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey on August 4. "I had lost four times to Chen before. So I had a big challenge which was to defeat her and prove a point to myself. It was never a question of proving anything to anyone else. It was all about my revenge, settling a long-pending score," Lovlina said during a virtual media interaction after her win. "No, I did not have a specific strategy from before because an opponent can often figure out a fixed strategy and play around it. I had decided to handle any situation there itself. "Aj khelke bahut mazaa aya, khulke khel rahi thi...," she added. Lovlina's journey began when she followed in the footsteps of her twin sisters, Licha and Lima, and took up Muay Thai. It was only when she met her first coach, Padum Boro, that her life took a definite turn. Boro worked at Sports Authority of India (SAI)'s Shillong and Dimapur centres. During a SAI talent hunt in Lovlina's home district of Golaghat, Boro noticed her and started honing her talent from 2012. "The initial tests that I put her through showed that she had it in her. So I immediately selected her and sent her to SAI Guwahati," Boro told The Telegraph. "My instinct told me she would definitely be an international one day." "She has become so much strong technically and mentally and if she plays the way she did today, a gold is there for her to take." The two time World Championship bronze medallist had a setback when she contracted Covid-19 last year. "As it is, due to the pandemic we have not been having competitions. Then, after contracting Covid I missed an Italy trip, missed a competition, could spar far less. However, I tried to make up in other ways and trained accordingly. My coaches helped me," said the Muhammad Ali fan who tries to copy the legendary boxer's footwork and long punches. From 2017, Lovlina had turned to meditation to calm herself and control her mind. "I did feel the benefit. But for the last four months I haven't been paying much attention to meditation." "Boxing is a sport which always has so much noise around it. So, even a cool head wasn't helping. "I decided that instead of depending on any external factor, jo bhi ho jaye, I have to win... agar meri haath bhi toot jaye, phir bhi mujhe jitna hain." Not for nothing is Lovlina dubbed a 'fearless' boxer. Will she be under less pressure in the semi-finals, now that a medal is assured? Pat came the reply: "Even in the quarters, I tried to play pressure-free as much as possible. Stress doesn't help."
426 Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday after two bills were passed without discussion, amid multiple adjournments and continued protests by Opposition MPs on the Pegasus snooping issue and the three controversial farm laws. The House was adjourned for the day after the two bills - the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021 - were passed by voice vote. No discussion on the two bills could take place as Opposition members continued to stage protests demanding a discussion on the Pegasus snooping allegations and the farmers' demand for repealing the three agriculture laws passed last August. Sheohar MP Rama Devi, who was chairing the proceedings, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi and Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal urged members to return to their seats to allow a proper discussion of the bills. But when their appeals went unheeded, the Chair went ahead with the consideration and passing of the bills. While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke before moving the Factoring Regulation Bill, giving a brief background on why the amendments to the Bill were being made, Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras simply moved the Bill for consideration and passing. The Factoring Bill, Ms. Sitharaman said, was for the benefit of Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (MSME) and adding the government had accepted all the changes suggested by the Standing Committee which went into the details. Earlier in the day, the House saw repeated adjournments and when it met at 2 p.m. and ran for a few minutes, papers were laid on the table and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021. As soon as the House met in the morning, Speaker Om Birla paid tributes to personnel of the armed forces for their valour during the 1999 Kargil War with MPs observing a period of silence for those who sacrificed their lives. He also congratulated Mirabai Chanu for winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Opposition members thereafter went into the Well raising slogans, and waving placards on both the Pegasus snooping scandal and also in support of agitating farmers over the three controversial farm laws. Congress members were joined by members of the DMK, NCP, Left and Indian Union Muslim League. Senior members including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari were seen moving to the aisle in support of the MPs who were sloganeering. While some members Mr Tewari demanded the presence of the Prime Minister in the House, others raised slogans such as "Modi sarkar jawab do (Modi government please answer)" on the Pegasus issue.
427 Calcutta: Indian shooters have fired a blank for the second successive Olympics and a bitter mudslinging game is on with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) blaming pistol coach Jaspal Rana for the debacle. "They need to find a scapegoat after what happened in Tokyo. But I am not someone who will take this lying down. They are passing the buck to me for Manu Bhaker's failure. I want to know what were the coaches doing in Tokyo? I was not there. "What happened in Zagreb (Croatia) from May onwards where the shooters had a camp? Nobody is asking that. I was in Zagreb for a month. I had told the association to have a camp at a place where the weather would be similar to Tokyo in July-August. The weather in Zagreb was pleasant. Nobody bothered to listen to me. "If you ask me, there has to be accountability in NRAI. I had requested the then sports minister (Kiren Rijiju) to appoint a government observer to oversee how things are being run in NRAI. After all, it's the taxpayer's money the association is feasting on. Why not record selection committee meetings to make us know what happens during those deliberations? If Parliament proceedings can be shown live, what's the big deal about NRAI meetings," Jaspal told The Telegraph. Manu Bhaker According to Jaspal, the problem started after pistol shooter Chinki Yadav earned India a quota place during the Shooting World Cup held in New Delhi in March and he proposed her name for the 25m pistol event. "I advocated for Chinki's inclusion which the powers-that-be did not like. They decided Manu and Rahi Sarnobat would participate in the 25m pistol. Chinky had better scores still missed the bus. "Why on earth was Manu allowed to participate in three events (10m pistol, 10m pistol mixed and 25m pistol)? Even shooters of the calibre of Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra or Gagan Narang did not participate in three events. And you throw a kid into the cauldron. Manu is just 19 and she just buckled under pressure. "She was too preoccupied with other things like posting pictures on social media. That too on the eve of the 10m mixed event. Next day Saurabh (Chaudhary) tried his best but Manu could not get things right. She has age on her side. In Paris she will be more matured," Jaspal, the 1994 Asian Games gold medallist, said. Both NRAI president Raninder Singh and Manu have blamed Jaspal for the pistol shooters' abysmal performance and Jaspal thinks the 19-year-old is being manipulated. "That's the feeling I get. She is a kid and is being used to malign me. I have built this pistol squad from the junior level. I am angry that everything has fallen apart. Even when we were leaving for Croatia I was told I would be travelling to Tokyo. In Amsterdam, from where the shooters took the flight to Tokyo, I came to know I am not accompanying them. I felt bad when I had to break the news to Abhishek (Verma). He was expecting me at the shooting range."
428 The past 48 hours have been exhilarating for Indian hockey. It has set social media on fire and kindled interest in a cricket-crazy population. The appreciation and adulation Manpreet Singh and his men have garnered seem like a fairytale. But the team has barely had the time to acknowledge or process any of it. Their target and focus is on getting past Belgium in the semifinals, who they play at the Oi hockey stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday. A win against Belgium will ensure India's first podium finish in 41 years, if not they will go down as a team which went the distance. But the way this team has performed over the past week, there is little doubt that the players will come out with their A game to ensure they keep their date with history. The contest promises to be a high voltage face-off between India, ranked three in the world, and the Red Lions, who are placed a rung above them in the rankings. The evolution of Belgium as a hockey powerhouse is an inspiring tale of talent and technology. In 2008, at the Beijing Olympics, they finished ninth. Four years later in London, they were fifth and in Rio they ended their campaign with a silver medal. In 2018, they left Bhubaneswar as the world champions. A major chunk of the team coached by Shane McLeod comprises part-time players pursuing careers or focusing on studies. But that has not come in their way of chasing their dreams. They have embraced contemporary hockey with aplomb and their style of play: fast-pace attack and rock-solid circle defence can put the best of teams under the pump. Overcoming this all-round game will be the challenge for Graham Reid's men. The Indian team has grown from strength to strength in the competition, showcasing a daring brand of hockey. While the Indian strike force has come to be dangerous with its smart deflections and movement with the ball from the 23m mark, the defence led by PR Sreejesh has risen to the occasion while safeguarding the goal. They will be tested hard and fast by the persistent Belgium side. Among the dangermen from the side is defender and penalty corner expert Alexander Hendrickx. The 27-yearold has been in blazing form in Tokyo, slotting home 11 goals thus far with two hat-tricks. The seasoned Sebastien Dockier in the forwardline and John-John Dohmen in the midfield will be tough nuts to crack for the Men in Blue. To unravel the Belgian game plan, man-to-man marking and rotating the ball while keeping possession will be crucial for India. The two teams last met in the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar in February last year. India edged past Belgium 2-1 in the opening fixture before Belgium emerged 3-2 winners in the second encounter.
429 PV Sindhu defeated Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong 21-9, 21-16 in her last Group J encounter to ease into the knockout stage of the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. However, Sai Praneeth's stint ended after he lost 14-21, 14-21 to Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands. Sindhu plays Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark on Thursday. Blichfeldt advanced with a 21-10, 21-3 win over Linda Zetchiri of Bulgaria in her last Group I match. Sindhu, who had defeated World No. 34 Cheung five times before this match, dominated in the first game. Cheung troubled the Indian in the first half of the second game. From 2-6, Cheung moved to 7-6 and led 11-10 at the break. But from 14-14, Sindhu shifted gears with delightful smashes to move to 20-14. Sindhu said this match would help her in tougher matches ahead. “I found my rhythm from the second game and I finished it off. It was a fast game and I made a couple of unforced errors. I changed my tactics and got things under control. This type of test is important before a big match,” Sindhu told the BWF website. The match against Blichfeldt will not be easy, she said. “I need to recover well and come back stronger. Every point is going to be important. She's an aggressive player so I need to be aggressive as well,” Sindhu said. The World No.7 Indian enjoys a 4-1 winloss record against Blichfeldt. The only victory for the Dane came this January at the Thailand Open. But the Indian, who won the silver medal in Rio five years ago, losing the final to Carolina Marin, avenged it at the Swiss Open in March, winning 22-20, 21-10. Sindhu's likely rivals in the quarterfinals (Akane Yamaguchi) and semifinals (Tai Tzu Ying) progressed to the knockouts without breaking sweat. Later in the day, Praneeth enjoyed a lead of 8-5 early on, but Caljouw not only caught up, went into the break at 11-9. The Dutch player eventually won the first game rather comfortably. Praneeth started the second game looking to attack . The approach succeeded as he ran away to a 6-0 lead. However, Caljouw lifted his game with some determined approach and was soon leading 10-8. He kept the advantage and went on to pocket the match. “I was not confident enough,” Praneet said after the match. “I was trying everything but there was no confidence in my strokes. I came on the court to win but unfortunately it was not a good performance for me. I started well in the second and then lost the points.”
430 I am absolutely delighted to have won the first-ever track and field medal for India, that too a gold. It's the beginning of a new revolution in Indian sports. I don't have words to explain how it feels. It was a proud moment for me when the tricolour was fluttering and the national anthem was being played at the stadium. I was standing with the gold medal around my neck. I believe the coming years will be great for Indian athletics. The time lost in 2019 because of my injury (he had developed spurs in his elbow — in his throwing arm) and then because of the coronavirus in 2020, I believe the gold medal has healed all those bad memories and it has brought immense satisfaction to me. Every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic medal in his lifetime, but here I am with a gold, what more can I ask for? I am an optimist and a firm believer in destiny. So, I believe if this gold has come despite the challenges posed by my injury and Covid-19 during the last two years, then I think the time lost was also in a way good for me. When the final was underway, there was only one thought in my mind that I had to give my best with every throw attempted. I have to ensure that my body movement remains in sync with my throws. I was confident about my game. Javelin throw is a very technical game. It's more about using your brain and keeping calm. A slight deviation from the technique can ruin your attempt. Does not matter that I couldn't break the national record or achieve my personal best mark. The Olympic gold has its own shine and value. I realised that I had won the gold when the other competitors couldn't produce their best in their last attempts. I have been training with coach Klaus since 2019 and he has contributed immensely to my gold medal success in Tokyo. His planning and technique suit my game. I was with another German coach Uwe Hohn in 2018, I worked on my strength and fitness with him. We had a slightly different approach. He had his own ideas and wanted me to continue with that. I had a different technique of throwing. So, I spoke to him about this and then moved on to train under coach Klaus for finetuning my technique. The way Klaus guided me and worked on my overall game benefitted me the most. Every coach has a different style, so I would like to say Thank You to Hohn sir as well. But it was Klaus under whom my overall game improved, my technique improved and you all can see the results. I have watched Milkha Singhji's several videos from his athletics career. He wanted the Indian track and field athletes to conquer the Olympic podium. He lost narrowly a medal in Rome 1960. So he always wanted someone from India to go and win at the Olympics. When I won the gold and the national anthem played out, all his words came flooding my mind and I just couldn't control my emotions. Sadly, he is not with us to see this day. But, standing on the podium, I just thought about him, his long-standing wish and decided to dedicate this medal to him. PT Usha mam also dreamt of an Olympic medal during her career, so I have also fulfilled her wish. The feeling was that all your hard work and sacrifices have paid off. There are no words to describe those feelings, it can only be felt, And I know how it feels. I will celebrate my win back home, eat Choorma dish prepared by my mother. I'll take some much-deserved break and sleep well. Then, I'll start my training and focus on the next year's Commonwealth, Asian Games and World Championships. Yes, I can see I have gained so many followers on social media after the Olympic gold. Good that people now know me, they see a star in me. But, I focus on my game and social media in my free time. It's just for enjoyment. Klaus told me, throw your best in your first attempt like in the qualification. Don't leave anything to chance. I had also spoken to my uncle Bhim Chopra and my childhood coach Jaiveer before the final, they also said the same thing. They knew that something good would happen on Saturday and that's what happened. Right now, my full focus is on my game. The biopic can wait. When I retire, a biopic can be made on me. I want to earn more achievements, bring more laurels for the country. I want to earn more respect as an athlete, so that there can be new stories associated with me when I finally hang up my boots.
431 “You brought the dreams of a billion+ Indians to life and we couldn't be happier to treat you to free Domino's pizza for life.” This timely tweet from the quick service restaurant brand came after Mirabai Chanu – who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics — said in a TV interview that one of the first few things she wanted to do following the podium finish was to eat a pizza. Chanu's performance has set a flurry of brands wanting to associate with the 26-year-old weightlifter ever since she made history on Saturday. Nearly a dozen brands have sent feelers to Chanu's management company IOS Sports & Entertainment over the weekend, said Neerav Tomar, its managing director. “We are getting queries from not only nutrition and sports-related brands, but also personal care, beverage I and regional brands. These are for endorsements, appearances or digital associations,” Tomar said. “Her medal has changed things overnight.” IOS plans to formalise two-three deals in the coming weeks once the champion in the women's 49-kg weightlifting category returns. So far, Chanu has had endorsement deals with Adidas and Mobil oil. Now, her endorsement fee is expected to double, albeit from a very low base. Over the last couple of days, brands such as Domino's, Britannia, Thums Up, Swiggy, Amul and VLCC have been making a beeline to associate with her win. "Even as we prepare to give #MirabaiChanu a hero's welcome and let her eat pizzas to her heart's content, our Imphal team went to her house to congratulate her family," Pratik Pota, chief executive at Jubilant FoodWorks, said in a tweet. Jubilant operates Domino's Pizza in India. The Twitter post from Domino's official handle tagging Chanu went viral and generated a string of comments, including by some consumers who said they would only buy Domino's Pizza from now on. Coca-Cola-owned Thums Up, which has a worldwide partnership with the Olympic Games, linked her win to its ad tagline 'PalatDe' across its social media messages. It is the longer-term associations, not momentary tie-ups, that will benefit both brands and the athlete, industry observers said. "Brands look at any opportunity to stay relevant and, in a country traditionally starved of sports beyond cricket, anyone who wins becomes a star overnight," said Lloyd Mathias, an angel investor and business strategist. "So, it's a fairly positive thing to do, as long as the brand can find ways to associate for a slightly longer term instead of just that moment." Dairy brand Amul, which is supporting the Indian Olympic Association, has also felicitated Chanu's family, chairman RS Sodhi said. "We encourage sports persons and celebrate moments of national pride like this," he said. Industry experts said it would be difficult to bridge the wide gap between non-cricket athletes and cricketers for brand associations and that comparisons may not be fair. Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, for example, is learnt to charge ?4.5-5 crore a day for brand-related promotions – be it for the filming of TV commercials, appearances, or for meeting fans. In comparison, non-cricketing athletes charge anywhere between ?30 lakh and ?1.5 crore, depending on their popularity and visibility. "Brand associations are a function of the exposure the athlete gets on a continuous level, consistent performance, and visibility," said Tuhin Mishra, managing director at sports marketing company Baseline Ventures, which represents badminton player PV Sindhu.
432 Dhyan Chand was the first superstar of hockey, considered a wizard or magician of the game. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will now be named after Dhyan Chand. This rechristening of the country's highest sporting honour after one of the country's legendary names could be termed political one-upmanship or a decision that didn't come a day too soon, depending on the way one looks at it. But what can't be denied is the emotional resonance Dhyan Chand's name carries and what he meant for Indian hockey, and Indian sports in general. Who was Dhyan Chand? Quite simply, he was the first superstar of hockey, considered a wizard or magician of the game. He was the chief protagonist as India won three consecutive Olympic hockey gold medals - Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932, and Berlin 1936. He is said to have wowed the watching public with his sublime skills, intricate dribbling and gluttonous scoring ability. During those tournaments, there was no team that could compete with India - and most of the matches saw huge victory margins. India beat hosts the Netherlands 3-0 in the 1928 final, the United States were thrashed by a scarcely-believable margin of 24-1 in the 1932 gold medal match, while Germany went down 8-1 in the 1936 decider. In all, Dhyan Chand played 12 Olympic matches, scoring 33 goals. What are some of the tales and anecdotes associated with Dhyan Chand? Some of the stories about Dhyan Chand's prowess with a hockey stick are difficult to confirm while others are definitely apocryphal. It is said that once his sublime skill and close control of the ball aroused such suspicion that his stick was broken to see whether there was a magnet inside. One has to remember that the game was played on natural grass in those days in contrast to the astro turf now, and the surface would often be bumpy and uneven, making ball control difficult for lesser mortals. During the 1936 Berlin Games, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler - a proponent of Aryan racial superiority - was so enamoured with Dhyan Chand's play that he offered him German citizenship and the post of Colonel in his country's Army, a proposition the Indian ace refused. Why does the name evoke such emotion? Dhyan Chand played during India's pre-independence years, when the local population was subjugated and made to feel inferior by the ruling British. Hence, seeing an Indian dominating the Europeans in a sport invented by them evoked a lot of pride in them. Before Independence and for some years after that, hockey was the only sport in which India consistently excelled at the international and Olympic stage. In fact, starting from Amsterdam 1928, India won seven of the eight hockey gold medals at the Games. Apart from K D Jadhav's wrestling bronze at Helsinki 1952, India had to wait until Atlanta 1996 and tennis player Leander Paes for an Olympic medal in a sport other than hockey. There were other great contemporary players like K D Singh 'Babu', Roop Singh, and Balbir Singh, but Dhyan Chand's name was always taken first. There has been a long-running campaign arguing that Dhyan Chand be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest honour. There was a big debate around the time of the retirement of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in 2013 about which sportsperson, if any, was deserving of the accolade. Tendulkar was eventually conferred the honour, but arguments for Dhyan Chand have continued nonetheless. How has Dhyan Chand been recognised till now? His birthday, August 29, is celebrated as National Sports Day with the President giving away the Arjuna Awards and the other honours - including the one now named after Dhyan Chand himself. An award for lifetime achievement in sport is already named after him. The Capital's National Stadium was renamed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Why is the renaming of the award on Friday significant? The eight gold medals in hockey have often been termed as the millstone around the necks of the subsequent generation of players. The modern game is an altogether different sport from the one played in Dhyan Chand's era. The Europeans and Australians have become much more proficient over the decades, while the change of surface has put a premium on fitness, speed, stamina, and physical strength. India had not managed to get into the top four at the Olympics since the boycott-affected Moscow Games in 1980. The later generations may have felt out of touch with the golden years, about which one could only read in books or listen to in tales of the protagonists and those who witnessed the heroics. In that context, the performance of the Indian men's and women's hockey teams in Tokyo can re-ignite large-scale interest in the game. Hockey may not have a fandom like cricket, but it's definitely followed, especially when India play a major tournament. Renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after Dhyan Chand may ensure that the current and subsequent generations know about the original superstar of hockey.
433 If I die tomorrow, I will die a happy man at peace with myself. I have seen Indian hockey get an Olympic medal, what more can I want? I remember the pain of Sydney 2000 when we lost to unfancied Poland in the dying seconds and lost out on the medal. I was the assistant coach and remember the tears in the changing room. Dhanraj Pillai, Jude Menezes, the goalkeeper who couldn't forget the thud sound of the ball crashing into the board behind him for years to come, Dilip Tirkey, Ramandeep Singh, Baljit Saini, Mukesh Kumar - everyone was broken. We had the chance to change the face of Indian hockey but it was not to be. It was our mistake that we couldn't control those last 90 seconds. It's a great game where everything can change in seconds. Like life. And 21 years later, this great triumph in Tokyo, has done its bit to soften that Sydney blow. I teared up at the final whistle in Tokyo and once again, they are rolling down my cheeks as I write this. But these are tears of joy: Kitne saal se andar dabaa ke rakha tha inko, ab main inhe behne doonga (it has been suppressed for so many years, now will let them flow). I am sure it's not just me but the sentiment of many Indians. Cricket might be in our minds but hockey is in our dil. That first love will never be forgotten. We are so grateful that this generation of players didn't repeat that old mistake in the last few seconds. Goalkeeper Sreejesh became a wall. This is an apt time to salute the sacrifices of these players - Olympic medals don't come easily. I remember Sreejesh sobbing, his head buried in me during my time as the junior team's coach. It was his initial days at the camp. He had come on the first day without the goalkeeper's pads. As time wore on, people started to question his presence and would even tell on his face that he was there in the team only because of me. "Harendra ka ladka", they called him. I remember telling him not to worry, the same people will one day touch your feet. Another Sreejesh memory pops up. His little daughter was sick at home along with an elder. He told me that there was a problem in the family and he needed to go home. We were able to play a big tournament. I told him he could go, of course, but this is the moment he had been sweating for, for years. This is his chance to show what he is made of. He played, starred, and hasn't looked back since. It gave me great happiness when he called me from Tokyo, minutes after winning, even before he spoke to his wife and parents. This is just to give you a glimpse about the beautiful coach-player relationship. We go through good and bad times together. The players don't celebrate festivals at home; we are usually at some camp or tournament, eating our daal-roti together. Simple life, great times, small and big sacrifices. And lots of hard work. Take Harmandeep Singh, our star attacker. There was a time when he was young and could not always keep the ball down while striking hard and it would be called foul by the referee. He worked his skin off to get close to perfection. A smile escapes when I see him now - the ball flies inch-perfect from his penalty corner drag flicks. We should salute coach Graham Reid. How well he has trained and selected the right team; he didn't go just for names but picked the squad of men he knew can handle the humid and hot Tokyo. Playing eight games in 13 days is no joke. Reid had it all planned. Robin Arkell is another name we should all remember. He is the strength and conditioning coach who has made all our boys so fit. Everyone else involved too needs our gratitude. From the buffer analyst, support staff, and huge credit to Hockey India for charting the roadmap, and to SAI for supporting them. Each and every player sparkled. Defender Amit Rohidas, who has been a second goalkeeper for us, rushing fearlessly towards the striker at penalty corners. Simranjeet Singh, the most intelligent player of the team, and Harmandeep Singh, our superstar striker. We can keep going through the list. Everyone had their own struggle. Krishan Pathak, the talented boy who is our stand-by goalkeeper in Tokyo, had lost his mother when he was just 12. Then, in 2016, his father, Teg Bahadur, a crane operator, died and his final rites were in Nepal. I told him the final rites will be over by the time you reach, instead, he should play as a tribute to his father. I played him as the first goalkeeper in that match and told him that his father was watching him. I told Krishna, make your father proud. He did it and hasn't looked back. Sacrifices... We sportspersons don't ask of others what we can't do ourselves. Not just us, but even our families. Please allow me to tell a personal story. When I was coaching the Youth World Cup team to a win, my son lost vision in an eye. My wife kept it from me until I reached home. "How can I disturb you, you were on duty for the country," she said. Not many will understand, but this is our life, win or lose. Every member of this team has a story like this. Mark my words, this team will win the World Cup to be held in India in 2023 in front of adoring crowds. We faltered at the finish on that fateful day in Sydney and missed the semi-final spot. It's a process. There is no failure for a sportsperson. We learn, kick on. It has taken 21 years in this particular instance, but the next generation has done it. For themselves and well-wishers. For the country. For the past. For the future. For Indian hockey, our nation's first love. The writer has been the head coach of India's men's, women's and junior team. He is currently in charge of the US national side
434 Assimilated? 'You threw us out with August 5 blow' Young Chopra's singular achievement is a thing to cherish and celebrate, no doubt, but we don't feel it; it just doesn't come: Satyapal Malik At the time all of India was cavorting in jubilation over Neeraj Chopra's golden scripting of history with a fling of the javelin, this part of it - once its fabled crown - remained eerily indifferent. Kashmir couldn't care that the Tokyo Olympics were closing and the valedictory crescendo was all India's. They'd have sooner turned to celebrate if Fiji had beaten the Springboks at rugby. Such is the degree of integration with the Indian union that lies achieved two years after the stunning rites of reduction and dismemberment announced in Delhi and effected with elaborate pre-design on August 5, 2019. Jammu and Kashmir lost its signature, though also mostly symbolic, constitutional guarantees with the blue-pencilling of Articles 370 and 35A; it was sliced into separate regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and Kargil; most of all, the state of Jammu and Kashmir remained a state no more. Satyapal Malik, then governor, found himself reduced, in the course of one spoken sentence by Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha, from grand regent of one of India's largest states to lieutenant governor of a truncated Union Territory. "Your government claims from high rostrums that Kashmir has never been so closely assimilated into India," a retired bureaucrat and a high servant of successive elected state governments tells me. "The truth is we have never ever felt so removed from India and all things Indian. Your Olympic gold and young Chopra's singular achievement is a thing to cherish and celebrate, no doubt, but we don't feel it; it just doesn't come. Don't blame us for our indifference; you threw us away with that blow." Chopra and India's first Olympic track-and-field gold did not make the front pages of Valley newspapers on Sunday; it is unlikely anybody manning a newsroom got pulled up by the editor for missing the story of the day. In Kashmir, it is the kind of story they'd rather miss. "This is our imposed anniversary of mourning the excesses at the hands of New Delhi," a widely respected doctor at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) says. "Frankly, I would have been surprised if Kashmiris even took note of what happened with that gold medal, much less chatter about it; that sort of thing evaporated a long time ago. This is not the place that New Delhi projects it to be. Yes, over the last couple of years there is more of India in Kashmir than ever before, but that is inversely proportional to how much India is in the Kashmiri today." August has never been a favoured month for Kashmiris; it's when they usually begin to tire of the summer's churn of heat and the cloying scourge it becomes when it alloys with caravans of low wafting cloud. It leaves them harried, and yearning for the onset of autumn. Two Augusts ago, an additional blight descended on them, a blight that had no doors opening onto autumn. Kashmir became a confinement whose severity of scope had no parallels in our memories. It did not stop at being a curfew. It did not stop at the wrenching of barbed wire fences. It did not stop at the escalated import of men and machines, jackboots on the ground, barrels at the ready. It did not stop at a shuttering so colossal and so complete that the Valley turned into the largest prison on earth. It did not stop at imprisoning everything other than stray dogs and pigeons. It did not stop at dismantling all communication - Internet, mobile telephony, landlines. It cauterised Kashmir from the world, it cauterised Kashmiri from Kashmiri. And yet it did not stop. It went on for days, then weeks, then months. Autumn came, and then winter, but there was no relief from the blight that was August 2019. Recalling or remembering the events of August 2019 does not come easy to most Kashmiris; but forgetting them comes harder. "How is it possible to forget?" asks a senior politician who wouldn't be named, probably for fear of being heckled behind bars yet again. "You took away our rights, our dignity; you reduced us, you deputed handpicked pawns from elsewhere to lord over us and tell us what can be done and what cannot, you are constantly changing the essential conduct of our lives and our futures, we are a principality, run like a department of the Government of India. Even the fig leaf of what we called democracy, you snatched away. How do you believe we must feel? You probably shouldn't even come asking." Neeraj Chopra's javelin travelled a triumphal distance, scoring an arch of cheer across India; it fell well short of Kashmir.
435 What does it feel like to be India's first ever track & field medallist? I am absolutely delighted to have won the first-ever track and field medal for India, that too a gold. It's the beginning of a new revolution in Indian sports. I don't have words to explain how it feels. It was a proud moment for me when the tricolour was fluttering and the national anthem was being played at the stadium. I was standing with the gold medal around my neck. I believe the coming years will be great for Indian athletics. The time lost in 2019 because of my injury (he had developed spurs in his elbow — in his throwing arm) and then because of the coronavirus in 2020, I believe the gold medal has healed all those bad memories and it has brought immense satisfaction to me. Every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic medal in his lifetime, but here I am with a gold, what more can I ask for? I am an optimist and a firm believer in destiny. So, I believe if this gold has come despite the challenges posed by my injury and Covid-19 during the last two years, then I think the time lost was also in a way good for me. During the final, what was going through your mind after each throw? When did you start feeling that you could actually win gold? When the final was underway, there was only one thought in my mind that I had to give my best with every throw attempted. I have to ensure that my body movement remains in sync with my throws. I was confident about my game. Javelin throw is a very technical game. It's more about using your brain and keeping calm. A slight deviation from the technique can ruin your attempt. Does not matter that I couldn't break the national record or achieve my personal best mark. The Olympic gold has its own shine and value. I realised that I had won the gold when the other competitors couldn't produce their best in their last attempts. How Klaus Bartonietz's technique was different from Uwe Hohn? I have been training with coach Klaus since 2019 and he has contributed immensely to my gold medal success in Tokyo. His planning and technique suit my game. I was with another German coach Uwe Hohn in 2018, I worked on my strength and fitness with him. We had a slightly different approach. He had his own ideas and wanted me to continue with that. I had a different technique of throwing. So, I spoke to him about this and then moved on to train under coach Klaus for finetuning my technique. The way Klaus guided me and worked on my overall game benefitted me the most. Every coach has a different style, so I would like to say Thank You to Hohn sir as well. But it was Klaus under whom my overall game improved, my technique improved and you all can see the results. You dedicated your medal to Milkha Singh ji. What was your thought behind that? I have watched Milkha Singhji's several videos from his athletics career. He wanted the Indian track and field athletes to conquer the Olympic podium. He lost narrowly a medal in Rome 1960. So he always wanted someone from India to go and win at the Olympics. When I won the gold and the national anthem played out, all his words came flooding my mind and I just couldn't control my emotions. Sadly, he is not with us to see this day. But, standing on the podium, I just thought about him, his long-standing wish and decided to dedicate this medal to him. PT Usha mam also dreamt of an Olympic medal during her career, so I have also fulfilled her wish. Standing on the top of the podium, listening to the Jana Gana Mana and seeing the national flag being hoisted, what was that feeling like? What was going through your mind? The feeling was that all your hard work and sacrifices have paid off. There are no words to describe those feelings, it can only be felt, And I know how it feels. What is the next goal now for Neeraj Chopra- the athlete? I will celebrate my win back home, eat Choorma dish prepared by my mother. I'll take some much-deserved break and sleep well. Then, I'll start my training and focus on the next year's Commonwealth, Asian Games and World Championships. You have been getting a lot of attention on social media. How do you see all of this? Yes, I can see I have gained so many followers on social media after the Olympic gold. Good that people now know me, they see a star in me. But, I focus on my game and social media in my free time. It's just for enjoyment. What did Klaus say before the final? Klaus told me, throw your best in your first attempt like in the qualification. Don't leave anything to chance. I had also spoken to my uncle Bhim Chopra and my childhood coach Jaiveer before the final, they also said the same thing. They knew that something good would happen on Saturday and that's what happened. People are saying that you should play yourself in your biopic! What do you think about that? Right now, my full focus is on my game. The biopic can wait. When I retire, a biopic can be made on me. I want to earn more achievements, bring more laurels for the country. I want to earn more respect as an athlete, so that there can be new stories associated with me when I finally hang up my boots.
436 Neeraj Chopra also said he could eat bread and omelette "any time of the week" and it is what he eats "more often than anything" Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has to keep his diet in check, of course, but turns out the 23-year-old is also a foodie who loves desi foods. Speaking to ESPN in an interview prior to his victory, the athlete said he loves eating gol gappas when it came to fast foods. He said as a professional athlete, there is "no harm" in eating them. "It's mostly water and most of your stomach gets filled with water. The papri is quite big but the amount of flour is very little. It's mostly water that's going inside you. There is some amount of spice but that's another matter...there's about as much flour as would be in a couple of rotis. Even if you think you are eating a lot, you are mostly filling yourself with water," he was quoted as saying. Not just gol gappas, Neeraj also has a sweet tooth and likes to eat "fresh homemade churma". "It has a lot of ghee and sugar, so it's something we can't eat during training so it's something I really enjoy," he said. In fact, he likes to gorge on "a lot of sweets" whenever he has a chance to eat a cheat meal. "I usually restrict the amount of sweets I eat normally so when I get the chance to have a cheat meal, I'll usually eat a lot of sweets. I don't even care what kind of sweets they are," he said. Neeraj also shared his diet routine, especially during tournaments. "On match days, I don't like to eat anything that's too fatty. I prefer eating things like salads or fruits. I also like to eat things like grilled chicken breast and eggs." He also said he could eat bread and omelette "any time of the week" and it is what he eats "more often than anything". Talking about the changes he incorporated in his diet recently, Neeraj further added, "I've added salmon fish to my diet...For my recovery, I have a lot of fresh fruit juice. It can't be packaged. I'll usually have a couple of glasses of fresh juice after my workouts."
437 In 2012, Priyanka Lahiri came across social media posts of a colleague lifting weights. “I had been going to the gym but didn't enjoy it. I called her up and asked if I could see her deadlift. It looked so badass that I wanted to try it,” says the 42-year-old Bengaluru resident. Lahiri ended up going to her colleague's Crossfit gym and it wasn't long before she fell in love with lifting weights. “The weight loss element was great, but I was also having fun. Every time I would lift a little more, I felt a sense of achievement,” adds Lahiri who, during the lockdown, transitioned from heading the marketing team for an IT firm to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach. Not just her job, even her body has transformed in the nine years she's been weightlifting, and she proudly asserts that her best has been a 110kg deadlift when she weighed 54kg. Saikom Mirabai Chanu's Olympic silver with a total haul of 202kg (87+115kg) not only lifted the spirits of a nation, it also enthused the women who have breached the testosteroneheavy field of weightlifting. Conventionally, the weights areas of gyms have been male-dominated areas with a lot of grunting, sweating and selfie-taking while women stick to cardio and other exercises. But now a growing number of women are tossing these stereotypes aside and heading for the barbells. If you've watched the viral video of the TikTok toddler who, while watching a woman weightlifter at the Olympics, told her mom, “I wish I had strong hands”, you would wonder why more women don't want strong hands. Annu C Marbaniang, a trainer from Gurugram who has been lifting weights for 15 years and participates in bodybuilding competitions in the bikini category, says most women are afraid of looking “manly”. “They're scared that they'll become too muscular so you have to explain to them that it depends on how you train and that it won't happen unless they work towards that goal,” says the 41-year-old. “Another stereotype I have to deal with is that people assume that if you're involved in bodybuilding, you're taking steroids.” Lahiri says that the maledominated culture of gyms often puts women off. “I found that coaches in gyms are very discouraging. When I first went, I was 80kg and had hypothyroid and they created these mental blocks that make you feel like you'll never be able to do it, and you only can with their help. They attack your self-esteem and self-worth,” she says. At her current gym, after she had started losing weight and lifting, someone told her, “You've become thinner, but you're still ugly”. She told him off, making it clear that she was not looking for unsolicited advice. Such comments are rooted in cultural norms that women need to look feminine and delicate while the men need to muscle up. Plus, she adds, seeing men crowd around the weights is a common sight, and many don't re-rack the plates, making it hard for the next person to use them. “You have also paid for that membership and time. You deserve to use the gym equipment just as much as anyone else. If there's a group of men alternating reps, they often tell me to come back in half an hour after they finish. But I tell them that I will also do reps with them,” she says. Media professional Nayanika Basu would notice women in the gym mostly doing cardio and free hand exercises, lifting very light weights if at all. She chose a different path and began powerlifting when she was 17. “My initial inspiration was Bani J. At first, my only motivation was to get well-defined abs. Slowly, it became a passion for me. Being able to lift more and more as time went on got me hooked,” she says. Basu, 24, has competed in a few powerlifting competitions and has discovered that she has been able to go beyond what she thought she could in terms of how much she can lift. “It makes you feel really powerful. My male friends joke that they wouldn't want to pick a fight with me. Physical strength is one thing but it's also about where it takes you mentally — it gives you the feeling that you can overcome anything,” she says. While she's encountered her fair share of people who aren't open to the idea of women lifting, she is heartened by the encouragement and appreciation she has received on social media from both men and women. “Male friends have asked me to teach them how to lift as well.”
438 Does the very mention of mathematics give you jitters? Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash blames the made-to-fit-all-size syllabus of Indian schools for this fear. He should know, considering he won the International maths Olympiad 2020. Bhanu is known as 'the world's fastest human calculator' as he beat the record of Shakuntala Devi (the record of adding a two digit number to itself as many times as possible in 15 seconds), but avers that speed is not the only criteria to appreciate numbers. The 21-year-old maths wizard who hails from Andhra Pradesh, holds four world records, 50 Limca Records for his skill in solving complex mathematics problems at top speeds. He has been dubbed the 'Usain Bolt of mathematics' by BBC after the Olympic Gold Medal at the Mind Sports Olympics 2020, United Kingdom. So it is natural that he has several high-paying job offers from multinational companies and leading political parties. However, such offers fail to lure or impress him. Bhanu's goal is to erase maths phobia and make more people understand and analyse numbers. Towards this end, he started Exploring Infinities, a maths education with a vision to make students apply maths in real life and not just to improve grades. Exploring Infinities focuses on making maths fun and multidisciplinary, and engages students through online classes and games. Bhanu feels a proper understanding maths can make a student do well in any subject or profession one chooses. Bhanu says, "I had two choices as a maths lover - to be the face of maths or the face of maths phobia. I chose to be the face of maths and want to train people to love numbers through their various interests. Exploring Infinities is not by any means a tutorial platform run by any syllabus. It is a platform to explore numbers in many creative ways. This is why apart from students, we also find grown-ups exploring numbers. The grown-ups who have enrolled say they want to give numbers a second chance and see what went wrong when they learnt maths in school or college/ To make it simple and interesting and keep the students focussed, Exploring Infinities uses music, history and art." He aims to show the social scientific application of mathematics in all aspects of our day-to-day life. Counting on himself An alumnus of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School, Hyderabad, and St Stephen's College, Delhi University, Bhanu does not like to call himself 'self-taught'. "It seems to be prodigious for me. I am 'self-learned'. It all started with playing with puzzles when a head injury forced me to stay at home for a year. To keep me occupied my father bought me some puzzles. I played with them and found it extremely engaging. As I grew up and started doing shows and breaking records I started having a better understanding of numbers. How numbers are introduced to children is extremely important, because understanding numbers goes a long way in how one thinks. If I was not a mathematician, I am sure I would've been a historian." As a lover of numbers, Bhanu believes that maths can be 'cool'; it just has to be tailored according to the student. "We design online 'experiential maths learning modules' which make maths fun and help students understand it in the best possible pathway. Three out of every four students across the world are scared of maths. This is mainly because maths is not relatable and interesting. Ramifications of not understanding maths are very profound for people in any walk of life and we aim to change how maths is perceived. We believe that this revolution is possible by building the most cohesive, intelligent Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven maths learning ecosystem. Subsequently, we also aspire to establish ourselves as the global thought leaders of maths education and set huge precedence in AI-aided maths learning," explains Bhanu. Bhanu also heads Vision maths a global movement headed by him in promoting maths as a culture and sport, and to make it a fun learning experience.
439 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Makhanlal National University of Journalism and Mass Communication (MCU) is in controversy again after head of the department of mass communication, Ashish Joshi posted an imaginary propaganda film on Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu in an official WhatsApp groups of the department. The film made by some unknown Indix online platform narrates and shows that if a biopic on Chanu is made after several years what it will be. It says that the biopic will include elements like India was being ruled by rightwing nationalist party headed by Modi and Muslims were being lynched on the name of cow. The venomous speech by the narrator not only demonises Muslims but also speaks in imaginary manner about Manipur- Chanu's mother state- calling it that it was known as Miyapur but was renamed as Manipur later. The film will say that Chanu belonged to a poor family that was tortured by upper class Brahmins. Later Abdul Chacha gave her meat so that she became strong and that led to her Olympic medal. The 3.52 minute movie also attacks Chak De India and Gold movies made on hockey and terming them to be part of Jihadi agenda. The movie concludes that if secularism remains in the country- this is what would happen in the future. Students of the whatsapp group were irked by such a post that too coming from their head of the department. One of the students, surprised by the post, asked the HoD if the film was really on Chanu. HoD Joshi, not only posted the link but also asked to like and subscribe to the channel. One of the students, Abhishek commented that HoD should at least maintain the decorum of the group and keep away from such nasty and propagandist activities. 'You should not deliver venom in the name of ideology,' wrote Abhishek. After severe criticism by the students, HoD replied in the group that he did not make the movie. He posted the link so that journalism students should know both sides of a story. Students asked, if he has not made the movie then why did he ask to like and subscribe to the channel. Another student posted that he was pained and anguished. "I have come here to study journalism. My friend had gone to attend RSS shakha but was quite disappointed in just two days. Now I am sure that shakhas preach such things." Another student wrote, "I am worried for what is about to happen to We the People of India. All of my learning on which I grew up is on the verge of being tattered.' Talking to Free Press, HoD Ashish Joshi said that he had already clarified in the whatsapp group about his intentions for posting the link. "That was for the students to learn how propaganda works," said Joshi.
440 In 2012, Priyanka Lahiri came across social media posts of a colleague lifting weights. “I had been going to the gym but didn't enjoy it. I called her up and asked if I could see her deadlift. It looked so badass that I wanted to try it,” says the 42-year-old Bengaluru resident. Lahiri ended up going to her colleague's Crossfit gym and it wasn't long before she fell in love with lifting weights. “The weight loss element was great, but I was also having fun. Every time I would lift a little more, I felt a sense of achievement,” adds Lahiri who, during the lockdown, transitioned from heading the marketing team for an IT firm to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach. Not just her job, even her body has transformed in the nine years she's been weightlifting, and she proudly asserts that her best has been a 110kg deadlift when she weighed 54kg. Saikom Mirabai Chanu's Olympic silver with a total haul of 202kg (87+115kg) not only lifted the spirits of a nation, it also enthused the women who have breached the testosteroneheavy field of weightlifting. Conventionally, the weights areas of gyms have been male-dominated areas with a lot of grunting, sweating and selfie-taking while women stick to cardio and other exercises. But now a growing number of women are tossing these stereotypes aside and heading for the barbells. If you've watched the viral video of the TikTok toddler who, while watching a woman weightlifter at the Olympics, told her mom, “I wish I had strong hands”, you would wonder why more women don't want strong hands. Annu C Marbaniang, a trainer from Gurugram who has been lifting weights for 15 years and participates in bodybuilding competitions in the bikini category, says most women are afraid of looking “manly”. “They're scared that they'll become too muscular so you have to explain to them that it depends on how you train and that it won't happen unless they work towards that goal,” says the 41-year-old. “Another stereotype I have to deal with is that people assume that if you're involved in bodybuilding, you're taking steroids.” Lahiri says that the maledominated culture of gyms often puts women off. “I found that coaches in gyms are very discouraging. When I first went, I was 80kg and had hypothyroid and they created these mental blocks that make you feel like you'll never be able to do it, and you only can with their help. They attack your self-esteem and self-worth,” she says. At her current gym, after she had started losing weight and lifting, someone told her, “You've become thinner, but you're still ugly”. She told him off, making it clear that she was not looking for unsolicited advice. Such comments are rooted in cultural norms that women need to look feminine and delicate while the men need to muscle up. Plus, she adds, seeing men crowd around the weights is a common sight, and many don't re-rack the plates, making it hard for the next person to use them. “You have also paid for that membership and time. You deserve to use the gym equipment just as much as anyone else. If there's a group of men alternating reps, they often tell me to come back in half an hour after they finish. But I tell them that I will also do reps with them,” she says. Media professional Nayanika Basu would notice women in the gym mostly doing cardio and free hand exercises, lifting very light weights if at all. She chose a different path and began powerlifting when she was 17. “My initial inspiration was Bani J. At first, my only motivation was to get well-defined abs. Slowly, it became a passion for me. Being able to lift more and more as time went on got me hooked,” she says. Basu, 24, has competed in a few powerlifting competitions and has discovered that she has been able to go beyond what she thought she could in terms of how much she can lift. “It makes you feel really powerful. My male friends joke that they wouldn't want to pick a fight with me. Physical strength is one thing but it's also about where it takes you mentally — it gives you the feeling that you can overcome anything,” she says. While she's encountered her fair share of people who aren't open to the idea of women lifting, she is heartened by the encouragement and appreciation she has received on social media from both men and women. “Male friends have asked me to teach them how to lift as well.”
441 In 2012, Priyanka Lahiri came across social media posts of a colleague lifting weights. “I had been going to the gym but didn't enjoy it. I called her up and asked if I could see her deadlift. It looked so badass that I wanted to try it,” says the 42-year-old Bengaluru resident. Lahiri ended up going to her colleague's Crossfit gym and it wasn't long before she fell in love with lifting weights. “The weight loss element was great, but I was also having fun. Every time I would lift a little more, I felt a sense of achievement,” adds Lahiri who, during the lockdown, transitioned from heading the marketing team for an IT firm to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach. Not just her job, even her body has transformed in the nine years she's been weightlifting, and she proudly asserts that her best has been a 110kg deadlift when she weighed 54kg. Saikom Mirabai Chanu's Olympic silver with a total haul of 202kg (87+115kg) not only lifted the spirits of a nation, it also enthused the women who have breached the testosteroneheavy field of weightlifting. Conventionally, the weights areas of gyms have been male-dominated areas with a lot of grunting, sweating and selfie-taking while women stick to cardio and other exercises. But now a growing number of women are tossing these stereotypes aside and heading for the barbells. If you've watched the viral video of the TikTok toddler who, while watching a woman weightlifter at the Olympics, told her mom, “I wish I had strong hands”, you would wonder why more women don't want strong hands. Annu C Marbaniang, a trainer from Gurugram who has been lifting weights for 15 years and participates in bodybuilding competitions in the bikini category, says most women are afraid of looking “manly”. “They're scared that they'll become too muscular so you have to explain to them that it depends on how you train and that it won't happen unless they work towards that goal,” says the 41-year-old. “Another stereotype I have to deal with is that people assume that if you're involved in bodybuilding, you're taking steroids.” Lahiri says that the maledominated culture of gyms often puts women off. “I found that coaches in gyms are very discouraging. When I first went, I was 80kg and had hypothyroid and they created these mental blocks that make you feel like you'll never be able to do it, and you only can with their help. They attack your self-esteem and self-worth,” she says. At her current gym, after she had started losing weight and lifting, someone told her, “You've become thinner, but you're still ugly”. She told him off, making it clear that she was not looking for unsolicited advice. Such comments are rooted in cultural norms that women need to look feminine and delicate while the men need to muscle up. Plus, she adds, seeing men crowd around the weights is a common sight, and many don't re-rack the plates, making it hard for the next person to use them. “You have also paid for that membership and time. You deserve to use the gym equipment just as much as anyone else. If there's a group of men alternating reps, they often tell me to come back in half an hour after they finish. But I tell them that I will also do reps with them,” she says. Media professional Nayanika Basu would notice women in the gym mostly doing cardio and free hand exercises, lifting very light weights if at all. She chose a different path and began powerlifting when she was 17. “My initial inspiration was Bani J. At first, my only motivation was to get well-defined abs. Slowly, it became a passion for me. Being able to lift more and more as time went on got me hooked,” she says. Basu, 24, has competed in a few powerlifting competitions and has discovered that she has been able to go beyond what she thought she could in terms of how much she can lift. “It makes you feel really powerful. My male friends joke that they wouldn't want to pick a fight with me. Physical strength is one thing but it's also about where it takes you mentally — it gives you the feeling that you can overcome anything,” she says. While she's encountered her fair share of people who aren't open to the idea of women lifting, she is heartened by the encouragement and appreciation she has received on social media from both men and women. “Male friends have asked me to teach them how to lift as well.”
442 Sharma refused to take any credit for his protege's success and said a coach should never brag about his role in moulding a talent For someone who shared with Mirabai Chanu the agony of the Rio failure for five years, Vijay Sharma was unusually calm on Saturday afternoon. Even as India was in raptures following Mirabai's silver success, Sharma, who is in Tokyo with the contingent, was calm and composed, his voice bereft of any emotion. "Jo kasar baki thi, woh aaj puri ho gayi (What was left unfulfilled has been achieved today)." That was Sharma's first reaction to The Telegraph. After the debacle in Rio, where Mirabai had gone with a lot of expectations, the Manipur weightlifter had been looking forward to Tokyo. As had been Sharma. "It affected her a lot. Till yesterday (Friday) that failure was there at the back of her mind. Now Mira has exorcised the Rio ghost. She was waiting for this day," Sharma said. Sharma refused to take any credit for his protg's success and said a coach should never brag about his role in moulding a talent. "What can I say? That Mira has to say. A coach's role is only the planning part. It's the athlete who executes. We did our homework well and now she has reaped the benefits." Mirabai had gone to the US twice - once late last year and again this May - to work under strength and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig and, according to Sharma, that was a game-changer. "We could work with a free mind. The May stint was really helpful. I am thankful to the Indian government and Sports Authority of India (SAI) for all the support," he said. But then it was not a bed of roses for Mirabai in the build-up to Saturday's exploits. The irons she lifted for years had left her shoulders battered and the lockdown made matters worse for the 26-year-old from Manipur. "Yes, at that point in time I was very worried. Lockdown, shoulder and back injuries made me fear the worst. That she would not be able lift weights again. Dr Horschig did a great job in the first stint last year," Sharma said. After the recurring lower back problem was sorted out, in April this year, at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, her first tournament in more than a year, Mirabai won the bronze. Her final lift of 119kg set a world record, going past Chinese lifter Jiang Huihua's previous record of 118kg. That set the motion for what she did on Saturday. "Her confidence got a boost. And then after we went back to St Louis in May, she worked harder. The silver medal is the result of all the sacrifices she made in the last Olympic cycle," Sharma said.
443 While the state government will offer a Class-I government job to wrestler Ravi Dahiya, Class-II government jobs shall be offered to the two hockey players Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar Thursday announced a cash award of Rs 4 crore for Tokyo Olympics-2020 silver medal winner Ravi Dahiya and Rs 2.5 crore each to Surender Kumar and Sumit Walmiki who were a part of the Indian hockey team that won a bronze medal. All three players will also be awarded lands at concessional rates. While the state government will offer a Class-I government job to Ravi Dahiya, Class-II government jobs shall be offered to the two hockey players. The announcements were made by the chief minister after the cabinet meeting chaired by him was concluded. Besides the awards, Khattar also announced that a world-class indoor wrestling stadium shall be constructed at Ravi Dahiya's native village Nahari in the Sonipat district of Haryana. The council of ministers took several other decisions in the meeting, held Thursday. Teacher transfer policy was amended while the approval was granted for creation of a new Human Resources department under the Chief Secretary to ensure standards and norms for recruitment, regulation of service conditions, posting/transfers, deputation etc. The Cabinet also approved various amendments to ensure equitable, demand-based deployment of teachers/school heads, in a fair and transparent manner to protect the academic interest of students. "Persons having vision and locomotor disabilities ranging from 31% to 50% will be given 10 marks, and those with disabilities above 50% and up to 75% will be given 20 marks. Disability percentage of vision loss or locomotor disability for any reason has been reduced from 100% to more than 75%. Besides this, now any teacher willing to participate in a transfer drive can participate if he/she desires so, irrespective of his/her stay in the current zone/school. This change will also be applicable to respective clauses of transfer policy for clerks, assistants and lab attendants," a government spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "Now, guest teachers working in various schools across the state will be included in the online transfer drive. Furthermore, as per the amendment made under involuntary deemed vacancy, a post occupied by a guest/adhoc teacher has also been included along with existing provisions." The Cabinet also approved creation of a new department - Human Resources Department under Chief Secretary with a view to ensure standards and norms are adhered to. The scope of the department will be to regulate service conditions of all government posts, HRMS, HPSC/HSSC, policy regarding CET, training policies, training of state-level government employees, training institutions, policy regarding temporary and contractual services, online transfer policies, ex-gratia policy, service rules, policy for the maintenance of the integrity of the public services and eradication of corruption and weeding out of employees on grounds of inefficiency and corruption and restructuring of departments from time to time. In order to ensure that the existing infrastructural projects are completed and do not suffer and to protect public interest, the Cabinet also approved amendments in Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The cabinet also approved SoPs formulated to ensure successful implementation of Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samridhi Yojana and sanctioned an amount of Rs 270.84 crore to the 8,77,538 families. Other important decisions Remission of stamp duty The Cabinet approved that only a nominal duty at the rate of Rs 5,000 per deed of registration will be chargeable, in respect of instrument of exchange of agriculture that is cultivated land, comprising Barani, Sailab, Abi, Nahri and Chahi lands, subject to the condition that the exchange of agricultural land should be in the same revenue estate. Motor vehicles Rules amendment approved Cabinet granted approval for amendment in Rule 67-A of the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993 revising the age of operation of various types of transport vehicles under different permits in the state, in line with a Supreme Court order. "As per the said order, the operation of diesel and petrol driven vehicles which have attained the age of 10 years and 15 years respectively has been prohibited in the National Capital Region. Further, with the introduction of clean fuel technologies like electric vehicles, LNG, CNG etc, a need was felt to amend the rules to provide for enhanced age for such vehicles in order to give impetus to their faster adoption and thereby protect the environment," the spokesperson said. "This amendment in the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules will also remove an anomaly by fixing the age of stage carriage buses at par with private service vehicles and education institutional vehicles. This has been a long pending demand of the stage carriage permit holders and will augment the transport services being provided by Haryana Roadways as well as private operators, in addition to bringing savings to the public exchequer. The age of vehicles with tourist permits remains unchanged in line with Rule 82 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989," the spokesperson added.
444 Mumbai: The silver medal looks to turn gold for the Indian star badminton player PV Sindhu as she went about like a champion in her Tokyo campaign on Friday. However, she had to keep her nerve before pulling off a 21-13, 22-20 win against the stubborn world No. 5 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi, for a place in the semi-final. "She is a champion and will deliver when it matters the most," said Gopichand before the players could board the flight to Tokyo. And it is all there, as Sindhu is just two steps away from making it happen. If the first game was any indication that the Indian was much superior, the Japanese Yamaguchi had other plans up her sleeves, as she took the second game to the wire before surrendering 20-22, in the match, which witnessed one of the longest rallies (54 shots). At the end, it was all over in 56 minutes for the hosts' challenger Yamaguchi as she could not get the shuttle over the net for a grunting Sindhu to celebrate, keeping India's hopes of a first-ever Olympic gold in badminton alive. The 26-year-old Indian, was cantering 15-9 on board, but Akane bounced back pocketing ten points and taking the lead in the match for the first time 16-15. "The first game was mostly under my control. I was gaining the lead but I didn't take it easy because in her previous matches she came back. But I maintained the lead and finished it off," said Sindhu. From then, the game went on even ground with players snatching leads. It was the Japanese who took a slight edge, as she had two game points, but Sindhu was not one to give up, as she snatched the game and the match 22-20. "In the second game I was leading but then she came back. But I still fought back, I never lost hope and I continued with the same tempo. I am very much happy with the way I controlled the shuttle, not many errors," she added. At the Musashino Forest Plaza, here on Friday, the silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended brilliantly and rode on her attacking all-round game to outclass the fourth-seeded Akane. The sixth-seeded Indian came into the match with a 11-7 head-to-head count against the Japanese, whom she had last beaten at the All England Championship in March this year. Sindhu used her forecourt well and took charge of the net. The duo played some good rallies at a good pace but Yamaguchi couldn't find an answer in the exchanges. The Japanese was also too erratic. Sindhu eventually produced a winner near the net and grabbed the first game when Yamaguchi sent long a return to serve. Sindhu dictated the pace and seemed in total control, starting the second game with two superb smashes for a 2-0 early lead. She kept her unforced errors to the bare minimum even as Yamaguchi committed a service error and playing against the drift, struggled to keep the shuttle in. A superb net dribble and a cross-court smash helped Sindhu to again take a five-point advantage at the break. Sindhu will next face second seed Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying, who edged out Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon 14-21 21-18 21-18 in another quarterfinal match. Indians at the Tokyo Games Archery Deepika Kumari beat Ksenia Perova (Russian Olympic Committee) 6-5 (10-7) in a shoot-off in the pre-quarterfinals of the women's individual event; lost to An San of South Korea 0-6 in the quarterfinals. Badminton P V Sindhu beat Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) 21-13 22-20 in the women's singles quarterfinals, progresses to the semifinals. Boxing Lovlina Borgohain beat Nien-Chin Chen (Chinese Taipei) 4-1 in women's 69kg quarterfinal bout, progresses to the semifinals. Simranjit Kaur lost to Sudaporn Seesondee (Thailand) 0-5 in the women's 60kg pre-quarterfinal bout. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza placed 7th after day 1 of Individual eventing dressage. Golf Anirban Lahiri tied 20th and Udayan Mane tied 57th after the second round of the men's individual stroke play, which was suspended due to persistent thunderstorms. Hockey India beat Ireland 1-0 in the women's Pool A match. India beat Japan 5-3 in their final men's Pool A match, progress to the quarterfinals. Sailing Vishnu Saravanan 3rd and 15th in Race 9 and 10 in men's laser; 20th overall. KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar 17th, 11th and 16th in Races 7, 8 and 9 in men's skiff 49er; 17th overall. Nethra Kumanan 37th and 38th in Race 9 and 10; overall 35th. Shooting Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat finish 15th and 32nd in women's 25m pistol qualification after the rapid round, fail to advance to the final. India in action on Saturday Archery 7.18: Atanu Das vs Takaharu Furukawa (Japan) in Men's Individual Pre-Quarterfinals Athletics 6.00: Seem Punia in Women's Discus Throw Qualification 7.25: Kamalpreet Kaur in Women's Discus Throw Qualification 15.40: Sreeshankar in Men's Long Jump Qualification Badminton 15.20: PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu-Ying (Chinese Taipei) in Women's Singles Semifinal Boxing 7.30: Amit Pangal vs Yurberjen Herney Martinez Rivas (Colombia) in Men's 52kg Rd-16 15.36: Pooja Rani vs Li Qian (China) in women's quarterfinal Golf 4.15: Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 2 Hockey 8.45: India vs South Africa in women's Sailing 8.35: KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in Men's Skiff Shooting 8.30: Anjum Moudgil and Tejaswini Sawant in women's 50m Rifle Medals Tally 1 China 19 10 11 40 2 Japan 17 4 7 28 3 USA 14 16 11 41 4 ROC 10 14 10 34 5 Australia 9 2 11 22 6 Great Britain 6 9 9 24 7 South Korea 5 4 6 15 8 Netherlands 3 7 5 15 9 France 3 5 5 13 10 Germany 3 4 9 16 51 India 0 1 0 1
445 The pandemic has been challenging for all sportspersons but for India's para athletes, it's been even more of a real roller-coaster, from the event they had been training so hard for being postponed, to being stuck at home with hardly any equipment. Add to that the fear of Covid. Ekta Bhyan, who is one of the 24 Indian athletes selected for the Tokyo Paralympics, knew she had to be careful because of a spinal cord injury sustained in 2003. “My respiratory system is already impaired, so I had to be very careful,” says the athlete who has six international medals for club throw under her belt. For some, getting Covid and the slow recovery period wasn't just a hypothetical fear, but a reality. Dharambir, who has been selected for the club throw event, got Covid only two months before the trial for the Olympics. “After Covid, my body was completely weak. I wasn't able to get up and sit down. People were telling me I needed to rest, but after 10 days post-Covid, I started training again because I knew if the trials didn't go well I wouldn't get selected,” says Dharambir, who was left with a serious spinal injury after meeting with an accident in his early 20s. If Dharambir battled Covid, Devendra Jhajharia, one of India's most prominent para athletes and the first Indian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics, struggled to train without the javelin that's almost like a body part for him, like his second arm. “It was the longest time I have gone in my life without touching a javelin because I obviously couldn't throw at home,” says the 40-year-old. “The second was that my coach told me that whatever happens, I can't put on weight. Because at my age, gaining weight would really affect my performance.” With only rudimentary equipment like theraband and exercise balls at home, Jhajharia got creative — the side of his car provided resistance as he exercised, while for weight training he relied on an LPG cylinder. Once the lockdown lifted and he was able to resume practice, things were looking up — that is, until October. His father was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer with only some days to live. “When I went home, he told me that he may not live but asked me not to disrupt my training and to go back to Gandhinagar where my coach was. I did and he passed away in a few weeks,” he says. Again, he went back home for 12 days for the necessary rituals but his mother insisted he leave soon, to work towards his father's dream and win another gold medal. A few months later, he gave an “unbelievable performance” at the trial, and plans on bringing home a medal, for the country and his family. The support system of family has been an important tool for 22-year-old Simran Sharma, who is headed for her first Paralympics after being selected for the 100m race. While she focused on very clear goals — eat, sleep, and train — during the lockdown, her spouse picked up the housework slack. “My husband did everything else — all the cooking and cleaning. He wanted me to concentrate only on my goal.” Even when she got Covid and struggled with fatigue, he forced her to eat and get better. “For a while, I really struggled — crying and falling from exhaustion and once I fainted during practice. But with training, I went to Dubai in February 2021 and won a gold medal there,” she says, pointing out that she's been dealing with a serious leg injury. An MRI after the trials revealed that she ran only on the strength of one foot to get her ticket to the Paralympics. Javelin player Sandeep Chaudhary has spent the past year isolating in training camps in Delhi and Sonipat which had very strict Covid protocols. “That way, I was able to do my six hours of practice daily,” he says. The rules included weekly Covid tests and designated 'zones' to create safe bubbles for athletes. And it was all worth it — he broke his own world record at the trials, with a distance of 66.44m. But he admits that this time has been extra difficult. “As para athletes, we have learnt to live with difficulties in normal times also. Hard situations make you strong, in my opinion.” Ekta Bhyan, meanwhile, says that while she appreciates people being inspired by para athletes, she wishes there was as much focus on their achievements. “Their hard work shouldn't be sidelined in comparison to the hardships they have overcome.”
446 As javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra started his run-up for every single attempt out of the six attempts in the javelin throw final, the trainees and fellow athletes apart from coach Naseem Ahmad at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, would dance to the dhol beats after the attempt. While Chopra became India's only second individual Olympic gold medallist with a throw of 87.58 m at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday evening, it was bhangra time for the coach and the trainees. With Chopra having trained at the stadium from 2011 till the early part of 2016, a tearful Ahmad celebrated Chopra's historic feat with young athletes and trainees carrying Ahmad holding the Indian flag on their shoulders. "Yeh toh pure desh ka gold medal hai. The boy has made us and the whole country proud. To see him win the gold medal and to see every single trainee here at stadium cheer for Chopra this evening means a lot for all of us. To see his journey from 2011 to becoming the Olympic champion feels special for all of us and we are waiting for the day when Neeraj will come to Panchkula to celebrate and show us the gold medal. Haryana government announcing an athletic centre at Panchkula is also the biggest reward of us and I am sure many more Neerajs will emerge," said an emotional Ahmad while talking with The Indian Express. While the trainees and coaches waited with bated breath for the final and would also cheer Chopra's name whenever other javelin throwers in the final threw lesser than Chopra's mark, it was Chopra's second throw of 87.58m which drew the biggest cheers from the 200- odd trainees apart from coach Ahmad. While Chopra would make two foul throws and a last throw of 84.24m, as the commentators declared Chopra as the eventual champion, Ahmad could not control his tears and was quick to distribute laddoos to the trainees and fellow coaches. "It was a historic day for India and we are happy that we could watch Neeraj sir create history from the same stadium, where he trained. With other throwers struggling in the humid conditions, we knew that Neeraj sir would win the gold medal and cheered for him throughout the final. To see him carry the national flag and to see Naseem sir crying and holding the national flag was an emotional moment for all of us too," said Nikita Mailk, a young trainee, who had come to watch the final at stadium. Chopra's friend and 2014 Asian Para games silver medallist Narender Ranbir, who was one of fellow athletes to start training with Chopra at Panipat and later Panchkula, watched the final from his village near Panipat and was cheering for Chopra. "To see Neeraj winning the gold medal today made us feel that we all have also won the gold medal. Most of us trained in a group and today we were congratulating each of us," Narender said. As for cook Kashmiri Lal, who was in-charge of the kitchen at the now defunct sports nursery at the stadium, too watched the final from his village Nalipar near Karnal. "Neeraj always asked double katoris of custard and poori, chana halwa. Gold jeet ke chore ne toh pure desh ka muh meetha karwa dia," Lal said. Meanwhile, the staff, including Professor Ravinder Chaudhary and Professor Amanendra Mann, and students, including former student and shooter Anjum Moudgill of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, too celebrated Chopra's achievements as Chopra is a former student of the college. "Neeraj has done the college and the city proud and to see him become Olympic champion made us relive his journey," said Pawan Sharma, principal of the college. Chaudhary, who is also the secretary of Athletics Federation of India, lauded Chopra's achievement. "Neeraj has written his name into the history books of Indian and world athletics and the athletics world is proud of him," Chaudhary said.
447 Lovlina Borgohain may have lost her semifinal bout on Wednesday against Turkey's world champion Busenaz Surmeneli but she remains undaunted in her goal towards the elusive Olympic medal. “Losing is never an option for me and I knew I could win this match. I am not satisfied with this bronze and I just want to change the colour of my medal to gold,” the bronze medallist told TOI exclusively while answering queries after the bout. That dream does not seem an unlikely option considering the fact that the 23-year-old started boxing from 2012 and has two World Championship bronze among her many titles, that now comprises being an Olympic medallist. Lovlina gave her everything in the ring during the semis despite Surmeneli winning it unanimously. While the match will be remembered for the Turkish boxer's strength, one will not easily forget the brave fight that Lovlina put on against the world No. 1 boxer. However, she never fought Surmeneli earlier and the lack of that experience hurt her at the end of the day. “Playing against the world champion was a privilege. But it's not like she is unbeatable. I will have to analyse the fight to know what I could have done better. Once I do that, I will have to start working,” said Borgohain. For now, though, she will be taking a break from boxing for some time. The past few months have been really difficult for her in every sense and she needs all the rest she can get, both physically and mentally. First, she tested Covid positive last year and missed a tour to Europe. Then her mother had to undergo a major surgery. During the second Covid wave early this year, the national camp in Delhi had to be halted and she had to train on her own in a hotel room for days. But she has taken all of that in her stride and wants to remain focussed on her goal, an Olympic gold. “In life, no great things come easily. There are always some difficulties or the other and it will be there in the future also. Despite that my focus will be to always give my 200% and overcome these difficulties,” said the boxer. As she strives for greatness, Lovlina acknowledged once again how her family has been her constant support over the years. “My family's support has been my biggest strength throughout this time. And I feel lucky that I have got a family that has supported me through thick and thin despite going through troubles of their own,” added.
448 Apparently, there were those who switched off their TV sets on Wednesday afternoon. Sure, things unfolding on the screen were not for the faint-hearted — Ravi Kumar Dahiya trailed his Kazakh rival, a two-time World Championships medallist, 2-9 in his 57kg freestyle wrestling semifinal. The clock, impersonally ticking away, told us there were just 50 seconds left; less than a minute to rescue a campaign, to save four years of an Olympic dream and, to not let go in vain those 13 years where a father silently cycled each day the 35km from Sonepat in Haryana to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, carrying milk, curd and butter for his son training there. Something had to give. It did. For those who stayed back to watch, arrested by the visceral pull of Dahiya's performance, in six minutes, a life changed. Suddenly, as if in fast forward, wheels began turning, things began moving. A village, Nahri, that did not have proper roads, constant supply of electricity, potable drinking water or even proper sewage lines, was seeing it all happening. Change, long-awaited, was being brought in, because this is what Olympic achievement does to the real India. The gains are felt at Ground Zero. Some 3,672 miles away in Tokyo, a son of the village was waging a battle of his lifetime and scripting a comeback for the ages for it to happen. Quiet and unassuming, Ravi Dahiya, a product of the iconic wrestling nursery, Chhatrasal, son of Rakesh, small-time farmer working in rented paddy fields, was becoming only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar's London 2012 heroics, to make the gold medal match in this strangely complex but timelessly earthy ancient sport. Dahiya's final dash confirmed India its fourth medal at Tokyo, and the world No. 4 faces Zavur Uguev, a two-time world champion representing the Russian Olympic Committee on Thursday with a chance to write his own fable. With the contest entering the last minute of the second period, Dahiya came to life. He pushed Sunyaev off the mat, then tripped him for a three-point move. At 5-9, a single-drive leg attack gave our boy a two-point takedown. Then at 7-9, the table turner. The carpet-pull! The Nahri lad snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept him pinned to the mat to be declared winner.
449 Ravi Dahiya had to settle for silver against a two-time world champion Zavur Uguev in the 57kg freestyle category final. Was it anti-climactic, after the heart-stopping, emphatic manner of his arrival on the Olympic stage a day earlier when he fished himself out of a sticky situation in the semifinal, a skirmish of the highest class that made an entire nation sit up and take notice? If you assure yourself a bronze, isn't a gold there for the taking? Maybe. Maybe not. On Thursday, when it was a rather comfortable 7-4 verdict for the reigning world champion representing Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for gold in Tokyo, was it somewhat of a disappointment? Perhaps the most heartening feature of Dahiya's silver at the hands of Uguev is that the Indian is just 23. His time will come, and swiftly. 'Blinding Lights' blared over the Tannoys in the arena when the two finalists walked in – Dahiya has this impressive swagger, it doesn't scream much, but it says a lot. But you could bet your bottom Bitcoin that Dahiya was anything but blinded by the occasion. . For Dahiya, a gold would have etched his name in the history books as only the country's second individual Olympic gold medallist after air rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra. Silver in wrestling had earlier been won by Sushil Kumar in London 2012. Uguev, on the other hand, was chasing the elusive Olympic medal – the only title missing from a glittering trophy cabinet. He has been a twotime world champion, individual World Cup gold medallist, four-time Russian championships winner and what not. As the referee blew play, the two started cautiously looking for headlocks and assessing each other's moves before Dahiya made the first offensive move in the closing seconds of the opening minute in the first three-minute period. He went for the double leg-attack but not only Uguev defended his opponent's move well but scored a point on counterattack by pushing Dahiya off the mat. Uguev again scored a crucial point in similar fashion to lead 2-0. Just when the bout was about to enter the final minute of the first period, Dahiya saw an opening and got hold of Uguev's right leg and then tripped him backwards to complete a two-point takedown. Dahiya tried to do a 'fitele' but Uguev wouldn't oblige. However, in the very next move, Dahiya was caught off-guard as Uguev executed a perfect two-point takedown. The first period ended with the ROC wrestler leading 4-2 on points. In the second period, Dahiya went for a takedown but it didn't count valid as the two wrestlers had crossed the edge of the scoring mat. At this point, men's freestyle chief national coach Jagminder Singh could be heard telling Dahiya, “Yo thak gaya hai, main bata raha hoon, isko gher le (Uguev is getting tired I am telling you, so go for the kill). But, it was Uguev who swelled his lead with another push of Dahiya off the mat as the Indian trailed 2-5. With under two minutes remaining on the clock, Uguev complained of some injury on his attacking (right hand) palm and called for the medical assistance. While TV cameras showed no such injury or swelling, it helped Uguev earn some much-needed time, and breath, as he was looking tired and somewhat rattled by his opponent's tenacity. The break helped Uguev as he executed another two-pint takedown to get to 7-2 lead. He later went for the 'gut-wrench' but Dahiya's mat defence was equally commendable. A double leg-attack from the Indian helped him reduce the deficit to 4-7 but that was the last scoring success Dahiya had tasted.
450 Ravi Dahiya had to settle for silver against a twotime world champion Zavur Uguev in the 57kg freestyle category final. Was it anti-climactic, after the heart-stopping, emphatic manner of his arrival on the Olympic stage a day earlier when he fished himself out of a sticky situation in the semifinal, a skirmish of the highest class that made an entire nation sit up and take notice? If you assure yourself a bronze, isn't a gold there for the taking? Maybe. Maybe not. On Thursday, when it was a rather comfortable 7-4 verdict for the reigning world champion, representing Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), for gold here at Tokyo was it somewhat of a disappointment? Perhaps the most heartening feature of Indian's Dahiya's silver at the hands of Uguev is that the Indian is just 23. His time will come, and swiftly. 'Blinding Lights' blared over the Tannoys in the arena when the two finalists walked in – Dahiya has this impressive swagger, it doesn't scream much, but it says a lot – but you could bet your bottom Bitcoin that Dahiya was anything but blinded by the occasion. For Dahiya, a gold would have etched his name in the history books as only the country's second individual Olympic gold medallist after air rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra. Silver had earlier been won by wrestler Sushil Kumar in London 2012. Uguev, on the other hand, was chasing the elusive Olympic medal – the only title missing from a glittering trophy cabinet. He has been a two-time world champion, individual World Cup gold medallist, four-time Russian championships winner and what not. As the referee blew play, the two started cautiously looking for headlocks and assessing each other's moves before Dahiya made the first offensive move in the closing seconds of the opening minute in the first three-minute period. He went for the double leg-attack but not only Uguev defended his opponent's move well but scored a point on counterattack by pushing Dahiya off the mat. Uguev again scored a crucial point in similar fashion to lead 2-0. Just when the bout was about to enter the final minute of the first period, Dahiya saw an opening and got hold of Uguev's right leg and then tripped him backwards to complete a twopoint takedown. Dahiya tried to do a 'fitele' but Uguev wouldn't oblige. However, in the very next move, Dahiya was caught off-guard as Uguev executed a perfect two-point takedown. The first period ended with the ROC wrestler leading 4-2 on points. In the second period, Dahiya went for a takedown but it didn't count valid as the two wrestlers had crossed the edge of the scoring mat. At this point, men's freestyle chief national coach Jagminder Singh could be heard telling Dahiya, “Yo thak gaya hai, main bata raha hoon, isko gher le (Uguev is getting tired I am telling you, so go for the kill). But, it was Uguev who swelled his lead with another push of Dahiya off the mat as the Indian trailed 2-5. With under two minutes remaining on the clock, Uguev complained of some injury on his attacking (right hand) palm and called for the medical assistance. While TV cameras showed no such injury or swelling, it helped Uguev earn some much-needed time, and breath, as he was looking tired and somewhat rattled by his opponent's tenacity. The break helped Uguev as he executed another two-pint takedown to get to 7-2 lead. He later went for the 'gut-wrench' but Dahiya's mat defence was equally commendable. A double leg-attack from the Indian helped him reduce the deficit to 4-7 but that was the last scoring success Dahiya had tasted. Both the wrestlers went for an all-out offensive, in the final minute, but Uguev didn't allow Dahiya to get a grip of his hands, or the gold. But somewhere even Uguev knew, Dahiya's time would come. Just a matter of time. It's just that a nation can't hold on to its horses.
451 Two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar has been named as the kingpin in the May 4 murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankad in the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police on Monday. Apart from Kumar, 12 others have also been charge-sheeted. Of 20 accused,15 have been arrested and five absconded. The main evidence against the Olympic wrestler is a oneminute video clip recovered from the mobile phone of co-accused Prince Dalal. It shows Kumar beating Dhankad with a heavy stick. The chargesheet, which runs into 170 pages, has listed 155 police witnesses. Kumar, charge with murder and kidnapping, has also been booked for robbery, having allegedly pointed his licensed pistol at a man at the murder site to relieve him of his mobile phone in order to prevent the video from falling into police hands. On May 4, Dhankad and four of his friends were allegedly thrashed and abducted from their residence in Model Town. The four friends, Jai Bhagwan alias Sonu (37), Bhagat Singh alias Bhagtu (28), Ravinder alias Bhinda (25) and Amit Kumar (27), are listed as witnesses in the chargesheet. Police investigation established that the victims were beaten for 30-40 minutes with staves, baseball bats and hockey sticks. Full report on
452 The sprint queen said she had witnessed Neeraj win gold at the 2016 world junior athletics championship in Poland, where he had hurled the javelin 86.48 metres Sprint queen P.T. Usha wept in joy watching Neeraj Chopra succeed where she had failed 37 years ago, winning Independent India its first Olympic medal in athletics - and a gold to boot. "I shed tears of joy when I saw Neeraj on the podium with a gold medal. It was that kind of a performance from this unassuming boy," Usha, who had missed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Los Angeles 1984 by a hundredth of a second, told The Telegraph. Usha said: "I thank him for doing what I couldn't achieve for the country. I had expected a medal from him today. I knew he would stand on the podium with a gold after the first two throws. Having missed bronze by a hundredth of a second, I know what it means to win an Olympic medal." Usha said she had witnessed Neeraj win gold at the 2016 world junior athletics championship in Bydogszcz, Poland, where he had hurled the javelin 86.48 metres. "It was Neeraj who made me fall in love with the javelin throw, mainly because of the beauty and grace with which he performs and the calm he maintains throughout, with absolutely no showboating," Usha said. She said winning a medal in athletics was particularly tough. "It's not like any other discipline. There's huge competition in each event. Then it all depends on what goes on in one's mind at that given moment." Usha lauded Neeraj for staying focused throughout the event. "Neeraj was pitted against the best in the world and yet he overhauled all of them.... Just see how cool he was between throws and how confident he was while throwing."
453 Apparently, there were those who switched off their TV sets on Wednesday afternoon. Sure, things unfolding on the screen were not for the faint-hearted — Ravi Kumar Dahiya trailed his Kazakh rival, a two-time World Championships medallist, 2-9 in his 57kg freestyle wrestling semifinal. The clock, impersonally ticking away, told us there were just 50 seconds left; less than a minute to rescue a campaign, to save four years of an Olympic dream and, to not let go in vain those 13 years where a father commuted each day the 35 km from Sonipat in Haryana to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, carrying milk, curd and butter for his son training there. Something had to give. It did. For those who stayed back to watch, arrested by the visceral pull of Dahiya's performance, in six minutes, a life changed. Suddenly, as if in fast forward, wheels began turning, things began moving. A village, Nahri, that did not have proper roads, constant supply of electricity, potable drinking water or even proper sewage lines, was seeing it all happening. Change, long-awaited, was being brought in, because this is what Olympic achievement does to the real India. The gains are felt at Ground Zero. Some 3,672 miles away in Tokyo, a son of the village was waging a battle of his lifetime and scripting a comeback for the ages for it to happen. Quiet and unassuming, Ravi Dahiya, a product of the iconic wrestling nursery, Chhatrasal, son of Rakesh, small-time farmer working in rented paddy fields, was becoming the only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar's London 2012 heroics, to make the gold medal match in this strangely complex but timelessly earthy ancient sport. Dahiya's final dash confirmed India its fourth medal at Tokyo, and the World No. 4 faces Zavur Uguev, a twotime world champion representing the Russian Olympic Committee on Thursday with a chance to write his own fable. But what happened out there for fortunes to change? With the contest entering the last minute of the second period, a resolute Dahiya began chipping away. He pushed Nurislam Sunyaev off the mat, then tripped him for a three-point move. At 5-9, a single-drive leg attack gave our boy a two-point takedown. Then at 7-9, the table turner. The carpet-pull! Out went the textbook, in came the childhood instinct. The Nahri lad snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept him pinned to the mat to be declared winner. Dahiya's pinfall on the hapless Kazakh, before you blinked, was over. But it is also here to stay. “We would like to believe that my son's medal will change the fortunes of our village,” father Rakesh told us, knowing that for their lot, a pinfall means a much-needed windfall.
454 Apparently, there were those who switched off their TV sets on Wednesday afternoon. Sure, things unfolding on the screen were not for the faint-hearted — Ravi Kumar Dahiya trailed his Kazakh rival, a two-time World Championships medallist, 2-9 in his 57kg freestyle wrestling semifinal. The clock, impersonally ticking away, told us there were just 50 seconds left; less than a minute to rescue a campaign, to save four years of an Olympic dream and, to not let go in vain those 13 years where a father silently cycled each day the 35 km from Sonepat in Haryana to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, carrying milk, curd and butter for his son training there. Something had to give. It did. For those who stayed back to watch, arrested by the visceral pull of Dahiya's performance, in six minutes, a life changed. Suddenly, as if in fast forward, wheels began turning, things began moving. P13, 14 & 16 A village, Nahri, that did not have proper roads, constant supply of electricity, potable drinking water or even proper sewage lines, was seeing it all happening. Change, long-awaited, was being brought in, because this is what Olympic achievement does to the real India. The gains are felt at Ground Zero. Some 3,672 miles away in Tokyo, a son of the village was waging a battle of his lifetime and scripting a comeback for the ages for it to happen. In a corner of the Dahiya household, an old, forgotten bicycle was been given a celebratory wash — a milk bath, perhaps. Quiet and unassuming, Ravi Dahiya, a product of the iconic wrestling nursery, Chhatrasal, son of Rakesh, small-time farmer working in rented paddy fields, was becoming the only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar's London 2012 heroics, to make the gold medal match in this strangely complex but timelessly earthy ancient sport. Dahiya's final dash confirmed India its fourth medal at Tokyo, and the World No. 4 faces Zavur Uguev, a two-time world champion representing the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Thursday with a chance to write his own fable. But what happened out there for fortunes to change? With the contest entering the last minute of the second period, a resolute Dahiya began chipping away. He pushed Nurislam Sunyaev off the mat, then tripped him for a threepoint move. At 5-9, a singledrive leg attack gave our boy a two-point takedown. Then at 7-9, the table turner. The carpet-pull! Out went the textbook, in came the childhood instinct. The Nahri lad snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept him pinned to the mat to be declared winner. Dahiya's pinfall on the hapless Kazakh, before you blinked, was over. But it is also here to stay. “We would like to believe that my son's medal will change the fortunes of our village,” father Rakesh told us, knowing that for their lot, a pinfall means much-needed windfall.
455 Deepika Kumari kept India's hopes for a maiden Olympic medal in archery alive by making the pre-quarterfinals of the women's individual category in Tokyo on Wednesday. In what could turn into a pictureperfect scenario for India, Deepika's husband Atanu Das will join her in this podium dream on Thursday, when the Kolkata man opens his individual campaign against Deng Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei in the round of 64. However, Das' teammates Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav made second-round exits on Wednesday. Although Jharkhand girl Deepika had an easy opening round, getting past Bhutan's Karma 6-0 almost without breaking a sweat, her scores were not up to the mark as she managed just 26, 26 and 27 points in the three-set contest. In spite of facing almost no pressure against her World No. 193 opponent, Kumari managed just one 10 in her nine shots. Karma, Bhutan's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, also hit one 10 but ended up with belowpar scores of 23, 23 and 24 in the three sets to go down tamely. Deepika, the World No. 1 women's archer, improved her performance in the next round, overcoming the fighting US teenager Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez 6-4 at the floodlit Yumenoshima Park. Deepika once again made a poor start with scores of 7, 9, 9 to lose the first set 26-25. However, she bounced back strongly with two consecutive 10s to take the second set 28-25. She kept the momentum going, opening the third set with another 10 and ending up scoring 27, which was a good two points more than her rival. But she could not seal the match in the next set, hitting a poor six that allowed the 18-yearold American to win it 25-24 and tie the scores at 4-4. However, it was Fernandez who failed to force a tie-break after she managed just a nine in her final arrow, when a 10 could have equalled the scores. The 27-yearold Indian was again below-par, hitting two 9s and an 8. Olympic debutant Jadhav showed promise in knocking out World No. 2 Galsan Bazarzhapov of Russian Olympic Committee 6-0 in his opening round, only to run into World No. 1 Brady Ellison in the second round. In spite of the American not in his best of forms, Jhadav lost in straight sets 0-6. The Nashik archer failed to capitalize on his chances after Ellison hit two 9s and one 8 to score an ordinary 26 points in the third set. But Jhadav ended up with 23 only with two 8s and one seven. He lost the first two sets by one point only, going down 27-28 and 26-27. His senior Army colleague Tarundeep Rai showed fine form as he rallied to beat Oleksii Hunbin of Ukraine in the opening round. Rai came back from being 2-4 down to win it 6-4. But he failed to keep the momentum against Itay Shanny of Israel to go down in a tight shoot-off. Rai made a slow start, losing the first set 24-28, but he recovered to win the second 27-26 and tie the third 27-27. He took a 5-3 lead in the fourth set but lost the fifth 27-28 by hitting all 9s while his rival found two 10s. Shanny, Israel's first Olympic archer, showed nerves of steel as he hit a 10 in the shoot-off to prevail.
456 Neeraj Chopra didn't even give it a second glance. The moment he released the javelin, he was so sure it would at least be his personal best that he turned to his coaches, and lifted his arms to celebrate. But Chopra was wrong. It wasn't his personal best. The throw, which travelled 87.58 m, made him an Olympic champion. For 100 years, Indian athletics has only been about stories of near-misses, shattered dreams and enduring heartbreaks. When the time finally came - at 9.07 pm on a muggy night at Tokyo's National Stadium - the sport struck gold. Chopra's medal, which came a little more than an hour after wrestler Bajrang Punia won a bronze in the 65-kg weight class, also ensured India's Olympic sojourn ended on a high. Tokyo 2020 will go down as the country's most successful campaign, with a total of seven medals - 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze. The glitter of the javelin gold, India's first since Abhinav Bindra became an Olympic champion at the 2008 Beijing Games, will endure for long. Chopra didn't just finish on top of the podium Saturday night. He did it with such ease, such dominance that it was very uncharacteristically Indian, especially in a sport like athletics where the country's athletes have notoriously underperformed. It was poetic in a way that on the morning Chopra won the elusive medal, an Indian athlete fell agonisingly short of a podium finish in golf. Aditi Ashok showed incredible grit and focus to remain in contention till the very end but finished fourth, joining the heartbreak club that has some of the country's illustrious athletes. Chopra dedicated his medal to all of them, but first and foremost to the legendary Milkha Singh, who passed away recently due to Covid-19 related complications. "First of all, I dedicate my gold medal to Milkha Singh Sir. He had longed to see this day and I hope he had been watching this from the heavens," Chopra said. "Then, to so many others who came close, including PT Usha ma'am. This medal is also for all of them." Not the biggest or bulkiest of throwers, he relied on speed to generate power in his throws. Second in the starting list for the final, he laid down the gauntlet in a tough field with a massive throw of 87.03 m. "That was our strategy," his coach Klaus Bartonietz said. "We wanted to put pressure on the rest of the field straightaway and the only way we could do that was by throwing big." It was one of those rare days when everything aligned perfectly for Chopra. He looked calm and relaxed, had a sip of an energy drink just before his turn came and announced his intention. With the second throw, he went farther, recording 87.58 m. Chopra being way ahead of the field was not the biggest surprise. He had done that during the qualifying round as well, but with the weather a lot clearer but equally humid on Saturday, it was expected that others, including the sport's current biggest star Johannes Vetter, would raise his game. Vetter was the outright favourite to win gold, having recorded throws of 90-plus metres for fun this year. But he had been having troubles with his technique and had complained about the track being slippery. Vetter didn't look comfortable during the final as well, struggling to get a proper grip on the surface and slipping multiple times. After a first attempt of 82.52 m, he turned over his ankle and slipped during his next throw. His third throw, like the second, was also a foul. With the world's best javelin thrower in the last 12 months out of the fray, others struggled to come close to Chopra's effort. The next best throw, by Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, was almost a metre short and the bronze medal winner, Vitezslav Vesely, was a good 2.14 m behind the Indian. "The plan was just to go after my personal best. I knew if I matched that, I would finish on the podium," Chopra said. He did finish on the podium, on the top too. When he was presented the medal, Chopra held it firmly, planted a kiss and put it around his neck. And as the national anthem played out in this gigantic stadium, he teared up. The only time in the night he seemed overawed.
457 Apparently, there were those who switched off their TV sets Wednesday afternoon. Sure, things unfolding on the screen were not for the fainthearted — Ravi Kumar Dahiya trailed his Kazakh rival, a two-time World Championships medallist, 2-9 in his 57kg freestyle wrestling semifinal. The clock, ticking away, told us there were just 50 seconds left to rescue a campaign, to save four years of an Olympic dream and, to not let go in vain those 13 years where a father commuted each day the 35 km from Sonepat in Haryana to Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium, carrying milk, curd and butter for his son training there. Something had to give. It did. For those who stayed back to watch, arrested by the visceral pull of Dahiya's performance, a life changed. Suddenly, wheels began turning, things began moving. A village, Nahri, that didn't have proper roads, constant supply of electricity, potable drinking water or proper sewage lines, was seeing it all happening. Change, long-awaited, was being brought in, as this is what Olympic achievement does to the real India. The gains are felt at Ground Zero. Some 3,672 miles away in Tokyo, a son of the village was waging a battle of his lifetime and scripting a comeback for the ages for it to happen. Quiet and unassuming, Ravi Dahiya, a product of the iconic wrestling nursery, Chhatrasal, son of Rakesh, a farmer working in rented paddy fields, was becoming the only second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar's London 2012 heroics, to make the gold medal match in this earthy sport. Dahiya's final dash confirmed India its fourth medal at Tokyo. The World No. 4 faces Zavur Uguev, a two-time world champion on Thursday with a chance to write his own fable. But what happened out there for fortunes to change? With the contest entering the last minute of the second period, Dahiya pushed Nurislam Sunyaev off the mat, then tripped him for a three-point move. At 5-9, a single-drive leg attack gave our boy a two-point takedown. Then at 7-9, the table turner. The carpet-pull! Out went the textbook, in came the childhood instinct. The Nahri lad snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept him pinned to the mat to be declared winner. Dahiya's pinfall on the Kazakh, before you blinked, was over. But it's also here to stay. “We would like to believe my son's medal will change our village's fortunes,” his father told us, knowing that for their lot, a pinfall means muchneeded windfall.
458 Apparently, there were those who switched off their TV sets Wednesday afternoon. Sure, things unfolding on the screen were not for the faint-hearted — Ravi Kumar Dahiya trailed his Kazakh rival, a two-time World Championships medallist, 2-9 in his 57kg freestyle wrestling semifinal. The clock, ticking away, told us there were just 50 seconds left to rescue a campaign, to save four years of an Olympic dream and, to not let go in vain those 13 years where a father commuted each day the 35 km from Sonipat in Haryana to Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium, carrying milk, curd and butter for his son training there. Something had to give. It did. For those who stayed back to watch, arrested by the visceral pull of Dahiya's performance, a life changed. Suddenly, wheels began turning, things began moving. A village, Nahri, that didn't have proper roads, constant supply of electricity, potable drinking water or proper sewage lines, was seeing it all happening. Change, long-awaited, was being brought in, because this is what Olympic achievement does to the real India. The gains are felt at Ground Zero. Some 3,672 miles away in Tokyo, a son of the village was waging a battle of his lifetime and scripting a comeback for the ages for it to happen. Quiet and unassuming, Ravi Dahiya, a product of the iconic wrestling nursery, Chhatrasal, son of Rakesh, a farmer working in rented paddy fields, was becoming the only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar's London 2012 heroics, to make the gold medal match in this earthy sport. Dahiya's final dash confirmed India its fourth medal at Tokyo. The world number 4 faces Zavur Uguev, a two-time world champion on Thursday, with a chance to write his own fable. But what happened out there for fortunes to change? With the contest entering the last minute of the second period, Dahiya pushed Nurislam Sunyaev off the mat, then tripped him for a three-point move. At 5-9, a single-drive leg attack gave our boy a two-point takedown. Then at 7-9, the table turner. The carpet-pull! Out went the textbook, in came the childhood instinct. The Nahri lad snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept him pinned to the mat to be declared winner. Dahiya's pinfall on the Kazakh, before you blinked, was over. But it's also here to stay. “We would like to believe my son's medal will change our village's fortunes,” his father told us, knowing that for their lot, a pinfall means muchneeded windfall.
459 Amid-round wobble can weigh on one's mind, especially while playing on the biggest stage with the whole world watching. But Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, known as much for her mental fortitude as her skill, recovered in splendid fashion to stay in the hunt for a historic Olympic medal at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Friday. The 23-year-old Bengalurean shot a gritty three-under 68 under pressure to stay in sole second place, three strokes behind world No. 1 Nelly Korda of America. Aditi took her three-day total to 12-under 201, two shots ahead of the quartet of Lydia Ko (66), Hannah Green (67), Emily Kristine Pederson (70) and Mone Inami (68). Diksha Dagar, the second Indian in the field, was tied 51st on seven-over 220. Putting is Aditi's forte but her putter didn't catch fire as she would have liked, despite making two 15-footers and a clutch of par saves. She had an uncharacteristic three-putted bogey on the 11th and missed a par putt by a whisker on the ninth a little earlier. “My putting wasn't as good today as the first two days. So, those couple par putts like the one on the 12th and the 18th helped,” said the three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour. Aditi, who had picked up shots on the fourth and sixth holes, both set up by nice approaches, and the seventh, limited the damage with some par saves. She brought herself back into medal contention while pulling away from the chasing pack with birdies on the 15th hole, where she holed a 15-footer, and the 17th (seven-footer). The lack of distance off the tee – she is yet to regain her speed and strength after being down with Covid in May – seemed to put pressure on her approaches. She was often hitting rescues into the greens rather than the short irons. “It (Covid) took a little bit of strength out of me. I was always short but not like 50 behind Nelly. I think apart from the distance, this year has been kind of the best I've had with my short game, my putting. I think it's been one of the best years,” she said. The 23-year-old, with the entire country rooting for her, will hope to cap her run with an Olympic medal. Leading scores (after 54 holes): 198: Nelly Korda (US, 67, 62, 69); 201: Aditi Ashok (Ind, 67, 66, 68); 203: Lydia Ko (NZ, 70, 67, 66), Hannah Green (Aus, 71, 65, 67), Emily Kristine Pedersen (Den, 70, 63, 70), Mone Inami (Jpn, 70, 65, 68); 220: Diksha Dagar (Ind, 76, 72, 72, T-51). Organisers hopeful of completing 72 holes The impending tropical storm over the weekend has threatened to reduce the women's golf competition to a 54-hole affair but the organisers are hopeful of completing 72 holes. “If weather permits on Saturday, we plan to start the round an hour earlier off both tees (first and 10th),” said a release from the organisers.
460 Two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar has been named as the kingpin in the May 4 murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankad in the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police on Monday. Apart from Kumar, 12 others have also been chargesheeted. Of 20 accused, 15 have been arrested and five absconded. The main evidence against the Olympic wrestler is a oneminute video clip recovered from the mobile phone of coaccused Prince Dalal. It shows Kumar beating Dhankad with a heavy stick. The chargesheet, which runs into 170 pages, has listed 155 police witnesses. Kumar, charge with murder and kidnapping, has also been booked for robbery, having allegedly pointed his licensed pistol at a man at the murder site to relieve him of his mobile phone in order to prevent the video from falling into police hands. On May 4, Dhankad and four of his friends were allegedly thrashed and abducted from their residence in Model Town. The four friends, Jai Bhagwan alias Sonu (37), Bhagat Singh alias Bhagtu (28), Ravinder alias Bhinda (25) and Amit Kumar (27), are listed as witnesses in the chargesheet. It was Bhinda who had called the police control room to inform the cops about the incident. An ego clash was behind the crime, the chargesheet says. A police source said, “Initially, it was only a spat over Sushil Kumar's house not being vacated by the victim and his friends who had rented it. Later, however, it turned into a turf battle for the control of Chhatrasal Stadium. The Olympian was miffed by talk at the stadium that he was frightened of Sagar and Jai Bhagwan. Kumar also believed that the duo was keeping an eye on him while some young wrestlers who were also friends with Dhankad were tracking his movements. Since Bhagwan has a criminal background, Kumar was worried that he could be targeted and, therefore, hatched a plan to intimidate his rivals. The reason the video was made was to send a message to the wrestling fraternity that no one should consider himself to be above Sushil Kumar.” Police investigation established that the victims were beaten for 30-40 minutes with staves, baseball bats and hockey sticks. Some of the assailants also waved firearms to threaten the victims. The gate of the stadium was locked from inside and the security guards were asked to leave their posts. The cause of Dhankad's death, according to the postmortem report, was “cerebral damage resulting from blunt force/object impact”. Five vehicles were seized from Kumar and his associates and a double-barrel gun was also recovered from one of them.
461 Indian hockey stars Gurjant Singh, Surender Kumar, Sumit Walmiki — all three part of the team that won the bronze in the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games — have a strong city connect. Not long ago, they were playing in the Calcutta Hockey League for different clubs. Bengal hockey can surely take a little pride in this, but it is hardly enough to boost the game in the state, say experts. The reason: lack of basic infrastructure. For one, the league continues to be played on grass here, when the world has switched to artificial turf. In fact, international hockey stopped being played on grass way back in 1976. Even though the celebrated trio had part of their early grooming in the city, today they would struggle on grass. “How can you expect the game to improve here when the local league is still played on grass?” asks Gurbux Singh, a member of 1964 Olympic gold-winning hockey team. “It's a shame that in 45 years since synthetic turf was introduced, we still don't have such a surface for the oldest hockey league of the country,” the two-time Olympian, who also coached the national team for the 1976 Montreal Games, told TOI. Following a pandemic-affected hiatus last season, Hockey Bengal organized the local league in February-March this year. Punjab Sports Club beat East Bengal to become the latest champion of a tournament, which had started way back in 1905. Jagraj Singh, who coached East Bengal, was instrumental in bringing Gurjant to the CHL fold in 2011. The youngster spent five seasons here (three with Punjab SC and two with CESC) before making the big jump to the national junior squad and then becoming a part of the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning team. Two years ago, during his stint as Punjab SC coach, Jagraj also gave Surender and Sumit a platform to hone their skills in the CHL. Jagraj remembers that these players were initially afraid of picking up injuries while playing on grass. “The weak link to the game's development here is the lack of synthetic turfs. We are not short on talent, but without this basic facility, how can we expect the youngsters to shine at domestic meets and draw national attention?” he asked. Gurmeet Singh, a former Bengal player who coached this year's CHL-winning Punjab SC, echoed the sentiment. “What India did in Tokyo must be viewed as a confidence-booster for the game in the country, and hopefully, it will spur sponsors to invest in the domestic infrastructure. But I don't think it will herald any dramatic change in Bengal hockey. Unless we have synthetic turfs, any thought of reviving the game here will be a daydream,” said Gurmeet, a member of Bengal's 1998 junior national bronze-winning team. Both Jagraj and Gurmeet have sought assistance from the state government as in Odisha, where the state sponsors both the men's and women's teams. Gurbux had once led a mission to utilise Rabindra Sarobar Stadium exclusively for hockey. However, it met with strong protests from some footballers, which eventually led to scrapping of the idea. “The post-Tokyo days will certainly herald some changes in Indian hockey. Will Bengal be able to be part of it? Let's wait and see,” said Gurbux.
462 Belinda Bencic's Olympic debut at the Ariake Tennis Park has turned into a coming-out party, the Swiss fashioning her way into the singles and doubles finals. The world No.12 put out Kazakh Elena Rybakina 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3 and sank to the court. Her face buried in her palms, she sobbed tears of relief. The 24-year-old returned to the arena a couple of hours later, teaming up with Viktorija Golubic, to knock out Brazil's Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani 7-5, 6-3. “My emotions right now, it's too high,” she said. “To have a medal, it's the greatest thing. It's something I dreamed of and I didn't think it would become a reality.” In the singles final Bencic goes up against Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who knocked out world No.6 Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 in the other semifinal. In the doubles, Bencic and Golubic face French Open champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. Bencic blunted the Kazakh's power with her use of court in the two-hour 46-minute affair, guaranteeing a Swiss tennis medal for the fourth consecutive Games. She became the fifth player, after Venus and Serena Williams, Nicolas Massu and Andy Murray to have reached both singles and doubles finals since tennis returned to the Games in 1988. Marc Rosset is the only Swiss to win a singles gold, 1992 Barcelona; Bencic will have a chance to do one better in the weekend. DJOKOVIC THROUGH World No.1 Novak Djokovic continued to breeze through what appeared to be an impossible chase at the start of the summer, putting out home hope Kei Nishokori 6-2, 6-0 in 72 minutes. The Serb, aiming to become the first man to win all four majors and an Olympic gold medal in a season, will play fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the last-four on Friday. The German was equally efficient in downing Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-1 in 67 minutes. Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta put out an out-of-sorts world No.2 Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). He will face Karen Kachanov in the last four.
463 As the final hooter for the bronze medal match was blown, the DJ at the console in the Oi hockey stadium in Tokyo couldn't have picked a better song. U2's iconic 'It's a beautiful day' played out in the background as the Men in Blue blended with the colour of the turf – crying, hugging, falling to the ground as they celebrated a red-letter day in Indian sport. Indeed, it was a beautiful day. India had just quelled a valiant challenge from Germany to emerge 5-4 victors, a win which will be savoured by a country deprived of an Olympic medal in hockey for 41 agonising years. While the match was won on the strength and ability of the team, one man who withstood unrelenting pressure to see India through was PR Sreejesh. With 6.8 seconds left on the clock, the 35-year-old goalkeeper came up with the save of his career to deny the Germans an equaliser which could have taken the match to the shootout. The last minute was full of drama. Technology played its part as well, with the clock not ticking and the television screens briefly declaring Germany as winners. But the minor glitches did nothing to dilute India's win or dampen their spirits. It has been a rough ride for hockey in the country. The romance with the sport dates back to 1928, when India won their first Olympic gold in Amsterdam. Seven more gold medals at the Games followed for India before the lull. There was more than just a medal at stake. There was pride, history and revival of lost glory too. One can only imagine the pressure the team was under to deliver. With prayer on their lips, belief in their minds, backed by fitness and resolve, India took the field for their date with history. The Indian charge was dealt an early blow when a goalmouth melee led to Timur Orus connecting Florian Fuchs' pass past Sreejesh in the second minute. With their backs to the wall and a one-goal deficit, India began the second quarter with intent and purpose and three minutes into it, Germany paid the price for going full press. On the counter, Nilakanta Sharma dribbled swiftly before relaying a through pass to Simranjeet Singh, who made no mistake in finding India's equaliser. This paved the way for a battle in which the Germans dominated. They overlapped and worked cohesively as they launched their forays. The Indian defenders and midfielders slowed down, taking on the Germans a little too deep. Germany forged ahead yet again in the 24th minute when India paid the price for Nilakanta losing possession. Niklas Wellen sounded the boards. Barely had India recovered from the goal when the Germans dispossessed Surender Kumar in the circle for Benedikt Furk to find the mark. Germany failed to hold on to the lead for more than two minutes as India levelled, with injector Hardik Singh (27th minute) and Harmanpreet Singh (29th) putting their team back in the game. A minute into the third quarter (31st), Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty stroke but the drama was only unfolding. Simranjeet handed India a 5-3 advantage when Gurjant Singh blazed through the right flank and sent the ball to the striker, who scored from a close range. India entered the final quarter with a 5-3 advantage. The Germans played rough and their skipper Tobias Hauke was sent out with a yellow card. But Lukas Windfeder put a fresh wind in the German sail, converting a penalty corner in the 48th minute. India then withstood repeated attacks up until the last few seconds.
464 Assam is not settling for anything less than gold, at least not Baramukhia, the village of Indian boxing's emerging poster girl Lovlina Borgohain. As soon as news reached that Lovlina was assured of an Olympic medal, the village and its vicinity erupted in joy. Her feat has also assured Assam of her first-ever Olympic medal. Horen Gogoi, neighbour and family friend, told The Telegraph from Lovlina's residence that her "unparalleled" achievement was greeted with beats of the dhol, bursting of firecrackers and distribution of sweets in her village and home town Barpathar. However, they have not given up on the gold, it is their collective desire as that of the state. "We wanted her to win a medal. She has achieved. She is assured of at least a bronze but we want her to go for gold. Our slogan was 'Go for glory' but today it has changed to 'Go For Gold'. We are very happy for her ... we are praying for her," Gogoi said. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his first reaction, echoed Gogoi. "We are very happy but instead of celebrations I want everyone to pray that she wins the gold. Then we can all celebrate," Sarma said. For the people of her village and in Upper Assam's Golaghat district, around 315km from Guwahati, the medal was a just reward for years of hard work and focus. The Borgohain household has been busy since morning. Its kitchen has been functioning non-stop, serving tea to well-wishers. Gogoi, a 51-year-old businessman, said the road to Lovlina's house, 3km from Barpathar town, was in a dilapidated state but the administration started paying attention after the athlete started doing well internationally. She has two World Championships and two Asian Championships bronze medals. Work on a new 16-km road started this month under the initiative of Biswajit Phukan, the MLA from Sarupathar, under which her village falls. Hours after her medal feat, he announced that a new stadium will come up 3km away. There was a time Lovlina and her elder sisters, who used to pursue Muay Thai and are now employed with the BSF and CISF, carried their bicycles for about 1.5km during the rainy season to reach their training ground, Gogoi said. "The new road, the new stadium are some of the benefits of Lovlina's exploits till now. Our lives have become a bit easy and the many talents in the area in games like boxing, archery and football will get a place to hone their skills," Gogoi said. The village of around 3,000 people is planning a grand reception when Lovlina arrives from Tokyo - her first visit home in nine months. Her parents - Tiken and Mamoni Borgohain - did not watch her bouts as always because they can't "absorb the tension and excitement". Lovlina had called her father before the bout in the morning and once after her victory and spoke to her mother, who underwent a kidney transplant in Calcutta four months ago. Subhash Basumatary, former Sports Authority of India official who had planned and executed a talent scouting plan that had unearthed Lovlina in 2012, said: "It is a big feat but I still feel she can win the gold if she continues to spar as she did today," he said.
465 This wasn't for the faint-hearted, for sure. And if you happened to be one, it was better if you had stayed away from your TV set between 2:45pm and 2:51pm on Wednesday afternoon. What happened in those nerve-wracking six minutes at the Makuhari Messe Hall's wrestling arena A, on Mat B in Tokyo, set the pulse racing. An Indian freestyle wrestler, from a small, long-neglected village in Haryana, waged a battle of a lifetime and scripted a comeback for the ages. Unassuming and quiet, Ravi Dahiya is a product of nowjailed wrestling superstar Sushil Kumar's iconic Chhatrasal academy in North West Delhi's Model Town area. On Wednesday, Dahiya forced his way into the gold medal match in men's freestyle 57kg category. Dahiya, ranked No. 4 in the United World Wrestling's (UWW) ranking charts, will face Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) Zavur Uguev, a twotime world champion, in the final on Thursday afternoon. Dahiya is only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil's London 2012 heroics to enter the final of the wrestling competitions at the Olympic Games. Wednesday's show also confirmed a fourth medal for India. Trailing 2-9 in his semifinal clash against Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sunyaev, World Championships medallist, and with 50 seconds left on the clock for the bout to end, 30-year-old Dahiya summoned all his powers and experience to turn the tables on his rival in a dramatic way, clinching the issue by 'pinfall', even as the scores showed the Kazakh leading 9-7. In that final minute of the contest, Dahiya started reducing the deficit by first pushing Sunyaev 'out of bounds' (off the mat) and then tripping him to complete a three-point move. The Kazakh complained of a muscle pull and took the medical timeout, ostensibly to disturb Dahiya's rhythm. With the scoreline still favouring the Kazakh at 9-5, Dahiya went for the singledrive leg attack and scored a twopoint takedown before converting to a pin, where he snapped Sunyaev's shoulders and kept them fixed to the mat to be declared winner 'by fall'. Dahiya, two-time Asian champion (2020, 2021) and a bronze winner at the World Championships in 2019, led the first scoring period of three minutes 2-1 after executing a two-point takedown of Sunyaev. However, it was the Kazakh who completely changed the complexion of the bout in the final period after performing an astonishing eight-point 'fitele' (twirling the opponent on his back multiple times with great speed and perfection) following an ankle lock on Ravi. Within seconds, Sunyaev raced to a 9-2 lead and the contest looked over for Dahiya. Another spin by the Kazakh would have ended the contest. Dahiya has staged several such fightbacks in his career. In the Polish Open ranking tournament in Warsaw in June, he went on to win a bout 18-8 from a seemingly impossible situation when he trailed 0-8 with just 60 seconds to go. Dahiya had entered the lastfour stage after defeating Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov 14-4 in the quarterfinals and Colombia's Oscar Eduardo Tigreros Urbano 13-2 in the opening round. Deepak, Anshu fight for bronze The other two Indian challengers, World No. 2 Deepak Punia (86kg) and woman wrestler Anshu Malik (57kg), will fight for the bronze on Thursday after qualifying for the repechage round. World Championships silver medallist Punia's defence was demolished by former world champion David Taylor of the US in the men's freestyle 86kg semifinal bout. The American won 10-0 on technical superiority, completing the formalities in just 191 seconds. Malik lost her opening bout to Bulgaria's double World medallist Iryna Kurachkina 2-8 in the women's 57kg category. Since Kurachkina made it to the title clash, Malik will get a shot at the bronze through repechage round. Times View First-time Olympian Ravi Kumar's success is a shining example of hard work prevailing over adversity. It also underlines that relative inexperience need not necessarily be a hurdle to success.
466 “All my three sons have won,” Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh's mother, Manjit Kaur, told him when he called home minutes after beating Germany to win the Olympic bronze. She summed up the emotions of the entire Mithapur village, which sent three players to Tokyo. After individual celebrations, the families of Mandeep Singh and Varun Kumar reached Manpreet's house for a village gala complete with dhol and bhangra. They then paid a thanksgiving visit to the village gurdwara. A picture of anxiety in the last minutes of the match, Manjit Kaur raised her arms as soon as it was over and let out the Sikh war cry: “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!” Soon, her voice choked and her eyes welled up. She and Manpreet's wife, Illi Najwa Saddique, hugged each other and greeted those around them. “God has protected the honour of my son. Guru Gobind Singh heard my prayers and blessed my son and his team with glory,” said Manjeet Kaur. Minutes later, Manpreet made a video call and she asked him: “Where are the others? You played well. All my three sons have won.” Manpreet's father had died in 2016 during the Azlan Shah Cup. His mother has followed his game closely. “It was clear in our heads and hearts that we'll return with some medal. We chinned up one another. In the dying minutes, our mindset was of do or die and our synchronisation was perfect. We were determined to deny Germany a last-minute equaliser,” said Mandeep.
467 The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award now renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award is the highest sporting honour in the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, "respecting the sentiments of citizens across the country". The Khel Ratna award is the highest sporting honour in the nation. "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!" Prime Minister Modi tweeted. The Khel Ratna award was instituted in 1991-1992 and the first recepient was Chess legend Viswanathan Anand. Among the other winners were Leander Paes, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhanraj Pillay, Pullela Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra, Anju Bobby George, Mary Kom and Rani Rampal in 2020. The now renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award comes with a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. Known as The Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand, a field hockey player, played international hockey from 1926 to 1949, scroing over 400 goals in his career. Dhyan Chand, born in Allahabad, was part of the Olympic team that won gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Apart from the Khel Ratna award, the country's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. It was instituted in 2002. The National Stadium in New Delhi was also renamed as the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002.
468 The story of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's rise from Panipat to the podium is now well-known to millions of sports fans. As the 23-yearold javelin thrower rose through the ranks to reach the pinnacle, he has never forgotten to express his gratitude to those who helped him through the journey. Chopra always held his coaches in high esteem, starting from Jaiveer Choudhary, who spotted him, to Dr Klaus Bartonietz, who helped him during the last two years. Among those who contributed to his all-round development are two Indians, Jaiveer and Kashinath Naik, besides Australian Gary Calvert and German legend Uwe Hohn. Naik won the bronze medal for India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, a year before Chopra started training with coach Jaiveer as a 14-year-old. It was India's first medal in javelin in CWG and the first after the 1982 medal won at the Asian Games. After his days as an athlete ended, Naik turned to coaching and was assisting Calvert when Chopra won the gold medal with a junior world record at the U-20 World Championships in Poland in 2016. “Neeraj was selected for the national camp after he impressed all as a junior in the 2015 Federation Cup. He was skinny, throwing with a lot of energy and finished fourth or fifth. It helped him get selected,” Naik, who was a national coach from 2013-18, told TOI. Naik said Neeraj soon won his first national senior medal in the next few months “At the Inter-State in Mangaluru, Devender came first with his personal best of 79m and Neeraj was second with a throw of 75m. Then I took him to compete at the 2015 Asian Championships in Wuhan. Neeraj couldn't do well as it was raining and only managed a throw of 73-75m.” “Next up was the 2016 South Asian Games and Neeraj did an 82.28m. Then came Calvert and we travelled to Poland where he won the gold in Junior World Championships. But Calvert was here for just over a year before he fell out with AFI and left in 2017,” Naik said. Naik recalled that after Calvert left, Chopra was without a foreign coach and it was at this time that JSW Sports sent him to Finland to train with Werner Daniel. Chopra's big win has brought the focus back on Naik and on Sunday the Karnataka government announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh for the coach for guiding Chopra.
469 “First impression is the best impression,” is one of the messages that is drilled into young minds by parents and teachers alike. At the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, on a warm Wednesday morning, it took India's Neeraj Chopra less than a minute to make a big impression on the global audience as he advanced to the men's javelin throw final with a fine 86.65m. In his debut Games, the 23-year old from Panipat showed no signs of rustiness and looked fresh and raring to go. Having tucked his flowing hair with a sponsor's headband, he ran in strong from the top of his run-up and unleashed the yellowcoloured spear into the air before hitting the ground on all fours and halting his run well inside the line. Chopra knew straightaway that he had managed a big one but showed little emotion. Even as the small group of Indian supporters cheered him from the stands, Chopra didn't celebrate and it was like another day at the office for him. Gold medal contender Johannes Vetter of Germany struggled with his first two throws managing just over 82 metres before firing his third to 85.64m and over the automatic qualification mark set at 83.50m. He finished second behind Chopra. Finland's Lati Etelatalo was the first to get a Q against his name when he opened with an 84.50m throw. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who is seventh in the toppers list for the season, did his reputation no harm as he topped Group B qualification round recording an 85.16m on his second attempt after opening with a modest 78.50m. As the heat and humidity rose rapidly, India's Shivpal Singh crashed out managing a best of 76.40m from his first chance. The Indian wasn't anywhere near his best form as he settled for 72m for throws from the second and third attempts. Among the big names Poland's Marcin Krukowski (SB: 89.55), Trinidad's Keshorn Walcott (SB: 89.12m), and Latvian Gatis Cakss (SB: 87.57m) failed to progress while Rio silver medallist Julius Yego of Kenya struggled to land one properly before bowing out.
470 New Delhi: Mirabai Chanu said that her failed campaign in Rio taught her how to overcome disappointment and make a fresh start. In a virtual interaction, she said, “For a few months, I was completely heartbroken and shattered. I didn't know what to do next. “Then, Vijay sir instilled new confidence in me. I promised to shut out my detractors through my performance at the 2017 Worlds. “I returned with a gold and there has been no looking back. Today, the medal in Tokyo has brought closure. All those sacrifices I made over the years have been rewarded.” Mirabai has gone home to her village in Imphal only for a total of five weeks in the last five years. Naturally, she can't wait to visit and gorge on her favourite home-cooked dish prepared by mother Saikhom Tombi Devi: iromba, a curry made with fermented fish and rice. All this while, Mirabai has been training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala and taking time off only to travel to Mumbai for rehabilitation of her lower back injury. During this period, Mirabai missed her elder sister Shaya's wedding too. “My mother has been waiting for a proper visit for five years. You have to make these sacrifices to win an Olympic medal,” she said.
471 Samantha Akkineni, who is busy shooting for Gunasekhar's Shaakuntalam in Hyderabad, took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday, July 27, to laud Kriti Sanon's performance in Mimi. The Majili actress loved Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi as Mimi and Bhanu in the film. Directed by Laxman Utekar, Mimi premiered on Netflix on July 26, 4 days ahead of its release date. SAMANTHA LAUDS KRITI SANON'S PERFORMANCE IN MIMI Samantha, who is , watched Mimi on Netflix on July 27. The Ye Maaya Chesave actress took to her Instagram stories to praise Kriti Sanon's performance as Mimi in the film. She also congratulated the entire team on delivering such a beautiful story. Sharing the poster of Mimi, Samantha wrote, "Absolutely loved #Mimi...@kritisanon you were absolutely fantastic...so beautiful and such an honest performance and @pankajtripathi sir....Congratulations to the entire team (sic)." Here's the post: ALL ABOUT MIMI Directed by Laxman Utekar, Mimi revolves around a surrogate mother and the challenges she comes across during her pregnancy. , Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Supriya Pathak and Manoj Pahwa in pivotal roles. Though the film was set to premiere on Netflix on July 30, . Mimi has been garnering positive reviews from audience and critics alike. ALSO READ | ALSO READ | Graphic Samantha Akkineni lauds Kriti Sanon's honest performance in Mimi
472 Ab lagta hai bijli ki samasya door ho jayegi, paani bhi poora aa jayega (it seems now our electricity and water problems will be solved),” says Ravi Dahiya's father Rakesh, who is hoping that his elder son's Olympic medal can bring 24-hour electricity supply to Nahri, a remote village in Haryana around 10 kilometres from Sonepat, and also solve the problem of potable drinking water. In fact, the entire village of around 15,000 people have been praying for the wrestler's success in Tokyo, ever since he qualified for the Games in 2019. They are praying Ravi's medal will, at long last, lead to development. “I hope his medal brings 24x7 electricity supply and proper roads. We would like to believe that my son's medal will bring development to the village. I am happy for his success. I am confident he will come back home with gold,” Rakesh told TOI. Nahri receives two hours of electricity in the morning and six in the evening. For Ravi's matches, especially his semifinal bout in the afternoon – a time when the electricity goes off – the local district administration made arrangements for uninterrupted power supply to ensure villagers could view the action live from Tokyo. Father Rakesh's optimism also stems from boxer Lovlina Borgohain's medal-winning campaign, which resulted in her native Baromukhia village in Assam's Golaghat district getting a cemented road. A similar announcement is awaited from the Haryana government and villagers believe it will follow soon once Ravi returns with gold from Tokyo. “There's a long-standing demand for a government hospital here since we have to travel to Sonepat for medical treatment,” he added. Rakesh has been a pillar of strength for Ravi and his younger son Pankaj (20), also a grappler at Chhatrasal stadium. Rakesh, a small-time farmer, would travel almost 40kms daily to Chhatrasal to deliver milk, curd and white butter to Ravi and Pankaj. The journey, by local train and on foot, would take him around an hour. He had been doing this for the past 13 years until it came to a halt in March 2020 because of the lockdown. However, despite the obstacles, Rakesh ensured that Ravi received his daily quota of milk and butter through “local resources”. Ravi joined Chhatrasal when he was 10 years old under the tutelage of Mahabali Satpal and has been training there since. “Every father makes sacrifices for his son. I have done nothing new. It's my job to look after them properly when they are doing so much for the country,” Rakesh said.
473 Indian Army's havildar Soman Rana, who lost his right leg in a mine blast in field area in 2006, has qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in seated shot put, F 57 category. The Paralympics is scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5. Rana has been training at the Army's Para Node set-up at Bombay Engineering Group and Centre in Pune since 2017. He has been active in sports ever since he joined the army. He has played for his 2/8 Gorkha Rifles regiment in boxing competitions in the past. However, after loosing his right leg during the security operation in Jammu and Kashmir, he had to take a break from sports and resume general duty at units level. But his meeting with Colonel Gaurav Dutta, the then incharge of the node, changed his outlook. “I met him at Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) in Pune. He had told me then that I could still pursue career in sports. He had asked me to throw shot put and I did. Based on that trial, he selected me for the sports,” Rana told TOI on Wednesday. Colonel Dutta said havildar Rana has been performing outstanding in various sports events, including shot put. “During the National Games in 2018, the organisers had allowed one athlete from the army to participate in shot put contest. At that time, Rana had participated in javelin throw and won the medal,” Dutta recalled. “So I requested him to vacate place for other athlete for shot put event. And he did it. Other athlete won the gold medal in the event and got qualified for para Asian games,” Dutta further added. Rana is an international para athlete and stands second in world rankings in his category, said the army. This year, Rana had continued his training amid all the restrictions and won gold medal in Tunis World Para Athletics Grand Prix and two gold medals and one silver in XIX National Athletics Para Championship. He had cleared para Olympic qualifying trials held in Delhi in June. On his training during the Covid-19 pandemic time, Rana, said, “It was a very tough time for me. But I continued my physical as well as mental training at home and whenever possible at the node. I did spend hours on shot put throw on ground too.”
474 Ankita Konwar shared a post on her social media that stated India is 'infested' with racism and also called people 'hypocrites'. India has won a silver medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in weightlifting, all thanks to Mirabai Chanu, who hails from Northeast India's Imphal. Milind Soman's wife, Ankita Konwar has now slammed people discriminating against Northeast India citizens. Ankita on Tuesday (July 27) shared a post on her social media that stated India is 'infested' with racism and also called people 'hypocrites'. Ankita's post read, "If you're from Northeast India, you can become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as "chinky" "Chinese" "Nepali" or a new addition "corona". India is not just infested with casteism but racism too. Speaking from my experience." "Every. Single. Time ! #hypocrites," she captioned her post. Ankita's post resonated with her fans who also expressed their discontent over the issue in the comments section. "It's really sad and depressing, that despite of having such a diverse culture, we lack basic humanitarian things," said one user while another wrote, "Absolutely Ma'am even I am an Assamese know this things very well." A third user commented, "I couldn't agree more ... It just pains me so much to accept this," while a fourth one wrote, "Absolutely right, This is what we face All the time...Well Said." Ankita's statement comes amid a continued rise in cases of harassment against Northeast people in metropolitan cities. Last week, two women from Northeast India were harassed by a group of men in New Delhi's Hauz Khas village. The women later uploaded a video narrating their ordeal and also captured the men who misbehaved with him. As per the women, after things shut down due to lockdown restrictions, two men came up to one of the girls and asked for their "rate". The video went viral on social media and once again highlighted the menace of racism against Northeast people in India. Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar tied the knot in 2018. The couple has an age gap of 26 years and was subjected to immense trolling at the time of their marriage.
475 "As per government, farmers are very happy and those (protesting farmers) sitting outside are terrorists. But in reality, farmers' rights are being snatched away," Rahul Gandhi said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday drove a tractor to reach the Parliament to register his protest against the three farm laws. The Congress leader said that he has brought farmers' message to the Parliament. "I've brought farmers' message to Parliament. They (Government) are suppressing voices of farmers and not letting a discussion take place in Parliament. They'll have to repeal these black laws. The entire country knows these laws favour 2-3 big businessmen," the 51-year-old leader was quoted saying by news agency ANI. "As per government, farmers are very happy and those (protesting farmers) sitting outside are terrorists. But in reality, farmers' rights are being snatched away," he added. Gandhi also joined the Congress MPs who were protesting over the alleged snooping of the opposition leaders using Pegasus spyware. The SAD, AAP and BSP MPs were also holding placards demanding repeal of farm laws. When the house met in the morning Speaker Om Birla joined by MPs paid tributes to Kargil martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas and he also congratulated Olympic silver medalist Meera Bhai Chanu. Congress MP Manish Tiwari asked the treasury benches where was Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the house was paying tributes to Kargil martyrs. Speaker Birla then took up question hour and the ministers replied to the questions till 11.25. Before adjourning the proceedings till 2 pm, the speaker asked the MPs to go back to their seat. "If you want a reply from the government, go back to your seats. You are raising slogans and asking for replies," he said. Rajya Sabha proceedings were, meanwhile, adjourned for almost an hour after opposition parties continued their protests over various issues including snoop gate and farm laws. MPs belonging to the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other opposition parties rushed into the well of the House raising slogans against the government. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said members are being prevented from raising issues of public importance. "We are becoming helpless day by day," he said before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon.
476 The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested a close associate of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar in connection with the Chhatrasal Stadium brawl and murder case. Police said the accused, Surjeet Grewal, who's a national-level wrestling champion, is also involved in the murder case of 23-year-old wrestler Sagar Dhankar. To date, police have arrested more than 15 persons in connection with the case, including wrestler Sushil Kumar and have booked them under sections of murder, kidnapping, Arms Act. Police said that Grewal has been on the run for the past two months. He won Gold medals in the national level wrestling championship in 2018 and also represented India at the World Wrestling Championship, officers said. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP (Special Cell) said Grewal was arrested from his village in Haryana's Bhiwani after a chase of two months. "He is a close associate of wrestler Sushil Kumar. We received information on Wednesday that the accused would come to his native village and arrested him," said DCP Yadav. Police claimed that Grewal confessed to his crime during interrogation and told the police that Kumar and his associates thrashed Dhankar and his friends Amit Kumar and Sonu outside Chhatarsal Stadium on May 4. "There was a property dispute because of which Kumar started fighting with a few junior wrestlers at the stadium. He later went to Shalimar Bagh with his associates and picked up Amit along with his friend. They were taken to the stadium where Kumar and his armed associates beat them up. They then went to Model Town and dragged Dhankar along with Sonu," said a police officer. DCP Yadav said Dhankar and his friends were forcibly taken in cars to the stadium and were beaten up with sticks and batons to "settle scores" In the brawl, Dhankar succumbed to the injuries while his friends were severely injured. Kumar and his associates fled and were arrested on May 23 after a long chase across four states. The Special Cell arrested Kumar with co-accused Ajay Kumar on May 23 from Delhi's Mundka.
477 On Saturday, as Saikhom Mirabai Chanu stood on the podium in Tokyo with the silver medal around her neck, two of her former mentors — seven time World Championship medallist Kunjarani Devi and former teammate Anita Chanu — couldn't control their emotions as they reminisced about the formative years of India's new weightlifting superstar. Hailing from the hotbed of weightlifting in Manipur, Mirabai's tryst with the sport began at Anita's training centre in the Khuman Lampak stadium, Luwangsangbam in North Manipur, some 22kms away from Mirabai's remote village, Nongpok Kakching. The youngest of six siblings from a family of modest means, Anita recalled how Mirabai lived on home-made steamed black and white rice, and boiled vegetables during the four years of intensive training at her academy. “Mirabai's silver in Tokyo has fulfilled my dream of setting up an academy that can produce Olympic medallists. But what makes her journey sweeter is her determination to make it big irrespective of the hardships she had faced while growing up,” Anita recalled during an interaction. “The first time I saw her, she was probably 9 years old, and she would comfortably lift around 70 kilos, which was double her body weight. Today, her perseverance has paid off,” Anita added. “The best part of Mirabai was that she never complained about the rigorous training schedule. She would undergo it without a word,” she further said. On being asked the secret of the state producing so many weightlifters, Chanu said , “The average Manipuri has the right build for weightlifting, short but with good muscle mass, especially for the lower weight categories.” A young Mirabi became the junior national champion in Chhattisgarh in 2009 before breaking into the national camp in 2011, where she came under the wings of weightlifting legend Kunjarani Devi. “I first met her during the youth national camp in 2011. I used to take feedback about her from coaches back in Manipur. There was spark, determination and will power in the youngster. She has always been a coach's delight, and would religiously stick to the rules set by the coach,” recalled Kunjarani. “During that time, she had good body muscle mass, and appeared to be a great prospect. I worked with her till around 2015-16,” she added. “Even after 2016, when I left the national camp for another assignment, I used to keep track of Mirabai's progress, as she carried a billion hopes to Tokyo. Her medal testifies our belief in her, she has made us proud,” the twotime Asian Games bronze medallist said.
478 Calcutta: For someone who shared with Mirabai Chanu the agony of the Rio failure for five years, Vijay Sharma was unusually calm on Saturday afternoon. Even as India was in raptures following Mirabai's silver success, Sharma, who is in Tokyo with the contingent, was calm and composed, his voice bereft of any emotion. "Jo kasar baki thi, woh aaj puri ho gayi (What was left unfulfilled has been achieved today)." That was Sharma's first reaction to The Telegraph. After the debacle in Rio, where Mirabai had gone with a lot of expectations, the Manipur weightlifter had been looking forward to Tokyo. As had been Sharma. "It affected her a lot. Till yesterday (Friday) that failure was there at the back of her mind. Now Mira has exorcised the Rio ghost. She was waiting for this day," Sharma said. Sharma refused to take any credit for his protg's success and said a coach should never brag about his role in molding a talent. "What can I say? That Mira has to say. A coach's role is only the planning part. It's the athlete who executes. We did our homework well and now she has reaped the benefits." Mirabai had gone to the US twice -- once late last year and again this May -- to work under strength and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig and, according to Sharma, that was a game-changer. "We could work with a free Coach Vijay Sharma mind. The May stint was really helpful. I am thankful to the Indian government and Sports Authority of India (SAI) for all the support," he said. But then it was not a bed of roses for Mirabai in the buildup to Saturday's exploits. The irons she lifted for years had left her shoulders battered and the lockdown made matters worse for the 26-year-old from Manipur. "Yes, at that point in time I was very worried. Lockdown, shoulder and back injuries made me fear the worst. That she would not be able lift weights again. Dr Horschig did a great job in the first stint last year," Sharma said. After the recurring lower back problem was sorted out, in April this year, at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, her first tournament in more than a year, Mirabai won the bronze. Her final lift of 119kg set a world record, going past Chinese lifter Jiang Huihua's previous record of 118kg. That set the motion for what she did on Saturday. "Her confidence got a boost. And then after we went back to St Louis in May, she worked harder. The silver medal is the result of all the sacrifices she made in the last Olympic cycle," Sharma said.
479 In an interview, Ankita Konwar shared how she still gets called derogatory terms in the comments of her social media posts. Milind Soman's wife Ankita Konwar on Wednesday (July 28) took to er social media to bring to attention the harassment faced by Northeast people in India. In her Instagram post, Konwar said that it is only after a Northeast person wins a medal for India that they are considered to be an India. Ankita's statement comes in the aftermath of Manipur-based Mirabai Chanu being lauded for winning a silver medal in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Ankita shared how she still gets called derogatory terms in the comments of her social media posts. Her Instagram post got the right traction. "It's is not going to change by just one person. I'm just trying to make it a point that these things exist in our society," she said. Ankita added, "I know people who call out individuals from Northeast as 'chinki'; I've corrected them many times. Now, I see them coming out and say, 'We're so proud of you'. When you see a post like that, you're like, 'Oh wow, now you think that we're a part of India', but when I'm there with you, then you don't think so'. It's only when somebody is winning a medal that you can be a part of the country, so what about the rest of us then." Ankita's post comes from a place of personal experience. She stated, "(Even today) people just come on my page and post comments like corona, Chinese, or chinki. It's hurtful." Ankita further shares that she has personally faced such issues while living in different cities in India. "I've lived in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. I've actually lived with it. When you are walking, people call you names. When you go out with your friends, you are treated in a different way. People are looking at you in a different way," she said. The 20-year-old also recalled an instant when she was returning from the Maldives. She said that airport officials refused to believe that she is an Indian even after she showed them her passport. "There have also been incidents when you are looking for a place on rent, and when you go to meet them, 'Oh you are from northeast, maybe you are a drug addict or maybe you will party too much, let's not rent out the place to you'. I don't know who made these things, but we all have been putting up with this," she complains. Ankita, who hails from Assam states, "So many people are commenting, 'We're calling people from Nepal as Nepali. Arrey hum Nepal se nahi hain'. I don't know what to even say, people are literate, but not educated." When pointed out that there are many who disagree with her, she said, "What's there to disagree when somebody is sharing their experience with you? That doesn't count. Your disagreement has nothing to do with what I've faced my entire life. You can't come and tell me what I've lived was a lie. We can't close our eyes to things that are happening in front of us. How long will you be sweeping it off? You've to be courageous to face the flaws in the system in the country." "It's just so demeaning when you're going out on the roads, and people look at you in a certain way, comment on your clothes, the way that you talk, call you names, just because you're from a particular place, or the way you look," she concludes.
480 SILVER STREAK On Saturday, as Saikhom Mirabai Chanu stood on the podium in Tokyo with the silver medal around her neck, two of her former mentors in seven time World Championship medallist Kunjarani Devi and her former teammate Anita Chanu, couldn't control their emotions as they reminisced the formative years of India's new weightlifting superstar. Hailing from the hotbed of weightlifting in Manipur, Mirabai's tryst with the sport came at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games participant Anita's training centre in the Khuman Lampak stadium, at Luwangsangbam in North Manipur, some 22kms away from Mirabai's remote village of Nongpok Kakching. The youngest of six siblings, Mirabai's father Saikhom Kriti Singh is a construction worker with the state's Public Works Department, and mother Saikhom Tombi Devi runs a small tea stall in the village. Anita recalled how Mirabai lived on home-made steamed black and white rice, and boiled vegetables during the four years of intensive training at her academy. “Mirabai's silver in Tokyo has fulfilled my dream of setting up an academy that can produce Olympic medallists. But what makes her journey sweeter is her determination to make it big irrespective of the hardships she had faced while growing up in a middle class family,” Anita recalled during an interaction. “The first time I saw her, she was probably 9 years old, and she would comfortably lift around 70kilos, which was double her body weight. And believe me, she would live on home cooked boiled vegetables and black rice. Today her perseverance has paid off,” Anita added. “The best part of Mirabai's childhood is she never complained no matter how rigorous the training schedule was, she would undergo it without a word,” she further said. On being asked the secret of the state producing so many weightlifters, Chanu said the average Manipuri has the right build for weightlifting, “short but with good muscle mass”, especially for the lower weight categories. The youngster went on to become a junior national champion in Chhattisgarh in 2009 before breaking into the national camp in 2011, when she came under Anita's former teammate and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nameirakpam Kunjarani Devi. “I first met her during the youth national camp in 2011. I used to take feedback about her from coaches back in Manipur, there was a spark, determination and willpower in the youngster. She has always been a coach's delight, and would religiously stick to the rules set by the coach,” recalls Kunjarani, popularly known as the Hercules from Manipur. “During that time, she had good body muscle mass, and appeared to be a great prospect. I worked with her till around 2015-16, even during the South Asian Games in Guwahati,” she added. “Even after 2016, when I left the national camp for another assignment, I used to keep track of Mirabai's progress, as she carried a billion hopes to Tokyo, her medal testifies our belief in her, she has made us proud,” the two-time Asian Games bronze medallist further said. In the last five years, Mirabai has won the Commonwealth Games gold in 2018 followed by a fourth-place finish with a national record of 201kg in the 49kg category at the 2019 World Championships in Thailand. Earlier this year, she took a bronze with a combined total of 205kg at the Asian Championships in Tashkent. Now that she has accomplished her mission in Tokyo, the Chanu household in Nongpok Kakching eagerly awaits her return to prepare her favourite dishes, especially eromba, a mildly-spiced stew of fish and vegetables and celebrate her rise as India's latest poster girl of weightlifting.
481 Former footballer and East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick says that the passion of fans is nothing to knock I call up Subhas Bhowmick for the promised adda on a Sunday. Mirabai Chanu has won us our Olympic silver-lining the day before. A garrulous Bhowmick speaks for an hour and forgets about the condition he had laid down - no comment on the present scenario. In between he smokes seven cigarettes to my four. "It helps me think positive. My guru in football coaching Johan Cruyff [Dutchman] was a smoker," he says. At 71, Bhowmick hasn't lost any of his devil-may-care attitude. We are still on cigarettes. He is talking about how in early June, Italian club Lazio announced chain-smoker Maurizio Sarri's appointment as head coach with an emoji of a burning cigarette. "Football marketing at its best," says Bhowmick. He continues, "I was 19 when I joined East Bengal. After one practice session, Jyotish Chandra Guha (the then club secretary) called me to his room. My seniors told me I was in for trouble. Guha asked if I smoked. I said yes. Quit, he shouted. I said I couldn't. Next, he asked me which brand I smoked. I replied and he barked, 'Switch to an expensive brand.' From that day on I had to do 100 sprints and 20 rounds of the ground. I can still hold my breath for two minutes." Bhowmick speaks at length about Guha and P.K. Banerjee and how they shaped him. "After a practice session, Guha asked me to play right-out and not centre-forward. I became a different player. But the first four matches for East Bengal in 1969 were a nightmare. I made a trunk-call to my father, who told Guha I wanted to leave. Guha called me to his house and said I would not have to play the match against Aryan. He took me to the ground, asked me to do the warm-up. Actually, everything was being stage-managed. My name was included in the list last minute so I did not lose my nerve. That match I scored a goal from the half-line and everything changed for me." The story about P.K. Banerjee goes like this. Says Bhowmick, "I had a knee injury, Mohun Bagan turned its back on me and I had no clue how to deal with the depression that followed. I contemplated suicide, started drinking. One day, out of nowhere a car drove up before the Eden Gardens and Santo Mitra (former East Bengal captain) asked me to get in. Ajay Srimani (football secretary of the club) took me to Banerjee's Kaiser Street flat. Banerjee made me promise I would not touch beer. I was sent to Katihar in Bihar, where I trained and then signed for East Bengal." This was 1973. During his staggered tenure with East Bengal, Bhowmick scored 83 goals. But he could not find the target during the 5-0 hammering of Mohun Bagan in the 1975 IFA Shield final. He adds, "I also missed a chance to score a hat-trick in the 1969 Rovers Cup final. Guha admonished me. It took me years to understand why he did so." Bhowmick's foray into football coaching was by chance. "I was writing for a Bengali sports weekly when the IFA top boss Pradyut Datta asked me to coach Bengal." Thereafter, he got a chance to coach India and, in 1991, Mohun Bagan offered him the coaching job. According to Bhowmick, that one-year stint brought on the realisation that he was not ready for club coaching. It got him thinking how Banerjee would have dealt with a certain situation. "He was my reference point." As East Bengal coach, Bhowmick has won 12 trophies, including the 2003 Asean Cup. He recalls, "Before the tournament I was Mr Subhas Bhowmick for Vijay Mallya, after it I became Subhasda. Those days, East Bengal's wins were so regular that at times it became boring." Kingfisher East Bengal and McDowell Mohun Bagan were part of the Mallya stable when, on an invitation, Bhowmick travelled to one of his farmhouses in Goa. Recounts Bhowmick, "I asked him why he spent crores on the clubs. He explained the economics. Normally, he would have had to spend hundreds of crores on advertisements, but as the principal sponsor he had the name of his two premium products embossed on team jerseys. In Rs 8-10 crores he was reaching millions of Indians." Bhowmick adds, "If Hari Mohan Bangur (MD of Shree Cement) spares 30 minutes, I can tell him ways to market football... I understand the club's reluctance to sign the final agreement with Shree Cement. I have discussed the term sheet and final agreement with a top lawyer and we both agreed there are discrepancies." Does that mean he supports the feuding supporters? He replied, "These are all social media revolutionaries. We have seen the passion of real fans. In 1969, when East Bengal drew with Port Commissioners in a CFL match, we were all cooped up in the tent till 11pm. They wouldn't let us come out. In 2003, on a high after winning the Asean Cup, we were out of the Federation Cup after losing to Vasco SC. Fans at the Salt Lake Stadium spat on me. Those same fans had waited for hours at the Calcutta airport when we landed with the Asean Cup." The interview is nearing its end. Any regrets, I ask. Pause, and he replies: "Discipline would have prolonged my playing career. Otherwise, I have no regrets." True. Live life king size. Nobody knows that better than Subhasda. Tetevitae 1950: Bhowmick is born in Katihar in Bihar 1969: Joins East Bengal from Rajasthan Club 1970: Is part of the Asian Games bronze-medal winning squad 1971: Scores a hat-trick against Philippines in the Merdeka Cup 1979: Calls it quits as a player 2003: As a coach, masterminds East Bengal's Asean Cup triumph 2004: Guides East Bengal to the NFL trophy, their last 2009: East Bengal concede five goals against Mohun Bagan in an I-League match 2018: Last major assignment with East Bengal
482 Hoshangabad: The residents of Hoshangabad celebrated India's gold win at Tokyo Olympics by bursting firecrackers at Major Dhyan Chand square. The children and members of the associations raised slogans and bursted crackers. The head of hockey Hoshangabad Prashant Jain, working president Jairaj Singh Bhanu, secretary Kanhaiya Guryani and many sports lovers were present. Local MLA Sitasharan Sharma said people were waiting for a gold medal for a long time and Neeraj Chopra has fulfilled everyone's dreams.
483 It now a tugof-war between two major multinational consulting firms to chalk out Ahmedabad's roadmap for its 2036 Olympics bid. Sources in the state urban development department claim that technical evaluation of the proposals of the two global firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Ernst & Young (E&Y) are in its final stages. There will be an announcement soon. According to senior urban development department officials, PwC has supported several Olympics bids on the field of sustainability, Olympic legacy, infrastructure legacy, cost reduction and project management, which is now the structure of the IOC's agenda of 2020 and will also determine the 2024 Olympic games. PwC also participated in projects for Pyeongchang 2018, Sochi 2014, London 2012 , Vancouver 2010 and Beijing 2008, according to the firm's website. PwC has provided advisory services to Univarsiade in Kazan and even prepared a document on infrastructural challenges for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “EY has a vast experience on multi-sport events. The company has consulted earlier on the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games,” claimed the senior urban development department official. During the last pre-bid meeting held on July 8, around 10 agencies had approached the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). “The consulting firms had queries on revising the schedule for submission of bids and also sought clarifications on the guidelines in AUDA's offer document. When the box was opened on July 17, only two firms had bid, while the rest left the race,” says a senior AUDA official. According to the AUDA official, the request for proposal (RFP) for the Olympic bid document was prepared by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The city's apex urban planning body, had on June 8 invited proposals from consultants to assess venues and infrastructure required to host the games. The centre of the Olympics will be the Rs 4,118 crore upcoming SVP Sports Enclave on the riverfront near Bhat village. The winning consultant has to provide a comprehensive document which assesses sports and non-sports venues and city infrastructure for hosting the games and identifies options for host cities for the Olympics.
484 Badminton player P V Sindhu has set her eyes on the Olympics 2024 for that elusive gold medal. The shuttler stressed her point when he made a a visit to Kanaka Durga temple along with her family members here on Friday, August 6, 2021. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist's familty offered special prayers at the temple..Sindhu was offered the poorna kumbha swagata - a traditional welcomer. Temple Executive officer, Bhramaramba presented her a photograph of goddess Kanaka Durga, presiding deity of Indrakeeladri, prasadam and silk robes amidst vedic chants. Later, speaking to reporters, Ms. Sindhu said that she visited the temple before going to the tournament. Many tournaments have to be played in days to come. "I need to play in the 2024 Olympics and bag a gold medal," she said.
485 Neeraj Chopra has won GOLD in men's javelin throw at Olympic Games. Neeraj Chopra delivered not once, but twice. His first throw of 87.03 was bettered by 87.58! Enough for him to bag gold. With this, he has become the first Indian athlete to win gold ever. He had entered the finals with a stunning throw of 86.65m in his opening attempt that put him on top of the qualification round on Wednesday. Ministers, Actors, and Twitter users lauded the 23-year-old for bringing home India's first gold medal in track and field events. With this, Chopra also bagged the first gold win in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the young lad for scripting history at Tokyo Olympics. He said, "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What Neeraj Chopra has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold.
486 Indian loses to Li Qian from China In a thoroughly disappointing day for Indian boxing, Pooja Rani (75kg) joined world number one Amit Panghal (52kg) in exiting the Olympic Games after an underwhelming performance, going down 0-5 in her quarterfinal bout against China's Li Qian here on Saturday. Qian, who is a former world champion and a Rio Olympics bronze-medallist, thoroughly outpunched Rani in the quarterfinals, quite literally taking away her belief with a clinical performance. Rani looked clueless in the ring after showing some spark in the opening round. Qian was ruthless in her counter-hitting every time the debutante Indian tried to launch an offensive, striking straight and clean to assert her dominance. Even the waiting game didn't work for Rani, whose fragile defence was easily penetrated by the top-class Chinese boxer, who is now assured of her second Olympic medal.
487 With Mirabai Chanu winning India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, The Hindu takes a look at who Olympic medals for the country over the years and at which event. India's maiden appearance at the Summer Olympics came in 1900 and since then the country has won 28 medals till the 2016 Rio Olympics.
488 India's surprise package at Tokyo Olympics, golfer Aditi Ashok came agonisingly close to clinching historic Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2020 in women's individual strokeplay. Aditi finished 15 under and had to hit a birdie in the 72nd hole to force a bronze medal playoff with Lydia Ko. However, Ko got a par score on the 18th and forced a silver medal play off for herself against Japan's Inami Mone. Earlier in the morning, an intense few hours of golf were halted at the Kasumigaseki Country Club due Inclement weather. Lightining threat meant the reserve day (August 8) could have come into play for the final two Holes. Aditi Ashok, the World No.200, was tied third with Lydia Ko in Round 4. While, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko were already in the mix before bad weather, Dane Emily Pedersen seemed to be in a hurry for a podium finish.
489 Several Bollywood celebrities on Saturday took to social media to laud Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for her stupendous performance. The sportswoman bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Mirabai, the 26-year-old from Manipur, finished second behind China's Hou Zihui (210kg -- 94 snatch & 116 clean & jerk) with a total of 202kg (87 in snatch and 115 in clean and jerk) to win the silver medal. With this, Mirabai won India's first medal in Tokyo and became the second weightlifter from the country to clinch an Olympic medal. Karnam Malleswari had won the country's maiden medal in the sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Celebrities including Farhan Akhtar, Lara Dutta, Abhishek Bcahchan, Taapsee Pannu, Dia Mirza, Riteish Deshmukh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Randeep Hooda, Vishal Dadlani and others congratulated Mirabai.
490 Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's medal tally at Tokyo on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. What dazzled along with her triumphant smile was her pair of Olympic-themed gold earrings. The earrings were gifted to her by her mother as a good luck charm. “I saw the earrings on TV, I gave them to her in 2016 before the (Rio) Olympics. I have made it for her from the gold pieces and savings I have so that it brings luck and success,” Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima, Mirabai's mother, was quoted as saying. “I was in tears seeing it and also during the moment, she won the medal. Her father (Saikhom Kriti Meitei) was also in tears. Tears of joy. All her hard work has led to success,” she added.
491 Tokyo, July 24: Distria Krasniqi beat Funa Tonaki in the women's 48-kilogram judo final on Saturday night, depriving Japan of its first gold medal in its home Olympics and winning Kosovo's second-ever medal. Krasniqi won on a throw with 20 seconds left, scoring a waza-ari and claiming a title that moved her to tears moments later. Although Krasniqi was the top seed, she was severely challenged by the 4-foot-10 Tonaki, who beat a series of difficult opponents to reach the final. Tonaki fell agonizingly short of claiming a gold medal in Japan's beloved, homegrown martial art. Her success would have provided a much-needed jolt of positivity for a nation still feeling profoundly ambivalent about these Olympics and discouraged by the scandals and coronavirus setbacks surrounding them.
492 India's Lovlina Borgohain became only the third boxer to win a medal at the Olympics as she took home the bronze after losing the semi-final bout to top seed Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. The decision was unanimous as Lovlina had lost the first round 0:5. Lovlina was even warned and a point was deducted from her total points in the second round. In the third Lovlina was outboxed by the reigning world champion. Despite the loss, Lovlina was praised by all, and the Indian Prime Minister tweeted saying he admires her determination. "Well fought @LovlinaBorgohai! Her success in the boxing ring inspires several Indians. Her tenacity and determination are admirable. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze. Best wishes for her future endeavours. #Tokyo2020". With this win, Lovlina became only the third Indian boxer after Vijender Singh and Mary Kom to win an Olympic medal.
493 India's most successful boxer at Tokyo 2020 Lovlina Borgohain lost the semi-final to top seed Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the women's Welter (64-69kg) category via unanimous decision on Wednesday. She failed to reach the gold medal final match but the 23-year-old had already assured India of their first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games when she upstaged former world champion, Nien-Chin Chen of Taiwan, to enter the semis. Lovlina is the second Indian woman boxer after MC Mary Kom to win an Olympic medal. Mary Kom had won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics in London and the third Indian boxer overall to win a medal finish at the showpiece after Vijender Singh (in 2008) and Mary Kom. Lovlina had a tough Round of 16 bout against Germany's Nadine Apetz where she won via a split decision. In the quarterfinal, Lovlina punched her way through to the semis with a 4:1 win over Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen.
494 It's raining rewards for javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after he won India's second individual gold medal at Olympics on Saturday. The other individual medal winners — Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia — are also in for a windfall as the Tokyo Olympics concluded on Sunday. Haryana chief minister ML Khattar said that Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs 6 crore while Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh announced a reward of Rs 2 crore. The Manipur government has decided to award Chopra Rs 1 crore. The corporate world and other private organisations too have rewarded Chopra and other medal winners. Edtech major Byju's announced a cash award of Rs 2 cr for Neeraj Chopra and Rs 1 cr each for other individual medal winners while Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, has announced to give a brand new XUV 700 to Chopra when he returns to India. While IndiGo, a national airliner, has announced unlimited free travel for a year for Chopra, GoFirst Airways has offered free travel for five years to the gold medallist and other medal winners. Realty firm Elan Group has also promised a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Chopra.
495 Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's medal tally at Tokyo on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. What dazzled along with her triumphant smile was her pair of Olympic-themed gold earrings. The earrings were gifted to her by her mother as a good luck charm. “I saw the earrings on TV, I gave them to her in 2016 before the (Rio) Olympics. I have made it for her from the gold pieces and savings I have so that it brings luck and success,” Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima, Mirabai's mother, was quoted as saying. “I was in tears seeing it and also during the moment, she won the medal. Her father (Saikhom Kriti Meitei) was also in tears. Tears of joy. All her hard work has led to success,” she added.
496 Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's medal tally at Tokyo on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. What dazzled along with her triumphant smile was her pair of Olympicthemed gold earrings. The earrings were gifted to her by her mother as a good luck charm. “I saw the earrings on TV, I gave them to her in 2016 before the (Rio) Olympics. I have made it for her from the gold pieces and savings I have so that it brings luck and success,” Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima, Mirabai's mother, was quoted as saying. “I was in tears seeing it and also during the moment, she won the medal. Her father (Saikhom Kriti Meitei) was also in tears. Tears of joy. All her hard work has led to success,” she added.
497 Haryana government on Thursday announced cash rewards of ₹4 crore and ₹2.5 crore to the Tokyo Olympics silver and bronze medallists respectively from the State, besides jobs and plots on concessional rates. Ravi Dahiya from Haryana's Sonipat has won the silver medal in the 57-kg weight category freestyle wrestling competition in the Olympic Games and two of the hockey team players, Sumit and Surender Kumar, also hail from the State. Congratulating Mr. Dahiya for making India proud with his feat, Mr. Lal said he played well, but narrowly missed the gold medal. "It would have been good had we been discussing about gold now, but he lost by just three points. It depends upon the performance of the player during the game on a particular day. He lost by a whisker. He played well. Would have been good had he brought gold, but still he has added to the country's medal tally with a silver medal," said Mr. Lal, speaking to the media persons after the event. Besides the cash reward, Mr. Dahiya would be appointed to the post of Class-I officer and also given a plot of Haryana Sahari Vikas Pradhikaran at concessional rates.
498 After the end of round 3, she is in 2nd place. However, there are reports of weather playing a spoilsport tomorrow (August 7). Indian golfer Aditi Ashok is enjoying her time at the Kasumigaseki Country Club as she seeks to win a historic medal for the country. After the end of round 3, she is in 2nd place in the women's individual stroke play. However, there are reports of weather playing a spoilsport tomorrow (August 7). Aditi continued her impressive performance and finishes the day at 3 under Par with scores - R1 - 67, R2 - 66, R3 - 68. If the weather does not be of any help, and the round cannot be completed, it is a distinct possibility that the 54 holes of golf that has taken place in the span of three days would be the only thing that matters. If this is the case, Aditi Ashok is in line for an Olympic silver medal. More to follow...
499 The State government on Sunday announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh to Kashinath Naik for his role in coaching Neeraj Chopra, who won a Gold medal for India at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The government will also felicitate the Olympic medallists. While lauding the achievement of Mr. Chopra in securing the first Gold for the country in athletics, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister K.C. Narayana Gowda announced the cash reward to Mr. Naik, who hails from Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district. Mr. Naik was a Bronze medallist in Javelin throw in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The Minister said the State government was rewarding Mr. Naik for his role in shaping the Olympic Gold medallist. He said the State would also felicitate all the medal winners in the Olympics, and a discussion in this regard has been held with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Mr. Naik will be felicitated on the occasion. The plan is also to felicitate all the Kannadigas - Aditi Ashok, Srihari Natarajan, and Fouaad Mirza - who took part in the Tokyo Olympics. "The very fact that these players qualified to participate in the Olympics is an achievement," Mr. Gowda said.
500 Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin extended their greetings to Neeraj Chopra, who bagged a gold medal in javelin throw, and Bajrang Punia, who secured a bronze in the 65kg freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics. In his message, Mr. Purohit said: "We are really proud of them. Neeraj Chopra has created history as the first ever Indian sportsman to win a medal in a track and field event at the Olympics. His remarkable achievement of winning a gold medal is highly appreciable. Mr. Punia has brought pride to India through his remarkable achievement in wrestling by winning a bronze medal." Mr. Stalin tweeted: "A remarkable day in the history of Indian sports. My heartiest congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for ending India's 120-year wait to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics. You've instilled a new sense of hope in a billion hearts. You are truly a national hero." "Congratulations to Bajrang Punia on winning the sixth medal for India at his Tokyo Olympics debut through a clinical and dominating performance," he added. PMK founder S. Ramadoss and Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan also extended their greetings to Mr. Chopra.
501 With the entire country jubilant over Neeraj Chopra's gold medal in Tokyo Olympics, the Haryana In UK Association, a social body of Haryana natives there, held celebrations in London. On Saturday, Neeraj clinched a gold medal with a stunning throw of 87.5m in the men's javelin throw final at Tokyo Olympics. Haryana In UK Association president Kuldeep Ahlawat said, "We watched and celebrated Chopra's performance together in London. I had the opportunity to meet Neeraj at Athletics World Championship in London in 2017. He is a down to earth and humble sportsperson. Great Milkha Singh would have been proud of Neeraj today for fulfilling his lifelong dream of seeing Indian flag unfurl in athletics in the Olympics."
502 Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for having won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. "Mirabai Chanu has brought pride to India through her remarkable achievement. I am sure her achievement will inspire and motivate many sportspersons from India to perform their best at the Olympics and get many more medals and laurels for our great nation...," Mr. Purohit said in a message. Mr. Stalin tweeted: "A sparkling start for India on the very first day of Olympics. My heartiest congratulations to @Mirabai_Chanu, who has brought the first Olympic silver medal in weightlifting for India with her impressive performance." Former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami tweeted, "My hearty congratulations to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for bagging silver medal at the Olympics..." Union Minister of State L. Murugan, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, TNCC floor leader K. Selvaperunthagai, PMK founder S. Ramadoss and MP Anbumani Ramadoss were the others who congratulated her.
503 Weightlifting legend, Karnam Malleswari, who was the first Indian woman to win a medal (a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games) at the Olympics, is overjoyed with Mirabai Chanu's feat. “The wait is finally over,” Malleswari said. “It is a proud moment for the country. I feel really happy. This is really a huge positive for the weightlifting fraternity.” Malleswari feels the junior and upcoming lifters in the country will get encouraged after the medal. Malleswari's bronze didn't get much attention for the sport at the grassroots level. She hopes Chanu's silver will change the dynamics. “In other sports, when someone wins an Olympic medal then a lot of focus and attention goes to the grassroots and junior kids playing the sport get the benefit. When I won the bronze medal, the country didn't have the sports culture that is prevailing nowadays. There wasn't so much media attention either. “When Vijender (Singh) won the boxing medal (bronze) at the Beijing Olympics and four years later Mary Kom followed it with another bronze in London, an entire generation got inspired by their feats. Similarly, I am hoping that this medal (by Mirabai) will attract the youth towards weightlifting,” she said.
504 In archery, potential has not matched performance for the Indians on the Olympic platform. The legendary Limba Ram narrowly missed out on a medal at the Barcelona Games in 1992. In fact, no Indian archer has made the podium. The country's dream will once again lie on the shoulders of Deepika Kumari, who has so far failed to deliver when it mattered. Ranked world No. 1 in the lead-up to the London Olympics in 2012, Deepika crashed out in the first round. In Rio, she eased through the first two rounds, but a poor show in the round of 16 against Chinese Taipei's Tan Yating meant she returned empty-handed. This time too she will enter the arena as the world's best after her superlative three gold-medal winning show at the World Cup Stage III event in Paris last month. The more experienced and a mature Deepika remains a frontrunner for a medal in her third outing at the Olympics. India will fancy their chances in the mixed team event too, which is making its debut. A good qualification will see Deepika, who will team up with her husband Atanu in the event, avoid some potential strong rivals early. A string of four wins will fetch the duo a gold medal from there.
505 Vijayawada: Olympic medallist PV Sindhu received a grand welcome in Vijayawada by the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday. The ace shuttler PV Sindhu on Tuesday arrived in India after a spectacular show at Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu on Sunday had become the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She defeated China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match. She received a warm welcome at Delhi Airport on her arrival. The star shuttler on Thursday received a rousing welcome in Vijayawada. "Thank you for the grand welcome. I feel very happy. I'm thankful to my parents, they've been very supportive."
506 Hyderabad: The only Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, P V Sindhu was accorded a warm welcome after she landed in her home town on Wednesday following her bronze-medal winning feat in Tokyo Games. Reigning world champion Sindhu, who had won a silver at the Rio Games five years ago, was received by Telangana Sports Minister V Srinivas Goud and other officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here. Goud felicitated Sindhu, her parents and others and wished that she should win gold medal in the next Olympics.
507 Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan congratulated ace badminton player P.V. Sindhu for winning the bronze medal in the Tokya Olympics on Sunday. The country was proud of her achievement, Mr. Harichandan said, and wished her more successes in the future. 'History created' Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association president T.G. Venkatesh, secretary P. Ankamma Chowdary and other office-bearers congratulated Ms. Sindhu on her achievement. Dr. Ankamma Chowdary said it was a proud moment. "Ms. Sindhu created history by becoming the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympic medals and beating China's Bing Jiao."
508 Lovlina Borgohain loves her 'dark horse' tag. Before the Olympics, many were talking about the other more noted names in the boxing contingent as medal prospects but the Assam girl stayed under the radar. In the end, it was her who ended up as India's sole boxing medallist at the Tokyo Games. “I am a shy person. I didn't like to be on social media a lot. My main focus was just an Olympic medal. I used to stay away from the limelight because it was distracting,” says Lovlina while speaking to us from Tokyo, a day after her medal win. This shyness comes from a childhood where her tall frame made it impossible for her to make friends.
509 The Army is all set to promote Subedar Neeraj Chopra after his historic gold medal in the Olympics. “Subedar Chopra, who was enrolled in 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct-entry naib subedar (a junior commissioned officer) in May 2016, will definitely get a promotion according to existing rules. The next rank is subedar major, but then, Subedar Chopra has won a gold medal for India. A final decision will be taken in the next few days,” a senior officer said. He was given an out-ofturn promotion to the rank of subedar in 2018 after he won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and was also conferred the Arjuna Award. In 2020, the Army conferred on him a Vishisht Seva Medal for his excellence in sports.
510 The Army is all set to promote subedar Neeraj Chopra after his historic gold medal in the Olympics. “Subedar Chopra, who was enrolled in 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct-entry naib subedar (a junior commissioned officer) in May 2016, will definitely get a promotion according to existing rules. The next rank is subedar major, but then, subedar Chopra has won a gold medal for India.A final decision will be taken in the next few days,” a senior officer said. He was given an out-ofturn promotion to the rank of subedar in 2018 after he won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and was also conferred the Arjuna Award for his achievements. In 2020, the Army conferred on him a Vishisht Seva Medal for his excellence in sports.
511 Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren announced on Monday that India's Olympic medal winning weight lifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu would be appointed as additional superintendent of police (sports), a newly created post. Ms Chanu has been working as a ticket inspector with the railways. Mr. Biren said she will no longer have to run here and there. She will be able to concentrate on her training so that she wins a gold medal next time, he added. The State government has sanctioned ₹1 crore as reward to Ms Chanu. Other government offices and individuals have also announced cash rewards the athlete. The Chief Minister also announced that Sushila Likmabam, a judoka employed as a police constable has been promoted as a sub-inspector. He hoped that she would also bag a gold medal at the next Olympics.
512 The Indian hockey team won a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics, ending 41-year-old win for the medal. The city also remembered a legend, Padma Shri late Mohammad Shahid, who played in India's gold medal winning campaign in the 1980 Moscow Games. However, since the death of Shahid following a prolonged illness on July 20, 2016, his family has been struggling to get life back on track. The Olympian's wife, Parveen Shahid, is running from pillar to post to restore the job of her son, Mohammad Saif, in the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) in Varanasi, which he lost when he went on a long medical leave following alleged harassment at the hands of a senior officer at BLW. Clarifying its stand, BLW said that Saif did not lodge any complaint with the authorities and stopped reporting for work due to which his removal was ordered. His application for reappointment is under consideration, it added. At present, the family is surviving on Mohd Shahid's pension.
513 Lovlina Borgohain will have a gift waiting for her when she returns from the Tokyo Olympics: a new road home. The villagers of Baromukhia village, in Assam's Golaghat district, led by the local MLA and backed by the state public works department, are working overtime to make a 3.5-km muddy road motorable in time for Lovlina to return with her Olympic boxing medal, hopefully in gold. But the muddy track to Lovlina's home isn't any old road. On the way lies the birthplace of Shaheed Kushal Konwar, the only freedom fighter to be hanged during the Quit India Movement. "This new road will be our gift to Lovlina," local MLA Biswajit Phukan said. "It is the rainy season and because of that we will not be able to make a proper road. We are trying to make it at least motorable when she returns home," Phukan said, promising that after the monsoon he would ensure that the road was made all-weather. Phukan said work on the road is on full swing and everyone working there is praying she returns with the gold medal.
514 In recognition of her feat, Manipur CM N. Biren Singh has offered the 26-year-old a job of additional superintendent of police and a cash award of Rs 1 crore Mirabai Chanu at the Delhi airport on her return to India on Monday. The weightlifter, who won a silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, tweeted: "Happy to be back here in amidst so much love and support. Thank You so much." Happy to be back here in amidst so much love and support. Thank You so much pic.twitter.com/ttjGkkxlDu In recognition of her feat, Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has offered the 26-year-old a job of additional superintendent of police and a cash award of Rs 1 crore. Chanu lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) in the 49kg category on Saturday to win the medal.
515 Haryana promises government jobs and plots at concessional rate for both athletes Soon after Neeraj Chopra, a native of Khandra village in Panipat district of Haryana clinched a historic gold medal in the men's javelin throw event with an 87.58-metre effort at the Tokyo Olympics, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a reward of Rs 6 crore for the athlete. Khattar said the state government will gift him "Rs 6 crore cash award; a Class-I government job; a plot, anywhere he wants in Haryana, at concessional rates (50 per cent concession); and an athletics centre shall be constructed in Panchkula, Neeraj Chopra shall be its head". Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had announced a reward of Rs 2.5 crore for Haryana native Bajrang Punia, who bagged bronze in wrestling. The state also offered him a government job and a plot at concessional rates. Khattar had Thursday announced a cash reward of Rs 4 crore for silver medallist Ravi Dahiya and Rs 2.5 crore each to Haryana natives Surender Kumar and Sumit Walmiki who were part of the Indian hockey team that won bronze. All three players will be awarded a plot each (at concessional rates).
516 BHOPAL: BHOPAL: An environmentalist Sunil Dubey in the city planted a sapling of Parijat Har Singar on the premises of the Shri Mahavir Digambar Jain Temple, Jehangirabad, on Thursday to mark India's winning an Olympic hockey medal after a gap of 41 years. Dubey, who is known as Vriksha Mitra, said that the Parijat tree is believed to have been brought on earth from heaven by Lord Krishna. It is a medicinal plant, the leaves of which can be used to treat sciatica, stomach ailments, diabetes and high blood pressure. Dubey said he has so far planted more than 3.25 lakh saplings in and around the city. During the ongoing auspicious month of Shravan he is planting Bel trees. The leaves of the tree are offered to Lord Shiva.
517 An exclusive e-post counter was opened at Vellore Head Post Office (HPO) on Thursday for sports enthusiasts to send their wishes to Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, Mirabai Chanu. A nominal fee of ₹10 will be charged for each e-post. According to a press release, the initiative is aimed at encouraging the winners at the Olympic games and also those who are still contesting. Sports enthusiasts can also send an e-post message 'Best of Luck Indian Olympic Team' for the forthcoming events. The event was inaugurated by M. Tamil Selvan, a national bronze medallist a decade ago and works as a postman in the Department of Posts in the Fort Town. The function was presided over by P. Komal Kumar, Superintendent of Post Offices (Vellore division), and G. Srinivasan, senior postmaster, Vellore HPO. Citizens can dial this number - 9043745442 - for assistance, the release issued here added.
518 New Delhi: The Indian sports fraternity, including cricketing greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and the country's white-ball skipper on the tour of Sri Lanka Shikhar Dhawan, led the praise for Mirabai Chanu, who became the first weightlifter from the country to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games, in Tokyo on Saturday.
519 India's Equestrian Fouaad Mirza and Seigneur Medicott have qualified for the Jumping Individual Finals got 8 point penalties and a score of 47.20 on Monday. Of the 51 rider-horse pairs that remain, only the top 25 (including those tied for 25th place) made it to the Eventing final, where the second round of show jumping will decide the podium in the discipline at Tokyo 2020. It is an encouraging finish for the rider and horse who are both making their Olympic debuts. This pair also won India two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Twitter hailed Mirza's performances and heaped praises for qualifying into the top 25 for Eventing finals. Actor Randeep Hooda, who himself is an Equestrian, wrote, "And .. In a first Fouaad Mirza and Seigneur Medicott qualify for the Individual Show Jumping in Equestrian Eventing .. a feat never accompanied by any Indian ever before .. a new chapter in the sport of horses begins for India on a world stage".
520 On Saturday, as Saikhom Mirabai Chanu stood on the podium in Tokyo with the silver medal around her neck, two of her former mentors in seven time World Championship medallist Kunjarani Devi and her former teammate Anita Chanu, couldn't control their emotions as they reminisced the formative years of India's new weightlifting superstar. “Mirabai's silver in Tokyo has fulfilled my dream of setting up an academy that can produce Olympic medallists. But what makes her journey sweeter is her determination to make it big irrespective of the hardships she had faced while growing up in a middle class family,” Anita recalled during an interaction. “I first met her during the youth national camp in 2011. I used to take feedback about her from coaches back in Manipur, there was a spark, determination and willpower in the youngster. She has always been a coach's delight, and would religiously stick to the rules set by the coach,” recalls Kunjarani, popularly known as the Hercules from Manipur. “During that time, she had good body muscle mass, and appeared to be a great prospect. I worked with her till around 2015-16, even during the South Asian Games in Guwahati,” she added.
521 Mirabai Chanu said that her failed campaign in Rio taught her how to overcome disappointment and make a fresh start. In a virtual interaction, she said, “For a few months, I was completely heartbroken and shattered. I didn't know what to do next. “Then, Vijay sir instilled new confidence in me. I promised to shut out my detractors through my performance at the 2017 Worlds. “I returned with a gold and there has been no looking back. Today, the medal in Tokyo has brought closure. All those sacrifices I made over the years have been rewarded.” Mirabai has gone home to her village in Imphal only for a total of five weeks in the last five years. Naturally, she can't wait to visit and gorge on her favourite home-cooked dish prepared by mother Saikhom Tombi Devi: iromba, a curry made with fermented fish and rice. All this while, Mirabai has been training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala and taking time off only to travel to Mumbai for rehabilitation of her lower back injury. During this period, Mirabai missed her elder sister Shaya's wedding too. “My mother has been waiting for a proper visit for five years. You have to make these sacrifices to win an Olympic medal,” she said.
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1 Subject: ARMIES (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARMED FORCES (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); HUMAN RESOURCES & PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (77%); MILITARY SERVICE (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (74%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%); WEAPONS & ARMS (72%) Industry: ARMIES (94%); ARMED FORCES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MILITARY SERVICE (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (74%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
2 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
3 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); MARTIAL ARTS (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (75%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); ASSAM, INDIA (90%); MEGHALAYA, INDIA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (95%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
4 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
5 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
6 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (65%); PRIME MINISTERS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: RAM NATH KOVIND (89%); NARENDRA MODI (79%); AKSHAY KUMAR (73%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
7 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (86%); BELARUS (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
8 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
9 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
10 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (74%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (93%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%); GERMANY (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
11 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); HOME HEALTH TESTING (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); HOME HEALTH TESTING (66%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
12 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); RUNNING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (73%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
13 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
14 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); TRACK & FIELD (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WRESTLING (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); TOURNAMENTS (60%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (56%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
15 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%); ASIA (77%); POLAND (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
16 Subject: WRESTLING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (88%); KYRGYZSTAN (69%); AZERBAIJAN (58%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
17 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); MURDER (66%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); HELSINKI, FINLAND (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); COLOMBIA (79%); BULGARIA (73%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
18 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIREARMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Organization: NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (84%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
19 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PANDEMICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); BADMINTON (73%); SHOOTING SPORTS (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); TRAVEL BANS (56%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); WUHAN, HUBEI, CHINA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHINA (95%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
20 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ARCHERY (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (77%); RANKINGS (71%); FIREARMS (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (97%); CHINA (51%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
21 Subject: ARCHERY (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); RANKINGS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); PSYCHOLOGY (66%) Industry: PSYCHOLOGY (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (89%); GUATEMALA (66%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (55%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
22 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); ATHLETES (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (71%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
23 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); LONDON, ENGLAND (51%); INDIA (93%); AZERBAIJAN (90%); KYRGYZSTAN (76%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
24 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); DRAMA FILMS (78%); DRAMA LITERATURE (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); FILM (73%) Industry: DRAMA FILMS (78%); FILM DIRECTORS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOVIE & VIDEO PRODUCTION (78%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (78%); FILM (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
25 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (69%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING (68%); TELEVISION ADVERTISING (52%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (52%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (50%); JAPAN (59%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (57%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
26 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FACE MASK MANDATES (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (72%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (52%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
27 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%) Company: ABHISHEK CORP LTD (92%) Industry: NAICS313110 FIBER, YARN & THREAD MILLS (92%); SIC2281 YARN SPINNING MILLS (92%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); INDONESIA (52%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
28 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (72%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
29 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NEWS REPORTING (89%) Industry: NEWS REPORTING (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%); INDONESIA (54%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
30 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIREARMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
31 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
32 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (89%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); MARRIAGE (74%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (72%); BASKETBALL (70%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (70%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); ALGERIA (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
33 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); COOKING & ENTERTAINING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%); SELFIES (76%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%); SELFIES (76%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
34 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (69%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (91%); KAZAKHSTAN (90%); AZERBAIJAN (55%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
35 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ARMIES (72%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%); WEAPONS & ARMS (71%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (58%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (58%); M&M (NSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (58%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (58%); MOTOR VEHICLES (90%); MOTORCYCLES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ARMIES (72%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
36 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MONSOONS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (77%); HOME BASED EMPLOYMENT (69%); EMOTIONS (60%); DROUGHT (54%) Industry: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (77%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (94%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
37 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EMOTIONS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (51%); INDIA (90%); CROATIA (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
38 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); RANKINGS (71%) Person: LYDIA KO (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (89%); NEW ZEALAND (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
39 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (95%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
40 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (52%); HARYANA, INDIA (91%); INDIA (96%); UNITED KINGDOM (79%); BELGIUM (66%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
41 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); KNITTING & CROCHETING (90%); SEWING & NEEDLECRAFTS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
42 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); EXECUTIVES (66%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (53%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (53%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (90%); RESTAURANTS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
43 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); CELEBRITIES (89%); RUNNING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (87%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); EDUCATION & TRAINING (75%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (72%); STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS (70%); EMOTIONS (69%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (68%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS (65%); TOURNAMENTS (63%); ARMIES (53%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (89%); STREAMING MEDIA (73%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS (65%); ARMIES (53%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (94%); HARYANA, INDIA (93%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
44 Subject: SOCIAL MEDIA (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); BRANDING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%); SPORTS BUSINESS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%) Company: FEDERAL BANK LTD (84%); BRITANNIA INDUSTRIES LTD (58%); FACEBOOK INC (57%) Ticker: FEDERALBNK (NSE) (84%); FEDA (LSE) (84%); BRITANNIA (NSE) (58%); FB (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (84%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (84%); NAICS311812 COMMERCIAL BAKERIES (58%); SIC2051 BREAD & OTHER BAKERY PRODUCTS, EXCEPT COOKIES & CRACKERS (58%); NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (57%); SOCIAL MEDIA (92%); BAKED GOODS (78%); BRANDING (78%); MARKETING CAMPAIGNS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (78%); SPORTING GOODS (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
45 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
46 Subject: WRESTLING (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
47 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); AIR FARES (77%); EXECUTIVES (71%) Company: INTERGLOBE AVIATION LTD (91%) Ticker: INDIGO (NSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS481111 SCHEDULED PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORTATION (91%); SIC4512 AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED (91%); AIRLINES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); AIR FARES (77%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
48 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (66%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (76%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); BELARUS (78%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
49 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (69%); ARMIES (55%) Industry: ARMIES (55%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
50 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
51 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); GUNSHOT WOUNDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Person: USAIN BOLT (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); INDIA (92%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
52 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); ATHLETES (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (72%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (79%); AMITABH BACHCHAN (79%) Geographic: INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
53 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SHOOTINGS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (96%); GERMANY (92%); CHINA (90%); FRANCE (71%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (71%); SERBIA (71%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
54 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); FACIAL INJURIES (75%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%); HEAD INJURIES (70%); SPORTS & RECREATION (67%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
55 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); FAMILY (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (74%); PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS (68%); DIET, NUTRITION & FITNESS (60%) Industry: PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
56 Subject: SOCIAL MEDIA (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (91%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
57 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARCHERY (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (50%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
58 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); COACHES & TRAINERS (75%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (53%); INDIA (79%); JAPAN (59%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
59 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Company: BEST INC (90%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (90%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
60 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (92%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (92%); INDIA (93%); CHINA (88%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
61 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); GOSSIP & RUMORS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); RESTAURANTS (74%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); GOA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
62 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (77%); ARMIES (71%); CABINET OFFICES (71%); EXECUTIVES (68%); ARMED FORCES (63%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (63%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ARMIES (71%); ARMED FORCES (63%) Person: MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); PUNJAB, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
63 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); ARMIES (71%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (67%); WEAPONS & ARMS (61%) Company: DAV (53%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (53%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (53%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ARMIES (71%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (91%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
64 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%); ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES & WORKERS (65%); SERVICE WORKERS (65%); POLICE FORCES (50%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
65 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (73%); ARMIES (70%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (68%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (67%); WEAPONS & ARMS (60%) Company: DAV (52%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (52%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (52%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); ARMIES (70%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (91%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
66 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); ATHLETES (90%); GRANDPARENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); GRANDCHILDREN (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); WATER RESOURCES (68%) Industry: ENERGY & UTILITIES (88%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); LONDON, ENGLAND (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
67 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); FARMERS & RANCHERS (69%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
68 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); RUNNING (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (77%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%); POLAND (50%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
69 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (86%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (86%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (65%) Geographic: BANGKOK, THAILAND (79%); INDIA (93%); UZBEKISTAN (79%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
70 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
71 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SAFETY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (95%); ASIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
72 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); TRACK & FIELD (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (58%); INDIA (92%); CZECH REPUBLIC (54%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
73 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARMIES (87%); WEAPONS & ARMS (69%) Company: DAV (51%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (51%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (51%); ARMIES (87%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); PUNJAB, INDIA (91%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (77%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (74%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
74 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (69%); EMOTIONS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (77%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); BERLIN, GERMANY (71%); KINKI, JAPAN (54%); INDIA (89%); JAPAN (78%); QATAR (72%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
75 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); ATHLETES (90%); GRANDPARENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); GRANDCHILDREN (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); WATER RESOURCES (68%) Industry: ENERGY & UTILITIES (88%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); LONDON, ENGLAND (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
76 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (79%); ASIA (69%); POLAND (53%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
77 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (91%); RANKINGS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (97%); CHINA (87%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (75%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
78 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); EPIDEMICS (86%); SAFETY (86%); BOXING (78%); FIREARMS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); SCHOOL SPORTS (72%); PANDEMICS (69%); VACCINES (66%); CORONAVIRUSES (64%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (64%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (64%); SAFETY, ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (64%); VIRUSES (63%); SOCIAL MEDIA (62%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); VACCINES (66%); SOCIAL MEDIA (62%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (89%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
79 Subject: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PLAGIARISM (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MUSIC (89%); MUSIC COMPOSITION (76%) Company: COCA-COLA CO (51%) Ticker: KO (NYSE) (51%) Industry: NAICS312111 SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING (51%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (51%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (92%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); INTERNET & WWW (69%) Geographic: INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
80 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); APPOINTMENTS (76%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (75%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (75%); POLICE FORCES (74%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (66%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
81 Subject: WRESTLING (91%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); HARYANA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
82 Subject: ARMIES (94%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (77%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Industry: ARMIES (94%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
83 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (77%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: KAZAKHSTAN (71%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
84 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SWIMMING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); CIVIL WAR (76%); NEGATIVE NEWS (76%); RUNNING (75%); COUPS (71%); ARMED FORCES (56%) Industry: ARMED FORCES (56%) Person: DESI BOUTERSE (79%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TUNIS, TUNISIA (74%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (57%); CALIFORNIA, USA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); TUNISIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (92%); SURINAME (92%); INDIA (89%); AFRICA (79%); SOUTH AMERICA (79%); FRANCE (53%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
85 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (90%); BELARUS (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
86 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (77%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (77%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTING GOODS (75%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (75%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (90%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%); POLAND (70%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
87 Subject: WEAPONS & ARMS (98%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); FIREARMS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); APPOINTMENTS (72%) Organization: NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (57%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); CROATIA (78%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
88 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTING GOODS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (72%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (72%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (77%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
89 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); EXECUTIVES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); SPORTS MARKETING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (78%); BRANDING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (68%); ARMIES (63%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (50%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (84%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (84%); M&M (NSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (84%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (84%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (84%); SPORTS MARKETING (89%); BRAND EQUITY (78%); BRANDING (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPONSORSHIP (78%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (77%); ARMIES (63%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
90 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
91 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BRANDING (89%); EXECUTIVES (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (89%); SPORTS MARKETING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); BRAND EQUITY (77%); SOCCER (73%); WEAPONS & ARMS (68%); ARMIES (63%); ELECTRONIC COMMERCE (50%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (50%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (84%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (84%); M&M (NSE) (84%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (84%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (84%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (84%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (90%); BRANDING (89%); SPORTS MARKETING (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); BRAND EQUITY (77%); CONSUMER ELECTRONICS (77%); SPONSORSHIP (77%); ARMIES (63%); ELECTRONIC COMMERCE (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
92 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); DIWALI (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); GRANDPARENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); ECONOMIC CRISIS (60%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (70%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (92%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
93 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (77%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
94 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); RUNNING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (74%); COACHES & TRAINERS (73%); WRITERS (73%); DEATH & DYING (65%); TRENDS & EVENTS (60%) Industry: WRITERS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
95 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); EMOTIONS (78%); INTERVIEWS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
96 Subject: TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); TENNIS FACILITIES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (93%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (77%); INDIA (94%); PAKISTAN (79%); UZBEKISTAN (76%); GERMANY (51%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
97 Subject: VACCINES (91%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (86%); NEGATIVE NEWS (86%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); OLYMPICS (85%); SPORTS AWARDS (85%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (85%); CELEBRITIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); CABINET OFFICES (76%); CORRECTIONS WORKERS (75%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (73%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); CORRECTIONS (69%); HOMICIDE (69%); BADMINTON (67%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (67%); CONSPIRACY (66%); DEATH & DYING (66%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (61%); SPORTS & RECREATION (60%) Industry: VACCINES (91%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (61%) Person: JOE BIDEN (51%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (99%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
98 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TABLE TENNIS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); RANKINGS (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
99 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); THEATER & DRAMA (76%); BOMBINGS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (70%); BELGIUM (66%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
100 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%); SPORTS AWARDS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); RESEARCH INSTITUTES (70%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%); ANNIVERSARIES (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
101 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
102 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); INDONESIA (69%); DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (53%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
103 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: POLAND (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
104 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); BOXING (78%); WOMEN (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (69%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (93%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
105 Subject: EXERCISE & FITNESS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTING GOODS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (75%); YOGA (71%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (68%); SOCIAL MEDIA (55%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (50%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (89%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTIVEWEAR & SPORTSWEAR (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (55%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); SWEDEN (70%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
106 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); INTERVIEWS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); EMOTIONS (67%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (71%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
107 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); WRESTLING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); ARRESTS (77%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); DEATH & DYING (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
108 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PSYCHOLOGY (87%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (63%) Industry: PSYCHOLOGY (87%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (68%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%); UNITED STATES (69%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
109 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); RUNNING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE (74%); HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (71%); TOURNAMENTS (71%); HISTORY (69%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (63%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS (71%) Geographic: NEW YORK, NY, USA (72%); PARIS, FRANCE (56%); NEW YORK, USA (52%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
110 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); VEHICLE SEARCH (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (92%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
111 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); TENNIS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (78%); EMOTIONS (76%); CITIES (72%); CITY LIFE (72%) Company: METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP (57%) Ticker: MCB (NYSE) (57%) Industry: NAICS522110 COMMERCIAL BANKING (57%); SIC6029 COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC (57%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (74%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
112 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); MURDER (60%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); CHINA (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
113 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); MURDER (90%); PORNOGRAPHY (90%); COURTSHIP & DATING (86%); OLYMPICS (86%); SPORTS AWARDS (86%); CELEBRITIES (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); POLLS & SURVEYS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (76%); CORONAVIRUSES (71%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%); VIRUSES (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (68%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (71%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (92%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
114 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (76%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (76%); ATHLETES (75%); COMPUTER GAMES (71%); SOCCER (71%) Company: MONDO AS (65%) Industry: NAICS541519 OTHER COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES (65%); SIC7379 COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES, NEC (65%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); COMPUTER GAMES (71%) Geographic: SWEDEN (73%); POLAND (72%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
115 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); WRESTLING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ARRESTS (77%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (77%); DEATH & DYING (72%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (73%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (92%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); LONDON, ENGLAND (88%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (92%); INDIA (93%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
116 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (60%); ARMIES (50%) Industry: ARMIES (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
117 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WORKING MOTHERS (78%); POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS (76%); ELECTRONIC TICKETS (75%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (72%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (71%); DEATH & DYING (69%) Industry: MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (77%); ELECTRONIC TICKETS (75%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
118 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ARMIES (77%); WORLD WAR II (76%) Industry: ARMIES (77%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CALIFORNIA, USA (72%); EARTH'S MOON (70%); INDIA (94%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
119 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); GRANDCHILDREN (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (69%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (92%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
120 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); ARCHERY (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (50%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
121 Subject: WRESTLING (90%); ATHLETES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
122 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); RUNNING (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); WALKING & JOGGING (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (75%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (75%); FACE MASK MANDATES (75%); NEGATIVE NEWS (73%); TENNIS (73%); CYCLING (72%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (70%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (66%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (89%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (73%); OSAKA, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (74%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
123 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); EMOTIONS (68%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
124 Subject: RELIGION (91%); CUSTOMS & CULTURAL HERITAGE (90%); HINDUS & HINDUISM (90%); HISTORIC SITES (90%); OLYMPICS (86%); SPORTS AWARDS (86%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%); UNITED NATIONS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); EXECUTIVE MOVES (70%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (68%); WRESTLING (68%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (63%) Industry: HISTORIC SITES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (63%) Geographic: KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (75%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (94%); CHINA (93%); PAKISTAN (92%); AFGHANISTAN (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
125 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (89%); KAZAKHSTAN (69%); AZERBAIJAN (54%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
126 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); LONDON, ENGLAND (52%); KERALA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (90%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
127 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (77%); KYRGYZSTAN (77%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
128 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
129 Subject: GOLF (90%); GOLF TOURNAMENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); RANKINGS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); ATHLETES (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%) Person: LYDIA KO (79%) Geographic: INDIA (91%); JAPAN (88%); NEW ZEALAND (73%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
130 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); AWARDS & PRIZES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (73%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (68%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (65%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (56%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (56%); M&M (NSE) (56%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (56%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (56%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (56%); CELEBRITIES (90%); GASOLINE (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); GUJARAT, INDIA (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
131 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (90%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (90%); M&M (NSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (90%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (90%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%); CZECH REPUBLIC (54%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
132 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (77%); MENTAL HEALTH (77%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
133 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (59%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
134 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (75%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); TOURNAMENTS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (71%); SIKKIM, INDIA (71%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
135 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); BADMINTON (71%); COACHES & TRAINERS (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (88%); HELSINKI, FINLAND (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); KANTO, JAPAN (59%); INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
136 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ARMIES (53%) Industry: ARMIES (53%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (92%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (79%); ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA (77%); INDIA (97%); AUSTRALIA (79%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
137 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DISCRIMINATION (78%); RACE & ETHNICITY (78%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (72%); CUSTOMS & CULTURAL HERITAGE (67%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (52%); RELIGION (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
138 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
139 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); GYMNASTICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (85%); TENNIS (82%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (82%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (62%); RACE & ETHNICITY (60%); ETHNIC GROUPS (50%); MINORITY GROUPS (50%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%); PIERS MORGAN (76%); MEGHAN, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX (66%); NAOMI OSAKA (58%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
140 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CABINET OFFICES (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (77%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (77%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (72%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (72%); EXECUTIVES (71%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (59%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (59%); M&M (NSE) (59%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (59%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (59%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (59%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); REAL ESTATE (78%); AIRLINES (64%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
141 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERVIEWS (89%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); FILM (77%); RESCUE OPERATIONS (69%); NEGATIVE NEWS (67%); ESPIONAGE (60%); HIJACKING (60%); HOSTAGE TAKING (60%) Industry: DRAMA FILMS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); FILM (77%); INTERNET & WWW (74%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (92%) Geographic: INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
142 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SHOOTINGS (90%); GUNSHOT WOUNDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (76%) Person: USAIN BOLT (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (92%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (90%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
143 Subject: RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (92%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); RACE & ETHNICITY (90%); ANNIVERSARIES (86%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); DISCRIMINATION (77%); OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); RELIGION (52%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KASHMIR (79%); NORTHEAST INDIA (79%); NAGALAND, INDIA (59%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
144 Subject: INVESTIGATIONS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (90%); POLITICS (90%); SPYWARE (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); JOURNALISM (78%); SURVEILLANCE (74%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (73%); OLYMPICS (68%); SPORTS AWARDS (68%); CIVIC & SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS (67%); SUPREME COURTS (67%); WRITERS (65%) Industry: SPYWARE (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); PUBLISHING (78%); WRITERS (65%) Person: MAMATA BANERJEE (79%); SONIA GANDHI (57%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (71%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
145 Subject: EXERCISE & FITNESS (92%); WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
146 Subject: DIVING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WATER SPORTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS (74%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%) Industry: PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS (74%); AMUSEMENT & THEME PARKS (69%); TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY & TOURISM (69%); SOCIAL MEDIA (67%); INTERNET & WWW (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); SOUTH CHINA (92%); GUANGDONG, CHINA (79%); CHINA (95%); INDIA (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); HONG KONG (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
147 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (74%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (52%); TOKYO, JAPAN (51%); KERALA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (96%); GERMANY (90%); BELGIUM (52%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
148 Subject: DISEASES & DISORDERS (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEN (75%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (73%); RESPIRATORY DISORDERS & INJURIES (69%); UROGENITAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (65%) Industry: DRAMA FILMS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%); MALAYSIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
149 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); GRANDCHILDREN (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (69%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
150 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: LYDIA KO (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); AUSTRALIA (79%); NEW ZEALAND (78%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
151 Subject: WEAPONS & ARMS (98%); SHOOTING SPORTS (91%); FIREARMS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); OLYMPICS (79%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); RANKINGS (70%); SPORTS AWARDS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (90%); CHINA (52%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
152 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (89%); ARCHERY (78%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (63%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
153 Subject: PREHISTORIC LIFE (90%); RELIGION (90%); SCULPTURE (78%); ASTRONOMY & SPACE (75%); SMUGGLING (73%); PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS (72%); SPORTS AWARDS (72%); ATHLETES (71%); OLYMPICS (71%); LIFE FORMS (70%); BONE FRACTURES (69%); FOREIGN LABOR (67%); TECHNICIANS & TECHNOLOGICAL WORKERS (62%); LITERATURE (60%); PROFESSIONAL WORKERS (50%) Industry: SCULPTURE (78%); MUSEUMS & GALLERIES (73%); PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS (72%); ART DEALERS (68%) Geographic: GOA, INDIA (79%); GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); NAGALAND, INDIA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (79%); SIKKIM, INDIA (79%); TELANGANA, INDIA (74%); HIMALAYAS (59%); INDIA (95%); UNITED STATES (93%); ANTARCTICA (65%); IRAQ (65%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
154 Subject: WRESTLING (91%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (77%); VICTIM GROOMING (71%); RELIGION (69%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
155 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); CHILDREN (88%); COOKING & ENTERTAINING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WRITERS (69%); SLUM DWELLINGS (62%) Industry: RESTAURANTS (77%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); WRITERS (69%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); PERTH, AUSTRALIA (58%); NORTH INDIA (92%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
156 Subject: ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (90%); WEATHER (90%); EARTH & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); OCEANOGRAPHIC & ATMOSPHERIC SERVICES (77%); METEOROLOGY (71%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (68%); SPORTS AWARDS (66%); OLYMPICS (65%) Company: APPLE INC (51%) Ticker: AAPL (NASDAQ) (51%) Industry: NAICS423430 COMPUTER & COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE MERCHANT WHOLESALERS (51%); NAICS334413 SEMICONDUCTOR & RELATED DEVICE MANUFACTURING (51%); NAICS334112 COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICE MANUFACTURING (51%); NAICS334111 ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MANUFACTURING (51%); SIC5045 COMPUTERS & COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE (51%); SIC3674 SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES (51%); SIC3577 COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC (51%); SIC3572 COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES (51%); SIC3571 ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS (51%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (65%); SMARTPHONES (60%) Geographic: MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (91%); GOA, INDIA (79%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (78%); INDIA (99%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (94%); PAKISTAN (92%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
157 Subject: CITIZENSHIP LAW (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (85%); INTERIOR DECORATING (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); VACCINES (73%); RESCUE OPERATIONS (71%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (71%); CORONAVIRUSES (66%); OLYMPICS (65%); VIRUSES (65%); WRESTLING (65%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (62%) Industry: INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES (77%); MEDIA CONTENT (73%); VACCINES (73%); VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION (71%) Person: SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: BELGRADE, SERBIA (92%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (91%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (91%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); SERBIA (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
158 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (93%); ARCHERY (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CURRICULA (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: HOTELS & MOTELS (63%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (74%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%); BRAZIL (79%); CHINA (75%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
159 Subject: CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); TERRORIST ATTACKS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (79%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); ARRESTS (77%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (76%); RELIGION (75%); BOMBS & EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (74%); ILLEGAL WEAPONS (73%); FIREARMS (72%); STATE DEPARTMENTS & FOREIGN SERVICES (70%); TERRORISM (69%); GRENADES (67%); MILITARY WEAPONS (67%); DRAMA FILMS (66%); OLYMPICS (65%); SPORTS AWARDS (65%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (61%) Industry: MILITARY WEAPONS (67%); DRAMA FILMS (66%) Geographic: GUJARAT, INDIA (93%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (92%); KASHMIR (92%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); AFGHANISTAN (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
160 Subject: DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); RESIGNATIONS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (86%); SPORTS AWARDS (86%); CELEBRITIES (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); TALIBAN (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); ANNIVERSARIES (75%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (74%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REGULATION & POLICY (69%); OLYMPICS (69%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (69%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (63%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (74%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (63%) Person: RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (94%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (96%); AFGHANISTAN (93%); UNITED KINGDOM (91%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
161 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
162 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (55%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); CHINA (55%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
163 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (89%); BEIJING, CHINA (78%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (89%); CHINA (55%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
164 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); OLYMPICS (65%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
165 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); NEWS BRIEFS (78%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & NATIONAL SECURITY (76%); TALKS & MEETINGS (74%); CORONAVIRUSES (72%); TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (71%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (70%); NATIONAL SECURITY (69%); SPORTS AWARDS (66%); TRACK & FIELD (61%); VIRUSES (57%) Organization: NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL (55%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (70%); REALITY TELEVISION (64%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (89%); MIZORAM, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%); PAKISTAN (92%); AFGHANISTAN (87%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
166 Subject: ATHLETES (92%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (75%); MENTAL HEALTH (75%); BASKETBALL (73%); TENNIS (70%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (70%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%); RONDA ROUSEY (78%); SERENA WILLIAMS (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); UNITED STATES (93%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
167 Subject: ATHLETES (92%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (75%); MENTAL HEALTH (75%); BASKETBALL (73%); TENNIS (70%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (70%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); SIMONE BILES (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (78%); RONDA ROUSEY (78%); SERENA WILLIAMS (50%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); UNITED STATES (93%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
168 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); OLYMPICS (79%); FACIAL INJURIES (75%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (72%); HEAD INJURIES (70%); SPORTS & RECREATION (67%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
169 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); MARTIAL ARTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (79%); INTERVIEWS (78%); TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); UROGENITAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (70%); TRANSPLANT SURGERY (50%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (70%); TEA (50%); TEA FARMING (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (72%); BEIJING, CHINA (69%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); NAGALAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
170 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (90%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); FILM (77%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%); MOVIE INDUSTRY (78%); FILM (77%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (72%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS (72%) Person: PRIYANKA CHOPRA (79%) Geographic: ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NAGALAND, INDIA (79%); MIZORAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
171 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (88%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
172 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (92%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); JAPAN (73%); UNITED STATES (70%); CZECH REPUBLIC (57%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
173 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
174 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); ASSAM, INDIA (58%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
175 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
176 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%); AZERBAIJAN (88%); KYRGYZSTAN (71%); KAZAKHSTAN (70%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (56%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
177 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (90%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
178 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); GOVERNORS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: JHARKHAND, INDIA (90%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
179 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); APPOINTMENTS (88%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (73%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (92%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
180 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
181 Subject: WRESTLING (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%); HUNGARY (72%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
182 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%) Industry: MEDIA CONTENT (88%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
183 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TENNIS (73%); WEATHER (73%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
184 Subject: ARMIES (94%); OLYMPICS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); MILITARY SERVICE (77%); WEAPONS & ARMS (77%) Industry: ARMIES (94%); MILITARY SERVICE (77%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); POLAND (53%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
185 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Industry: DAIRY PRODUCTS (74%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
186 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (93%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); POPULATION & DEMOGRAPHICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); POPULATION SIZE (77%); ARCHERY (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SAILING (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (71%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (60%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (92%); KERALA, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (91%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (90%); TAMIL NADU, INDIA (78%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (78%); INDIA (99%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
187 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (71%); PRIME MINISTERS (56%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
188 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ARCHERY (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (71%) Geographic: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND (53%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
189 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); BOXING (79%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (77%); MARTIAL ARTS (74%); TOURNAMENTS (67%) Industry: HIGHWAYS & STREETS (77%); TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS (77%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (94%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
190 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); FACT CHECKING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); FAKE NEWS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (56%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (56%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (56%); FIREWORKS (91%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (94%); TOKYO, JAPAN (92%); TAIWAN (95%); INDIA (93%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
191 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); DIVING (90%); KNITTING & CROCHETING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SEWING & NEEDLECRAFTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); WATER SPORTS (90%); LGBTQ+ PERSONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%) Geographic: UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
192 Subject: SOCIAL MEDIA (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (66%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (78%) Geographic: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (57%); HUNGARY (90%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
193 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); BADMINTON (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); EMOTIONS (77%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
194 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); KNITTING & CROCHETING (90%); SEWING & NEEDLECRAFTS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (71%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
195 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BADMINTON (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
196 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); ATHLETES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); FILM (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); MUSIC COMPOSITION (68%); SONG WRITING (68%); VISUAL ARTISTS (67%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (89%); FILM (77%); VISUAL ARTISTS (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
197 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); LONDON, ENGLAND (73%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); ATLANTA, GA, USA (58%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); ASSAM, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (78%); ALGERIA (75%); DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (54%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
198 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
199 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (76%); ATHLETES (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (53%) Person: SONIA GANDHI (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); MEGHALAYA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
200 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); BANGKOK, THAILAND (72%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (58%); CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); NETHERLANDS (92%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
201 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SHOOTING SPORTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (89%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (89%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (89%); PANDEMICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
202 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); COMPANY EARNINGS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); PARALYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (79%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%); UNITED STATES (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); BRAZIL (79%); CANADA (79%); JAPAN (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); MALAYSIA (79%); PHILIPPINES (79%); SINGAPORE (73%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
203 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); RUNNING (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (70%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (55%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
204 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHINA (88%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
205 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (90%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); INDIA (90%); GERMANY (71%); PAKISTAN (59%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
206 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (77%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); WRESTLING (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (69%); GERMANY (69%); CZECH REPUBLIC (55%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
207 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); INVESTIGATIONS (89%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (89%); RUNNING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CRIME (88%); WHISTLEBLOWERS (88%); 2014 SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2018 PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WINTER SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (75%); TOXICOLOGY LABORATORIES (74%); TRACK & FIELD (73%); INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (68%); SOCCER (68%); ACCREDITATION (65%); FIFA WORLD CUP (54%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (54%) Industry: TOXICOLOGY LABORATORIES (74%) Geographic: MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION (58%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (94%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
208 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SPORTS FANS (72%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
209 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (77%) Industry: PRESS AGENCY RELEASES (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (78%); INDONESIA (77%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
210 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); RANKINGS (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%); NEW ZEALAND (79%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (53%); KYRGYZSTAN (53%); AZERBAIJAN (52%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
211 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); DEPLATFORMING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COPYRIGHT (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); WOMEN (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (77%); COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT (73%); LICENSING AGREEMENTS (73%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (90%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (90%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%) Person: USAIN BOLT (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
212 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GENDER EQUALITY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
213 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (57%); CHILDREN (56%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Geographic: INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
214 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); RUNNING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (74%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
215 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); RACE & ETHNICITY (73%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%); COLOMBIA (91%); ALGERIA (70%); DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (56%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
216 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); GYMNASTICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); MUSIC (89%); MUSIC COMPOSITION (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); FILM (77%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (77%); SONG WRITING (75%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); FILM (77%); MUSIC INDUSTRY (75%) Geographic: ISRAEL (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
217 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WRESTLING (73%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (56%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); PARIS, FRANCE (56%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (88%); UNITED KINGDOM (77%); BELGIUM (72%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
218 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); ATHLETES (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); SHORT FORM VIDEOS (78%); FAKE NEWS (72%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); INTERNET VIDEO (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); SHORT FORM VIDEOS (78%) Geographic: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (91%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (59%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (91%); HUNGARY (69%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
219 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (65%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (76%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
220 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%) Company: BEST INC (90%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (90%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (93%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: INDIA (99%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
221 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PARALYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (73%); BIOMECHANICS (70%); OBESITY (68%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (68%) Industry: INTERNET VIDEO (68%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (68%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (51%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (94%); EUROPE (67%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
222 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SWIMMING (90%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (93%); UNITED STATES (90%); OCEANIA (57%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
223 Subject: ARMIES (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); AWARDS & PRIZES (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%) Industry: ARMIES (93%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
224 Subject: ARMIES (97%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); MOUNTAINS (88%); MOUNTAIN CLIMBING (86%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); SHOOTING SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SAILING (74%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (73%); ENGINEERING (72%); PROFESSIONAL WORKERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); BOAT RACING (68%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (67%) Industry: ARMIES (97%); ENGINEERING (72%) Geographic: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (55%); HIMALAYAS (79%); MOUNT EVEREST (79%); PUNJAB, INDIA (78%); INDIA (96%); INDONESIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
225 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%); BELGIUM (90%); GERMANY (72%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
226 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); WRESTLING (78%); BADMINTON (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HARYANA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 22, 2021
227 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); POLICE FORCES (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
228 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (73%); LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); ASSAM, INDIA (90%); INDIA (97%); UKRAINE (58%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
229 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); ARMIES (70%); CRICKET (67%) Industry: ARMIES (70%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
230 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); POLICE FORCES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (75%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (70%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (68%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (67%); PRIME MINISTERS (67%) Industry: AIRPORTS (89%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
231 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); PAKISTAN (91%); ASIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
232 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (77%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%); HISTORY (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (90%); GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); GERMANY (95%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
233 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%); CHINA (79%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
234 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MARATHONS (89%); RUNNING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Company: GOLDEN LAND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PCL (53%) Ticker: GOLD (SET) (53%) Industry: NAICS237210 LAND SUBDIVISION (53%); SIC6552 LAND SUBDIVIDERS & DEVELOPERS, EXCEPT CEMETERIES (53%) Geographic: VENEZUELA, BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF (68%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
235 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (60%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (94%); INDIA (94%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
236 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); WRESTLING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (72%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (72%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
237 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (89%); BOXING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); ARCHERY (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (73%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (96%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
238 Subject: BOXING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); DRUGS IN SPORTS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (71%); FRAUD & FINANCIAL CRIME (67%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (55%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); COLOMBIA (90%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
239 Subject: BOXING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VERDICTS (88%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (51%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Geographic: COLOMBIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
240 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); ISLANDS & REEFS (72%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); SPORTS FANS (72%); LOW INCOME PERSONS (60%); RURAL COMMUNITIES (60%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (88%); TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
241 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); EMOTIONS (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (64%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (64%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (64%); PANDEMICS (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
242 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); MENTAL HEALTH (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CRICKET (89%); TENNIS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (77%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Person: SIMONE BILES (94%); NAOMI OSAKA (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); OSAKA, JAPAN (51%); ENGLAND (90%); WALES (70%); UNITED KINGDOM (50%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
243 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (68%); ARMIES (55%) Company: DAV (54%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (54%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (54%); ARMIES (55%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (78%); QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (71%); AUSTRALIA (79%); CHINA (79%); INDONESIA (74%); POLAND (53%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
244 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (90%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (89%); SKIN DISORDERS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION (76%); HISTORY (76%); ACNE (75%); MALARIA (75%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (74%); CELEBRITIES (72%); HERPES INFECTIONS (70%); SHINGLES (70%); VIRUSES (65%); CHICKEN POX (64%) Industry: ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (90%); ANTIBIOTICS (76%); CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION (76%); CELEBRITIES (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); AUSTRALIA (79%); INDIA (79%); CHINA (77%); MIDDLE EAST (57%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
245 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (89%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (73%); LONDON, ENGLAND (52%); FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY (79%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (90%); CHINA (79%); EUROPE (79%); TUNISIA (79%); VENEZUELA, BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF (79%); UNITED STATES (78%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
246 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (69%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (94%); CHINA (90%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (73%); SWITZERLAND (69%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (54%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
247 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); RANKINGS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); NEGATIVE NEWS (74%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (70%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (65%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (65%); ILLEGAL GAMBLING (65%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (65%); SCANDALS (65%); ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS (62%) Industry: TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (78%); UNITED STATES (77%); TAIWAN (71%); JAPAN (58%); SPAIN (56%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
248 Subject: ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIREARMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SHOOTINGS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (72%) Organization: NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (84%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ZAGREB, CROATIA (90%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); CROATIA (94%); FRANCE (75%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
249 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (57%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
250 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); RUNNING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); FOLKLORE (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ORTHOPEDICS (76%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (74%); TEXTBOOKS (73%); POP & ROCK (71%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); PANDEMICS (69%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (50%) Industry: ORTHOPEDICS (76%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
251 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); CRICKET (73%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (72%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (71%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (91%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
252 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (79%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); SOCIAL DISTANCING (66%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (56%); PRIME MINISTERS (55%) Industry: AIRPORTS (71%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (64%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
253 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (90%); RESTAURANTS (72%); HOTELS & MOTELS (50%) Geographic: RAJASTHAN, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
254 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (64%); PRIME MINISTERS (64%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); COINS & COINAGE (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
255 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (72%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (72%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); CZECH REPUBLIC (71%); GERMANY (71%); PAKISTAN (59%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
256 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (89%); ATHLETES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (58%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (57%); INDIA (94%); AUSTRALIA (91%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%); BELGIUM (71%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
257 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); EMOTIONS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (77%); PRIME MINISTERS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); VOLLEYBALL (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
258 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (89%); PSYCHOLOGY (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERVIEWS (77%) Industry: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (89%); PSYCHOLOGY (89%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (58%); CATALONIA, SPAIN (79%); INDIA (74%); UNITED KINGDOM (56%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
259 Subject: ARMIES (94%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (90%); ARMED FORCES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TOURNAMENTS (68%) Industry: ARMIES (94%); ARMED FORCES (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
260 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); AIR FARES (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); EXECUTIVES (71%) Industry: AIRLINES (90%); AIR FARES (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
261 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (91%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
262 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); ASSAM, INDIA (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
263 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (92%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
264 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (75%); WEAPONS & ARMS (73%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (68%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (92%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (91%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
265 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (69%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (68%) Industry: SPONSORSHIP (73%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (69%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (69%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); INDONESIA (75%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
266 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
267 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); ATHLETES (89%); PARALYMPICS (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (59%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (92%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (92%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (97%); AUSTRALIA (92%); BRAZIL (92%); CANADA (92%); JAPAN (92%); NETHERLANDS (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); GERMANY (88%); INDONESIA (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); NORWAY (79%); SINGAPORE (79%); FRANCE (72%); THAILAND (56%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
268 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); MENTAL HEALTH (75%); TRENDS & EVENTS (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Person: NAOMI OSAKA (92%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (88%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); GERMANY (57%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
269 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); COLOMBIA (92%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
270 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); ATHLETES (77%); TRENDS (77%); SKATEBOARDING (73%); BOARDSPORTS (70%); EXTREME SPORTS (70%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (58%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (58%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: INDIA (90%); BRAZIL (88%); UNITED STATES (73%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
271 Subject: WRESTLING (94%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (72%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); DRAMA FILMS (65%); FILM (65%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (71%); DRAMA FILMS (65%); FILM (65%) Geographic: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (92%); HUNGARY (88%); BELARUS (73%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
272 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Industry: STREAMING MEDIA (89%); TELEVISION INDUSTRY (65%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ASSAM, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
273 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: INDIA (78%); INDONESIA (56%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
274 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); INDIA (95%); KAZAKHSTAN (72%); AZERBAIJAN (57%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (51%); KYRGYZSTAN (51%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
275 Subject: TERRITORIAL & NATIONAL BORDERS (91%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); LETTERS & COMMENTS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); POLICE FORCES (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); NEGATIVE POLITICAL NEWS (78%); WAR & CONFLICT (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); PUBLIC POLICY (76%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (72%); REBELLIONS & INSURGENCIES (70%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (90%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (94%); MIZORAM, INDIA (94%); INDIA (93%); ITALY (79%); PAKISTAN (79%); QATAR (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
276 Subject: NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (70%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NORTHEAST INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
277 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FILM (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); INTERVIEWS (73%); ESPIONAGE (60%); NEGATIVE NEWS (60%) Company: TWITTER INC (92%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (92%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); FILM (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (94%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
278 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (75%); TALKS & MEETINGS (75%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (74%); AIR FORCES (73%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (73%) Industry: AIR FORCES (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (93%); PAKISTAN (79%); UNITED STATES (79%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
279 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TENNIS (73%); TOURNAMENTS (69%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (65%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (65%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (65%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: INDIA (94%); GERMANY (77%); CZECH REPUBLIC (53%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
280 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); ORTHOPEDICS (77%); PHYSICAL THERAPY (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (77%); BIOMECHANICS (71%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (69%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (69%) Industry: ORTHOPEDICS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%); GERMANY (90%); QATAR (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
281 Subject: ARMIES (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%); FAMILY (69%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (50%) Industry: ARMIES (91%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (73%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (79%); POLAND (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
282 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (69%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
283 Subject: COVID CORONAVIRUS (93%); OLYMPICS (91%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); BROADCASTING SECTOR PERFORMANCE (90%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (79%); TALKS & MEETINGS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (77%); PANDEMICS (77%) Industry: BROADCASTING INDUSTRY (90%); BROADCASTING SECTOR PERFORMANCE (90%); ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS (90%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
284 Subject: JOURNALISM (90%); SOCCER (90%); WRITERS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (74%); FIFA WORLD CUP (69%); BASKETBALL (66%); BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS (60%) Industry: WRITERS (90%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (92%); ARGENTINA (93%); UNITED STATES (93%); GERMANY (90%); EUROPE (79%); NORTH AMERICA (79%); CANADA (67%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
285 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
286 Subject: TENNIS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); RANKINGS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); MENTAL HEALTH (70%); TRENDS & EVENTS (70%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (77%) Person: ASHLEIGH BARTY (92%); NAOMI OSAKA (92%); ANDY MURRAY (79%) Geographic: OSAKA, JAPAN (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); FRANCE (77%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
287 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); CONSUMERS (79%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRAND EQUITY (78%); BRANDING (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (75%); EXECUTIVES (74%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (84%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (52%); COCA-COLA CO (51%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (84%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (52%); KO (NYSE) (51%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (84%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (84%); NAICS312111 SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING (51%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (51%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (90%); BRAND EQUITY (78%); BRANDING (78%); SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY (78%); ADVERTISING SLOGANS (73%); RESTAURANTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (67%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (56%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
288 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%); WRESTLING (73%) Organization: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (52%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); UNITED KINGDOM (77%); BELGIUM (69%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
289 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); SPORTS FANS (89%); AMATEUR SPORTS (78%); ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (78%); COLLECTORS & COLLECTING (78%); HOBBIES (78%); BADMINTON (73%); TABLE TENNIS (73%); SPACE EXPLORATION (70%) Industry: ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (78%); ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); SPACE EXPLORATION (70%) Person: USAIN BOLT (58%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); EARTH'S MOON (54%); INDIA (90%); GREECE (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
290 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (78%); CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); INTERNET VIDEO (89%); CELEBRITIES (77%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
291 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
292 Subject: TRACK & FIELD (91%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (68%); ODISHA, INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
293 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); ATHLETES (77%); PASSPORTS & VISAS (66%); TALKS & MEETINGS (66%) Industry: PASSPORTS & VISAS (66%) Geographic: INDIA (88%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
294 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WRESTLING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Geographic: TAMIL NADU, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
295 Subject: BOXING (94%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRANSPLANT SURGERY (89%); KICKBOXING (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); UROGENITAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (76%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (72%); DIALYSIS (71%); NATIONAL SECURITY (60%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (90%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
296 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); LONDON, ENGLAND (51%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); NORTHEAST INDIA (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (59%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
297 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); DISASTER RELIEF (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TENNIS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); STATES OF EMERGENCY (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (72%); CELEBRITIES (70%); REFUGEES (69%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%); WEATHER ALERTS (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (70%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%); NAOMI OSAKA (55%) Geographic: INDIA (79%); QATAR (52%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
298 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); MEDITATION (89%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (79%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); YOGA (78%); RELIGION (77%); SOCCER (73%); SPRAINS & STRAINS (71%); DEATH & DYING (68%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (61%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
299 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); COLOMBIA (90%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
300 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FAMILY (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); HOBBIES (77%); EMOTIONS (65%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (73%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); ASSAM, INDIA (91%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
301 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (92%); CHINA (73%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
302 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (70%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (68%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (65%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (65%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (65%); PRIME MINISTERS (50%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); CELEBRITIES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (77%) Person: PRIYANKA CHOPRA (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
303 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS INJURIES (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (72%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (74%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (90%); EUROPE (88%); CENTRAL ASIA (79%); JAPAN (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); MONGOLIA (79%); ASIA (78%); ESTONIA (57%); HUNGARY (57%); BULGARIA (53%); AZERBAIJAN (51%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
304 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (77%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (51%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
305 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); EMOTIONS (72%); COACHES & TRAINERS (64%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (51%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (51%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (69%); HAWAII, USA (79%); ODISHA, INDIA (58%); GERMANY (91%); UNITED STATES (79%); EUROPE (72%); BELGIUM (67%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
306 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT (78%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); COMPANY STRUCTURES & OWNERSHIP (74%) Company: BEST INC (90%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (90%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
307 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); BADMINTON (73%); WEIGHTLIFTING (65%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (60%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (91%); LONDON, ENGLAND (71%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
308 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (72%); EMOTIONS (69%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (72%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
309 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%); EMOTIONS (73%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
310 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (89%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION (86%); BLUE COLLAR WORKERS (78%); RURAL SCHOOLS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); TEACHING & TEACHERS (70%); PHYSICAL EDUCATION (69%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS (63%); SCHOOL DROP OUTS (63%); CROWDFUNDING (50%); CROWDSOURCING (50%) Industry: RURAL SCHOOLS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS (63%) Geographic: INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
311 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); PRIME MINISTERS (92%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%); RAM NATH KOVIND (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (96%); CHINA (79%); INDONESIA (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
312 Subject: WRESTLING (92%); OLYMPICS (91%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS INJURIES (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (72%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (74%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (90%); EUROPE (88%); CENTRAL ASIA (79%); JAPAN (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); MONGOLIA (79%); ASIA (78%); ESTONIA (57%); HUNGARY (57%); BULGARIA (53%); AZERBAIJAN (51%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
313 Subject: ARCHERY (93%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); INDIA (90%); JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
314 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOMEN (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SOCIETY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & LIFESTYLE (65%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
315 Subject: CIVIL SERVICES (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%); TRAVEL TICKETS (76%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
316 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (76%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
317 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); PUBLIC HEALTH (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (89%); INTERVIEWS (89%); NON FICTION LITERATURE (89%); PANDEMICS (89%); BOXING (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (77%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (77%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (68%); TELEHEALTH (67%); FILM (62%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VISUAL ARTISTS (60%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (68%); TELEHEALTH (67%); FILM (62%); SOCIAL MEDIA (61%); VISUAL ARTISTS (60%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (74%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
318 Subject: WRESTLING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (87%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); WOMEN (78%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (66%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (59%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (91%); ASIA (79%); CENTRAL ASIA (79%); JAPAN (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); MONGOLIA (77%); EUROPE (71%); ESTONIA (57%); HUNGARY (57%); BULGARIA (53%); AZERBAIJAN (52%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
319 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (63%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
320 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (75%); SERBIA (55%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (54%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
321 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (75%); SERBIA (55%); IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (54%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
322 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); ASSAM, INDIA (93%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
323 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); ARMIES (71%); DISTANCE LEARNING (70%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (67%) Industry: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (77%); ARMIES (71%); AIRLINES (66%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
324 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (93%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
325 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Industry: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPORTS (73%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
326 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); TOURNAMENTS (73%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (92%); INDIA (93%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
327 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: ATLANTA, GA, USA (88%); HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (73%); SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (72%); ODISHA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); AUSTRALIA (92%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
328 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); REFEREES & UMPIRES (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
329 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); PRIME MINISTERS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ARMIES (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (72%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (72%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (68%) Industry: ARMIES (75%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (72%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
330 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); FILM (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Company: TWITTER INC (85%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (85%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (85%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); FILM (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Person: AKSHAY KUMAR (94%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
331 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); BADMINTON (73%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (73%); POLICE FORCES (73%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (73%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); TELANGANA, INDIA (93%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
332 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (86%); FAMILY (76%); DANCE (75%); EMOTIONS (74%) Company: DAV (53%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (53%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (53%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (78%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (93%); HARYANA, INDIA (93%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%); INDIA (95%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
333 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); VOLLEYBALL (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
334 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FIREARMS (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (73%); DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS (72%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ZAGREB, CROATIA (66%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%); CROATIA (90%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
335 Subject: EXERCISE & FITNESS (93%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); FILM (77%) Industry: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); INTERNET VIDEO (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); FILM (77%); MOVIE RELEASE DATES (76%) Geographic: INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
336 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BADMINTON (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); CHILDREN (76%); EXECUTIVES (74%); SPORTS & RECREATION (71%); EMPLOYMENT SEARCH (53%) Geographic: ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
337 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (70%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (58%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (58%); M&M (NSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (58%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (58%); AIRLINES (68%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
338 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); COMMUNISM (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIALISM (79%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (76%); TENNIS (72%); MENTAL HEALTH (62%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (64%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (64%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (64%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (64%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (78%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Geographic: ROMANIA (93%); EUROPE (79%); EASTERN EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
339 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); HEART DISEASE (71%); SELF IMPROVEMENT (71%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (68%); BIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE (62%); FICTION LITERATURE (62%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (61%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (61%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (68%) Geographic: KERALA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
340 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); GEOPHYSICAL EVENTS (57%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
341 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); GEOPHYSICAL EVENTS (57%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
342 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); FIELD HOCKEY (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); CRICKET (71%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (58%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (58%); M&M (NSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (58%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (58%); AIRLINES (68%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
343 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); CHEERLEADING (78%) Geographic: INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
344 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (76%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (73%) Geographic: KAZAKHSTAN (87%); KYRGYZSTAN (87%); AZERBAIJAN (71%); SENEGAL (54%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
345 Subject: ARMIES (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (77%) Company: DAV (54%) Industry: NAICS334417 ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING (54%); SIC5063 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT (54%); ARMIES (91%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); PUNJAB, INDIA (91%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
346 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); ATHLETES (78%); AWARDS & PRIZES (78%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%); ANNIVERSARIES (56%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); INTERNET VIDEO (69%); SOCIAL MEDIA (69%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
347 Subject: BOXING (92%); OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%); PRESS CONFERENCES (50%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (92%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (88%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
348 Subject: GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); PARALYMPICS (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (73%); TRENDS (72%) Geographic: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (92%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); ODISHA, INDIA (92%); UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (79%); CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (96%); AUSTRALIA (92%); BRAZIL (92%); CANADA (92%); JAPAN (92%); NETHERLANDS (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); UNITED STATES (92%); GERMANY (88%); INDONESIA (79%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); NORWAY (79%); SINGAPORE (79%); FRANCE (72%); THAILAND (56%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
349 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (52%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
350 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); BADMINTON (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (73%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (62%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TELANGANA, INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
351 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (78%); DEATH & DYING (68%); BRAIN CANCER (52%); CANCER (52%) Geographic: AUSTRALIA (93%); CANADA (56%); UNITED STATES (56%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
352 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
353 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); RANKINGS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); INDIA (94%); KENYA (55%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
354 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (74%); PRIME MINISTERS (68%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
355 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (88%); SPORTS FANS (77%) Company: TWITTER INC (85%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (85%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (85%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
356 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (64%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (50%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
357 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); PARALYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (77%); VOLLEYBALL (77%); ROWING (76%); SPORTING GOODS (76%); BADMINTON (73%); RACEWALKING (73%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (72%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (71%); BOAT RACING (68%) Industry: SPORTING GOODS (76%); BUDGETS (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (52%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (95%); INDIA (93%); GREECE (79%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
358 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PARALYMPICS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); RAJASTHAN, INDIA (91%); INDIA (94%); EUROPE (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
359 Subject: RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (93%); OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (89%); RACE & ETHNICITY (89%); DISCRIMINATION (79%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); RELIGION (50%) Industry: SHORT FORM CONTENT (76%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); NORTHEAST INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NAGALAND, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
360 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); COMMUNISM (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIALISM (79%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (76%); TENNIS (72%); MENTAL HEALTH (63%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (64%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (64%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (64%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (64%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (78%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: ROMANIA (93%); EUROPE (79%); EASTERN EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
361 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); SPORTS AWARDS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SKATEBOARDING (89%); WINTER OLYMPICS (89%); EXTREME SPORTS (88%); BOARDSPORTS (87%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); KARATE (73%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (67%); CLIMBING (50%) Person: MICHAEL PHELPS (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (57%); ROGER FEDERER (57%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); JAPAN (90%); PHILIPPINES (87%); UNITED STATES (86%); SWITZERLAND (78%); GERMANY (57%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
362 Subject: OBESITY (99%); OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); CHILDHOOD OBESITY (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (75%); GEOPHYSICAL EVENTS (57%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
363 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); COMMUNISM (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIALISM (79%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (76%); TENNIS (72%); MENTAL HEALTH (63%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (64%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (64%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (64%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (64%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (78%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: ROMANIA (93%); EUROPE (79%); EASTERN EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
364 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); COMMUNISM (89%); GYMNASTICS (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SOCIALISM (79%); ABUSE & NEGLECT (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (76%); TENNIS (72%); MENTAL HEALTH (63%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (64%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (64%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (64%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (64%); EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (78%); CHILDREN'S MARKET (61%) Person: SIMONE BILES (79%) Geographic: ROMANIA (93%); EUROPE (79%); EASTERN EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
365 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (88%); RANKINGS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (56%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (58%); SPAIN (73%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
366 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TENNIS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (88%); RANKINGS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (56%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (58%); SPAIN (73%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
367 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & TEENS (78%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (78%); SPORTS CAMPS & SCHOOLS (78%); BOXING (72%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (79%); HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (58%); INDIA (91%); GERMANY (88%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
368 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); EXECUTIVES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); CELEBRITIES (78%); ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT (78%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); COMPANY STRUCTURES & OWNERSHIP (74%) Company: BEST INC (90%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (90%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (90%); CARPET & RUG MILLS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); FLOORING (78%); PUBLIC SERVICE ADVERTISING (64%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
369 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (91%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TENNIS (78%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (67%); CRICKET (66%) Person: ROGER FEDERER (50%) Geographic: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); BEIJING, CHINA (79%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); AUSTRALIA (92%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (78%); POLAND (75%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
370 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); BOXING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Person: RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN (77%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (71%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (58%); TURKEY (90%); CHINA (77%); GERMANY (71%); POLAND (57%); UKRAINE (57%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
371 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); RACEWALKING (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WALKING & JOGGING (78%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (73%); RANKINGS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); INDIA (95%); KENYA (56%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
372 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (70%) Company: BEST INC (51%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (51%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (51%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (51%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); GLASGOW, SCOTLAND (55%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (55%); JAPAN (57%); HONG KONG (54%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
373 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); CELEBRITIES (78%); TENNIS (73%); WEATHER (71%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (59%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (92%); JAPAN (57%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
374 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); RANKINGS (71%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (73%); ITALY (58%); SAN MARINO (58%); UKRAINE (54%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
375 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (72%); CRICKET (65%) Person: ROGER FEDERER (50%) Geographic: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); BEIJING, CHINA (77%); LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (77%); INDIA (93%); AUSTRALIA (92%); JAPAN (78%); POLAND (75%); PAKISTAN (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
376 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); RANKINGS (71%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (94%); KAZAKHSTAN (79%); KYRGYZSTAN (79%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (73%); ITALY (58%); SAN MARINO (58%); UKRAINE (54%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
377 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (90%); BADMINTON (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (69%); INDIA (93%); ENGLAND (69%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
378 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (78%); CRICKET (72%) Industry: CONSULTING SERVICES (73%) Geographic: INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
379 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); VETERANS (78%); WOMEN (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (72%); PART TIME EMPLOYMENT (68%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (67%); CRICKET (62%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); ASIA (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
380 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); ATHLETES (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (57%); INDIA (91%); DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (57%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
381 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); EXECUTIVES (87%); TRENDS (85%); CONSUMERS (79%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (78%); CELEBRITIES (75%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (68%); YOUTH MARKET (65%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%); TWITTER INC (85%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (55%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%); TWTR (NYSE) (85%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (85%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (87%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (78%); CELEBRITIES (75%); YOUTH MARKET (65%) Person: PRIYANKA CHOPRA (79%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
382 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
383 Subject: SHOOTING SPORTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (89%); INDIA (94%); KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (79%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
384 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); ATHLETES (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%); TENNIS (86%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (76%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (72%); GOLF (65%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (75%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (75%); INDIA (94%); GERMANY (88%); CHINA (79%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
385 Subject: SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (69%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 10, 2021
386 Subject: CLIMBING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); ROCK CLIMBING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); CURRICULA (77%); BASKETBALL (73%); CRICKET (70%) Person: MICHAEL JORDAN (79%); USAIN BOLT (79%) Geographic: CZECH REPUBLIC (58%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
387 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (72%) Industry: TRUCK DRIVERS (75%); MOTORCOACHES & BUSES (69%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
388 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); TENNIS (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (89%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (89%); OLYMPICS (88%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (79%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%); EMOTIONS (76%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (76%); MENTAL HEALTH (76%); EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (73%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (70%); PAINTING (70%) Industry: EMOJIS & EMOTICONS (75%); ARTISTS & PERFORMERS (70%); PAINTING (70%) Person: SIMONE BILES (94%); NAOMI OSAKA (73%); RAFAEL NADAL (58%); SERENA WILLIAMS (58%) Geographic: CHINA (92%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
389 Subject: GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); US INDEPENDENCE DAY (89%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (88%); FAMILY (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (77%); ATHLETES (73%); CIVIL SERVICES (72%); OLYMPICS (69%); SPORTS AWARDS (69%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (69%) Company: TWITTER INC (91%) Ticker: TWTR (NYSE) (91%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (91%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (92%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
390 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (70%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); FRANCE (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
391 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CONSUMERS (79%); INTERVIEWS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (75%); ENTREPRENEURSHIP (74%); EXECUTIVES (74%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (84%); COCA-COLA CO (52%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (84%); KO (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (84%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (84%); NAICS312111 SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING (52%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (52%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (91%); SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY (77%); RESTAURANTS (73%); ADVERTISING SLOGANS (72%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (68%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (56%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
392 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (90%); VIRAL VIDEOS (90%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
393 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (79%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COPYRIGHT (78%); ETHICS (78%); LEGAL NOTICES (78%); LISTINGS & NOTICES (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); SUITS & CLAIMS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRANDING (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (55%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (57%) Industry: SPORTS MARKETING (78%); BRANDING (77%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (72%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
394 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); COURTSHIP & DATING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); TENNIS (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); CELEBRITIES (75%); SPORTS AWARDS (75%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); CELEBRITIES (75%) Person: AMITABH BACHCHAN (79%); SHAH RUKH KHAN (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (90%); GOA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
395 Subject: ATHLETES (78%); BOXING (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS FANS (73%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: INDIA (92%); COLOMBIA (90%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
396 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); POLITICS (89%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (89%); OLYMPICS (77%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (76%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
397 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (66%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (52%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (55%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
398 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (69%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (54%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (79%); HARYANA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (93%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (56%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
399 Subject: GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); CIVIL SERVICES (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); POLICE FORCES (78%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (73%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (73%); OLYMPICS (71%); SPORTS AWARDS (71%); MARTIAL ARTS (67%) Industry: TRAVEL TICKETS (77%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (70%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
400 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); OLYMPICS (77%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (92%); RESTAURANTS (73%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
401 Subject: OLYMPICS (94%); PARALYMPICS (94%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); TENNIS (89%); TRENDS & EVENTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SPORTS INJURIES (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (77%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (77%); SOCCER (69%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (69%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (63%) Company: BEST INC (90%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (90%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (90%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (90%); TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); TOKYO, JAPAN (66%); INDIA (97%); JAPAN (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
402 Subject: WRESTLING (97%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%); WOMEN (78%); FAKE NEWS (77%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (58%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (58%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (58%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); ONLINE CONTENT & INFORMATION SERVICES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (53%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (92%); HUNGARY (73%); BELARUS (52%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
403 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
404 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); BOXING (89%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); PARENTING (69%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
405 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUITS & CLAIMS (89%); CELEBRITIES (88%); SPORTS BUSINESS (79%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRANDING (78%); COPYRIGHT (78%); ETHICS (78%); LEGAL NOTICES (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); LITIGATION (77%); LISTINGS & NOTICES (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (55%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (58%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (88%); BRANDING (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (73%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
406 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUITS & CLAIMS (89%); CELEBRITIES (88%); SPORTS BUSINESS (79%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); COPYRIGHT (78%); ETHICS (78%); LEGAL NOTICES (78%); LISTINGS & NOTICES (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRANDING (77%); LITIGATION (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (55%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (58%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (88%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); BRANDING (77%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (72%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
407 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FACT CHECKING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRENDS & EVENTS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); CULTURE DEPARTMENTS (77%); FAKE NEWS (72%) Company: FACEBOOK INC (52%) Ticker: FB (NASDAQ) (52%) Industry: NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (52%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (78%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (89%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
408 Subject: ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES & WORKERS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (89%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (89%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (89%); CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (88%); OLYMPICS (83%); EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS (78%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (76%); FIELD HOCKEY (73%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (64%); PRICE CHANGES (64%); PRICE INCREASES (64%); TAXES & TAXATION (64%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (62%); SPORTS AWARDS (62%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (60%); AIR QUALITY (52%) Company: ESSENTIAL UTILITIES INC (55%) Ticker: WTRG (NYSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS221310 WATER SUPPLY & IRRIGATION SYSTEMS (55%); SIC4941 WATER SUPPLY (55%); DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS (76%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (64%); PRICE CHANGES (64%); PRICE INCREASES (64%) Geographic: KASHMIR (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
409 Subject: CRICKET (92%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT (90%); WAGES & SALARIES (90%); FAMILY (73%); ORAL CANCER (72%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (69%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (58%); GUJARAT, INDIA (79%); INDIA (96%); PAKISTAN (92%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (79%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
410 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
411 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); COMPUTER GAMES (75%); CHILDREN (74%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (70%); ADMINISTRATIVE & CLERICAL WORKERS (67%); CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & DIPLOMAS (67%); WRITERS (60%) Industry: COMPUTER GAMES (75%); WRITERS (60%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
412 Subject: NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE SOCIETAL NEWS (90%); RACE & ETHNICITY (90%); RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (89%); DISCRIMINATION (78%); MARRIAGE (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (68%); FAMILY (67%); FAMILY PLANNING (65%); WEIGHTLIFTING (54%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); NORTHEAST INDIA (93%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); EAST INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (98%); SPAIN (72%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
413 Subject: ATHLETES (91%); MENTAL HEALTH (91%); OLYMPICS (91%); CELEBRITIES (90%); GYMNASTICS (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (90%); MENTAL ILLNESS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); WOMEN (78%); WRITERS (73%); MEMORY (72%); SPORTS FANS (72%) Company: BEAM GLOBAL (60%) Ticker: BEEM (NASDAQ) (60%) Industry: NAICS541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES (60%); SIC4931 ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED (60%); CELEBRITIES (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); WRITERS (73%) Person: SIMONE BILES (94%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
414 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%) Geographic: UNITED STATES (77%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
415 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (89%); POOL & BILLIARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); ANNIVERSARIES (71%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (71%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (58%); INDIA (92%); UNITED KINGDOM (92%); AUSTRALIA (79%); BELGIUM (55%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
416 Subject: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); AGREEMENTS (78%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%); ATHLETES (73%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); CHILD DEVELOPMENT (61%); CHILDREN (61%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (60%) Industry: INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (90%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (89%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (77%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (60%) Person: LIONEL MESSI (95%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
417 Subject: EMOTIONS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); FAMILY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); SPORTS FANS (73%); DANCE (60%); PRIME MINISTERS (60%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); GERMANY (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
418 Subject: COPYRIGHT (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); CELEBRITIES (89%); LAW & LEGAL SYSTEM (89%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); SUITS & CLAIMS (89%); SPORTS BUSINESS (79%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BRANDING (78%); ETHICS (78%); INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); LEGAL NOTICES (77%); LEGAL SERVICES (77%); LITIGATION (77%); LAWYERS (75%); LISTINGS & NOTICES (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (74%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (74%); WEIGHTLIFTING (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (59%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (55%) Company: ADITYA BIRLA GROUP (58%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (89%); BRANDING (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (78%); LEGAL SERVICES (77%); LAWYERS (75%); MARKETING & ADVERTISING AGENCIES (73%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
419 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); CONSUMERS (79%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (78%); INTERVIEWS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (78%); EXECUTIVES (71%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (68%); TRENDS (66%); YOUTH MARKET (60%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (92%); TWITTER INC (85%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (55%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (92%); TWTR (NYSE) (85%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (55%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (92%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (92%); NAICS519130 INTERNET PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING & WEB SEARCH PORTALS (85%); INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS (78%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (70%); YOUTH MARKET (60%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
420 Subject: 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); EMOTIONS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (70%); APPOINTMENTS (68%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (66%) Industry: AIRPORTS (78%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
421 Subject: PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (91%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE POLITICAL NEWS (90%); POLITICAL PROTESTS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (89%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); WOMEN (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (71%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (71%); FREEDOM OF PRESS (71%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (71%); ARMED FORCES (65%); OLYMPICS (64%); SPORTS AWARDS (64%); VACCINES (57%); CHILDREN (50%) Industry: ARMED FORCES (65%); VACCINES (57%) Person: JANOS ADER (92%) Geographic: INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
422 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (89%); MARTIAL ARTS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); EMOTIONS (69%); HIGH SCHOOLS (64%) Industry: HIGH SCHOOLS (64%) Person: RAM NATH KOVIND (58%) Geographic: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (79%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
423 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CONSUMERS (79%); INTERVIEWS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (75%); ENTREPRENEURSHIP (74%); EXECUTIVES (74%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (84%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (53%); COCA-COLA CO (52%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (84%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (53%); KO (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (84%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (84%); NAICS312111 SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING (52%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (52%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (91%); SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY (77%); RESTAURANTS (73%); ADVERTISING SLOGANS (72%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (68%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (56%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
424 Subject: LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (90%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (89%); SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY (89%); OLYMPICS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); SPYWARE (78%); SURVEILLANCE (78%); BOMBINGS (74%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (72%); TAXES & TAXATION (68%); EXECUTIVES (62%) Industry: TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (89%); SPYWARE (78%); TELEVISION EQUIPMENT (77%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (72%) Person: JANOS ADER (90%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); KASHMIR (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
425 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); MARTIAL ARTS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (61%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (61%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (60%); TWINS & MULTIPLE BIRTHS (50%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (88%); MEGHALAYA, INDIA (73%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
426 Subject: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); INSOLVENCY & BANKRUPTCY LAW (77%); PUBLIC FINANCE (74%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (74%); PRIME MINISTERS (73%); ENTREPRENEURSHIP (71%); OLYMPICS (66%); SPORTS AWARDS (66%); INSOLVENCY & BANKRUPTCY (50%) Industry: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (76%); PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCIES & TREASURIES (74%) Person: JANOS ADER (94%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
427 Subject: ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (91%); FIREARMS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SHOOTING SPORTS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SHOOTINGS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (72%) Organization: NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (84%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (90%); ZAGREB, CROATIA (90%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (79%); NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (95%); CROATIA (94%); FRANCE (75%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
428 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); MEN (73%); RANKINGS (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); BEIJING, CHINA (55%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (55%); INDIA (95%); BELGIUM (91%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
429 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: HONG KONG (73%); NETHERLANDS (57%); BULGARIA (56%); THAILAND (53%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
430 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (77%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); CORONAVIRUSES (54%); VIRUSES (54%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (52%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
431 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); CONSUMERS (79%); INTERVIEWS (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); MANAGERS & SUPERVISORS (75%); WEIGHTLIFTING (75%); ENTREPRENEURSHIP (74%); EXECUTIVES (74%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Company: DOMINO'S PIZZA INC (84%); JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD (53%); COCA-COLA CO (52%) Ticker: DPZ (NYSE) (84%); JUBLFOOD (NSE) (53%); KO (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS722513 LIMITED-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (84%); SIC5812 EATING PLACES (84%); NAICS312111 SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING (52%); SIC2086 BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS & CARBONATED WATER (52%); FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS (91%); SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY (77%); RESTAURANTS (73%); ADVERTISING SLOGANS (72%); DAIRY PRODUCTS (72%); SOCIAL MEDIA (72%); PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS (68%); TELEVISION PROGRAMMING (56%); ANGEL INVESTORS (50%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (78%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
432 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); CITIZENSHIP (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (73%); WINTER OLYMPICS (68%); GERMAN CHANCELLORS (65%); ARMIES (50%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); ARMIES (50%) Geographic: BERLIN, GERMANY (90%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (71%); INDIA (95%); NETHERLANDS (93%); GERMANY (90%); EUROPE (79%); UNITED STATES (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
433 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (87%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
434 Subject: OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); TRACK & FIELD (77%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (75%); ANNIVERSARIES (73%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (72%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (72%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (67%); MEDICAL SCIENCE (60%); MEDICINE & HEALTH (60%) Company: VALLEY NEWSPAPERS (52%) Industry: SIC2711 NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING, OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING (52%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (90%); KASHMIR (99%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (93%); INDIA (98%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
435 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (77%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (75%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (69%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (69%); CORONAVIRUSES (54%); VIRUSES (54%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (51%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
436 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TOURNAMENTS (89%); INTERVIEWS (77%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (77%); FOODIES (73%) Industry: FOOD PRODUCTS (90%); CONFECTIONERY (87%); FOODIES (73%); FRUIT & JUICE DRINKS (66%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
437 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (92%); WOMEN (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); MEN (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); SPORTS AWARDS (72%); DIET, NUTRITION & FITNESS (70%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY (69%); STEROIDS (68%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
438 Subject: MATHEMATICS (92%); CURRICULA (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (90%); ADULTS (89%); HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE (78%); MATH & SCIENCE EDUCATION (78%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); GAMES OF SKILL (74%); SELF IMPROVEMENT (74%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (73%); PUBLIC SCHOOLS (73%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (72%); VIRTUAL EVENTS (67%); HISTORY (65%); ELECTIONS & POLITICS (52%); HEAD INJURIES (50%); MUSIC (50%); MUSIC HISTORY (50%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Industry: GAMES OF SKILL (74%); PUBLIC SCHOOLS (73%) Person: USAIN BOLT (58%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); UNITED KINGDOM (76%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
439 Subject: CELEBRITIES (90%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (89%); CHURCH & STATE (78%); DRAMA FILMS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); PROFILES & BIOGRAPHIES (76%); RELIGION (75%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (90%); DRAMA FILMS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (91%); MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
440 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (92%); WOMEN (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); MEN (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); SPORTS AWARDS (72%); DIET, NUTRITION & FITNESS (70%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY (69%); STEROIDS (68%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
441 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (94%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (92%); WOMEN (90%); COACHES & TRAINERS (89%); PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); MEN (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); SPORTS AWARDS (72%); DIET, NUTRITION & FITNESS (70%) Industry: PHOTO & VIDEO SHARING (89%); SOCIAL MEDIA (78%); SELFIES (73%); VIRAL VIDEOS (73%); INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY (69%); STEROIDS (68%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
442 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); COACHES & TRAINERS (78%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (73%); EMOTIONS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (63%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (72%); TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (68%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
443 Subject: CABINET OFFICES (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); CIVIL SERVICES (89%); EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES (89%); HUMAN RESOURCES (89%); HUMAN RESOURCES & PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (89%); TEACHING & TEACHERS (88%); OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); APPROVALS (71%); EMPLOYEE TRAINING (71%); OUTPUT & DEMAND (70%); VISION IMPAIRMENTS (69%); EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION (67%); DISABLED PERSONS (64%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
444 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
445 Subject: PARALYMPICS (92%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (89%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%); DELAYS & POSTPONEMENTS (77%); MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & INJURIES (76%); SPINAL CORD INJURIES (76%); DEATH & DYING (73%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (66%); CANCER (60%); LUNG CANCER (50%) Industry: LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (72%) Geographic: GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
446 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); EMOTIONS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (89%); STATE & NATIONAL SYMBOLS (89%); TRACK & FIELD (89%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
447 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (63%); SURGERY & TRANSPLANTATION (50%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); HOTELS & MOTELS (62%) Geographic: INDIA (73%); EUROPE (58%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
448 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (71%); WATER RESOURCES (67%); WATER SUPPLY (67%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (69%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (91%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (52%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
449 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (71%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
450 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS OFFICIATING (78%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%); SPORTS & RECREATION (73%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (72%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%); DIGITAL CURRENCY (73%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (54%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (71%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
451 Subject: CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); KIDNAPPING & ABDUCTION (90%); MURDER (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WITNESSES (90%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); ARRESTS (78%); CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (78%); WRESTLING (78%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (71%) Geographic: INDIA (73%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
452 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Geographic: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (57%); CALIFORNIA, USA (56%); POLAND (73%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
453 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (71%); WATER RESOURCES (67%); WATER SUPPLY (67%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (90%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (69%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (53%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
454 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); BICYCLES (75%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (71%); WATER RESOURCES (67%); WATER SUPPLY (67%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (89%); BICYCLES (75%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (67%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (69%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (52%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
455 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (73%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (57%); JHARKHAND, INDIA (58%); INDIA (94%); UNITED STATES (90%); BHUTAN (88%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (51%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
456 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); WRESTLING (77%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (50%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (50%) Industry: BEVERAGE PRODUCTS (50%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
457 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); WATER RESOURCES (68%); WATER SUPPLY (68%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (89%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (70%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
458 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); WRESTLING (89%); ATHLETES (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (77%); WATER RESOURCES (68%); WATER SUPPLY (68%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (90%); ENERGY & UTILITIES (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (70%); HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
459 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%) Person: LYDIA KO (92%) Geographic: EUROPE (77%); UNITED STATES (57%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
460 Subject: MURDER (94%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (90%); KIDNAPPING & ABDUCTION (90%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WITNESSES (90%); ATHLETES (89%); NEGATIVE NEWS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); WEAPONS & ARMS (89%); WRESTLING (89%); ARRESTS (78%); AUTOPSIES (78%); CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (78%); DEATH & DYING (78%); INVESTIGATIONS (78%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (78%) Industry: MOBILE & CELLULAR TELEPHONES (71%) Geographic: INDIA (88%) Load-Date: August 3, 2021
461 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); ICE HOCKEY (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); TOURNAMENTS (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (59%); PUNJAB, INDIA (90%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
462 Subject: TENNIS (91%); TENNIS TOURNAMENTS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); EMOTIONS (73%) Person: ELINA SVITOLINA (79%); NOVAK DJOKOVIC (79%); ANDY MURRAY (78%); SERENA WILLIAMS (58%); VENUS WILLIAMS (58%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (53%); BRAZIL (79%); CZECH REPUBLIC (56%); SPAIN (53%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
463 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); ATHLETES (78%); PHYSICAL FITNESS (78%); MEN (77%) Industry: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); GERMANY (96%); INDIA (95%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
464 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (89%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); MARTIAL ARTS (73%); ARCHERY (72%) Industry: HIGHWAYS & STREETS (50%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (93%) Load-Date: July 31, 2021
465 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); WRESTLING (90%); RANKINGS (88%); CELEBRITIES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (67%); SPRAINS & STRAINS (61%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (57%); HARYANA, INDIA (78%); KAZAKHSTAN (94%); INDIA (91%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION (70%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
466 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SIKHS & SIKHISM (78%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: GERMANY (88%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
467 Subject: FIELD HOCKEY (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (89%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (73%); OLYMPICS (65%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
468 Subject: SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS FANS (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (79%); CENTRAL CHINA (79%); KARNATAKA, INDIA (73%); INDIA (95%); POLAND (87%); ASIA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
469 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); TRACK & FIELD (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (58%); INDIA (93%); PAKISTAN (58%); GERMANY (55%); POLAND (52%); KENYA (51%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
470 Subject: OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (70%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (52%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
471 Subject: ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); MOVIE REVIEWS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (70%); PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (69%); RATINGS & REVIEWS (69%) Company: NETFLIX INC (57%) Ticker: NFLX (NASDAQ) (57%) Industry: NAICS532282 VIDEO TAPE & DISC RENTAL (57%); SIC7841 VIDEO TAPE RENTAL (57%); ACTORS & ACTRESSES (90%); MOVIE RELEASE DATES (90%); FILM (77%); FILM DIRECTORS (77%); MOVIE REVIEWS (77%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: July 28, 2021
472 Subject: ATHLETES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); WATER RESOURCES (78%); WRESTLING (78%); WATER SUPPLY (73%); MEDICAL TOURISM (62%) Industry: ENERGY & UTILITIES (94%); UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES (73%); MEDICAL TOURISM (62%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); HARYANA, INDIA (92%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
473 Subject: ARMIES (93%); OLYMPICS (92%); PARALYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (89%); SPORTS AWARDS (86%); EXPLOSIONS (78%); WEAPONS & ARMS (78%); PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS (73%); BOXING (72%); COVID CORONAVIRUS (60%); COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS (60%); INFECTIOUS DISEASE (60%) Industry: ARMIES (93%); PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS (73%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); KASHMIR (79%); JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA (74%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 29, 2021
474 Subject: RACISM & XENOPHOBIA (91%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); RACE & ETHNICITY (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); DISCRIMINATION (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%); WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (77%); WEIGHTLIFTING (57%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (89%); VIRAL VIDEOS (78%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (78%); NORTHEAST INDIA (94%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); INDIA (97%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
475 Subject: PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (92%); AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (90%); NEGATIVE MISC NEWS (90%); NEGATIVE NEWS (90%); POLITICS (89%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (78%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (78%); TERRORISM (78%); NEGATIVE TECHNOLOGY NEWS (73%); SPYWARE (67%); SPORTS AWARDS (65%) Industry: AGRICULTURAL LAW (90%); SPYWARE (67%) Person: JANOS ADER (94%); NARENDRA MODI (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
476 Subject: MURDER (94%); ARRESTS (93%); NEGATIVE PERSONAL NEWS (93%); CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS (92%); WRESTLING (92%); ATHLETES (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (75%); ADMISSIONS & CONFESSIONS (73%); KIDNAPPING & ABDUCTION (73%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (79%); INDIA (59%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
477 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); CELEBRITIES (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); EMOTIONS (72%) Industry: CELEBRITIES (78%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (73%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
478 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (89%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (87%); OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS AWARDS (77%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (74%); EMOTIONS (73%); COACHES & TRAINERS (72%); TOURNAMENTS (64%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (74%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (68%); MANIPUR, INDIA (90%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
479 Subject: INTERVIEWS (90%); SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); SUBSTANCE ABUSE (50%) Industry: SOCIAL MEDIA (90%); AIRPORT OPERATION (50%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (58%); CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (58%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); ASSAM, INDIA (79%); MANIPUR, INDIA (79%); NORTHEAST INDIA (79%); INDIA (94%); MALDIVES (79%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
480 Subject: MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%); ATHLETES (89%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (89%); OLYMPICS (78%); STADIUMS & ARENAS (78%); BLUE COLLAR WORKERS (69%); COOKING & ENTERTAINING (68%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (94%); CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (92%); ASIA (73%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
481 Subject: COACHES & TRAINERS (90%); SMOKING (90%); APPOINTMENTS (78%); ATHLETES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS INSTRUCTION (78%); SPORTS MARKETING (77%); SUICIDE (60%); KNEE DISORDERS & INJURIES (50%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (50%) Industry: SPORTS MARKETING (77%) Geographic: BIHAR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (88%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
482 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%); SPORTS FANS (86%) Industry: FIREWORKS (90%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (78%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
483 Subject: OLYMPICS (95%); CITIES (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); CITY LIFE (89%); CONTRACTS & BIDS (89%); CITY GOVERNMENT (78%); MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (78%); PARALYMPICS (78%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (78%); TENDER NOTICES (78%); TALKS & MEETINGS (76%); 2010 VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS (73%); SOCCER (71%); PROJECT MANAGEMENT (70%); FIFA WORLD CUP (69%); SOCCER TOURNAMENTS (69%) Company: ERNST & YOUNG GLOBAL LTD (90%); PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (58%) Industry: NAICS541613 MARKETING CONSULTING SERVICES (90%); NAICS541611 ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT & GENERAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES (90%); NAICS541211 OFFICES OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS (90%); SIC8721 ACCOUNTING, AUDITING, & BOOKKEEPING SERVICES (58%); CONSULTING SERVICES (90%); ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (78%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (79%); AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (73%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (79%); INDIA (93%); BRAZIL (79%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
484 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (79%); ATHLETES (78%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
485 Subject: OLYMPICS (94%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT (73%); PRIME MINISTERS (54%) Person: NARENDRA MODI (79%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 7, 2021
486 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: CHINA (88%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
487 Subject: OLYMPICS (93%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%) Geographic: INDIA (88%) Load-Date: July 24, 2021
488 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (72%) Person: LYDIA KO (92%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (91%); JAPAN (73%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
489 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (91%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (90%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (88%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); MANIPUR, INDIA (58%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
490 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%) Industry: FINE JEWELRY (78%) Geographic: INDIA (89%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
491 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); MARTIAL ARTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CORONAVIRUSES (53%); VIRUSES (53%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (74%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); JAPAN (89%); INDIA (88%); KOSOVO (72%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
492 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (78%); PRIME MINISTERS (72%) Company: BEST INC (52%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (52%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (52%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (52%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
493 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); BOXING (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (56%); LONDON, ENGLAND (55%); INDIA (94%); TAIWAN (56%); GERMANY (54%) Load-Date: August 4, 2021
494 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (71%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (70%) Company: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD (58%) Ticker: MHID (LSE) (58%); M&M (NSE) (58%) Industry: NAICS336111 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING (58%); NAICS333111 FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING (58%); SIC3711 MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES (58%); AIRLINES (67%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); PUNJAB, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
495 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%) Industry: FINE JEWELRY (78%) Geographic: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
496 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%) Industry: FINE JEWELRY (78%) Geographic: AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (59%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
497 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); APPOINTMENTS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); WRESTLING (78%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (90%); INDIA (74%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
498 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOLF (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (77%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
499 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (77%); SPORTS & RECREATION (76%) Geographic: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (59%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
500 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); TRACK & FIELD (90%); WRESTLING (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (79%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION (77%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
501 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (88%) Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (90%); TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); HARYANA, INDIA (90%); CHANDIGARH, INDIA (59%); UNITED KINGDOM (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
502 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); WEIGHTLIFTING (78%) Geographic: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (59%); INDIA (94%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
503 Subject: WEIGHTLIFTING (91%); OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); BOXING (73%); EMOTIONS (72%) Geographic: BEIJING, CHINA (78%); LONDON, ENGLAND (52%); NORTH CENTRAL CHINA (78%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
504 Subject: ARCHERY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%); 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS (73%); RANKINGS (71%) Geographic: BARCELONA, SPAIN (58%); LONDON, ENGLAND (56%); TAIPEI, TAIWAN (55%) Load-Date: July 23, 2021
505 Subject: OLYMPICS (92%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (74%); INDIA (93%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
506 Subject: OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); 2016 RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (88%) Industry: AIRPORTS (54%) Geographic: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (59%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); TELANGANA, INDIA (74%); INDIA (92%) Load-Date: August 5, 2021
507 Subject: BADMINTON (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (88%); SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES (88%) Geographic: ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (79%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
508 Subject: BOXING (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (58%); INDIA (89%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
509 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (88%); WEAPONS & ARMS (88%); ARMED FORCES (73%) Industry: ARMED FORCES (73%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
510 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (88%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (88%); WEAPONS & ARMS (88%); ARMED FORCES (73%) Industry: ARMED FORCES (73%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
511 Subject: APPOINTMENTS (90%); EXECUTIVE MOVES (90%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (88%); WEIGHTLIFTING (88%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (69%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (92%); INDIA (79%) Load-Date: July 26, 2021
512 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); NEGATIVE NEWS (77%); SICK LEAVE (71%) Geographic: INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 9, 2021
513 Subject: 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); OLYMPICS (90%); MONSOONS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); BOXING (73%) Geographic: ASSAM, INDIA (91%) Load-Date: August 1, 2021
514 Subject: OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (76%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Geographic: MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 27, 2021
515 Subject: SPORTS AWARDS (90%); FIELD HOCKEY (79%); GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (78%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (78%); OLYMPICS (78%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (78%); SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES & VENUES (73%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (72%) Geographic: HARYANA, INDIA (96%) Load-Date: August 8, 2021
516 Subject: ENVIRONMENTALISM (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); WINTER OLYMPICS (88%); DISEASES & DISORDERS (87%); DIABETES (54%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); INDIA (90%) Load-Date: August 6, 2021
517 Subject: OLYMPICS (91%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); ATHLETES (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); SPORTS FANS (90%); SUMMER OLYMPICS (90%); CALENDARS (86%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (78%) Company: BEST INC (54%) Ticker: BEST (NYSE) (54%) Industry: NAICS453998 ALL OTHER MISCELLANEOUS STORE RETAILERS (EXCEPT TOBACCO STORES) (54%); SIC5999 MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL STORES, NEC (54%) Load-Date: July 30, 2021
518 Subject: CRICKET (88%); OLYMPICS (88%); SPORTS AWARDS (87%) Geographic: NEW DELHI, INDIA (59%); MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (54%); INDIA (91%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
519 Subject: EQUESTRIAN SPORTS (92%); ATHLETES (90%); 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPICS (78%); HORSES (78%); OLYMPICS (76%); SPORTS AWARDS (75%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (59%); JAKARTA, INDONESIA (55%); INDIA (94%); INDONESIA (55%) Load-Date: August 2, 2021
520 Subject: ATHLETES (90%); MENTORS & ROLE MODELS (90%); SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS (90%); SPORTS AWARDS (90%); OLYMPICS (78%); EXERCISE & FITNESS (71%); WEIGHTLIFTING (71%) Geographic: TOKYO, JAPAN (73%); MANIPUR, INDIA (88%); INDIA (90%); ASIA (58%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021
521 Subject: OLYMPICS (78%); SPORTS AWARDS (78%); BACK DISORDERS & INJURIES (71%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (52%) Geographic: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (58%); TOKYO, JAPAN (56%); MANIPUR, INDIA (73%); INDIA (73%) Load-Date: July 25, 2021dim(remaining)[1] 521 4Creation of dataset to be used for structural topic modelling
There were some observations which contained metadata pertaining to both men’s and women’s sports. However, since I wanted to analyse whether there were differences between the aspects covered in sports for men and women, I did not keep the observations which had both the tags. I also realised that some of the articles were repeated so I filtered out the duplicates. With these changes, the dataset was reduced to 468 articles.
dim(both)[1] 149 5both1<-both %>% distinct(body, .keep_all = TRUE)
dim(both1)[1] 148 5df_with3<-rbind(wom1,men1,both)
dim(df_with3)[1] 636 5df_with3<-df_with3%>%
select(!Tags)
df_with3<-df_with3 %>% distinct(body, .keep_all = TRUE)
dim(df_with3)[1] 616 4#saveRDS(df_with3, file = "Data/FilesClassification.rds")
#saveRDS(df_with3, file = "Data/FilesClassificationNoDuplicates.rds")df_final<-rbind(wom1,men1)
df_final<-df_final%>%
select(!Tags)
dim(df_final)[1] 487 4df_final<-df_final %>% distinct(body, .keep_all = TRUE)
dim(df_final)[1] 468 4Preprocessing
The same steps as done in previous blog posts were conducted for preprocessing. # Creating the corpus
#Converting to corpus
newspaper_corpus <- corpus(df_final,text_field = "body")
head(newspaper_corpus)Corpus consisting of 6 documents and 3 docvars.
text1 :
" From a solitary two-day fixture between Great Britain and F..."
text2 :
" Tokyo Olympics Day 10 Full Schedule: Kamalpreet Kaur stunne..."
text3 :
" Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has announced Rs.50 lakh cas..."
text4 :
" India's quest for another medal will continue on Day 8 of t..."
text5 :
" India vs Argentina Women's Hockey Semifinal Match Live Stre..."
text6 :
" India would fancy their chances of a medal finish as they g..."newspaper_corpus_summary <- summary(newspaper_corpus)
head(newspaper_corpus_summary) Text Types Tokens Sentences newspaper date Classification
1 text1 260 542 22 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021 Women
2 text2 106 220 5 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
3 text3 126 298 12 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Women
4 text4 168 326 5 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
5 text5 104 292 12 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
6 text6 196 393 6 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Womennewspaper_corpus_summary$Tokens [1] 542 220 298 326 292 393 328 305 371 255 780 376 516 207 635
[16] 1084 321 662 375 353 707 440 294 290 282 282 788 451 483 304
[31] 637 1362 338 795 433 603 301 717 485 387 633 291 350 466 462
[46] 290 326 328 224 934 1277 1100 443 868 261 571 786 1219 929 377
[61] 328 271 1027 375 1203 387 428 859 585 506 501 877 368 368 1072
[76] 1081 425 428 484 681 772 778 202 636 975 1012 867 888 1075 150
[91] 153 147 112 173 89 143 164 62 459 286Checking for metadata, creating tokens, removing punctuation and removing stopwords.
docvars(newspaper_corpus) newspaper date Classification
1 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021 Women
2 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
3 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Women
4 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
5 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
6 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
7 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Women
8 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
9 MINT August 6, 2021 Women
10 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
11 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Women
12 MINT August 5, 2021 Women
13 Hindustan Times July 22, 2021 Women
14 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
15 MINT August 7, 2021 Women
16 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
17 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
18 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Women
19 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021 Women
20 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
21 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
22 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
23 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Women
24 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
25 MINT August 4, 2021 Women
26 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Women
27 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Women
28 MINT July 25, 2021 Women
29 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021 Women
30 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Women
31 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
32 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021 Women
33 MINT July 29, 2021 Women
34 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
35 MINT August 2, 2021 Women
36 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
37 MINT August 2, 2021 Women
38 MINT July 29, 2021 Women
39 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
40 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
41 MINT August 3, 2021 Women
42 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
43 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
44 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
45 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
46 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
47 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
48 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
49 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
50 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021 Women
51 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
52 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
53 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
54 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021 Women
55 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
56 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Women
57 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Women
58 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Women
59 Hindustan Times August 9, 2021 Women
60 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
61 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021 Women
62 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Women
63 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
64 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
65 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Women
66 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Women
67 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Women
68 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021 Women
69 MINT August 2, 2021 Women
70 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021 Women
71 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
72 MINT July 25, 2021 Women
73 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Women
74 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
75 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Women
76 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Women
77 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
78 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Women
79 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
80 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Women
81 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Women
82 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
83 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
84 MINT July 31, 2021 Women
85 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
86 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Women
87 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Women
88 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
89 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Women
90 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Women
91 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Women
92 MINT July 28, 2021 Women
93 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
94 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Women
95 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Women
96 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Women
97 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021 Women
98 MINT July 30, 2021 Women
99 DNA July 27, 2021 Women
100 India Today Online August 4, 2021 Women
101 Indian Express July 23, 2021 Women
102 India Today Online July 25, 2021 Women
103 India Today Online August 2, 2021 Women
104 Indian Express August 2, 2021 Women
105 India Today Online August 5, 2021 Women
106 Indian Express August 1, 2021 Women
107 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021 Women
108 India Today Online August 2, 2021 Women
109 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
110 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021 Women
111 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021 Women
112 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021 Women
113 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021 Women
114 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Women
115 The Telegraph (India) August 7, 2021 Women
116 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021 Women
117 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021 Women
118 Indian Express July 24, 2021 Women
119 Indian Express July 31, 2021 Women
120 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Women
121 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
122 DNA July 31, 2021 Women
123 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021 Women
124 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021 Women
125 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
126 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021 Women
127 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021 Women
128 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
129 India Today Online July 24, 2021 Women
130 DNA August 5, 2021 Women
131 Free Press Journal (India) August 4, 2021 Women
132 DNA July 27, 2021 Women
133 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021 Women
134 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021 Women
135 DNA August 3, 2021 Women
136 Indian Express August 6, 2021 Women
137 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021 Women
138 Indian Express July 24, 2021 Women
139 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021 Women
140 DNA August 6, 2021 Women
141 DNA July 29, 2021 Women
142 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021 Women
143 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Women
144 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021 Women
145 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) July 24, 2021 Women
146 Indian Express August 8, 2021 Women
147 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021 Women
148 DNA August 6, 2021 Women
149 DNA August 2, 2021 Women
150 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Women
151 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
152 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
153 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Women
154 The Telegraph (India) July 29, 2021 Women
155 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
156 Indian Express August 8, 2021 Women
157 India Today Online August 6, 2021 Women
158 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
159 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
160 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Women
161 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
162 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
163 DNA August 7, 2021 Women
164 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021 Women
165 Indian Express July 30, 2021 Women
166 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021 Women
167 The Telegraph (India) August 2, 2021 Women
168 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
169 Indian Express August 8, 2021 Women
170 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Women
171 Free Press Journal (India) July 31, 2021 Women
172 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021 Women
173 The Telegraph (India) July 24, 2021 Women
174 Indian Express July 28, 2021 Women
175 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021 Women
176 Free Press Journal (India) August 8, 2021 Women
177 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
178 India Today Online August 2, 2021 Women
179 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021 Women
180 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
181 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
182 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021 Women
183 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
184 The Hindu August 7, 2021 Women
185 Indian Express August 5, 2021 Women
186 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021 Women
187 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021 Women
188 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Women
189 The Hindu August 7, 2021 Women
190 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021 Women
191 India Today Online July 25, 2021 Women
192 Indian Express August 2, 2021 Women
193 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021 Women
194 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021 Women
195 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Women
196 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
197 The Telegraph (India) August 8, 2021 Women
198 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Women
199 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Women
200 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021 Women
201 The Hindu August 7, 2021 Women
202 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
203 Indian Express August 8, 2021 Women
204 Indian Express July 29, 2021 Women
205 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Women
206 Indian Express August 6, 2021 Women
207 Indian Express July 29, 2021 Women
208 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
209 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
210 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Women
211 Indian Express July 28, 2021 Women
212 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
213 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
214 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021 Women
215 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
216 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Women
217 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
218 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
219 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021 Women
220 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021 Women
221 The Telegraph (India) August 3, 2021 Women
222 DNA July 28, 2021 Women
223 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
224 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Women
225 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021 Women
226 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
227 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
228 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 1, 2021 Women
229 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Women
230 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 7, 2021 Women
231 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Women
232 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021 Women
233 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021 Women
234 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021 Women
235 The Telegraph (India) July 31, 2021 Women
236 Indian Express August 8, 2021 Women
237 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021 Women
238 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Women
239 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 28, 2021 Women
240 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
241 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Women
242 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Women
243 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Women
244 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Women
245 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021 Women
246 The Hindu August 9, 2021 Women
247 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Women
248 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Women
249 The Hindu August 6, 2021 Women
250 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 4, 2021 Women
251 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Women
252 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Women
253 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Women
254 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021 Women
255 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Women
256 The Hindu August 3, 2021 Women
257 DNA August 5, 2021 Women
258 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Women
259 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Women
260 Free Press Journal (India) July 24, 2021 Women
261 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Women
262 DNA August 4, 2021 Women
263 DNA July 29, 2021 Women
264 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021 Women
265 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
266 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Women
267 The Hindu August 6, 2021 Women
268 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Women
269 Indian Express August 7, 2021 Women
270 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Women
271 The Hindu August 2, 2021 Women
272 The Hindu August 6, 2021 Women
273 India Today Online August 7, 2021 Women
274 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 3, 2021 Women
275 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 9, 2021 Women
276 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
277 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Women
278 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
279 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Men
280 MINT August 9, 2021 Men
281 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Men
282 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
283 MINT August 1, 2021 Men
284 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
285 MINT July 23, 2021 Men
286 Hindustan Times July 27, 2021 Men
287 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Men
288 Hindustan Times July 31, 2021 Men
289 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Men
290 MINT August 3, 2021 Men
291 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Men
292 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Men
293 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
294 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Men
295 MINT August 7, 2021 Men
296 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Men
297 MINT August 8, 2021 Men
298 Hindustan Times July 25, 2021 Men
299 MINT August 5, 2021 Men
300 MINT July 23, 2021 Men
301 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
302 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
303 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
304 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
305 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
306 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
307 MINT August 8, 2021 Men
308 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
309 Hindustan Times August 3, 2021 Men
310 MINT August 9, 2021 Men
311 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
312 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
313 MINT August 5, 2021 Men
314 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
315 MINT August 3, 2021 Men
316 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Men
317 MINT August 8, 2021 Men
318 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
319 MINT August 9, 2021 Men
320 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Men
321 MINT July 29, 2021 Men
322 Hindustan Times August 4, 2021 Men
323 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
324 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
325 MINT August 8, 2021 Men
326 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
327 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Men
328 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
329 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
330 MINT August 5, 2021 Men
331 MINT August 3, 2021 Men
332 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
333 Hindustan Times July 23, 2021 Men
334 Hindustan Times July 30, 2021 Men
335 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Men
336 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
337 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Men
338 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
339 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
340 Hindustan Times August 8, 2021 Men
341 Hindustan Times July 29, 2021 Men
342 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
343 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Men
344 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
345 Hindustan Times August 2, 2021 Men
346 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
347 Hindustan Times July 28, 2021 Men
348 Hindustan Times August 7, 2021 Men
349 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
350 Hindustan Times August 6, 2021 Men
351 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
352 Hindustan Times August 5, 2021 Men
353 Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 Men
354 Hindustan Times August 1, 2021 Men
355 MINT July 27, 2021 Men
356 MINT July 29, 2021 Men
357 The Hindu August 9, 2021 Men
358 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Men
359 India Today Online August 3, 2021 Men
360 India Today Online August 5, 2021 Men
361 India Today Online August 9, 2021 Men
362 Indian Express August 2, 2021 Men
363 The Telegraph (India) August 4, 2021 Men
364 Indian Express August 7, 2021 Men
365 DNA August 3, 2021 Men
366 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Men
367 India Today Online August 5, 2021 Men
368 Free Press Journal (India) July 22, 2021 Men
369 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
370 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Men
371 DNA August 2, 2021 Men
372 Indian Express August 5, 2021 Men
373 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
374 India Today Online August 5, 2021 Men
375 India Today Online August 5, 2021 Men
376 The Telegraph (India) July 23, 2021 Men
377 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
378 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021 Men
379 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
380 DNA July 26, 2021 Men
381 DNA August 3, 2021 Men
382 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021 Men
383 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021 Men
384 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Men
385 DNA August 7, 2021 Men
386 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
387 DNA August 4, 2021 Men
388 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
389 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021 Men
390 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021 Men
391 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
392 DNA August 1, 2021 Men
393 The Telegraph (India) August 6, 2021 Men
394 Free Press Journal (India) August 1, 2021 Men
395 DNA August 5, 2021 Men
396 DNA August 7, 2021 Men
397 The Telegraph (India) August 1, 2021 Men
398 Indian Express July 29, 2021 Men
399 DNA August 5, 2021 Men
400 Indian Express July 30, 2021 Men
401 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021 Men
402 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 26, 2021 Men
403 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 4, 2021 Men
404 DNA July 26, 2021 Men
405 DNA August 5, 2021 Men
406 Free Press Journal (India) August 2, 2021 Men
407 Free Press Journal (India) August 6, 2021 Men
408 The Hindu August 8, 2021 Men
409 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 3, 2021 Men
410 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 1, 2021 Men
411 Free Press Journal (India) August 7, 2021 Men
412 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021 Men
413 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021 Men
414 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021 Men
415 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021 Men
416 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021 Men
417 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 22, 2021 Men
418 Free Press Journal (India) August 9, 2021 Men
419 Indian Express July 26, 2021 Men
420 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021 Men
421 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
422 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
423 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 24, 2021 Men
424 Economic Times (E-Paper Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
425 Free Press Journal (India) August 3, 2021 Men
426 Indian Express August 9, 2021 Men
427 Indian Express August 6, 2021 Men
428 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 2, 2021 Men
429 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
430 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021 Men
431 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
432 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021 Men
433 Indian Express August 6, 2021 Men
434 Indian Express August 6, 2021 Men
435 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021 Men
436 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Men
437 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 25, 2021 Men
438 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 27, 2021 Men
439 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
440 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 29, 2021 Men
441 The Telegraph (India) August 7, 2021 Men
442 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Men
443 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 8, 2021 Men
444 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Men
445 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Men
446 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
447 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 5, 2021 Men
448 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Men
449 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 31, 2021 Men
450 Times of India (Electronic Edition) August 6, 2021 Men
451 Times of India (Electronic Edition) July 23, 2021 Men
452 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Men
453 The Hindu August 3, 2021 Men
454 The Telegraph (India) July 25, 2021 Men
455 The Telegraph (India) July 26, 2021 Men
456 The Telegraph (India) July 30, 2021 Men
457 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021 Men
458 Free Press Journal (India) July 25, 2021 Men
459 Free Press Journal (India) July 24, 2021 Men
460 The Telegraph (India) July 28, 2021 Men
461 The Telegraph (India) July 27, 2021 Men
462 The Telegraph (India) July 29, 2021 Men
463 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
464 Free Press Journal (India) July 27, 2021 Men
465 Free Press Journal (India) July 26, 2021 Men
466 The Hindu August 5, 2021 Men
467 Free Press Journal (India) August 5, 2021 Men
468 DNA August 5, 2021 Mennewspaper_tokens <- tokens(newspaper_corpus)
head(newspaper_tokens)Tokens consisting of 6 documents and 3 docvars.
text1 :
[1] "From" "a" "solitary" "two-day" "fixture" "between"
[7] "Great" "Britain" "and" "France" "in" "the"
[ ... and 530 more ]
text2 :
[1] "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Day" "10" "Full"
[6] "Schedule" ":" "Kamalpreet" "Kaur" "stunned"
[11] "the" "nation"
[ ... and 208 more ]
text3 :
[1] "Haryana" "CM" "Manohar" "Lal" "Khattar" "has"
[7] "announced" "Rs" "." "50" "lakh" "cash"
[ ... and 286 more ]
text4 :
[1] "India's" "quest" "for" "another" "medal" "will"
[7] "continue" "on" "Day" "8" "of" "the"
[ ... and 314 more ]
text5 :
[1] "India" "vs" "Argentina" "Women's" "Hockey" "Semifinal"
[7] "Match" "Live" "Streaming" "," "Tokyo" "Olympics"
[ ... and 280 more ]
text6 :
[1] "India" "would" "fancy" "their" "chances" "of" "a"
[8] "medal" "finish" "as" "they" "gear"
[ ... and 381 more ]newspaper_tokens <- tokens(newspaper_tokens ,
remove_punct = T)
head(newspaper_tokens)Tokens consisting of 6 documents and 3 docvars.
text1 :
[1] "From" "a" "solitary" "two-day" "fixture" "between"
[7] "Great" "Britain" "and" "France" "in" "the"
[ ... and 464 more ]
text2 :
[1] "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Day" "10" "Full"
[6] "Schedule" "Kamalpreet" "Kaur" "stunned" "the"
[11] "nation" "with"
[ ... and 171 more ]
text3 :
[1] "Haryana" "CM" "Manohar" "Lal" "Khattar" "has"
[7] "announced" "Rs" "50" "lakh" "cash" "award"
[ ... and 253 more ]
text4 :
[1] "India's" "quest" "for" "another" "medal" "will"
[7] "continue" "on" "Day" "8" "of" "the"
[ ... and 265 more ]
text5 :
[1] "India" "vs" "Argentina" "Women's" "Hockey" "Semifinal"
[7] "Match" "Live" "Streaming" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Winning"
[ ... and 249 more ]
text6 :
[1] "India" "would" "fancy" "their" "chances" "of" "a"
[8] "medal" "finish" "as" "they" "gear"
[ ... and 317 more ]withoutstopwords_news<- tokens_select(newspaper_tokens,
pattern = stopwords("en"),
select = "remove")
print(withoutstopwords_news)Tokens consisting of 468 documents and 3 docvars.
text1 :
[1] "solitary" "two-day" "fixture" "Great" "Britain" "France"
[7] "1900" "Olympics" "prospects" "cricket's" "inclusion" "8-team"
[ ... and 271 more ]
text2 :
[1] "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Day" "10" "Full"
[6] "Schedule" "Kamalpreet" "Kaur" "stunned" "nation"
[11] "64m" "throw"
[ ... and 138 more ]
text3 :
[1] "Haryana" "CM" "Manohar" "Lal" "Khattar" "announced"
[7] "Rs" "50" "lakh" "cash" "award" "every"
[ ... and 155 more ]
text4 :
[1] "India's" "quest" "another" "medal" "will" "continue"
[7] "Day" "8" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "ace" "shuttler"
[ ... and 207 more ]
text5 :
[1] "India" "vs" "Argentina" "Women's" "Hockey" "Semifinal"
[7] "Match" "Live" "Streaming" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Winning"
[ ... and 185 more ]
text6 :
[1] "India" "fancy" "chances" "medal" "finish" "gear"
[7] "Day" "7" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "eyes" "archer"
[ ... and 251 more ]
[ reached max_ndoc ... 462 more documents ]head(withoutstopwords_news)Tokens consisting of 6 documents and 3 docvars.
text1 :
[1] "solitary" "two-day" "fixture" "Great" "Britain" "France"
[7] "1900" "Olympics" "prospects" "cricket's" "inclusion" "8-team"
[ ... and 271 more ]
text2 :
[1] "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Day" "10" "Full"
[6] "Schedule" "Kamalpreet" "Kaur" "stunned" "nation"
[11] "64m" "throw"
[ ... and 138 more ]
text3 :
[1] "Haryana" "CM" "Manohar" "Lal" "Khattar" "announced"
[7] "Rs" "50" "lakh" "cash" "award" "every"
[ ... and 155 more ]
text4 :
[1] "India's" "quest" "another" "medal" "will" "continue"
[7] "Day" "8" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "ace" "shuttler"
[ ... and 207 more ]
text5 :
[1] "India" "vs" "Argentina" "Women's" "Hockey" "Semifinal"
[7] "Match" "Live" "Streaming" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "Winning"
[ ... and 185 more ]
text6 :
[1] "India" "fancy" "chances" "medal" "finish" "gear"
[7] "Day" "7" "Tokyo" "Olympics" "eyes" "archer"
[ ... and 251 more ]#as.character(withoutstopwords_news)Conversion to document feature matrix
news_dfm_stm <- dfm(tokens(withoutstopwords_news))
news_dfm_stm <- dfm_remove(news_dfm_stm, c("said","also","says","can","just"), verbose = TRUE)removed 5 featuresI recoded the classification to be 1 for Women and 0 for Men to be used as the prevalence for the model.
df_final<- mutate(df_final,Gender=recode(Classification,"Women"="1","Men"="0"))
df_final$Gender<-as.numeric(df_final$Gender)Choosing K
I selected 25 topics based on the semantic coherence.
differentKs <- searchK(news_dfm_stm,
K = c(5, 10,15, 25,50),
prevalence = ~ Gender,
N = floor(0.1 * 468),
data = df_final,
max.em.its = 100,
init.type = "Spectral")Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
.....
Recovering initialization...
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Initialization complete.
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, gold
Topic 2: india, olympics, hockey, will, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, india
Topic 4: medal, olympics, tokyo, sports, olympic
Topic 5: medal, hockey, team, bronze, indian
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, gold
Topic 2: india, olympics, hockey, will, match
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, olympics
Topic 4: medal, olympics, sports, tokyo, olympic
Topic 5: medal, hockey, bronze, team, indian
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, gold
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, will, match
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, olympics
Topic 4: medal, olympics, sports, tokyo, olympic
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, gold
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, will
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, olympics
Topic 4: medal, olympics, sports, tokyo, olympic
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, gold
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, team
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, olympics
Topic 4: medal, olympics, sports, tokyo, olympic
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Topic 1: olympics, world, games, tokyo, sindhu
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, team
Topic 3: hockey, team, indian, women's, olympics
Topic 4: medal, olympics, sports, tokyo, olympic
Topic 5: medal, hockey, bronze, indian, team
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Model Converged
Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
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..........
Recovering initialization...
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Initialization complete.
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Topic 1: first, will, match, tokyo, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, team
Topic 3: will, athletes, tokyo, hockey, team
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, india
Topic 5: medal, hockey, team, singh, india
Topic 6: india, two, indian, penalty, team
Topic 7: hockey, sports, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: olympics, medal, sindhu, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, world, athletes, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tokyo, tennis, match
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, will, athletes, team, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, two, penalty, team, indian
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: olympics, sindhu, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, athletes, team, world, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tokyo, tennis, match
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, two, penalty, team, indian
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: olympics, sindhu, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, athletes, team, world, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tennis, tokyo, world
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, two, penalty, team, indian
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, athletes, world, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tennis, tokyo, world
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, athletes, indian
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, penalty, two, team, indian
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, athletes, world, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tennis, tokyo, world
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, athletes, indian
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, penalty, two, team, first
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, athletes, world, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Completing Iteration 35 (approx. per word bound = -7.191, relative change = 2.057e-05)
Topic 1: first, will, tokyo, tennis, world
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, penalty, two, team, first
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, world, athletes, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Topic 1: first, will, tokyo, world, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, penalty, two, team, first
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, world, athletes, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Completing Iteration 45 (approx. per word bound = -7.189, relative change = 1.403e-05)
Topic 1: first, will, tokyo, world, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, team, will, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: mirabai, medal, chanu, olympic, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, team, singh, indian
Topic 6: india, penalty, two, team, first
Topic 7: sports, hockey, olympics, award, dhyan
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, gold, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, world, athletes, team, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
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Completing Iteration 46 (approx. per word bound = -7.189, relative change = 1.174e-05)
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Model Converged
Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
...............
Recovering initialization...
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Initialization complete.
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Completing Iteration 5 (approx. per word bound = -7.045, relative change = 1.119e-03)
Topic 1: match, tennis, round, first, singles
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, tokyo, rs, contingent
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: medal, hockey, singh, india, bronze
Topic 6: team, hockey, indian, one, britain
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, tokyo, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, us
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, india, olympics
Topic 11: round, indian, borgohain, world, first
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, olympic, tokyo
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, world, olympics, games
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, years, caste
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Completing Iteration 6 (approx. per word bound = -7.041, relative change = 6.209e-04)
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Completing Iteration 10 (approx. per word bound = -7.031, relative change = 2.500e-04)
Topic 1: match, tennis, singles, round, first
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, tokyo, team, rs
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: medal, hockey, singh, india, team
Topic 6: team, hockey, indian, singh, one
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, tokyo, indian
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, world, olympics
Topic 15: lovlina, told, boxing, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 11 (approx. per word bound = -7.030, relative change = 2.074e-04)
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Completing Iteration 15 (approx. per word bound = -7.026, relative change = 8.783e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, singles, first, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, tokyo, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, medal, singh, team, bronze
Topic 6: team, hockey, indian, singh, britain
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, told, boxing, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 16 (approx. per word bound = -7.026, relative change = 9.648e-05)
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Completing Iteration 20 (approx. per word bound = -7.023, relative change = 8.219e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, singles, first, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, tokyo, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, bronze
Topic 6: hockey, team, singh, indian, india
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, chanu, tokyo
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 21 (approx. per word bound = -7.023, relative change = 6.737e-05)
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Completing Iteration 22 (approx. per word bound = -7.022, relative change = 6.267e-05)
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Completing Iteration 25 (approx. per word bound = -7.021, relative change = 5.195e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: will, athletes, team, tokyo, hockey
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, bronze
Topic 6: hockey, team, singh, indian, india
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 26 (approx. per word bound = -7.021, relative change = 5.594e-05)
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Completing Iteration 27 (approx. per word bound = -7.020, relative change = 5.473e-05)
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Completing Iteration 28 (approx. per word bound = -7.020, relative change = 5.444e-05)
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Completing Iteration 29 (approx. per word bound = -7.020, relative change = 4.871e-05)
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Completing Iteration 30 (approx. per word bound = -7.019, relative change = 5.164e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: will, athletes, team, tokyo, hockey
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, bronze
Topic 6: hockey, team, singh, indian, india
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 31 (approx. per word bound = -7.019, relative change = 6.717e-05)
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Completing Iteration 32 (approx. per word bound = -7.018, relative change = 9.515e-05)
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Completing Iteration 33 (approx. per word bound = -7.017, relative change = 9.681e-05)
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Completing Iteration 34 (approx. per word bound = -7.017, relative change = 6.537e-05)
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Completing Iteration 35 (approx. per word bound = -7.017, relative change = 5.130e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: will, team, athletes, hockey, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, bronze
Topic 6: hockey, team, singh, india, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 36 (approx. per word bound = -7.016, relative change = 4.997e-05)
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Completing Iteration 37 (approx. per word bound = -7.016, relative change = 4.720e-05)
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Completing Iteration 38 (approx. per word bound = -7.016, relative change = 5.509e-05)
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Completing Iteration 39 (approx. per word bound = -7.015, relative change = 4.041e-05)
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Completing Iteration 40 (approx. per word bound = -7.015, relative change = 2.263e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: will, team, athletes, hockey, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, bronze
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 41 (approx. per word bound = -7.015, relative change = 1.966e-05)
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Completing Iteration 42 (approx. per word bound = -7.015, relative change = 2.293e-05)
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Completing Iteration 43 (approx. per word bound = -7.015, relative change = 2.950e-05)
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Completing Iteration 44 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 2.386e-05)
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Completing Iteration 45 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 2.170e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, will, hockey, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 46 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 2.582e-05)
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Completing Iteration 47 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 3.172e-05)
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Completing Iteration 48 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 2.645e-05)
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Completing Iteration 49 (approx. per word bound = -7.014, relative change = 2.356e-05)
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Completing Iteration 50 (approx. per word bound = -7.013, relative change = 2.883e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, round
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, will, hockey, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 51 (approx. per word bound = -7.013, relative change = 3.579e-05)
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Completing Iteration 52 (approx. per word bound = -7.013, relative change = 4.125e-05)
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Completing Iteration 53 (approx. per word bound = -7.013, relative change = 3.817e-05)
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Completing Iteration 54 (approx. per word bound = -7.012, relative change = 3.326e-05)
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Completing Iteration 55 (approx. per word bound = -7.012, relative change = 3.567e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, games
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, will, hockey, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 56 (approx. per word bound = -7.012, relative change = 4.725e-05)
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Completing Iteration 57 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 3.783e-05)
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Completing Iteration 58 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 2.038e-05)
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Completing Iteration 59 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 1.904e-05)
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Completing Iteration 60 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 1.646e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, singles, games
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, will, hockey, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, caste, years
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Completing Iteration 61 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 1.204e-05)
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Completing Iteration 62 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 1.749e-05)
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Completing Iteration 63 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 2.138e-05)
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Completing Iteration 64 (approx. per word bound = -7.011, relative change = 2.248e-05)
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Completing Iteration 65 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 2.121e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, games, singles
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, hockey, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, tokyo
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, borgohain, team
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, years, caste
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Completing Iteration 66 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 2.665e-05)
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Completing Iteration 67 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 2.578e-05)
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Completing Iteration 68 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 1.598e-05)
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Completing Iteration 69 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 1.034e-05)
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Completing Iteration 70 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 1.154e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, games, indian
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, hockey, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, olympics
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, team, borgohain
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, years, caste
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Completing Iteration 71 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 1.435e-05)
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Completing Iteration 72 (approx. per word bound = -7.010, relative change = 2.041e-05)
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Completing Iteration 73 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.824e-05)
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Completing Iteration 74 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.464e-05)
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Completing Iteration 75 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.243e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, games, indian
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, hockey, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, chand
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, team, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, years, caste
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 76 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.072e-05)
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Completing Iteration 77 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.031e-05)
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Completing Iteration 78 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.058e-05)
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Completing Iteration 79 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.235e-05)
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Completing Iteration 80 (approx. per word bound = -7.009, relative change = 1.211e-05)
Topic 1: match, tennis, first, games, indian
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, tokyo, olympics
Topic 3: team, hockey, will, athletes, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, olympics, india, tokyo
Topic 5: hockey, singh, medal, team, indian
Topic 6: hockey, team, india, singh, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, sports, dhyan, chand
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, indian, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, aditi, olympic, athletes, golf
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: round, indian, world, team, first
Topic 12: medal, mirabai, olympics, tokyo, chanu
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: gold, tokyo, games, olympics, world
Topic 15: lovlina, boxing, told, years, caste
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Model Converged
Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
.........................
Recovering initialization...
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Initialization complete.
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Completing Iteration 5 (approx. per word bound = -6.803, relative change = 1.368e-03)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, hockey, contingent, ceremony
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: medal, hockey, bronze, indian, india
Topic 6: india, team, britain, indian, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, will, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, game, first, games
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, goal, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, mental
Topic 15: borgohain, boxing, lovlina, told, boxer
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, tokyo
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, olympics, singh
Topic 20: olympics, olympic, aditi, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, india, indian, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, men's, tokyo, women's
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, chopra
Topic 25: women, run, one, vinesh, games
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Completing Iteration 6 (approx. per word bound = -6.798, relative change = 7.272e-04)
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Completing Iteration 10 (approx. per word bound = -6.790, relative change = 1.693e-04)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, hockey, contingent, ceremony
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: india, team, britain, great, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, will, olympic
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, sindhu, games
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, training
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, tokyo
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, olympics, singh
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, golf, world
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, india, athletes, indian
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, women's
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, chopra
Topic 25: run, women, one, vinesh, olympics
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Completing Iteration 11 (approx. per word bound = -6.789, relative change = 1.457e-04)
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Completing Iteration 15 (approx. per word bound = -6.784, relative change = 2.466e-04)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, athletes, hockey, tokyo, village
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: india, team, britain, great, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, will
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, training
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, tokyo
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, indian, singh
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, golf, world
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, india, athletes, indian
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, women's
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, one, women, run, vinesh
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Completing Iteration 16 (approx. per word bound = -6.782, relative change = 3.256e-04)
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Completing Iteration 17 (approx. per word bound = -6.780, relative change = 2.386e-04)
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Completing Iteration 18 (approx. per word bound = -6.779, relative change = 1.999e-04)
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Completing Iteration 19 (approx. per word bound = -6.778, relative change = 1.353e-04)
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Completing Iteration 20 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 1.024e-04)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, hockey, athletes, tokyo, village
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: india, team, britain, great, indian
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, will
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, training
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, indian, singh
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, golf, world
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, india, athletes, indian
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, women's
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, one, vinesh, women, dalit
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Completing Iteration 21 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 7.828e-05)
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Completing Iteration 22 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 8.595e-05)
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Completing Iteration 25 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 5.585e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, will, athletes, team, indian
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: india, team, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, indian, rs
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, one, dalit, vinesh, however
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Completing Iteration 26 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 5.690e-05)
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Completing Iteration 27 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 5.125e-05)
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Completing Iteration 28 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 4.095e-05)
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Completing Iteration 29 (approx. per word bound = -6.773, relative change = 4.325e-05)
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Completing Iteration 30 (approx. per word bound = -6.773, relative change = 5.492e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: hockey, will, athletes, team, indian
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, indian, rs
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, family, medal, one, dalit
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Completing Iteration 31 (approx. per word bound = -6.772, relative change = 5.999e-05)
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Completing Iteration 32 (approx. per word bound = -6.772, relative change = 5.618e-05)
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Completing Iteration 33 (approx. per word bound = -6.772, relative change = 4.365e-05)
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Completing Iteration 34 (approx. per word bound = -6.772, relative change = 3.480e-05)
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Completing Iteration 35 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.503e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, team, hockey, indian, athletes
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, team, first
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, indian, rs
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, family, medal, one, dalit
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 36 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.071e-05)
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Completing Iteration 37 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.157e-05)
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Completing Iteration 38 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.486e-05)
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Completing Iteration 39 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.310e-05)
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Completing Iteration 40 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.154e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, team, hockey, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, first, team
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, rs, indian
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, bronze, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, medal, family, one, hockey
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 41 (approx. per word bound = -6.771, relative change = 2.074e-05)
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Completing Iteration 42 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 1.737e-05)
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Completing Iteration 43 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 1.758e-05)
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Completing Iteration 44 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 2.083e-05)
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Completing Iteration 45 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 3.090e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, team, hockey, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, many
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, first, team
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, olympics, rs, indian
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, olympics, bronze
Topic 25: olympics, medal, family, one, hockey
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 46 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 3.423e-05)
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Completing Iteration 47 (approx. per word bound = -6.770, relative change = 2.520e-05)
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Completing Iteration 48 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 2.686e-05)
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Completing Iteration 49 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 2.047e-05)
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Completing Iteration 50 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.243e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: team, will, hockey, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, will
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, first, team
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, rs, olympics, indian
Topic 20: olympics, aditi, olympic, world, golf
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, tokyo, men's, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, olympics, bronze
Topic 25: olympics, medal, family, one, women's
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 51 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.217e-05)
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Completing Iteration 52 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.255e-05)
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Completing Iteration 53 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.079e-05)
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Completing Iteration 54 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.228e-05)
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Completing Iteration 55 (approx. per word bound = -6.769, relative change = 1.100e-05)
Topic 1: tennis, match, singles, back, manika
Topic 2: india, hockey, olympics, match, tokyo
Topic 3: will, team, hockey, indian, tokyo
Topic 4: sports, athletes, hockey, olympics, like
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, indian, team
Topic 6: team, india, britain, hockey, great
Topic 7: hockey, award, dhyan, chand, ratna
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, medal, pv, bronze
Topic 9: olympics, match, us, olympic, will
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: indian, world, first, games, sindhu
Topic 12: medal, olympics, mirabai, chanu, india
Topic 13: india, penalty, goal, first, quarter
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, jadhav, set
Topic 15: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, told, medal
Topic 16: mirabai, chanu, lift, video, olympics
Topic 17: gold, medal, tokyo, won, olympics
Topic 18: women, athletes, olympics, olympic, world
Topic 19: hockey, team, rs, olympics, indian
Topic 20: olympics, olympic, aditi, world, team
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 22: hockey, team, athletes, india, brand
Topic 23: indian, olympics, men's, tokyo, round
Topic 24: medal, gold, india, olympics, bronze
Topic 25: olympics, medal, family, one, women's
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Model Converged
Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
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Recovering initialization...
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Initialization complete.
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Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 1 (approx. per word bound = -7.478)
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Completing Iteration 2 (approx. per word bound = -6.616, relative change = 1.153e-01)
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Completing Iteration 3 (approx. per word bound = -6.477, relative change = 2.091e-02)
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Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 4 (approx. per word bound = -6.436, relative change = 6.438e-03)
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Completed E-Step (263 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 5 (approx. per word bound = -6.416, relative change = 2.961e-03)
Topic 1: back, djokovic, zverev, first, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, will, women's, team
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: hockey, medal, bronze, team, men's
Topic 6: india, britain, indian, first, great
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, pv, olympics, tokyo, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, olympics, match
Topic 10: team, hockey, indian, women's, india
Topic 11: sindhu, world, yamaguchi, indian, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, mirabai, indian, olympics
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, open, tokyo, world, biles
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, olympics, tokyo
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, woman
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, rs, medal
Topic 20: olympics, bronze, years, women's, medal
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, brand, rampal, rani, athletes
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, qualification, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, chopra, neeraj
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, match, indian, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, round, game, world
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, students, contingent
Topic 35: aditi, golf, medal, olympics, ashok
Topic 36: one, olympic, tokyo, shared, olympics
Topic 37: india, match, penalty, indian, singh
Topic 38: indian, match, team, round, games
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: google, olympics, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, won, bronze
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, will, women's, rani, men's
Topic 44: players, us, play, really, olympics
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, tokyo
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, team
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bronze, bajrang, punia, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 6 (approx. per word bound = -6.407, relative change = 1.546e-03)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 7 (approx. per word bound = -6.402, relative change = 7.056e-04)
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Completing Iteration 8 (approx. per word bound = -6.399, relative change = 4.729e-04)
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Completing Iteration 9 (approx. per word bound = -6.397, relative change = 3.194e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 10 (approx. per word bound = -6.395, relative change = 2.344e-04)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, zverev
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, hockey, team
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, medal, bronze, indian
Topic 6: india, britain, indian, team, first
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, pv, olympics, tokyo, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, tokyo, biles, open
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, india, men, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, brand
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, will, qualification
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, deepika, round
Topic 27: hockey, team, match, indian, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, round, game, world
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, students, contingent
Topic 35: aditi, golf, medal, olympics, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, shared, olympics
Topic 37: india, penalty, singh, match, goal
Topic 38: indian, match, team, round, two
Topic 39: india, australia, team, new, hockey
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, will, women's, rani, men's
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bronze, bajrang, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 11 (approx. per word bound = -6.394, relative change = 1.821e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 12 (approx. per word bound = -6.393, relative change = 1.771e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 13 (approx. per word bound = -6.392, relative change = 1.464e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 14 (approx. per word bound = -6.391, relative change = 1.341e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 15 (approx. per word bound = -6.391, relative change = 1.018e-04)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, hockey, team
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, medal, indian, bronze
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, first
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, pv, olympics, tokyo, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, mental
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, india, men, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, will, olympics
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, deepika, round
Topic 27: hockey, team, match, indian, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, medal, women's
Topic 30: sharath, long, round, game, world
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, students, contingent
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, olympics
Topic 37: singh, penalty, india, goal, belgium
Topic 38: indian, match, two, round, games
Topic 39: india, australia, team, new, hockey
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, women's, will, men's, rani
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 16 (approx. per word bound = -6.390, relative change = 1.009e-04)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 17 (approx. per word bound = -6.389, relative change = 1.011e-04)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 18 (approx. per word bound = -6.389, relative change = 9.327e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 19 (approx. per word bound = -6.388, relative change = 7.614e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 20 (approx. per word bound = -6.388, relative change = 6.203e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, medal, indian, bronze
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, two
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, pv, tokyo, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, mental
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, india, men, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, will, olympics
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, deepika, round
Topic 27: hockey, team, match, indian, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, medal
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, olympics
Topic 37: singh, penalty, belgium, india, goal
Topic 38: indian, match, two, games, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, new, hockey
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, women's, will, men's, rani
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 21 (approx. per word bound = -6.388, relative change = 5.148e-05)
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Completing Iteration 22 (approx. per word bound = -6.387, relative change = 3.648e-05)
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Completing Iteration 23 (approx. per word bound = -6.387, relative change = 3.847e-05)
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Completing Iteration 24 (approx. per word bound = -6.387, relative change = 3.945e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 25 (approx. per word bound = -6.387, relative change = 3.103e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: india, hockey, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, indian, medal, bronze
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, two
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, pv, tokyo, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, mental
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, olympics, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, indian, match, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, olympics
Topic 37: singh, penalty, belgium, india, goal
Topic 38: indian, match, games, two, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, women's, will, men's, rani
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 26 (approx. per word bound = -6.387, relative change = 2.163e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 27 (approx. per word bound = -6.386, relative change = 2.402e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 28 (approx. per word bound = -6.386, relative change = 2.975e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 29 (approx. per word bound = -6.386, relative change = 2.926e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 30 (approx. per word bound = -6.386, relative change = 2.561e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: hockey, india, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, indian, medal, men's
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, two
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, tokyo, pv, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, open
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, olympics, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, indian, match, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, olympics
Topic 37: singh, belgium, penalty, india, scored
Topic 38: indian, match, games, two, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, women's, men's, will, 8
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 31 (approx. per word bound = -6.386, relative change = 3.576e-05)
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Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 32 (approx. per word bound = -6.385, relative change = 4.121e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 33 (approx. per word bound = -6.385, relative change = 6.009e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 34 (approx. per word bound = -6.385, relative change = 6.309e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 35 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 3.447e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: hockey, india, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, indian, medal, men's
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, will
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, tokyo, pv, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, open
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, olympics, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, chopra
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, indian, match, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, shared
Topic 37: singh, belgium, india, penalty, scored
Topic 38: indian, match, games, two, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, women's, men's, will, 8
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 36 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 2.229e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 37 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.376e-05)
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Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 38 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.061e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 39 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.289e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
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Completing Iteration 40 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.785e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: hockey, india, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, indian, medal, men's
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, will
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, tokyo, pv, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, open
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, olympics, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, indian, match, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, shared
Topic 37: belgium, singh, india, penalty, scored
Topic 38: indian, match, games, two, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, men's, women's, will, 8
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 41 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.717e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 42 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.793e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 43 (approx. per word bound = -6.384, relative change = 1.706e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 44 (approx. per word bound = -6.383, relative change = 1.502e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 45 (approx. per word bound = -6.383, relative change = 1.368e-05)
Topic 1: djokovic, back, match, first, tennis
Topic 2: hockey, india, match, olympics, tokyo
Topic 3: lakh, rs, women's, team, hockey
Topic 4: sports, hockey, city, like, india
Topic 5: team, hockey, indian, medal, men's
Topic 6: india, britain, team, indian, will
Topic 7: award, dhyan, ratna, chand, khel
Topic 8: sindhu, olympics, tokyo, pv, 2020
Topic 9: will, back, argentina, match, now
Topic 10: team, hockey, women's, indian, india
Topic 11: sindhu, indian, world, yamaguchi, badminton
Topic 12: medal, win, olympics, indian, mirabai
Topic 13: india, penalty, team, first, goal
Topic 14: osaka, world, biles, tokyo, open
Topic 15: tokyo, road, village, will, olympics
Topic 16: hain, hai, mirabai, ki, chanu
Topic 17: gold, won, medal, tokyo, olympics
Topic 18: women, sports, men, india, olympics
Topic 19: hockey, team, indian, medal, rs
Topic 20: olympics, medal, bronze, years, women's
Topic 21: singh, hockey, medal, india, team
Topic 22: hockey, rampal, rani, olympics, family
Topic 23: pm, women's, india, olympics, will
Topic 24: gold, india, medal, neeraj, olympics
Topic 25: olympics, games, tokyo, women, medal
Topic 26: das, team, jadhav, round, deepika
Topic 27: hockey, team, indian, match, medal
Topic 28: caste, dominant, team, village, dalits
Topic 29: coach, team, manika, women's, tokyo
Topic 30: sharath, long, game, round, one
Topic 31: family, hockey, team, men, casteist
Topic 32: medal, mirabai, chanu, olympics, tokyo
Topic 33: lovlina, borgohain, boxing, boxer, medal
Topic 34: indian, olympics, tokyo, contingent, students
Topic 35: aditi, golf, olympics, medal, ashok
Topic 36: one, tokyo, olympic, sindhu, shared
Topic 37: belgium, singh, india, penalty, scored
Topic 38: indian, match, games, two, round
Topic 39: india, australia, team, hockey, new
Topic 40: olympics, google, team, will, users
Topic 41: sindhu, medal, game, bronze, won
Topic 42: hockey, team, country, one, people
Topic 43: ist, men's, women's, will, 8
Topic 44: players, us, play, olympics, really
Topic 45: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 46: coach, match, players, nba, jadhav
Topic 47: biles, mental, athletes, world, health
Topic 48: athletes, games, olympics, tokyo, olympic
Topic 49: medal, bajrang, bronze, tokyo, olympics
Topic 50: sand, sahoo, mirabai, chanu, manas
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 46 (approx. per word bound = -6.383, relative change = 1.387e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 47 (approx. per word bound = -6.383, relative change = 1.444e-05)
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Completed E-Step (2 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Model Converged plot(differentKs)
Structural Topic model
k <- 25
news_stm <- stm(news_dfm_stm,
K = k,
prevalence = ~ Gender,
data = df_final,
max.em.its = 100,
seed = 1234,
init.type = "Spectral")Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
.........................
Recovering initialization...
....................................................................................................
Initialization complete.
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 1 (approx. per word bound = -7.715)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 2 (approx. per word bound = -6.916, relative change = 1.035e-01)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 3 (approx. per word bound = -6.832, relative change = 1.224e-02)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 4 (approx. per word bound = -6.808, relative change = 3.480e-03)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 5 (approx. per word bound = -6.796, relative change = 1.743e-03)
Topic 1: india, belgium, hockey, olympics, team
Topic 2: rs, lakh, will, team, hockey
Topic 3: olympics, manika, tokyo, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, world, das, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, indian, medal, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: video, shared, wrote, india, mirabai
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, india
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, village
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, tokyo, vs
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, athletes
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, olympics
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, long, game, us
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: borgohain, lovlina, boxing, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, singh, olympics
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 6 (approx. per word bound = -6.790, relative change = 8.399e-04)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 7 (approx. per word bound = -6.787, relative change = 4.562e-04)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 8 (approx. per word bound = -6.785, relative change = 2.931e-04)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 9 (approx. per word bound = -6.783, relative change = 2.518e-04)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 10 (approx. per word bound = -6.782, relative change = 2.059e-04)
Topic 1: india, belgium, olympics, hockey, team
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, hockey
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, world, two, das, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, medal, indian, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: video, shared, wrote, india, mirabai
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, india
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, village
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, tokyo, will
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, athletes
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, olympics
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, long, game, win
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: borgohain, boxing, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, singh, olympics
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 11 (approx. per word bound = -6.781, relative change = 1.169e-04)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 12 (approx. per word bound = -6.781, relative change = 8.698e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 13 (approx. per word bound = -6.780, relative change = 7.543e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 14 (approx. per word bound = -6.780, relative change = 6.418e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 15 (approx. per word bound = -6.779, relative change = 6.765e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, belgium, hockey, team
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, world, two, das, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, medal, players, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: video, shared, wrote, india, mirabai
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, india
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, olympics
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, long, win, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: borgohain, boxing, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, singh, olympics
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 16 (approx. per word bound = -6.779, relative change = 7.603e-05)
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Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 17 (approx. per word bound = -6.778, relative change = 8.335e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 18 (approx. per word bound = -6.778, relative change = 8.201e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 19 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 6.185e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 20 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 4.788e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, medal, players, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: video, shared, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, india
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: borgohain, boxing, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 21 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 3.091e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 22 (approx. per word bound = -6.777, relative change = 2.944e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 23 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 3.654e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 24 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 2.826e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 25 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 1.591e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, medal, players, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, india
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: borgohain, boxing, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 26 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 1.772e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 27 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 1.934e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 28 (approx. per word bound = -6.776, relative change = 1.934e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 29 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.548e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 30 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.159e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, players, medal, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, medals
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: men's, round, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: boxing, borgohain, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 31 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.048e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 32 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.070e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 33 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.177e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 34 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.263e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 35 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 1.577e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, players, medal, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, medals
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: round, men's, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: boxing, borgohain, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 36 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 2.484e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 37 (approx. per word bound = -6.775, relative change = 4.364e-05)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 38 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 4.619e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 39 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 2.627e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 40 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 1.910e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, players, medal, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, medals
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: round, men's, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, women's
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, australia, first
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: boxing, borgohain, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 41 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 1.567e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 42 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 1.653e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 43 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 1.585e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 44 (approx. per word bound = -6.774, relative change = 1.184e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 45 (approx. per word bound = -6.773, relative change = 1.015e-05)
Topic 1: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium
Topic 2: rs, lakh, team, will, indian
Topic 3: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will
Topic 4: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics
Topic 5: singh, hockey, medal, team, india
Topic 6: indian, two, das, world, first
Topic 7: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze
Topic 8: hockey, team, players, medal, olympics
Topic 9: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo
Topic 10: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics
Topic 11: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, medals
Topic 12: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india
Topic 13: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics
Topic 14: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo
Topic 15: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf
Topic 16: round, men's, women's, team, indian
Topic 17: team, hockey, indian, india, medal
Topic 18: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic
Topic 19: match, sharath, win, long, game
Topic 20: family, village, hockey, team, caste
Topic 21: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel
Topic 22: india, penalty, team, first, australia
Topic 23: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics
Topic 24: boxing, borgohain, lovlina, medal, olympic
Topic 25: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Completing Iteration 46 (approx. per word bound = -6.773, relative change = 1.434e-05)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
Completed M-Step.
Model Converged Labels for each topic
Since it is difficult to interpret using just the labels, I have employed a few different methods in the following sections.
labelTopics(news_stm)Topic 1 Top Words:
Highest Prob: india, olympics, team, hockey, belgium, indian, men's
FREX: belgium, hendrickx, scored, 3-1, goals, penalty, =
Lift: dohmen, #india, =, 1964gold, 2-5, 2.25, 2f
Score: belgium, penalty, hendrickx, scored, quarter, corners, =
Topic 2 Top Words:
Highest Prob: rs, lakh, team, will, indian, hockey, tokyo
FREX: lakh, rs, cash, dholakia, ioa, announced, reward
Lift: @savjidholakia, adhere, assistance, bearers, clubbed, communicated, halls
Score: lakh, rs, cash, dholakia, ioa, ceremony, award
Topic 3 Top Words:
Highest Prob: olympics, tokyo, manika, coach, will, back, women's
FREX: asci, ads, harmeet, krittwika, violation, permission, manika's
Lift: batra's, fukushima, paranjape, trajdos, #tokyo2020withindia_allsports, @india_allsports, @mygovindia
Score: manika, asci, ads, harmeet, krittwika, manika's, violation
Topic 4 Top Words:
Highest Prob: sports, athletes, india, hockey, olympics, like, city
FREX: racing, mangaluru, nagpur, trichy, water, schools, manikandan
Lift: #tonsofweight, @ddsportschannel, 2.0, 2.31, 2.68, 202-kg, 2030
Score: racing, water, brands, mangaluru, nagpur, trichy, manipur
Topic 5 Top Words:
Highest Prob: singh, hockey, medal, team, india, indian, bronze
FREX: hardik, punjab, sreejesh, father, lalit, simranjeet, varanasi
Lift: 1983, acknowledge, aloo, amarbir, balwinder, demean, furk
Score: hardik, punjab, sreejesh, germany, singh, lalit, simranjeet
Topic 6 Top Words:
Highest Prob: indian, two, das, world, first, games, olympics
FREX: nandu, natekar, 10s, das, kazakhstan, rai, shetty
Lift: @anandmahindra, @hvgoenka, 10-10, 10-10-10, 10-10-9, 18s, 1959
Score: das, 10s, nandu, natekar, jadhav, panghal, shetty
Topic 7 Top Words:
Highest Prob: sindhu, pv, olympics, medal, bronze, win, won
FREX: sindhu, bing, pv, tai, @pvsindhu1, smash, jiao
Lift: #pvsindhu, @taapsee, chiranjeevi, crosscourt, dulquer, jain, mahesh
Score: sindhu, tai, @pvsindhu1, pv, bing, google, tzu-ying
Topic 8 Top Words:
Highest Prob: hockey, team, players, medal, olympics, indian, singh
FREX: pradesh, madhya, ayodhya, biren, academy, vivek, odisha
Lift: 370, astroturf, bhoomi, hon'ble, itarsi, jagbir, patnaik
Score: pradesh, madhya, academy, vivek, biren, ayodhya, odisha
Topic 9 Top Words:
Highest Prob: biles, osaka, world, mental, tokyo, health, first
FREX: vondrousova, zverev, osaka, busta, carreno, biles, marketa
Lift: 3-6, belinda, bencic, cilic, conferences, countrymen, dange
Score: biles, osaka, djokovic, mental, health, vondrousova, slam
Topic 10 Top Words:
Highest Prob: shared, video, wrote, india, olympics, mirabai, olympic
FREX: user, pizza, video, vidya, clip, cameraman, cockroach
Lift: tiranga, vaccines, #dabbooratnanicalendar, #mirabai, #silver, @neeraj____chopra, @s6ntispam
Score: video, user, vidya, pizza, cameraman, clip, cockroach
Topic 11 Top Words:
Highest Prob: gold, medal, olympics, tokyo, medals, india, bronze
FREX: chopra, ravi, neeraj, dahiya, javelin, anu, malik
Lift: mongolian, nurislam, #10084, #56490, #56832, #57340, #65039
Score: chopra, neeraj, javelin, ravi, punia, dahiya, airport
Topic 12 Top Words:
Highest Prob: will, tokyo, athletes, games, india, village, covid-19
FREX: yediyurappa, cdms, taliban, road, bjp, party, afghan
Lift: afghan, -with, #56399, @annakiesenhofer, @bhagat_mallika, @kiranshaw, 1000
Score: yediyurappa, cdms, taliban, bjp, road, party, cases
Topic 13 Top Words:
Highest Prob: team, hockey, india, indian, olympics, women's, britain
FREX: savita, rayer, sushila, rampal, salima, visa, associations
Lift: 16-man, 29-yearold, 4-4.5, 5-1, 52nd, accuracy, aday
Score: savita, visa, brands, salima, papa, sushila, brand
Topic 14 Top Words:
Highest Prob: hockey, match, india, will, tokyo, vs, olympics
FREX: vs, live, sonyliv, streaming, britain, begin, semifinal
Lift: 10km, 4.08, 5-12, 5.30, admirably, akmataliev, arrangements
Score: vs, sonyliv, streaming, britain, live, semifinal, argentina
Topic 15 Top Words:
Highest Prob: olympics, aditi, world, olympic, golf, athletes, medal
FREX: nelly, birdies, korda, aditi, golf, holes, 72
Lift: 17-under, arbitration, ashok's, bogeys, carded, inami, koerstz
Score: aditi, golf, holes, ashok, fairness, birdies, nelly
Topic 16 Top Words:
Highest Prob: round, men's, women's, team, indian, olympics, ist
FREX: bhaker, qualification, ist, laser, 10m, pistol, deepika
Lift: 0-7, 00pm, 01, 02, 02.73, 03.77, 04
Score: ist, round, bhaker, 10m, pistol, qualification, deepika
Topic 17 Top Words:
Highest Prob: team, hockey, indian, india, medal, women's, win
FREX: beniwal, marijne, khan, chak, rukh, de, shah
Lift: bhandarkar, madhur, #jaihind, #menshockeyteam, @iamsrk, @sjoerdmarijne, bhatia
Score: rukh, khan, beniwal, chak, shah, marijne, haan
Topic 18 Top Words:
Highest Prob: women, olympics, sports, athletes, olympic, tokyo, games
FREX: kerala, kerala's, usha, hair, wear, women, san
Lift: anti-feminist, -itbegan, @abaisse_burdock, @kasulisk, @sangjungsim, @tokyo2020ko, 0.01
Score: kerala, hair, kerala's, usha, beach, anti-feminist, malayali
Topic 19 Top Words:
Highest Prob: match, sharath, win, long, game, us, really
FREX: sharath, mathias, novak, ma, really, soumyadeep, 11-8
Lift: 11-9, 2-11, 5-11, 7-11, 9-11, bai, egg
Score: sharath, mathias, novak, soumyadeep, ma, bai, djokovic
Topic 20 Top Words:
Highest Prob: family, village, hockey, team, caste, men, casteist
FREX: allegedly, vandana's, arrested, castes, caste, casteist, abuses
Lift: 504, casteism, intentional, provoke, station, #dalitlivesmatter, #iamprouddalit
Score: caste, casteist, vandana's, allegedly, arrested, dalit, dalits
Topic 21 Top Words:
Highest Prob: award, dhyan, chand, ratna, khel, hockey, major
FREX: ratna, dhyan, khel, renamed, chand, gandhi, award
Lift: breadth, chand's, farm, icc, length, medallion, vishal
Score: ratna, khel, dhyan, chand, award, gandhi, rajiv
Topic 22 Top Words:
Highest Prob: india, penalty, team, first, australia, two, argentina
FREX: penalty, defence, corner, pool, minute, australia, chances
Lift: aussies, barking, casella, ekka, forays, goalless, instructions
Score: penalty, corner, argentina, corners, australia, minute, quarter
Topic 23 Top Words:
Highest Prob: medal, mirabai, chanu, tokyo, olympics, olympic, first
FREX: jerk, zhihui, 115kg, nahin, tha, 87kg, snatch
Lift: @nainaarora8, @rahulgandhi, @sandartistmanas, 1.13, 10-rs, 104kg, 106kg
Score: mirabai, jerk, snatch, chanu, weightlifting, lift, malleswari
Topic 24 Top Words:
Highest Prob: boxing, borgohain, lovlina, medal, olympic, bronze, boxer
FREX: sandhya, lovlina's, boxing, lovlina, borgohain, bergamasco, ring
Lift: #amul, #bajrangpunia, #ftw, @nivinofficial, 1999, 2002-08, 32-year-old
Score: sandhya, boxing, lovlina's, borgohain, lovlina, ring, mary
Topic 25 Top Words:
Highest Prob: indian, students, tokyo, olympics, singh, university, student
FREX: kiit, amoj, nishad, students, lpu, student, university
Lift: amoj, chitkara, nishad, paralympics, titled, 3p, 4x400
Score: students, kiit, lpu, university, amoj, nishad, selected Top Topics
From this graph, it is clear that the top 3 topics all pertain to hockey. Other prominent topics seem to be regarding Mirabai Chanu winning the silver medal in weightlifting and Neeraj Chopra winning the gold medal in the Javelin Throw.
plot(news_stm, type = "summary",xlim=c(0,0.5))
Top words in each topic
The top 10 words for each topic were extracted and used in order to provide names for each topic.
myTopicNames <- labelTopics(news_stm, n=10)$frex
myTopicLabels <- rep(NA, k)
for (i in 1:k){
myTopicLabels[i] <- paste(myTopicNames[i,], collapse = "_")
}
myTopicLabels [1] "belgium_hendrickx_scored_3-1_goals_penalty_=_corners_quarter_wishing"
[2] "lakh_rs_cash_dholakia_ioa_announced_reward_diamond_cm_ceremony"
[3] "asci_ads_harmeet_krittwika_violation_permission_manika's_manika_quinn_harmeet's"
[4] "racing_mangaluru_nagpur_trichy_water_schools_manikandan_oranges_rhodes_riders"
[5] "hardik_punjab_sreejesh_father_lalit_simranjeet_varanasi_mithapur_5-4_singh"
[6] "nandu_natekar_10s_das_kazakhstan_rai_shetty_panghal_yamaguchi_atanu"
[7] "sindhu_bing_pv_tai_@pvsindhu1_smash_jiao_sindhu's_tzu-ying_google"
[8] "pradesh_madhya_ayodhya_biren_academy_vivek_odisha_chouhan_bhopal_state"
[9] "vondrousova_zverev_osaka_busta_carreno_biles_marketa_osaka's_mental_6-3"
[10] "user_pizza_video_vidya_clip_cameraman_cockroach_shared_picture_sharing"
[11] "chopra_ravi_neeraj_dahiya_javelin_anu_malik_punia_airport_gavaskar"
[12] "yediyurappa_cdms_taliban_road_bjp_party_afghan_afghanistan_officials_karnataka"
[13] "savita_rayer_sushila_rampal_salima_visa_associations_adidas_marijne's_company"
[14] "vs_live_sonyliv_streaming_britain_begin_semifinal_2020_semi-final_match"
[15] "nelly_birdies_korda_aditi_golf_holes_72_golfer_fairness_inami"
[16] "bhaker_qualification_ist_laser_10m_pistol_deepika_shooters_air_rifle"
[17] "beniwal_marijne_khan_chak_rukh_de_shah_congratulations_sjoerd_haan"
[18] "kerala_kerala's_usha_hair_wear_women_san_anti-feminist_beach_male"
[19] "sharath_mathias_novak_ma_really_soumyadeep_11-8_chirag_2-11_bai"
[20] "allegedly_vandana's_arrested_castes_caste_casteist_abuses_dalit_dominant_harassed"
[21] "ratna_dhyan_khel_renamed_chand_gandhi_award_major_rajiv_hereby"
[22] "penalty_defence_corner_pool_minute_australia_chances_corners_kaur's_zealand"
[23] "jerk_zhihui_115kg_nahin_tha_87kg_snatch_clean_malleswari_lift"
[24] "sandhya_lovlina's_boxing_lovlina_borgohain_bergamasco_ring_bout_gurung_camp"
[25] "kiit_amoj_nishad_students_lpu_student_university_selected_4x400_alva's" topicNames<-c("1.HockeyDetails","2.CashPrizes","3.TableTennisWomen's","4.NotOlympicsRelated1","5.HockeyAwards","6.Archery&OtherSports","7.BadmintonSindhu","8.HockeyRewards","9.InternationalPlayers","10.Media","11.WrestlingandJavelinThrow (Men's)","12.NotOlympicsRelated2","13.HockeyInfo","14.HockeySchedule","15.AditiGolf","16.ShootingSport","17.HockeyCongratulatoryMessages","18.NotOlympicsRelated3","19.TableTennisMen's","20.CasteAndWomen'sHockey","21.KhelRatnaAward","22.HockeyDetails2,","23.MirabaiWeightlifting","24.BoxingLovlina","25.LPUStudentsatOlympics")Estimating the relationship between the topics and the metadata
The graph below illustrates much more(or less) the topic is mentioned when the article is tagged as Women.
It does not give any insightful results because it shows that the sports that had women athletes in them were mentioned more when the article was tagged as women and sports that had men athletes were mentioned more when the article was tagged as men; which is obvious.
modelEffects <- estimateEffect(formula = 1:k ~ Gender,
stmobj = news_stm,
metadata = df_final)
plot(modelEffects, covariate = "Gender", topics = c(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25), model = news_stm, method = "difference", cov.value1 = 1, cov.value2 = 0, xlab = "Men...Women", main = "Olympics Topics discussing Men's/Women's Sports", xlim = c(-0.2, 0.2), labeltype = "custom", custom.labels = c("1.HockeyDetails","2.CashPrizes","3.TableTennisWomen's","4.NotOlympicsRelated1","5.HockeyAwards","6.Archery&OtherSports","7.BadmintonSindhu","8.HockeyRewards","9.InternationalPlayers","10.Media","11.WrestlingandJavelinThrow (Men's)","12.NotOlympicsRelated2","13.HockeyInfo","14.HockeySchedule","15.AditiGolf","16.ShootingSport","17.HockeyCongratulatoryMessages","18.NotOlympicsRelated3","19.TableTennisMen's","20.CasteAndWomen'sHockey","21.KhelRatnaAward","22.HockeyDetails2,","23.MirabaiWeightlifting","24.BoxingLovlina","25.LPUStudentsatOlympics"))
Correlation Plot
The plot shows that none of the topics are correlated which was unexpected especially since many of the topics pertained to the Indian Hockey team.
mod.out.corr <- topicCorr(news_stm,method = c("simple"), cutoff = 0.01, verbose = TRUE)
plot(mod.out.corr)
Structural Topic Modelling with Topical Content
I added a topical content covariate to the structural topic model to check for differences in the words used. However, this model was taking a long time to run so I decided not to use it for the analysis.
ContentNews <- stm(news_dfm_stm, K = 25, prevalence =~ Gender, content =~ Gender, max.em.its = 5, seed = 1234,data =df_final, init.type = "Spectral")Beginning Spectral Initialization
Calculating the gram matrix...
Using only 10000 most frequent terms during initialization...
Finding anchor words...
.........................
Recovering initialization...
....................................................................................................
Initialization complete.
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
....................................................................................................
Completed M-Step (677 seconds).
Completing Iteration 1 (approx. per word bound = -7.715)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (1 seconds).
....................................................................................................
Completed M-Step (186 seconds).
Completing Iteration 2 (approx. per word bound = -7.081, relative change = 8.223e-02)
.....................................................................................................................
Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
....................................................................................................
Completed M-Step (186 seconds).
Completing Iteration 3 (approx. per word bound = -6.895, relative change = 2.617e-02)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
....................................................................................................
Completed M-Step (181 seconds).
Completing Iteration 4 (approx. per word bound = -6.828, relative change = 9.714e-03)
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Completed E-Step (0 seconds).
....................................................................................................
Completed M-Step (181 seconds).
Model Terminated Before Convergence Reached labelTopics(ContentNews)Topic Words:
Topic 1: twitterati, penalty, 2-3, scoreline, conceding, semifinal, corners
Topic 2: lakh, cash, rs, office, named, kom, respective
Topic 3: sound, europe, album, kiren, paddler, mukherjee, rijiju
Topic 4: platforms, seasoned, campaigns, short-term, visibility, promotions, lifestyle
Topic 5: gurmail, slotted, mohali, happiness, sukhvir, process, jalandhar
Topic 6: 9s, chi-lin, hyek, jin, blichfeldt, mia, gideon
Topic 7: #pvsindhu, dulquer, salmaan, steeply, mahesh, @pvsindhu1, @taapsee
Topic 8: 500, astroturf, 80, trials, madhya, listed, bhopal
Topic 9: medvedev, busta, carreno, 3-6, karen, khachanov, daniil
Topic 10: tiranga, featured, actor, awestruck, sharma, anushka, sunday
Topic 11: nurislam, zavur, 13-2, 121, bulgaria's, helsinki, amine
Topic 12: funds, resigned, agenda, write, principal, reports, polls
Topic 13: replace, understanding, knowing, focusing, interesting, understand, form
Topic 14: aired, commentary, scorecard, broadcast, indiamen's, 00, streaming
Topic 15: labelled, 66, 72, federations, professionals, halfway, oldest
Topic 16: divyansh, bhaker, saravanan, manu, angad, 08, 49er
Topic 17: pouring, rukh, srk, hockeyroos, script, emojis, @iamsrk
Topic 18: fundamentally, realising, european, largest, system, archer, excellence
Topic 19: chirag, ma, nail, tooth, uphill, struggled, soumyadeep
Topic 20: sc, crackers, mothers, complaint, alleged, mockery, fir
Topic 21: chand's, respecting, fitting, ratna, khel, requests, foremost
Topic 22: wasted, seoul, runners-up, min, regained, lower-ranked, barking
Topic 23: al-rashidi, 87kg, arsenal, jerk, 202, set-up, 115kg
Topic 24: sustaining, southpaw, pugilist, lovlina's, nien-chin, kom's, borgohain's
Topic 25: jump, relay, jacob, whatever, neeraj, chopra, race
Covariate Words:
Group 0: fond, surprising, beginning, men's, congratulatory, homework, veteran
Group 1: equal, supported, prepared, never, walked, girl, striking
Topic-Covariate Interactions:
Topic 1, Group 0: guests, afwa, numerous, awaited, battling, loick, somaya
Topic 1, Group 1: denying, dragflicker, 3-0, 03, 59, first-time, hard-earned
Topic 2, Group 0: campus, dining, avoid, flag-bearers, narinder, gurung, participants
Topic 2, Group 1: diamond, dholakia, hari, savji, hk, krishna, incentive
Topic 3, Group 0: funniest, priority, itf, adani, ride, mature, thereafter
Topic 3, Group 1: permission, table-tennis, asci, ads, violation, batra's, paranjape
Topic 4, Group 0: narrative, lalremsiami, wonder, sponsoring, adds, parent, enable
Topic 4, Group 1: shiva, tripura, probe, racing, mangaluru, nagpur, trichy
Topic 5, Group 0: witnessing, initially, giants, lockdown, virender, executed, houses
Topic 5, Group 1: forays, rewarded, reducing, stops, backs, sahara, kd
Topic 6, Group 0: 88, koreans, ease, 56, breathed, ksenia, natekar
Topic 6, Group 1: firing, guru, comment, sparring, indonesians, sukamuljo, delta
Topic 7, Group 0: 52, wrist, ultra, xiaomi, mi, smartphone, gesture
Topic 7, Group 1: baroda, crosscourt, sharechat, bwf, ravipudi, google, hd
Topic 8, Group 0: ram, laying, studies, windows, marginalised, referred, grewal
Topic 8, Group 1: khunti, meals, proper, everyday, trainers, mujhe, bamboo
Topic 9, Group 0: resulted, martin, clinching, gaze, clocked, brink, troika
Topic 9, Group 1: robbins, sally, scary, lit, osaka's, conferences, flame
Topic 10, Group 0: tripura, dance, vaccines, effective, market, farmers, opinion
Topic 10, Group 1: showered, increasing, precious, samantha, tagged, guardian, charming
Topic 11, Group 0: track-and-field, applauded, berlin, #55357, kd, 1900, airport
Topic 11, Group 1: 91, 88, grip, sonam, stretched, medalled, brigade
Topic 12, Group 0: probe, trumped, fears, correct, son's, investigation, cdms
Topic 12, Group 1: leadership, biswa, himanta, sarma, b.s, command, elections
Topic 13, Group 0: trust, 4-5, criteria, proper, philosophy, importance, selection
Topic 13, Group 1: soaring, belt, rebound, sides, shocked, halfback, hollie
Topic 14, Group 0: belgiummen's, bout, thereby, niyazbekov, features, theindia, clock
Topic 14, Group 1: contribution, shahabad, daughters, applauded, praised, glued, 2-0
Topic 15, Group 0: also-rans, parallel, pipped, sportswomen, lodged, quiet, band
Topic 15, Group 1: 69, 67, 68, pentathlon, banned, zealand's, developing
Topic 16, Group 0: desired, sonam, onwards, 18th, gagan, wonders, k
Topic 16, Group 1: bronze-medallist, clocked, timing, ksenia, equestrian, patel, polikarpova
Topic 17, Group 0: rewriting, ravipudi, baroda, imagination, thanking, trip, erstwhile
Topic 17, Group 1: project, lalremsiami, parallel, reins, 2007, scenes, kabir
Topic 18, Group 0: base, sections, tip, nature, fate, saina, nerve
Topic 18, Group 1: streak, contributions, x, lens, awardees, study, enable
Topic 19, Group 0: brothers, shocked, 11-6, bai, mathias, boe, 2-11
Topic 19, Group 1: dining, reclaimed, arrival, heroics, normal, informed, student
Topic 20, Group 0: hail, hardik's, mithapur, truck, khusropur, sweets, mla
Topic 20, Group 1: tip, campus, chauhan, security, gesture, spanish, lodged
Topic 21, Group 0: patel, 91, nba, lens, awardees, study, stops
Topic 21, Group 1: bcci, cement, heavyweights, vishal, jantar, mantar, farm
Topic 22, Group 0: toe-to-toe, brigade, medalled, stretched, denying, solitary, ticked
Topic 22, Group 1: fate, martin, defined, dragflicker, furious, noel, concentration
Topic 23, Group 0: 57-year, dope, zhizhi, bentinidis, malikov, bartonietz, hohn
Topic 23, Group 1: toh, perfection, register, pad, saina, mere, k
Topic 24, Group 0: stitches, jalolov, ads, violation, asci, gutsy, bicky
Topic 24, Group 1: box, cagey, planning, @lovlinaborgohai, exhibition, cakiroglu, mary's
Topic 25, Group 0: dutee, lpu, exhibition, sreeshankar, universities, lovely, shivpal
Topic 25, Group 1: goalpost, goalkeeper's, massive, tamberi, seat, scream, gratitude
Although I will not be utilising this model, I was curious to see if there was a difference in the words used for each gender’s sports event so I plotted the words for a few topics.There was no significant difference as the terms used for both pertained to information about the match or the medals won.
plot(ContentNews, type = "summary",xlim=c(0,0.5))
plot(ContentNews,type="perspectives", topics=1)
plot(ContentNews,type="perspectives", topics=7)
plot(ContentNews,type="perspectives", topics=17)
After running the structural topic model, I decided not to use this for my analysis because of the following reasons:
- The model is not producing anything insightful because it provides the information that women who played particular sports are mentioned in women’s section and vice versa, but the terms used to describe the events are not present.
2. This model becomes computationally expensive when a topical content covariate is added.
In my next blog post, I will be using LDA topic models on women’s and men’s corpora separately.
Reference: Warin, T. (2020). Structural Topic Models: stm R package. https://warin.ca/shiny/stm/#section-the-structural-topic-model